Grail looks amazing, unlike the introduction of Maw. CDR is incredibly underrated for the most part, mostly thanks to "blue buff," and to get it on an Abyssal-like package for a similar price is awesome. When the enemy team comp forces Tabi/Mercs, no longer will casters be forced purely offensive (DFG/Morello's) or defensive (Frozen Heart etc.) to itemize for it. The fact it upgrades from Chalice and retains its huge mana regen passive is just icing on the cake for the Anivias and Swains of the world that need it, though still useful for every mana user if not overkill. Also it kinda obsoletes Tear -> Archangel's entirely except for last-item Ryze. :[
Personal mathy comparison I decided to share:
Sorc Shoes + Grail relative to CDR Boots + Abyssal:
(-) 350 gold more expensive, -62 gold value in the AP/MR changes (NLR and Negatron as comparators).
(-) Personal penetration doesn't boost ally damage and penetration fails in the rare case someone is actually reduced to negative MR.
(+) Your penetration (reduction) isn't restricted to 1000 range, in instances where you might out-range your own aura.
(+) Huge-ass fucking mana regen. Even if you're not playing someone like Kassadin that can use absolutely every point of mana you could possibly have, a little regen is useful to every mana-using champion.
The Morello's change has been on their minds for a while now, back when they were contemplating removing the healing debuff on Ignite to ensure casters still had an option for applying one. I guess they decided the item needed some love now, though I'm still not sure how I feel about it relative to DFG. Even where you're not using it as part of a 100-0 instagib combo, taking a big chunk of health out of someone is functionally similar to the indirect damage you deal via lowering their healing. I suppose the favorable secondary stats, including lower cost, make it a no-brainer purchase now against sustain-based champions (Vlad, Mundo, etc.) but eh, whatever. I wonder what the range on the active is.
also ryze buffs lolwut