The perpetual cycle of balancing and rebalancing can be frustrating, but these days is simply a part of living. Why, just this morning I awoke to find my ‘Luscious Locks’ had been nerfed, replaced with a ‘Lopsided ‘Fro’ in the interests of hair-fairness. But I grin and bear it, because I know it’ll keep my from spamming hair-flicks to get my way.
A similar sort of thing is about to happen in League of Legends. An incoming patch sees the abilities of a number of champions switched up to ensure that all characters remain competitive.
Akali players will note that initial damage caused by Mark of the Assassin has been significantly reduced. Riot want to play on the assassin thing, and ensure she’s a champion with high risk and high reward. As such, this patch’s changes increase the level of risk Akali players suffer in the early game, “while retaining her later game potential”.
Kayle players have reportedly discovered that her support spells can be cast when her opponents are still off-screen. Riot aren’t having any of that, and have reduced casting range for Divine Blessing and Intervention to help enemies better prepare for her.
Lux has had her base movement speed reduced, to force players to be “more mindful of her timing and positioning” and allow others the opportunity to capitalise on their mistakes.
The effects on Volibear’s Rolling Thunder have been nerfed, but Riot have preserved his role as an “extremely powerful duelist”. “In order to preserve his presence as a threatening fighter, these changes instead reduce Volibear’s ability to force engagements early on,” the developers explain.
Karma, meanwhile, is the beneficiary of several “quality of life improvements”. These grant efficient players the chance to generate multiple Mantras more easily.
For the whole changelog, see below:
Akali
As an assassin, Akali should be a champion with high risk and high reward. These changes increase her early game risk while retaining her later game potential.
Mark of the Assassin
- Initial damage reduced to 35/55/75/95/115 from 45/70/95/120/145
- Mark detonation damage Ability Power ratio increased to 0.5 from 0.4
Shadow Dance
- Essence of Shadow charge rate increased to 35/25/15 seconds from 25/20/15
Corki
Missile Barrage
- Now fires a Big One every 3rd missile instead of every 4th
- Missile charge rate reduced to 12/10/8 seconds from 12
Karma
These changes to Karma include several quality of life improvements and enhance her ability to generate multiple Mantras in well-executed fights.
Gathering Fire
- Mantra cooldown reduction increased to 2 seconds at all levels from 1/1.5/2
Inner Flame
- The detonation area now occurs at the actual point of missile impact instead of at the center of the initial target that is hit
Focused Resolve
- Mana cost reduced to 70/75/80/85/90 from 70/80/90/100/110
- Now applies Gathering Fire’s effect on each instance of damage dealt instead of only once on initial application, but now deals damage 3 times over the duration instead of 6
Inspire
- Movement Speed duration increased to 1.5 seconds from 1.25
- Fixed a bug where the tooltip stated the shield was 80/115/150/185/220 instead of its actual value of 80/120/160/200/240
Mantra Bonus – Defiance
- Movement Speed bonus is now always 60% instead of 20/30/40/50/60% (based on Inspire’s current rank)
- Ally shield / haste range increased to 700 from 600
Kayle
Previous to these changes, Kayle’s support spells could often be cast completely off-screen from her opponents. With these reduced ranges, it should be easier for opponents to anticipate her presence in fights.
Divine Blessing
- Cast range reduced to 900 from 1000
Intervention
- Cast range reduced to 900 from 1200
Lux
On top of her long range and wide array of defensive utility, Lux was also among the fastest ranged champions in the game. These changes force Lux to be more mindful of her timing and positioning as opponents now have more opportunities to capitalize on her mistakes.
Base Movement Speed reduced to 330 from 340
Final Spark
- Cooldown increased to 80/65/50 seconds from 80/60/40
Morgana
Dark Binding
- Mana cost reduced to 50/60/70/80/90 from 60/75/90/105/120
Soul Shackles
- Mana cost reduced to 100 at all ranks from 100/150/200
Nami
Tidal Wave
- Range increased to 2750 from 2500
- Cooldown reduced to 120/110/100 seconds from 140/120/100
- Mana cost reduced to 100 at all ranks from 100/150/200
Nautilus
Base Armor increased to 19 from 15
Titan’s Wrath
- Cooldown reduced to 22/21/20/19/18 seconds from 26/24/22/20/18
Nunu
Absolute Zero
- Cooldown reduced to 110/100/90 seconds from 150/120/90
- Mana cost reduced to 100 from 150
Quinn
Harrier
- Valor now marks targets slightly more frequently
- Targets are now marked more immediately when Valor lands on the target
Vault
- Quinn now lands closer to her target when using Vault from far away
Urgot
Acid Hunter / Noxian Corrosive Charge
Now displays Acid Hunter’s lock-on range while there is a visible, nearby enemy champion marked by Noxian Corrosive Charge
Volibear
Volibear was both an extremely powerful duelist as well as an almost guaranteed initiator for early skirmishes. In order to preserve his presence as a threatening fighter, these changes instead reduce Volibear’s ability to force engagements early on.
Rolling Thunder
- Movement Speed bonus toward champions adjusted to 30/35/40/45/50% from 45% at all ranks
Items
Spirit of the Ancient Golem
- New Recipe: Spirit Stone + Kindlegem + 450 gold = 2000 gold (total cost reduced from 2300 gold)
- No longer grants +30 Armor
- Now grants +10% Cooldown Reduction
Spirit of the Elder Lizard
- New Recipe: Spirit Stone + Long Sword + Long Sword + 500 gold = 2000 gold (total cost reduced from 2300 gold)
- Attack Damage reduced to 45 from 50
Seraph’s Embrace
- Active Mana cost reduced to 20% current Mana from 25%
- Active Shield adjusted to 20% of current Mana + 150 from 25% current Mana
Muramana
- Toggle damage changed to physical from magic