Talk:Olaf/@comment-71.64.127.179-20130216231109

The main problem with Olaf, and why he's probably unviable now after the nerfs, is simply because there's a large number of other ad bruisers that do his team fighting job better. What Olaf strives for in team fights is to ghost/shurelyia's in, ult so he doesn't get stopped, hit the carry with his axe (q), and take out the carry as they try to retreat.

Comparing him to Xin Zhao in particular is relatively revealing. Xin does a similiar thing, he waits for the right moment, runs in, flies to the ad carry with (e), ults to sweep everyone away, and uses q to knock up the ad carry.

Now why does Xin outclass Olaf? (53% win rate to 40%). Because at all levels Xin has a stronger slow than Olaf (at max 45% to Olaf's 40%). The slow doesn't fade over time! THE SLOW ISN'T A SKILLSHOT! (It's an auto target gap closer) (unlike having to aim Olaf's q). And Xin can build and use black cleaver well. This is a major problem for Olaf. Black Cleaver with it's armor shredding is really strong. But it requires rapid "multi-target" repeat ad attacks to rapidly apply it to your opponents team (think Wukong/Garen spin). Xin can apply this through his ult sweeping and his rapid q-w combo to the ad carry. Olaf only can mass apply black cleaver if he q's through everyone (but that requires everyone to be in a straight line...). Due to this, Xin benefits his team's ad carry more than Olaf benefits his ad carry because he can mass reduce armor through cleaver's passive.

So Olaf is getting outclassed by:

1.  Champions that can gap close and kill better. (Jarvan, Xin, Irelia, Jax.)

2.  Champions that can build black cleaver and fully USE it (that means mass application). (Wukong, Garen, Xin, Jarvan, Pantheon).