User blog comment:RoznosicielCiast/Idea for balanced Darius' nerf instead of reworking him/@comment-5266525-20130215011148/@comment-6061249-20130215125600

Yes, those are definitely nerfs. Though, Q definitely gains more potential, but let me explain why:

Q - Actually outer half of range is not half. Change to 450 would make it as real half. Cooldown changed because it is actually painful to trade with Darius after he maxes this skill. +300 damage each 5 seconds (or less with CDR!), lolwut. AD ratio would not change anything in early game and give this skill real AoE potential for late game. Nerf/buff.

W - This is not pointless change. This one is just forcing a bit to cast it after some hits, so it's really good change if you are not sure if you should run or fight. Though, after 5 hits, it becomes a slight buff. Hard to tell.

E - Higher penetration in early, because 5% was just pointless. 8% is not much more, but it actually feels better. Later penetration matters as hell. If you can manage Cleaver and Last Whisper, you can actually gain 25% + 35% + 25% + 8% + point penetration. Armor becomes shredded out. And mana cost is big deal. You can use it more often, but you shouldn't. NERF/slight buff.

R - How the hell do you find this as buff? It's overall nerf for mechanics with really slight buff for lategame chain ulting. Definitely nerf!

Also, look at passive and base stats.

Why do i think that Darius is broken? Simply. Propably my best ever played main is Jarvan IV. And i never, never, had enough power to simply win my lane, leave rest of kills to teammates and still become incredible deadly in midgame teamfights and lategame 1v1. As Jarvan, i was able to win lane and spread kills, but between midgame and lategame i am just not able anymore to be a killing machine. Of course, my teamfight pressence was still great, but not enough to begin carrying if something went wrong.

As Darius? Pff. I almost never lose top when picking him. Teemo, Jayce, Yorick, Garen, Rumble, Pantheon, even Kayle once. They all mostly fall, even if their abilities counter me. Why? Because counter =/= better. As long as Darius is in right hands, he can outplay almost everybody. I can win my lane, spread kills around, and in mid-lategame i can just stomp into teamfight and begin massive death. Of course, as i don't want to steal every kill, i ult only once or twice to take down strongest targets as fast as possible.

Why he is not picked at tournaments? Good question. Same goes for Sejuani. When it comes to pro tournaments, where team comp is godly great, she can become real teamfight dominator, even if her early game is not really strong. Karma is not picked too, mostly because people don't know how to use mantra stacks right. 29 seconds of cooldown? Oh. She has enough high defence potential to hold lane until another stack is ready. Trust me. In midgame, if fed, brings death to enemies. If not, still pokes enough hard to gain domination for her team. Of course, falls in late game, but she can spam incredible AoE + shields and heals for everybody with 40% cooldown recuction.

And, those are not picked in tournaments. Why? Dunno. Shaco was called as lame late game champ and mostly useless. What happened? Somebody picked him and got fed twice or more times. And what then? Omg, suddenly Shaco became so OP!

Darius is global taunt. Enemies want to hold you dead for all time. Of course, these are ways to counter and outplay him. Like for every champ. But as i said, in right hands, he can still become dangerous as hell.

tl;dr Those are not buffs, Darius is still strong, if he would be picked in tournament and own enemies, people would suddenly forget about his weak sides, like happened to Shaco.