Talk:Ryze/@comment-5077844-20140514145229/@comment-15280970-20140520034622

Riot doesn't want top lane to be a bully early game bruiser that falls off vs a late game afk farmer with bad early game matchup. They want top picks to feel strong in their own way. Ryze counters melees, thats right. Someone had to counter renekton.

His early top lane isn't godlike. Ryze has mana problems, lacks sustain and pushing power pre 6 and is squishy at early levels. He is also very easy to itemize against with two of the most recurrent top laner items (visage and mercs).

He is very good harassing melees in 1v1 lanes, but when he is in trouble he can't just gain instant health or extra armor or double dash away or leap to a ward or win insane hp regen or just jump away or become inmune to cc or cc everyone at the same time.