Talk:Hextech Protobelt-01/@comment-39368203-20190610184833/@comment-26808509-20190801155737

This item really isn't about the stats tho. It's a really cheap item, so of course it gives really cheap stats. What this item really is about is its active and, as  TAGDavid said, it's a really cheap burst with a gap closer. It's similar to Oblivion Orb in that it hs awful stats but one aspect that gives you a pretty good damage boost for the early stages of the game, in Protobelts case that's the active which pretty much equals an additional spell.

That's why low ranged burst mages who have a hard time oneshotting in the early game like to take it to get a snowball rolling. Vladimir is one example, Annie or Kennen however like this item aswell. Not only does the little dash help them to dodge/escape/engage, it also adds to their burst which will secure kills more often than not.

It eventually falls off of course. Although it still deals siginificant damage in the late game due to it's decent AP scaling (for an item, 40% is rediculous), but the bad stats really start to be noticable in the late game. But usually the items is used to push an early lead and to prevent the late game from happening.