League of Legends patch 9.8 is now available on the PBE. Balance changes are pretty light at this point, but to make up for that, there’s a whole host of cosmetics on offer in this new update.
The biggest changes on show so far are both tweaks we’ve seen before. Teemo returned for more testing, with all of his kit in line for an edit of some kind or another. Blitzcrank was also back following patch 9.7’s tests, but both of those sets of changes have been reverted, and will be back in a future PBE build. Elsewhere, a change to Bilgewater Cutlass’ pricing has a few knock-on changes to the items that build out of it.
When it comes to skins, you’re spoiled for choice in League of Legends patch 9.8. As well as the arrival of this year’s Conqueror skin, this time for Alistar, there’s a new Legendary Zed skin and the final Prestige Edition K/DA skin, for Evelynn. As if that weren’t enough, this patch also heralds the arrival of the victorious Invictus Gaming skins. The 2018 world champions are now immortalised in-game with a selection of skins for Camille, LeBlanc, Rakan, Fiora, Irelia, and Kai’Sa.
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS PATCH 9.8 RELEASE DATE AND DOWNTIME
League of Legends patch 9.8 goes live tomorrow, April 17. Servers will go down for maintenance at 03:00 PT for NA servers, 05:00 BST for EUW, and 03:00 CEST for EUNE. Downtime is expected to last for approximately three hours.
Patch 9.8 Champion Changes
Amumu – buffed
- Cursed Touch (P):
- Bonus damage increased to 13% from 10%.
- Bandage Toss (Q):
- Cooldown decreased to 12/11/10/9/8/ seconds from 16/14/12/10/8 seconds.
- Amumu now follows his target up to 2000 units from where Q was cast, in the event that his target moves.
Camille – buffed
- Stats:
- Base attack speed increased to 0.644 from 0.625.
Cassiopeia – buffed
- Twin Fang (E):
- Cost decreased to 40/45/50/55/60 from 40/50/60/70/80.
Fiora – buffed
- Riposte (W):
- CC duration increased to 2 seconds from 1.5 seconds.
- Damage increased to 110/150/190/230/270 from 90/130/170/210/250.
- Bladework (E):
- Cost changed to 40 at all ranks from 40/45/50/55/60.
Gnar – buffed
- GNAR! (R):
- Cooldown decreased to 90/60/30 seconds from 120/100/80.
Jhin – buffed
- Captive Audience (E):
- Duration increased to 180 seconds from 120 seconds.
- Recharge changed to 28/25/22/19/16 seconds from 28/27/26/25/24 seconds.
- Curtain Call (R):
- Damage multiplier based on missing HP changed to 1-4x from 1-3.5x.
Kayle – nerfed
- Stats:
- AD decreased to 50 from 52.
- Armor decreased to 26 from 28.
- Attack speed ratio decreased to 0.667 from 0.695.
- Divine Ascent (P):
- Ranks are now based on Kayle’s level rather than skill points.
Kayn – changed
- Shadow Step (E):
- Cooldown set to 8 seconds at all ranks when in Shadow Assassin form.
Master Yi – buffed
- Highlander (R):
- Master Yi is now ghosted during his ultimate, allowing him to move through units.
Nautilus – buffed
- Staggering Blow (P):
- Duration changed to 0.75/1/1.25/1.5 seconds at levels 1/6/11/16 from 0.5/0.75/1/1.25/1.5 seconds at levels 1/6/11/16/18.
- Dredge Line (Q):
- Damage increased to 100/145/190/235/280 + 90% AP from 80/120/160/200/240 + 75% AP.
Renekton – buffed
- Stats:
- HP increased to 575 from 572.16.
- Attack speed growth increased to 2.75% from 2.65%.
- Armor growth increased to 4 from 3.8.
- Cull the Meek (Q):
- Healing against champions increased to 12/18/25/30/36 from 9/13.5/18/22.5/27.
- Empowered healing against champion increased to 36/54/72/90/108 from 27/40.5/54/67.5/81.
- Fury bonus healing cap increased to 200/300/400/500/600 from 150/225/300/375/450.
Sejuani – buffed
- Winter’s Wrath (W):
- W1 max health as damage increased to 2% from 1.5%.
- W2 max health as damage increased to 6% from 4.5%.
Singed – buffed
- Stats:
- HP5 increased to 9.5 from 8.
- Mega Adhesive (W):
- Slow increased to 60% from 40%.
- Fling (E):
- Cost decreased to 60/70/80/90/100 from 80/95/110/125/140.
Trundle – buffed
- Chomp (Q):
- Bonus damage increased to 20/40/60/80/100 from 20/35/50/65/80.
- Subjugate (R):
- Cooldown decreased to 100/80/60 from 110/90/70.
Zed – nerfed
- Razor Shuriken (Q):
- Damage decreased to 80/115/150/185/220 from 90/125/160/195/230.
- Living Shadow (W):
- Cooldown increased to 22/20.5/19/17.5/16 seconds from 20/18.5/17/15.5/14 seconds.
Patch 9.8 Item Changes
Bilgewater Cutlass
- Stats:
- Cost increased to 1600 from 1500.
- Combine cost increased to 350 from 250.
- Other items:
- Blade of the Ruined King total cost increased to 3300 from 3200.
- Hextech Gunblade combine cost decreased to 750 from 850.
Bramble Vest – buffed
- Effect:
- Grievous Wound duration increased to 3 seconds from 1 second.
Tear of the Goddess – changed
- Limit:
- Players are now limited to one Tear of the Goddess item. This change affects Tear, as well as Archangel’s Staff, Manamune, and their upgrades.
Thornmail – buffed
- Effect:
- Grievous Wound duration increased to 3 seconds from 1 second.
Stormrazor – buffed
- Effect:
- Energized effects amplication increased to 35% from 30%.
- Energized effect decay changed to “over 1.5 seconds” from “over 1 second.”
Patch 9.8 Rune changes
Coup de Grace – changed
- Stats:
- Damage increased to 8% from 7%.
- Effect:
- No longer gives adaptive damage on champion takedowns.
Patch 9.8 Skins
Conqueror Alistair – 975 RP
Here’s his splash:
Galaxy Slayer Zed – 1920 RP
Here’s his splash:
Invictus Gaming Worlds 2018 skins – 975 RP each
To celebrate Invictus Gaming’s victory at Worlds 2018 (RIP Fnatic), Camille, Fiora, Irelia, Kai’Sa, LeBlanc, and Rakan are now all kitted out in ceremonial skins.
Prestige K/DA Evelynn – 100 Prestige Points
League of Legends patch 9.8 Login Screen
Every League of Legends patch comes with its own custom login screen. They’re always fairly excellent, and patch 9.8’s is likely to be no exception. This time around, it’s based on Galaxy Slayer Zed.
That’s everything we’ve got for you in League of Legends patch 9.8. Remember that everything in here is only on the PBE, and is therefore subject to change, and that you can keep up to date with the game’s current build with the League of Legends patch 9.7 notes. We’ll see you again for the League of Legends patch 9.9 notes very soon.