Talk:Thornmail/@comment-207.81.32.143-20101231120254/@comment-207.81.32.143-20110104043551

Like with Banshee's Veil, Thornmail is a specific counter to one type of damage. Both items' effects can be avoided by not targeting them (which serves the point of buying them) and they can completely shut down whoever decides to attack them with the corresponding attack type.

However, Thornmail still emerges as the winner when compared in their ability to defend; one, Thornmail offers 100 armour, whereas Banshee's Veil grants 50 MR; though BV offsets this by increasing Health so that effective health is actually higher. Mana bonus isn't much and many of the recent heroes also do not use any.

Most significantly, BV's passive can be easily removed using a quick-recharge, 'dummy' skill, and more so in team fights where, say, even Ashe's Volley can quickly pop it before a fight with an initiating ability. On the other hand, Thornmail is an unavoidable persistent effect as long as you even attempt to fight the wearer. It can't be countered; you can only target someone else to not have to deal with it entirely.

Slightly less significantly -- but definitely important nonetheless -- is the fact that Thornmail is still absurdly cheap. It should add another item in the recipe (but keep creation cost the same) so that, while the general worth of the item does not change, it will take longer to actually get the passive effect in play.

Again, the point I'm conveying is that Thornmail is way too cost effective and powerful out of all the items designed to block a single damage source.