Did you try it with the flicked version? Because I think that'll still hit me even at a full range zapple. Cos that is the range I try and stay at and I always have to watch out for it. And yeah, Acceleratle is good always!
Yes, I tried with the flicked version. It can be difficult to pull off in the moment, and might require prepping Zapple in anticpation for Blazing Ends - Zapple will either force Pyra to shield or get hit and take that damage - if you wanna discourage Blazing Ends that might be a good way to do it.
I was thinking trades because in most situations a Zapple vs. Blazing End situation will hit at least one of Hero / Pyra. The trade can be favorable if incredibly risky: Zapple deals practically equal damage to Blazing End, more if buffed by Oomph.
...That's a pretty nebulous metric, and it does sound a bit like you just prefer other characters, but I'm game with discussing the other options.
I mean, there are quite a few options:
- Ryze: One of the other early marketing favorites and a mage specialized in dark magic traps and warps. His lore focuses around keeping an ancient, powerful magical artifact secure - problem is, the other related artifacts have begun to stir and he can't rest easy considering that.
- Renekton: The game's resident crocodile tank. In-lore he's a mummy / war vet who went nuts over betrayal within the ranks, and his gameplay reflects a croc who's ****ing nuts.
- Lux: The game's resident Holy user. An optimistic lady who's determined to protect her homeland, she uses barriers, slows and pure energy to harass and damage her foes.
- Draven: Meme Heihachi the character. His entire schtick is having an ego the size of Jupiter and gaining Adoration by throwing and catching his axes, then cashing out the Adoration points with some stylish kill confirm.
Actually, do we have anyone who knows exactly which champions are free? I have a sneaking suspicion that they'd pick one of those since they're the only ones who new players can readily access, which means that they're a ton more likely to be (or get) familiar with them.
Here's where I shill Dota 2 since all playable characters are free.
Just don't be surprised when you're hit by a giant arrow coming from off screen (which also stuns for four seconds) and wonder WTF just happened. Dota 2's the kind of game which embraced that sort of thing. 
Nah but seriously, LoL's champion rotation switches quite often but allows some leeway. I'm not entirely keen on that, but it allows you to get the champions you like and focus on them. It's a contributing reason why Ahri's popular - she's relatively simple to play but can make some interesting stuff happen each game, so a lot of people get her. I've seen similar things happen in Dota 2, where characters that play similar to her are decently popular at least.
