User blog comment:Willbachbakal/(Champion Rework) Vladimir, the Crimson Reaper/@comment-3984877-20160413064602/@comment-1330314-20160418121617

W is not a spell you're going to be using often in lane unless you're trying to escape, so it's not really something you're going to "offset". His live Q really does just give free healing with no tough choices or downsides, and is the main reason why he tends to not be very interactive during the laning phase. I also don't really see why any ability "should" deal guaranteed damage, and I think a damage amp in itself is pretty powerful, even against a single target. Ultimately Vlad isn't meant to be the strongest duelist, nor the best laner, so if he happens to not be particularly strong at those that's fine.