League of Legends patch 8.4: Major changes to Rengar and AP items

League of Legends’ next big content patch is 8.4, introducing Dragon Master Swain, as well as a host of balance and bug fixes, with big changes to Rengar and AP items. Have a look below for all the information we’ve got, straight from the PBE.

Want in? You’ll need the best League of Legends champions.

LoL Patch 8.4 Release Date And Downtime

LoL Patch 8.4 goes live on February 22. Servers will go down for maintenance at 03:00 for NA, 05:00 GMT for EUW, and 03:00 CET for EUNE, and is expected to go on for around three hours.

LoL Patch 8.4 Balance Changes

That out of the way, let’s start with the really important bit, shall we? What you need to remember is that stuff on the PBE like this is neither guaranteed to happen, nor to be in the next patch even if it does. This is what the folks over at Riot are thinking about doing. We’ve got the numbers on what’s changing, and a general guideline on which way each champion, item, mastery, summoner spell or rune is moving.

Patch 8.4 Champion Changes

Darius – buffed

Crippling Strike (W):

Cooldown decreased to 7/6.5/6/5.5/5 seconds from 9/8/7/6/5 seconds.
AD ratio increased to 140/145/150/155/160% from 140% at all ranks.

Apprehend (E):

Armor pen increased to 10/15/20/25/30% from 5/10/15/20/25%.

Evelynn – buffed

Whiplash (E):

Empowered damage increased to 95/115/135/155/175 from 70/90/110/130/150.

Fiddlesticks – buffed

Dark Wind (E):

Cooldown decreased to 10 seconds at all ranks from 12/11.5/11/10.5/10 seconds.
Additional damage to monsters increased to 100% from 50%.

Crowstorm (R):

Cooldown decreased to 140/110/80 seconds from 150/140/130 seconds.

Gangplank – nerfed

Parrrley (Q):

Cost increased to 60/55/50/45/40 from 40 at all ranks.

Powder Keg (E):

Keg duration decreased to 25 seconds from 60 seconds.

Gnar –buffed

Hop (E):

Damage increased to 50/85/120/155/190 from 20/60/100/140/180.

GNAR! (R):

Active: AD increased to 100% from 70%.

Kalista – changed

Base AD decreased to 66 from 71.
Base attack speed increased to 0.694 from 0.644.
Attack speed per level increased to 3.5 from 2.5.
Attack range decreased to 525 from 550.
Sentinel (W):

No longer gains attack speed near Oathsworn ally, now gains 5/10/15/20/25 attack damage instead.

Rend (E):

Mana refund changed to 10/15/20/25/30 mana from 30 mana at all ranks.

Kog’Maw – buffed

Bio-Arcane Barrage (W):

Bonus magic damage increased to 3/3.75/4.5/5.25/6% from 3/3.5/4/4.5.5%.

Ornn –changed

Bellows Breath (W):

Damage decreased to 12/13/14/15/16% of target max health from 10/12/14/16/18%.
Cooldown increased to 17/15/13/11/9 seconds from 13/12/11/10/9 seconds.
Shield duration increased to 3.5 seconds from 2.5 seconds.
Brittle duration decreased to 3 seconds from 6 seconds.

Searing Charge (E):

Damage increased to80/125/170/215/260 from30/50/70/90/110.
Bonus armor ratio increased to 40% from 30%.
Bonus MR reation increased to 40% from 30%.
Effect changed: “If Ornn rams into terrain, he creates a shockwave that knocks up enemies for 1 second and applies Searing Charges’s damage to those not hit by the charge.”

The shockwave effect now only damages units not hit by the inital charge.
Shockwave damage increased to 80-260 from 50-210.

Call of the Forge God (R):

Brittle duration decreased to 3 seconds from 6 seconds.

Poppy – buffed

Heroic Charge (E):

Initial damage increased to 60/80/100/120/140 from 55/75/95/115/135.
Terrain collide damage increased to 60/80/100/120/140 from 55/75/95/115/135.

Renekton – buffed

Cull the Meek (Q):

Damage increased to 65/100/135/170/205 from 65/95/125/155/185.
Enhanced damage increased to 100/150/200/250/300 from 95/140/185/230/275

Rengar –changed

Base HP decreased to 585 from 586.2.
Base AD decreased to 65 from 68.
AD growth increased to 3 from 1.5.
Base attack speed changed to .666 + 3%/level from.625 + 3.5%/lvl.
Unseen Predator (P):

Bonetooth buff changed to[1/4/9/16/25% bonus AD] fromfrom [1/3/7/13/20 flat AD and % bonus AD].
Leap distance from target on landing decreased to 50 units from 100 units.

Savagery (Q):

Active damage decreased to 20/50/80/110/140 fom 30/60/90/120/150.
Active damage total AD changed to 110% at all ranks from 100/105/110/115/120%.
Empowered total AD ratio decreased to 130% from 135%.
New empowered effect:Rengar’s next attack deals 30-240 damage and grants + 40% AS for next two attacks.
Q grants ferocity and attack Speed vs. towers, but does not deal bonus damage.
No longer partial resets after the Q attack (Pressing Q is still a full reset).
Particles and sounds have been added/re-added to support the old Q animation and buffs. This includes stuff for skins.
Q animation speed has been adjusted to better match when the damage comes out
Old icon is back.
Empowered Q now consumes ferocity on cast (should fix a number of bugs and feel issues).
Buff duration for on-next hit decreased to 3 seconds from 5 seconds.

Battle Roar (W):

Cooldown decreased to 16/14.5/13/11.5/10 seconds from 20/18/16/14/12 seconds.

Thrill of the Hunt (R):

Range at which enemies can sense Rengar decreased to 1600 units from 2000/3000/4000.
Range at which Rengar can track the nearest enemy changed to 2500/3000/3500 from 2000/3000/4000.
Enemy champions revealed by Thrill of the Hunt (by being closest to Renagr) star revealed for the spell’s duration (even if another enemy moves closer).
Movement speed increased to 40/50/60% from 40% at all ranks.
Closest enemy leap bonus changed to[30% TAD +10/14/18 Armor shred for 4 seconds] from providing a critical strike.
Enemy champions near the closest enemy who can sense Rengar are also alerted of Rengar’s presence.”
Armor shred increased to 12/18/24 from 10/14/18.

Shyvana – nerfed

AD per level decreased to 2.8 from 3.4.
Twin Bite (Q):

second hit bonus damage decreased to 20/35/50/65/80% from 40/55/70/85/100%.

Swain – changed

Vision of Empire (W):

Cost changed to 70/85/100/115/130 from 90/100/110/120/130

Demonic Ascension (R):

Heal increased to 20/25/40 from 15/30/45.
Demonflare health drain value changed to 125/300/450 (at 1/12/16) from 150/300/450.

Talon –buffed

Base MR increased to 39 from 32.1.
Base armor decreased to 30 from 32.
Shadow Assault (R):

Bonus AD ratio increased to 85% from 80%.
Damage increased to 90/165/240 from 90/135/180.

Tristana – nerfed

Buster Shot (R):

Cooldown increased to 120/110/100 seconds from 100/85/70 seconds.

Twitch – nerfed

Contaminate (E):

Base damage decreased to 20/25/30/35/40 from 20/35/50/65/80.

Volibear –changed

Rolling Thunder (Q):

Enhanced movement speed bonus changed to 30/37.5/45/52.5/60% from 30/35/40/45/50%.
Transitioning from maximum movement speed to minimum movement speed now decays over 1 second instead of falling off immediately.

Frenzy (W):

In addition to monsters, active cooldown is now reduced by 50% when Volibear bites a minion.

Majestic Roar (E):

New effect: Now knocks back enemies slightly.
New effect: Airborne or dashing enemies now take an additional40/60/80/100/120 (+30% AP) damage.

Xin Zhao – nerfed

Determination (P):

Bonus damage decreased to 15/25/35/45% (at 1/6/11/16) from 20/40/60/80%.

Wind Becomes Lightning (W):

Duration extend of other abilities decreased to 0.5 seconds from 0.6 seconds.

Zed –buffed

Death Mark (R):

Cooldown decreased to 120/90/60 seconds from 120/100/80 seconds.

Zoe – nerfed

Paddle Star (Q):

Paddle Star no longer applies More Sparkles’ damage to enemies past the first hit.

Spell Thief (W):

Minions can no longer drop Teleport.

Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E):

No longer notes reduced cooldown when an enemy champion falls asleep.
“Removing Drowsy now prevents the affected target from Asleep.”

Patch 8.4 Item Changes

Ancient Coin–buffed

New: Now gives +5 movement speed.

Nomad’s Medallion–buffed

New: Now gives +10 movement speed

Archangel’s Staff–changed

Cost increased to 3200 from 2100
New recipe: Tear of the Goddess + Amplifying Tome + Lost Chapter + 915g
AP decreased to 50 from 80.
Mana increased to 650 from 250.
Now gives 10% CDR
New: Unique Passive – Haste:

This item gains an additional 10% cooldown reduction.

Frozen Mallet – nerfed

Ranged attack slow decreased to 20% from 30%.

Haunting Guise–changed

AP increased to 35 from 25.
Eyes of Pain unique passive removed
New: Unique Passive – Madness

Deal 2% more damage for each second in combat with champions (10% maximum).

Hextech GLP-800–changed

Unique Active – Frost Bolt:

Damage decreased to 75-150 from 100-200.
AP decreased to 20% from 30%.
Enemy slow decreased to 40% from 65%.

New recipe: Lost Chapter + Hextech Revolver + 850g
Mana increased to 500 from 400.
No longer grants 300 health
Unique Passive – Eternity removed
Now gives 10% CDR
New: Unique Passive – Haste:

This item gains an additional 10% cooldown reduction.

Liandry’s Torment–changed

Unique Passive – Eyes of Pain removed
Unique Passive – Haunt changed to doing 1% max health from 2% current health.
New: Unique Passive – Madness

Deal 2% more damage for each second in combat with champions (10% maximum).

Lost Chapter–changed

Cost increased to 1100g from 900g
New: Unique Passive – Haste:

This item gains an additional 10% cooldown reduction.

Luden’s Echo–changed

Cost increased to 3300 from 3200.
New recipe: Lost Chapter + Amplifying Tome + Blasting Wand + 915g
AP decreased to 90 from 100.
No longer grants 10% movement speed.
Now grants 10% CDR.
Now grants 500 mana.
New: Unique Passive – Haste:

This item gains an additional 10% cooldown reduction.

Morellonomicon–changed

Cost increased to 3000 from 2900.
New recipe: Orb of Shadows + Blasting Wand +650g
AP decreased to 80 from 100.
No longer grants 400 mana.
No longer grants 20% CDR.
Kills and Assists no longer restore 20% of your maximum mana.
Effect changed to [Unique Passive – Cursed Strike: Magic Damage dealt to champions inflicts them with Grievous Wounds for 3 seconds] fromfrom [Unique Passive – Dealing magic damage to champions below 35% health inflicts Grievous Wounds for 8 seconds].
Unique PAssive – Touch of Death:

Now grants 15 magic penetration.

Now grants 300 health.

Oblivion Orb– new!

Cost: 1500g
Recipe: Ruby Crystal + Amplifying Tome + 665g
25 AP
200 health
15 magic penetration

Rabadon’s Deathcap–buffed

Unique passive AP increased to 40% from 35%.
Cost decreased to 3600 from 3800.

Combine cost decreased to 1100 from 1265.

New recipe: Needlessly Large Rod + Needlessly Large Rod + 1100g
Change also applies to Rabadon’s Deathcrown (Ornn Masterwork item)

Cost decreased to 4600 from 4800.

Relic Shield–nerfed

Health decreased to 50 from 75

Remnant of the Ascended – buffed

Now gives +10 movement speed

Remnant of the Aspect – changed

Cost decreased to 1800 from1900.

Combine cost decreased to 550 from 650.

Health decreased to 350 from 500.

Rylai’s Crystal Scepter–buffed

AP increased to 85 from 75.

Spellbinder–new!

Cost: 2800g
Recipe: Needlessly Large Rod + Aether Wisp + 700g
100 AP
10% Movement Speed
Unique passive – Spellsteal: Nearby allied and enemy spellcasts charge Spellbound Orb up to a cap (100 maximum).
Unique Active – Spellburst: Gain up to 30% decaying Movement Speed (+0.25% per charge of Spellbound Orb), and up to 100 Ability Power (1 AP per charge of Spellbound Orb) for each spellcast stored in the Spellbound Orb (4 second duration). (60 second cooldown).

Targon’s Brace –nerfed

Health decreased to 125 from 175.

Twin Shadows– returning!

Cost: 2500g
Recipe: Fiendish Codex + Aether Wisp + 650g
60 AP
7% movement speed
10% CDR
Unique Active – Spectral Pursuit: Summons 2 Spooky Ghosts that hunt down nearby champions, revealing and Haunting them on contact.
Haunted Enemies are slowed by 40% for up to 5 seconds based on the distance the ghosts travel. (90 second cooldown).

Void Staff–nerfed

AP decreased to 70 from 80.

Wit’s End – buffed

Cost decreased to 2400 from 2500

Combine cost decreased to 380 from 480.

Unique passive bonus magic damage increased to 42 from 40.
Unique passive changed to “basic attacks steal 3 MR on hit (6 if attacker is melee), up to a max of 30 MR” from “basic attacks steal 5 MR on hit (stacks up to 5 times).”

LoL Patch Rune Changes

Time Warp Tonic – new!

Replaces Celestial Body (Inspiration Tree)
“Your potions and elixirs last 20% longer, and you gain 5% movement speed while under the effect of potions or elixirs.”
Inspiration bonuses no longer grant bonus Potion and Elixir duration.

Bone Plating – new!

After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you receive from enemies deal 20-50 less damage for 5 seconds (45 second cooldown).

Press The Attack – changed

Damage increased to 40-180 from 30-120.
Vulnerable champion damage taken changed to 4-12% from 12%.

Perfect Timing – nerfed

Stopwatch transform time increased to 10 minutes from 6 minutes.

LoL Patch 8.4 Other Balance Changes

Elder Dragon

Respawn time decreased to 8 minutes from 10 minutes.
Elder Dragon buff:

Elder Dragon buffs beyond the first grant even stronger effects. The first buff is unchanged, this only applies to Elder Dragons beyond the first:

Buff Duration: 150s for first buff, 300s for subsequent buffs
Burn Damage: 45 (+45 per drake or dragon killed) for the first buff, 135 (+90 per drake or dragon killed) for subsequent buffs
Elemental Buff: +50% effectiveness of Elemental Drake stacks for the first buff, +100% for subsequent buffs

Baron Nashor

Initial stats changed from [25 AD and 25 AP] to [24 AD and 40 AP]
Final stats changed from [40 AD and AP at 27:30] to [48 AD and 80 AP at 40:00]
Siege Minion damage vs turrets increased from +100% to +300%
Empowered caster minions now take 50% less damage from champions

Jungle Plants

Blast Cone spawns near Gromp and behind Baron and Dragon pits initial spawn time increased to 300-330 seconds from 125-140 seconds.

LoL Patch 8.4 New Skins

Second most important: cosmetics. Lovely, gorgeous cosmetics. Bit more of a visual medium this, so we’ve grabbed the best videos of each skin, as well as a lovely pic or two. Some are relatively simple changes, while others are total reworks of every part of the champion outside the gameplay numbers – new VO, new animations, new particles and the rest. It’s generally defined by how much they cost, so we’ve detailed that as well.

Dragon Master Swain

1350 RP.Details from Riot.

Here’s his splash:

Dark Star Jarvan IV

1350 RP.Details from Riot.

Here’s Jarvan’s splash:

Xin Zhao has an updated splash art:

LoL Patch 8.4 Context & Notes

Here’s a context thread on the significant changes to AP mage items in patch 8.4.

Here’s context on Volibear, Rengar, and Talon and Zed.

Finally, here are Meddler’s gameplay thoughts for February 2, which focus on tentative changes coming in 8.4. Gameplay thoughts for February 9 discuss changes to Zoe, Lissandra, and the ongoing changes to Keystone Runes. Thoughts for February 14 discuss issues with Quinn and Ahri. February 16 thoughts focus on upcoming balance to 8.5 and baron buff.

Meddler’s also been tweeting some changes to Zoe, but they haven’t made their way to the PBE just yet.

LoL Patch 8.4 Login Screen

Each patch has its own login screen with unique music. They’re always fairly excellent, though 8.4 hasn’t appeared yet – expect it in the next week or so. It will likely be based around the new Dragon Master Swain skin.

That’s League of Legends patch 8.4. We’ll update as and when we get more info, or we’ll see you for patch 8.5 in the very near future. Let us know below if there’s any vital info we missed!