User blog comment:JBox2D/Keltar/@comment-24862418-20140810053049/@comment-24090662-20140810060321

It's a skillshot, and it does less damage than Conflagration (though it's true damage). Of course it's got a short cooldown while he's ulting at level 16, but that only lasts for 7 seconds and then he's self silenced. The additional bolts are ALSO "skillshots". It works sort of like lucian's W when it hits a target, except that the number of points on the star increase with rank. Basically don't compare him to brand because it's an entirely different ability. May as well compare Ezreal's Q with Irelia's Q and complain that Ezreal's doesn't give him a gapcloser or mana refund.

W: Yes. But at very low range. In general it's supposed to be pretty bad without manipulating the bojnce yourself.

R: Second passive is so that he's not completely useless after overloading. You'll be too busy casting spells otherwise to actually autoattack much and the damage isn't all that high.