Talk:V1.0.0.125/@comment-24.227.23.189-20110915154138/@comment-138.162.0.44-20110916185301

Because people don't realize that Morde's "shield" is effectively a spellvamp to a bank of temporary hitpoints. The hitpoints in the shield still follow the rules of mitigation set by his armor/magic resist, and they decay at a set rate % of the max. Cait with a Vampiric Scepter has just as much lane pressence, as she can heal her losses with much less risk.

Half of Morde is(or rather, was) pressence. Big, makes a lot of noise, spikey, loud, laughs when he ults. The average player sees his shield going up and down with minimal life loss and freaks out. "OP!" Rarely stops to think "why am I not hurting him?"

Now Morde's early game IS truly atrocious, and his late game is far weaker. Spray, lose 24+ health, get auto attacked once or twice (let alone if gaining minion agro) and end up 200 points down. Especially if the enemy champ has any sort of rapid fire abilities.