Talk:VPBE/@comment-24613667-20140323152019/@comment-3974211-20140323163113

The mana regen was never a deterrent - let's be completely honest. Mana regen is a garbage stat on all champions except in decent quantities (which is like two items).

This item became garbage in Season 4 because they nerfed the AP to 50 from 80 - Gunblade provides more AP, considerably. Vladimir still buys the item even with the mana regen, and would continue to buy it even if they buffed the mana regen. The intention behind the season 4 change was for Will of the Ancients to replace the old Spectral Wraith, which everyone was buying instead of Will of the Ancients. Spectral Wraith had mana regen and no-one cared.