League of Legends Buffs Sterak's Gage and Makes it Melee-Only

The Sterak’s Gage item will soon be firmly cemented in the hands of tanks and bruisers with some [...]

By Tanner Dedmon

Darius
(Photo: Riot Games)

The Sterak's Gage item will soon be firmly cemented in the hands of tanks and bruisers with some changes coming to make the League of Legends item melee-only.

Champions such as Darius and other top-lane heavyweights tend to opt for the weapon thanks to the variety of stats that it brings to the table. It's got attack damage, it's got a shield that scales off of bonus health, and after the buffs that are on the PBE, it also grants quite a bit of tenacity.

Below are all the buffs that are being tested at the moment for Patch 7.20, courtesy of Surrender@20:

  • New Recipe: [Jaurim's Fist + Pickaxe + Ruby Crystal + 725g]
  • Total Cost increased from 2600 to 3200
  • Now MELEE-ONLY.
  • Health increased from 400 to 450
  • Base AD increased from 30% to 50%, and is now a UNIQUE PASSIVE.
  • [Changed Effect] Unique Passive - Lifeline
    • Shield now starts to decay after .75 seconds
    • Lifeline passive changed from giving [+30% Base AD] to [+30% Tenacity]

The changes being tested for the item were previewed by Riot Meddler previously when he discussed changing the item along with Jaurim's Fist. One of the goals was to make the stats more apparent closer to the item's purchase instead of building up stacks, a change that would make it a more gold-efficient purchase.

Those who buy the item often will undoubtedly be pleased by the buffs, but it the melee-only stipulation does leave out the recently reworked Urgot who would sometimes opt for the item. It's not one that the champion would rush, but it meshes well with his ranged juggernaut status and is often considered for a purchase later in the game.

"Urgot has stressed me out while working on this," Riot Axes said regarding the changes. "Ultimately, if a champion breaks enough rules, I can't let them hold the item system hostage, and I can't make this item this strong if Corki can use it to gain immunity to assassins."

Axes went on to say that they see Urgot buying the item "quite rarely," but they'd balance the champion around not having access to Sterak's if need be.

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