Talk:Vladimir/@comment-4530717-20120923210300/@comment-4372473-20120923212611

The problem with the "Free stats theory" is he needs them. Absolutely needs the now hardly noticible extra HP to do anything.

He's close range. Very short range. In teamfights, he literally has to be right next to the enemy team to contribute anything. If he dosnt have his free 500 HP he would just instantly die and be useless.

Since in his combo he nukes himself for a 5th of his own HP, plus whatever ToB is eating you for, You deserve those free stats. If they put that health cost back on his ult(It has a strange health cost on the PBE right now, a mystery "15") He will be back in the garbage bin. Nobody wants to play a champion that will kill himself for the enemy team when it matters. A Q isnt going to reverse that. At least not anymore.

Vlad is easily countered by a few champions. Leblanc's superior early game will decimate him. Ryze is in the same category. Swain will keep Vlad down all game with his DOT and Leash based skills, and just snare him when he comes up from pool. Champions with longer range will beat him(This is why he's not a viable mid anymore).

Vlad was a niche champion for a long time. Only used in AOE comps, or counter picks vs melee tops. Or a farm champion. HIs sustain is cool yes, but isnt the best counter weight to a lifetime of nerfs. All they have left to nerf now is the range of ToB and the range of his ult. Everything else has been nerfed. Literally.