Season 44: A major reshuffling of the mage tier list, Haiyue returns to T1, and he hard-counters Nezha? (Part 2)

The new version's pace is faster, and while utility mages have the advantage of not needing resources, their gameplay may fall behind the team. Without equipment support, their basic skill attributes won't last long. This is the dilemma Zhen Ji faces: slow development, and despite having an ice pillar for self-protection, in the eyes of the enemy, it's a delayed death. Her lane rotation speed is not suitable for the team; while the whole world is at war, she might still be busy defending. Her awareness is not high enough, and she's not even in the T2 tier. In summary, she's okay in low ranks, but in mid-ranks and above, please don't stick to her; the current version can't accommodate utility mid-laners.

Haiyue: T1

How long has it been since the name Haiyue appeared on the forum? A 49.4% win rate, and you still dare to talk about it? With the changes this season, few people mention it. Don't underestimate these stats; she firmly holds a place in the T1 tier. The question is, why? Many newbies play Haiyue like Xiao Qiao, using three moons for long-range attacks, harassing and kiting. Unless you're absolutely certain, you really shouldn't recklessly pull people into the illusion, going it alone. Often, this pushes you to your doom. Without teammate support, the death rate increases dramatically, and in a losing situation, the ultimate is almost useless. Saving until you have all the equipment before daring to pull squishy targets in a 1v1 is a flawed approach.

Illusion: The crescent moon bounces off a wall, now with a healing effect.

In Season 44, the developers first increased the slow effect of the first skill, clearly enhancing control capabilities. The most interesting change is that the crescent moon will bounce within the illusion, and if it goes beyond the distance, it will restore health. With these new attributes, everyone should feel confident in pulling people into the arena to fight. If you can't kill them, take down the key characters and create a good output environment for the outside.

Furthermore, the stun from the second skill has been reverted, but the damage reduction and mobility within the illusion all point to a core gameplay mechanic: closing the door and beating the dog, restoring dominance to the home turf. The most important skill is always the ultimate. Leaving it aside without buffs or optimizations forces the burst-type Haiyue into a kiting, attrition-based playstyle, lacking damage output. It's better to build a semi-tank and play a stand-and-fight strategy. As long as the opponent doesn't have essence to remove skills, the death rate is nearly 99.9%. Once the enemy has a link, there's basically no escape. There are many Tier 1 choices available; Haiyue's return is a welcome development.

Image source: Internet