Talk:Azir/@comment-4636093-20140828115603

If you can survive the lane phase in the early game then he has the late game potential of a KogMaw.

I previously compared him to Karthus, and although it's still kinda true I think the best comparison is actually a slightly more bearable Phantom Lancer.

The fact that every single thing in his kit is weak individually however adds additively with no diminishing returns immediately points to an amazing late game. At level 18, with just 400 AP he's doing 900 raw magic damage per auto attack if he has JUST 2 soldiers hitting them.

You start off sucking your thumb. You can't do shit against anything with such low damage, even Ashe can auto you to death and out-damage you. Because of this I actually think that Bot Lane with a support will be his best position to go. He's not going to get kills without help. He needs items and he needs levels otherwise he's going to get overrun before he can do anything.

Still, mid is also a possibility if you have a trustworthy jungler to come camp your lane. But not top, Wukong will just go punch you. And not jungler for the same reasons.

Late game his weaknesses mostly are centered around the low summoning range of his Sand Soldiers. There isn't a chance that he'll be using his E to escape unless he's had some pretty snazzy forethought and set his escape tool prematurely. His ult isn't the "fuck you I'm gone" escape which it's description suggests it is, although it does funnel enemies into where he wants them to go AND FIGHTING HIM IN A CHOKE POINT IS A DEATH SENTANCE.

So TL;DR: Early Game Dust Mite, Late Game Grim Reaper. Low initial ranges however lengthen drastically with his Q. Damage becomes a passable fountain lazer substitute.