Recently, Riot has come out and said that they are abandoning Ryze ( and others), as they have put too many resources into them without a positive result.

So, I just want to make the argument for which Ryze would be best for the game

Right now, I would identify that Ryze is currently best associated with single target burst damage. Against squishy targets, especially those with no magic resist, it takes very little effort to actually kill them, as your damage is front loaded into EQ combos and the such.

This is neither satisfying to play, nor play against. What is the counterplay to that? QSS, better positioning, CC? None of these are fun or interactive ways for a champion to be balanced.

I would argue that the best variant of Ryze is the third rework, which I have been heard called Machine Gun Ryze. I understand that the thought of Ryze continuously bombarding you with snares and spells probably gives some people PTSD, but just hear me out.

While chain roots are quite awful, that was really the most obnoxious part of his kit. He didn't do tons of burst damage, and his skillshots and relatively low-medium range made easier to stay away. Getting hit by a spell here or there wasn't the end of the world, it was only once he used a proper combo on you.

Items like Banshees and Adaptive Helm have given damage dealers and tanks better ways to fight him, as well as targeted spells now being punished by lane minion aggro. Since there aren't tons of runes that are great to run on consistent spell casters, he would probably run either Phase Rush (good synergy with Desperate Power), Electrocute(not great for consistent damage dealers), or Dark Harvest (just nerfed and harder to use with low range). One could also take Aftershock, Aery, Comet, or Unsealed Spellbook, but all seem like lesser options.

Additionally, with nerfs to teleport and ghost, he is more likely to take either ignite, which is an early aggression spell on a traditionally weak early champion, or Cleanse/Barrier to protect himself in the early game and from CC late. While Cleanse would help with one of his weaknesses, it is still a decent cooldown to have to burn at any point, giving another work around.

His waveclear would also be significantly affected, as the new Ryze can clear most waves with 2 E's and a Q. His old self usually used his ultimate (albeit on a short cooldown) to clear most waves, and since he is far weaker without his ultimate, especially in teamfights, this gives opportunities to take advantage.

On the contrary, new mage items would have interesting interactions with his old kit. Most mage items have some amount of mana which help his scaling. Additionally, certain items would open him to new paths to try. E.g. Spellbinder with his ultimate would be devastating and Morello now gives better access to grevious wounds but neither item gives mana or flat AR/MR, GLP/Twin Shadows/Glacial Augment could make his team fighting even stronger but he sacrifices individual 1v1 strength and flat damage on already low base damage abilities.

Additionally, all of the elemental drakes synergize well with his kit as everything the give is beneficial to Ryze. In the same vein, scuttle crab dueling 2v2 is an interesting prospect as he is regarded as weak early, but with a root could make them competitive with the right jungler. He could make decent use of the strategy to take raptors as he clears them very fast, and many mid laners now have innate tankiness, mobility, cc, or a combination, which still makes him easy to punish.

In the top lane, his range right now is unfun to deal with. If he is taken back to his old range, it becomes easier for Fighters/Bruisers to engage on him. Changes to Bruiser setup (Sterak's/Maw, Boneplating, Unflinching, Legend Tenacity, Stat Shards), make him easier to deal with. A slight change to his root duration would make him susceptible to ganks, but the addition of the rift herald would give his push power meaning in the early portion of the game.

Also, old Ryze allowed for greater skill expression. While many considered his kit to require only a "Faceroll", utilizing his kit properly and correctly weaving spells together could dramatically change the outcome of any given fight. The new Ryze still makes use of combos, but has almost gotten to the point where they seem deemphasized to his kit.

I know you might have to leave him in a state of weakness, but if you are going to give us a weak Ryze, at least give us the fun version.

tl/dr: Since new Ryze is being abandoned in terms of balance, at least give us the Ryze that is more fun to play. His new interactions since all of the changes that have been made since he was last reworked would create a brand new atmosphere from which he could actually be more balanced than previous. Many changes have given him both new ways to build and play, while also giving more options for those playing against him to not feel bullied.