It has been quite a few updates since the 3 new defensive items were released into VG and I happen to wonder about the state of Pulseweave in the Current Meta.
Pulseweave for the last 2 updates has been the odd duck compared to the other 2 new defensive items. Capacitor plate has found its place in the meta from the very beginning with heroes who use barriers, heals and fortified health and Rook’s Decree has been useful for its teamwide shields.
Pulseweave however has not been as favoured as the other 2. For one, you can easily trigger its passive when you suffer poke damage from the enemy team, making it completely useless for 30 whole seconds. Second, the only utility you get from it is a 2 slow that only triggers when then you deal the damage that comes with it.
But all is not lost for it, the pros have found a very good use for pulseweave in this new “tank” top lane meta where unusual top laners(usually captains) make use of this item.
First of all, using pulseweave on melee captains such as Tony, Catherine, Fortress, Flicker, Ardan, and Grace provides the Tankiness they need as a top laner with a whopping 700 health and the lifespring passive which keeps them health in-between battles. Second, since captain top laners only build stormcrown as their only damage item, they severely lack damage to contribute to the team besides their in-build utility in their kits. Pulseweave fixes both of those problems. The slow adds additional utility while the damage is AOE and it is pretty big when you build tons of health items(It can go to the 500+ range). Not to mention, it gives a burst of movement speed when the passive is activated AND it gives an additonal 10% movement speed, making it an amazing item for those top laners who constantly engage on the enemy team and catch up to them when they try to run away.
Finally, after 2 updates of almost being ignored, pulseweave has finally found its purpose. I only hope it stays this way.
Additonal thoughts?