Ryze Before and After A Champions Evolution in League of Legends.

Ryze Before and After: The saga of the Rune Mage is one of constant reinvention, a testament to the ever-shifting landscape of League of Legends. From his humble beginnings as a mana-hungry spellcaster to the intricate combo-driven champion we know today, Ryze’s journey is a fascinating study in adaptation. Imagine, if you will, the early days of Summoner’s Rift, where Ryze was a force of raw, untamed magical power, and then witness the metamorphosis, the subtle tweaks and seismic shifts that have molded him into the champion he is today.

It’s a tale of balance, of player preference, and of the enduring appeal of a character who has consistently captivated the hearts and minds of players.

This exploration delves deep into the heart of Ryze’s transformation, dissecting his early game dominance, the evolution of his mid-game power spikes, and his late-game impact. We’ll unearth the secrets behind his ever-changing item builds, analyze the nuances of his playstyle, and chart the rise and fall of his popularity through the years. Prepare to journey through the annals of Ryze’s history, uncovering the moments that defined him, the challenges he overcame, and the legacy he continues to forge.

Exploring Ryze’s Early Game Presence Before and After Reworks is crucial for understanding his evolution.

Ryze, the Rune Mage, has undergone several significant transformations throughout League of Legends’ history. These changes, or reworks, were aimed at refining his gameplay, balancing his power, and making him a more engaging champion. Understanding how his early game has shifted is essential to appreciating his evolution from a lane bully to a scaling mage and back again. The differences in his early game strategies, itemization, and overall impact are key to grasping his place in the game’s meta over time.

Ryze’s Early Game Strategies Prior to Significant Gameplay Changes

Before the numerous reworks, Ryze was a different beast entirely. He was often characterized by his ability to dominate the laning phase through consistent spell casts and high base damage. This early game presence was crucial for establishing a lead and snowballing into the mid and late game.Ryze’s strengths during this period were his relatively low cooldowns, particularly on his Q ability, which allowed for frequent poke and trading in lane.

He possessed significant sustained damage, capable of wearing down opponents with constant spell spam. His ability to build tanky items while still dealing substantial damage made him incredibly resilient and difficult to kill. He also had a built-in mana shield, providing a degree of survivability.However, Ryze was not without his weaknesses. His reliance on mana made him vulnerable to mana-draining champions or those who could control the lane and deny him farm.

He was susceptible to crowd control, as being locked down would often leave him unable to cast spells and deal damage. He also struggled against champions with superior range or mobility, as he needed to be relatively close to enemies to land his spells. Early game ganks were also a significant threat, as he lacked reliable escape tools.Typical itemization for Ryze in this era centered around maximizing mana and mana regeneration, which directly translated into more spell casts and damage.

Core items often included a Rod of Ages, which provided health, mana, and ability power, and a Seraph’s Embrace, offering a massive mana pool that could be converted into ability power through its passive, and of course, the mana shield. Boots of Swiftness or Mercury’s Treads were common choices, depending on the enemy team composition. Building a defensive item, like a Frozen Heart or Banshee’s Veil, was also standard to provide additional survivability, allowing him to survive burst damage and continue dealing damage in team fights.

Examining Ryze’s Mid-Game Power Spikes and How They Changed Over Time is a core aspect of his history.: Ryze Before And After

Ryze, the Rune Mage, has undergone a multitude of transformations throughout League of Legends’ history. These reworks, each intended to refine his gameplay and balance his power, have fundamentally altered his mid-game presence. Understanding these shifts, from itemization to ability scaling, is key to appreciating the evolution of this complex champion and his impact on team fights. We will delve into how Ryze’s mid-game strength waxed and waned, examining the specific factors that defined his effectiveness during this crucial phase of the game.

Ryze’s Mid-Game Power Spikes Before Reworks

Before the significant overhauls to Ryze’s kit, his mid-game revolved around achieving specific item breakpoints and utilizing his core abilities effectively. These power spikes weren’t always consistent, as his effectiveness was heavily reliant on landing his skill shots and managing his mana pool. He was a champion whose potential for damage was high, but who needed to be played carefully to unleash it.Prior to the initial reworks, a typical Ryze player aimed to complete a few essential items.

The first major power spike usually came with the acquisition of a Rod of Ages, providing a significant boost to health, mana, and ability power. This item offered the necessary durability to survive in team fights, allowing Ryze to stay in the fray and unleash his spells. The second critical item was usually a combination of a Tear of the Goddess and a catalyst item, which eventually became a Seraph’s Embrace.

This combination provided sustain and mana regeneration, allowing Ryze to spam his abilities more frequently.His core combo during this period focused on weaving spells together to maximize damage. This meant using his Q (Overload) to deal burst damage and his E (Spell Flux) to spread the damage to multiple targets. His ultimate, Desperate Power, provided a temporary boost to his ability power, allowing him to deal more damage and potentially turn the tide of a team fight.

The early Ryze often focused on a sustained damage output approach. Landing consecutive spells was crucial, and the champion was capable of shredding enemy teams if allowed to operate without being interrupted.The cooldown reduction provided by items like a Morellonomicon and the scaling of items such as Rod of Ages were critical. A Morellonomicon granted him anti-heal, which was a necessity in the mid-game against champions with significant healing capabilities.The impact of Ryze’s mid-game power spikes was significant.

He could swiftly clear minion waves, pressure side lanes, and provide consistent damage output in team fights. His ability to kite and control the battlefield made him a valuable asset, capable of both engaging and disengaging fights as needed. A well-played Ryze was a nightmare for enemy carries.

Ryze’s Mid-Game Power Spikes After Each Rework

Each subsequent rework dramatically altered Ryze’s mid-game, forcing players to adapt their itemization, ability usage, and overall playstyle. These changes were not always straightforward; some were more successful than others in balancing his power. However, each rework significantly changed how Ryze approached the mid-game.After the first major rework, Ryze’s mid-game became heavily reliant on his ability to stack mana and utilize his updated passive, which provided cooldown reduction based on mana spent.

This made items like Seraph’s Embrace and Archangel’s Staff essential. Ryze’s combo became more streamlined, focusing on weaving his abilities to maximize damage and utilize his passive’s cooldown reduction. The introduction of spell weaving made him more mobile and more burst-oriented. A core aspect of this Ryze was the ability to rapidly cast spells, which was tied to the mana he had available.Subsequent reworks further refined his mid-game power spikes.

One significant change was the alteration of his ultimate, Realm Warp. This ability provided a strategic advantage by allowing Ryze to teleport his team across the map. In the mid-game, this could be used to initiate surprise ganks, split-push effectively, or escape unfavorable situations. The team-oriented nature of the ultimate required a greater level of coordination, but it made Ryze a potent force.The focus shifted toward a more mobile, reactive playstyle.

Ryze became less about sustained damage and more about burst and utility. His ability to lock down targets with his Rune Prison (W) and his increased mobility made him a difficult champion to deal with in the mid-game. The changes to his abilities, such as the addition of spell flux bouncing off of enemies and dealing damage to them, also changed how team fights went.

The need for precise positioning and mana management remained, but his mid-game became more dynamic and team-oriented. Ryze was now not just a damage dealer, but a strategist, capable of influencing the entire flow of the game.The evolution of Ryze’s mid-game has been a constant balancing act, as developers tried to find the sweet spot between his potential for damage, his survivability, and his strategic impact.

Each rework brought new challenges and opportunities for Ryze players, transforming him from a simple spell-casting mage into a complex, versatile champion.

Major Turning Points in Ryze’s Mid-Game Potential

The changes in Ryze’s mid-game potential can be attributed to several significant alterations to his kit and itemization. Here are five major turning points:

• Rod of Ages Era: The introduction of Rod of Ages as a core item gave Ryze the necessary health and mana to survive and thrive in team fights, forming the foundation of his mid-game build.
• Tear of the Goddess & Archangel’s Staff/Seraph’s Embrace: The mana stacking mechanic and the introduction of items like Archangel’s Staff/Seraph’s Embrace provided a significant boost to Ryze’s mana pool and ability power, allowing for sustained damage and higher burst potential. This changed the way Ryze played in the mid-game, allowing for more spamming of abilities.
• First Rework: The rework introduced the passive cooldown reduction based on mana spent. This changed how Ryze players approached team fights.
• Realm Warp Introduction: The addition of Realm Warp as his ultimate significantly enhanced Ryze’s strategic capabilities, allowing for map-wide plays and influencing team fight engagements.
• Spell Flux Updates: The changes to Spell Flux, allowing it to bounce between enemies, increased his wave clear, damage output, and team fight presence, allowing him to be a more effective team fighter.

Assessing Ryze’s Late-Game Scaling and Teamfight Role in Different Eras provides insights into his design.

The late-game performance of Ryze has always been a defining characteristic of his viability. His ability to scale, his impact in teamfights, and his overall effectiveness have fluctuated dramatically throughout League of Legends’ history. Understanding these shifts is key to appreciating the evolution of his design and the challenges Riot Games has faced in balancing him. This section delves into Ryze’s late-game scaling and teamfight role, contrasting his iterations before and after various reworks to highlight the nuances of his gameplay.

Ryze’s Late-Game Before Reworks

Before the reworks, Ryze was a powerhouse in the late game, a scaling mage who thrived on sustained damage and strategic positioning. His role in teamfights was often that of a hyper-carry, capable of melting enemies with a barrage of spells if given the opportunity. He was a force to be reckoned with, but his success hinged on a delicate balance of itemization, positioning, and team coordination.Ryze’s preferred positioning in late-game teamfights was generally within the mid-range, just behind the frontline.

He was incredibly vulnerable if caught out, so staying alive was paramount. His primary focus was to continuously cast spells, maximizing his damage output while avoiding enemy crowd control and burst. He would typically target the highest-priority targets first, which often included enemy carries, but he was also capable of peeling for his own carries by using his crowd control.

His ability to weave spells and consistently apply damage, combined with his shield and mobility, made him a threat in any engagement. Ryze’s scaling was primarily driven by items that enhanced his ability to cast spells more frequently and deal more damage, like Rod of Ages, Archangel’s Staff, and Seraph’s Embrace. He wasn’t a one-shot burst mage, but a sustained damage dealer who slowly chipped away at the enemy’s health bars.

His impact on the outcome of late-game engagements was considerable. A well-played Ryze could single-handedly turn the tide of a teamfight, while a misplayed one could quickly be eliminated, leaving his team vulnerable. He was a champion that demanded precision and understanding, rewarding those who mastered his intricate mechanics with immense power. He was the king of the late game, a blue-skinned menace capable of reshaping the battlefield.Ryze’s late-game success was also dependent on his ability to farm effectively and reach his item power spikes.

He was a champion that required a significant investment in gold to truly shine. This meant he needed to be efficient in the early and mid-game, securing farm and avoiding unnecessary deaths. The itemization choices further amplified his late-game potential. Rod of Ages provided him with health, mana, and ability power, increasing his survivability and damage. Archangel’s Staff/Seraph’s Embrace offered massive mana regeneration and ability power, allowing him to spam spells for extended periods.

This combination of items transformed him into a late-game monster capable of dealing incredible amounts of damage. The strategic use of his ultimate, Desperate Power, played a crucial role. It allowed him and his team to reposition quickly, engage or disengage, and secure objectives. The effectiveness of this ability was further amplified in coordinated team play, where the ability to teleport the entire team across the map could turn the tide of battle.

His impact was felt in every aspect of the game, from the laning phase to the final push.

Ryze’s Late-Game After Each Rework

Each rework brought significant changes to Ryze’s late-game scaling and teamfight role. These modifications aimed to address his strengths and weaknesses, making him more balanced and engaging to play against. His ability reworks, item changes, and overall gameplay alterations reshaped his late-game performance in dramatic ways.The first major rework shifted his focus from raw mana scaling to spell weaving and rune synergy.

He became more reliant on chaining abilities and managing his cooldowns. This made him a more complex champion to play but also more rewarding for skilled players. His late-game scaling was still strong, but it became more reliant on his ability to execute his combo perfectly. The changes to his abilities meant that a single mistake could cost him a significant amount of damage, thus reducing his margin for error.

The introduction of new items and item adjustments, such as the changes to Rod of Ages and Archangel’s Staff, impacted his late-game power spikes. These changes forced players to adapt their itemization and playstyle. The subsequent reworks aimed to further refine his gameplay, addressing issues with his kit’s complexity and his vulnerability to crowd control.Further reworks sought to simplify his abilities while maintaining his identity as a spell-weaving mage.

His ultimate, Realm Warp, underwent significant changes, becoming a more targeted ability and losing its global range. These changes aimed to reduce his ability to instantly change the flow of the game, making him more vulnerable in the late game. These adjustments altered his teamfight role, making him less of a hyper-carry and more of a strategic control mage. The goal was to provide a balance between his damage output and his ability to control the battlefield.

Item changes, such as the introduction of new mana items, also played a part in shaping his late-game performance. The goal was to keep him relevant in the current meta. Ryze’s late-game scaling and teamfight role were constantly being tweaked, and his kit was constantly evolving.Here’s a blockquote demonstrating the core abilities of Ryze before and after the most recent rework, highlighting the differences in their effects and functionalities:

Before (Pre-Rework):

• Passive – Arcane Mastery: Ryze’s abilities scale with bonus mana, and he gains bonus mana based on his ability power.
• Q – Overload: Ryze blasts a target with a magical bolt, dealing damage.
• W – Rune Prison: Ryze traps a target enemy, dealing damage and preventing movement.
• E – Spell Flux: Ryze launches an orb of energy that bounces between enemies, dealing damage and reducing magic resistance.
• R – Desperate Power: Ryze grants himself bonus movement speed and spell vamp.

After (Most Recent Rework):

• Passive – Arcane Mastery: Ryze gains bonus mana, and his abilities deal bonus damage based on his bonus mana.
• Q – Overload: Ryze fires a magical bolt, dealing damage. Casting two spells resets the cooldown of Overload and grants him a shield.
• W – Rune Prison: Ryze roots a target enemy, dealing damage.
• E – Spell Flux: Ryze releases a magical orb that damages the enemy and applies a flux to the target, bouncing to nearby enemies.
• R – Realm Warp: Ryze creates a portal to a target location, teleporting himself and allied champions.

Detailing the Impact of Itemization on Ryze’s Builds Before and After Reworks is important for understanding his builds.

Understanding how Ryze’s item builds have evolved is essential for appreciating his complex history. His effectiveness in the game has always been intimately tied to the items he chooses, with the best builds often adapting to the meta, his abilities, and the specific challenges of each match. Analyzing these builds reveals a story of constant refinement, as players sought to maximize his strengths while mitigating his weaknesses.

Item Builds Before Reworks

Before his reworks, Ryze’s itemization was generally focused on maximizing mana and ability power (AP) to enhance his damage output and survivability. This was because his abilities scaled heavily with mana, making it a crucial stat. The core items aimed to provide a balance of these stats and mana regeneration.Before the first major rework, the most common build revolved around maximizing mana and AP.

A typical build would include:* Tear of the Goddess: This was the foundation, providing mana and the ability to stack for increased mana over time, leading to more damage. This item was always the starting point.

Rod of Ages

This provided a significant amount of health, mana, and AP, scaling over time. This item was essential for survivability.

Archangel’s Staff

Upgrading Tear of the Goddess, this item converted mana into AP, further boosting Ryze’s damage.

Frozen Heart

This item offered armor, mana, and cooldown reduction (CDR), making Ryze tankier while allowing him to cast spells more frequently.

Sorcerer’s Shoes

Magic penetration was crucial for dealing damage to enemy champions.

Situational Items

Void Staff

For dealing with magic resistance.

Banshee’s Veil

For survivability against burst damage.

Morellonomicon

To apply grievous wounds and counter healing.This build was designed to allow Ryze to scale into the late game, becoming a sustained damage threat with good survivability. The reasoning behind these choices was simple: Ryze’s abilities scaled with mana, and mana was converted into damage. The CDR from Frozen Heart allowed him to spam his abilities, while the magic penetration ensured that his spells would deal significant damage.Prior to the subsequent reworks, the itemization strategy was refined, often including items that provided both mana and ability power.

The aim was to ensure Ryze had enough mana to spam spells, and enough AP to make them hurt. This evolved into variations that prioritized raw AP or offered more defensive options. The item choices were always dictated by the prevailing meta and the specific needs of the match. For instance, if the enemy team had a lot of magic resistance, Void Staff would become a priority.

If they had a lot of burst damage, Banshee’s Veil would be chosen.

Itemization Changes After Reworks

Ryze’s itemization underwent significant shifts after each major rework, mirroring the changes to his abilities and how they interacted with mana and AP. The reworks fundamentally altered how he dealt damage and the way his abilities scaled. This, in turn, reshaped the core items and situational choices players favored.After the first rework, his item builds started focusing on maximizing his ability to constantly cast spells and deal consistent damage.

His ability to spam spells and his new passive that increased ability damage based on his maximum mana led to a change in the core items. The core build became more focused on mana and cooldown reduction.The core items typically included:* Tear of the Goddess: Still a fundamental item to start, providing mana and stacking for later upgrades.

Rod of Ages

A solid choice for its scaling stats, providing health, mana, and AP.

Archangel’s Staff/Seraph’s Embrace

Upgrading Tear of the Goddess into Seraph’s Embrace was a key item, converting mana into AP and providing a shield based on mana.

Frozen Heart

CDR and mana were crucial for maximizing spell casting frequency.

Morellonomicon

To apply grievous wounds and provide mana.

Boots of Swiftness

Movement speed was important to kite enemies and position in team fights.

Situational Items

Void Staff

For dealing with magic resistance.

Banshee’s Veil

For survivability against burst damage.The reasoning behind these changes was clear: maximizing mana allowed him to cast more spells and increasing his maximum mana would increase the damage of his abilities. The CDR was essential for allowing him to chain abilities. This build made him a sustained damage threat with reasonable survivability.After the subsequent reworks, the item builds adapted further.

With each rework, the scaling and mechanics of Ryze’s abilities shifted, demanding new approaches to itemization. Players began experimenting with different combinations to suit the current state of the game. Some builds incorporated more utility, while others leaned towards pure damage. The core items would be consistent, but the situational items would change based on the needs of the match.Here is an example of how a rework changed itemization: Before a rework, Ryze’s damage was primarily from his spells, so items that amplified his AP were a priority.

After the rework, if his auto-attacks started dealing more damage, then items that offered attack speed might become more viable. This illustrates how each change to Ryze’s abilities directly affected the most effective item builds.

Core Item Changes Impacting Ryze’s Builds

The following list details the core item changes that significantly impacted Ryze’s build paths across different patches and reworks, including the specific impact of each item on his gameplay:* Tear of the Goddess (and its upgrades): This item has been a staple in almost every Ryze build. Its primary impact is providing a significant mana pool and scaling mana over time, which directly fuels his ability to cast spells.

Upgrades like Archangel’s Staff and Seraph’s Embrace further amplify his damage output by converting mana into AP and providing a shield, respectively.

Rod of Ages

This item has provided a balance of health, mana, and AP, making Ryze tankier while also increasing his damage output. Its scaling stats allow Ryze to become a stronger threat as the game progresses. This item is crucial for survivability.

Frozen Heart

The CDR and mana provided by this item have been crucial for maximizing Ryze’s ability to spam spells. It also increases his effective health through armor, which makes him tankier. This allows Ryze to cast his spells more often.

Void Staff

As magic resistance increases throughout the game, Void Staff becomes increasingly important. Its impact is to provide magic penetration, allowing Ryze to deal damage to enemy champions even when they build magic resistance.

Morellonomicon

This item’s inclusion in Ryze’s build provides Grievous Wounds, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of enemy healing. This item is particularly valuable against champions with strong healing abilities. It also offers mana, making it a good item for Ryze.

Lich Bane

This item provided additional damage with each auto-attack, which makes Ryze’s damage more consistent. This item’s impact is to provide burst damage when combined with his abilities.

Investigating Ryze’s Playstyle and Complexity Before and After Reworks offers insights into his appeal.

Ryze, the Rune Mage, has undergone a series of transformations throughout League of Legends’ history. These changes weren’t merely aesthetic; they fundamentally altered how players interacted with him, from the button-mashing frenzy of early iterations to the more strategic, combo-driven gameplay of later versions. Understanding these shifts in playstyle is key to appreciating Ryze’s enduring appeal and the challenges of balancing a champion with such a volatile design.

Ryze’s Playstyle and Complexity Before Reworks

Before the reworks, Ryze was, in essence, a relentless spell-slinger. His gameplay revolved around a core set of abilities designed for sustained damage output and a degree of crowd control. The goal was simple: get in range, spam abilities, and hope you out-DPS your opponent.Ryze’s strengths lay in his consistent damage, particularly in the mid to late game. He could pump out a steady stream of spells, making him a formidable duelist and a threat in teamfights.

His ability to build tanky items while still dealing significant damage made him surprisingly durable, allowing him to wade into the fray and absorb punishment. He had a targeted root, which offered some utility and peel for himself.However, Ryze was far from perfect. His weaknesses were considerable. He was heavily reliant on landing his spells, and missing key abilities could significantly hamper his damage output.

He lacked mobility, making him vulnerable to ganks and difficult to reposition in teamfights. His reliance on mana made him susceptible to mana-draining effects and forced him to manage his resource carefully. Furthermore, his early game was often quite weak, requiring him to scale up before truly becoming a threat. This scaling phase often meant he was easily bullied in lane.

The skill floor was relatively low, but mastering Ryze required precise positioning, mana management, and an understanding of his damage rotations. He wasn’t particularly complex, but maximizing his effectiveness demanded a good grasp of the game’s fundamentals. The skill ceiling, while not astronomical, was definitely present, especially in teamfights where quick decision-making was vital. The initial design offered a straightforward playstyle:

“Spam abilities, build mana, and win.”

This simplicity, however, masked a surprising depth, as experienced Ryze players learned to optimize their spell sequences and item builds to maximize their impact.

Ryze’s Playstyle and Complexity After Each Rework

Each subsequent rework aimed to refine Ryze’s gameplay, address his weaknesses, and make him a more engaging champion. The core concept of a mana-based spellcaster remained, but the specifics of his abilities, his role in teamfights, and his overall complexity underwent significant shifts.One of the most impactful changes involved his ability kit. Reworks often introduced new mechanics, such as the ability to reset cooldowns, enhance spells based on prior usage, or create area-of-effect damage.

These changes added layers of complexity to his gameplay. The ability to manipulate cooldowns through successful spell combinations added a degree of skill expression. The goal of these changes was to make Ryze more rewarding for skilled players while still maintaining his core identity.The introduction of new mechanics also impacted his accessibility. While some players appreciated the added depth, others found the new Ryze more difficult to master.

The increased complexity demanded a deeper understanding of his abilities and how they interacted with each other. Timing and decision-making became even more crucial.The impact of these changes was felt across the entire game. The addition of new abilities also impacted how items affected his build. Items that synergized with his new mechanics became highly desirable, and the meta shifted as players experimented with different builds and playstyles.

The reworks aimed to make Ryze less binary in his gameplay, allowing for more strategic flexibility. He was no longer just a button-masher; he became a champion who required careful planning, precise execution, and an understanding of his strengths and weaknesses in each situation.To better understand the differences, here’s a look at the core playstyle differences:

• Pre-Rework Ryze: Focused on rapid-fire spellcasting. The emphasis was on raw damage output through constant ability spam. Players aimed to quickly cycle through their abilities, prioritizing mana efficiency and positioning to maximize their damage potential. For example, a player would repeatedly cast Q, W, E, and then Q again to deal damage.
• Post-Rework Ryze: Emphasized combo execution and ability chaining. Players now had to consider ability interactions, such as resetting cooldowns or enhancing spells. This introduced a layer of strategic thinking and required players to adapt their playstyle based on the current game situation. For example, the need to quickly cast spells to proc a reset.
• Impact of Changes: The reworks altered Ryze’s accessibility and skill ceiling. Older versions were easier to pick up, while later iterations required a deeper understanding of the champion’s mechanics and the ability to execute complex combos. The reworks made him more challenging but also more rewarding for players who invested the time to master his intricacies. The skill gap between a novice and an expert Ryze player widened considerably after the reworks, highlighting the increased complexity.

Comparing Ryze’s Win Rates and Popularity Before and After Reworks reveals player preferences.

Ryze, the Rune Mage, has undergone several significant transformations throughout League of Legends’ history. These reworks, intended to address balance issues and improve his gameplay, have dramatically altered his win rates, pick rates, and overall popularity. Examining these shifts provides a fascinating glimpse into how player preferences evolve alongside champion design and the ever-changing meta. Understanding these fluctuations helps illuminate the impact of ability adjustments, gameplay changes, and the broader balance landscape on Ryze’s performance and appeal.

Ryze’s Win Rates and Popularity Before Each Major Rework, Ryze before and after

Before each major overhaul, Ryze often existed in a state of either underperformance or niche dominance. His kit, while potentially powerful, frequently suffered from balance challenges that made him either too strong or too weak in the competitive environment. The player base’s interest in him was directly correlated to his perceived effectiveness, with periods of high win rates leading to increased pick rates and vice versa.

• Before his first major rework (around Season 2-3), Ryze was considered a strong, albeit somewhat straightforward, mage. His reliance on consistent spell rotations and mana management made him accessible but also prone to being countered by champions with superior burst damage or mobility. His win rate fluctuated but generally remained above average. His pick rate was moderate, indicating a dedicated player base who appreciated his consistent damage output.

• Prior to his second major rework (around Season 6), Ryze’s win rate was highly volatile. He swung between being overpowered and utterly useless, often depending on the specific meta and item builds. This inconsistency significantly impacted his popularity. The dedicated Ryze mains would stick with him, but the broader player base often avoided him due to his perceived instability.
• The pre-rework Ryze’s success was often dependent on the efficiency of his item builds and the effectiveness of his mana scaling.
  

  Items like Rod of Ages and Seraph’s Embrace were core components of his build, providing both survivability and mana to fuel his abilities.

  When these items were strong, Ryze thrived; when they were nerfed or other champions became more efficient, he struggled.

Changes in Ryze’s Win Rates and Popularity After Each Rework

The impact of each rework on Ryze’s win rates and popularity varied significantly. Some reworks aimed to simplify his kit and make him more accessible, while others focused on refining his gameplay and increasing his skill ceiling. These changes, in turn, influenced his performance in the game and the player’s perception of him.

• Following his first rework, Ryze experienced a surge in popularity, though his win rate didn’t necessarily reflect it. The changes might have improved the clarity of his gameplay and made him more appealing to a broader audience. The rework, while not necessarily making him drastically stronger, streamlined his abilities and possibly increased his potential for outplay.
• After the second major rework, Ryze’s win rate saw a dramatic fluctuation. He was often either overtuned, dominating the competitive scene, or underpowered, struggling to make an impact. This inconsistency often resulted in his pick rate being directly linked to his perceived power level. The more complex kit sometimes alienated players who preferred his previous straightforward gameplay.
• The gameplay adjustments frequently aimed to address his high skill ceiling and provide a more balanced experience. However, these attempts often resulted in a cycle of buffs and nerfs, further impacting his popularity. His ability to instantly cast spells and reposition himself made him a powerful force in the right hands, but also a difficult champion to balance.
• The impact of each rework extended beyond just win rates and pick rates. It affected the way players approached the champion, from itemization to teamfight strategies. Each change prompted a reassessment of his strengths and weaknesses, leading to new builds and playstyles.
  

  For example, changes to his spell rotations and mana scaling directly impacted the items he needed to be effective, leading to constant adaptation from the player base.

• The overall balance and competitive meta also played a crucial role. When other champions were stronger, Ryze’s weaknesses became more apparent. When his counters were weakened or when the meta favored his strengths (like consistent damage and wave clear), his win rate and pick rate would increase.

Ryze’s Win Rate, Pick Rate, and Ban Rate: A Comparative Table

Below is a table showing Ryze’s win rate, pick rate, and ban rate before and after two major reworks. Note that these are approximate figures and can vary slightly depending on the data source and the specific timeframe analyzed.

Metric	Before Rework 1 (Season 3, Approximate)	After Rework 1 (Season 4, Approximate)	Before Rework 2 (Season 6, Approximate)	After Rework 2 (Season 6-7, Approximate)
Win Rate	51%	49%	47%	52% (at peaks, but highly volatile)
Pick Rate	4%	6%	2%	4% (peaks during periods of strength)
Ban Rate	1%	2%	0.5%	10% (during periods of overtuning)

• The table highlights the volatility of Ryze’s performance. The first rework saw a slight increase in pick rate, suggesting a positive impact on player interest, even with a slight drop in win rate.
• The second rework’s impact is more pronounced, with win rate and ban rate reflecting his periods of dominance. The significant increase in ban rate suggests a perception of him being overpowered at times.
• It’s important to remember that these are snapshots in time. Ryze’s stats have continued to fluctuate based on further balance changes and meta shifts.