Talk:Thornmail/@comment-25053833-20170301071956/@comment-31203455-20170302111835

The active could be a delay in itself?

Increase the damage "absorbed" during the duration before detonation. It'd mean you'd have some burst but it would be up to the attacker whether or not they get hit or if they feed the bubble.

Could be something like a defensive Tristana bomb charge?

Again, I'd think of your idea as a new item in its own right! "Hextech Reactive Carapace" or something.

I think I get it now; you take ~whatever percentage of your max health as damage in short period, you suddenly get some sort of buff, claxons start blaring, your character starts to look molten and then an AoE explodes on them. Maybe they get a movement speed buff?

What would be funny is to have Thornmail go the way of Last Whisper. Have it reduced to a component item, giving a small reflect ability. Then have it build into 2 or more specialised retaliation items?

Mail of Retribution - With your delayed activation passive plus armour pen reduction.

Ventilated Reaction Armour - Bleeds a portion of incoming magic damage as an AoE around the wearer.

Blighted Bulwark - Additional "thorn" passive with greivious wounds.

Might be dumb, but nothing wrong with giving ideas!