14.6 Patch Preview
14.6!
ADC
We've been hearing a lot of discussion around the state of ADC
The strong state of supports prevents us from buffing them heavily and returning to a "bot meta"
Crit items are getting some buffs to make them more competitive vs on-hit and lethality.
We're still on the continuous pursuit of trying to improve the satisfaction of the role for (especially) regular play without sending the power level through the roof in the hands of coordinated teams
There are some other changes this patch to decrease the snowballiness of the early-game which should also help with early feels
Supports
- Meanwhile supports are getting some nerfs through gold income decreases, further sleigh nerfs and a nerf to dorans starts by making them unique with support income items
Early Lane Snowballing
We're re-examining some of our long held tuning of early lane snowballing through epic item spikes (Serrated Dirk, Hextech Alternator, etc.)
For the longest time, these items have been tuned to be pretty powerful on first base to reward players who get ahead in lane & disincentivize players from stacking components
As players have gotten better at juicing their leads, we've found these frequently lead to "no-fun" gameplay states too quickly where one party sits under the tower after one bad play
We're bringing these items down to be closer to 100% gold efficiency as a result to make playing from behind more realistic and for the ahead party to have repeated success to get to their snowballed state
Voidgrubs
As currently tuned, Voidgrubs are a bit too tanky for ahead top laners to take
As a result of some of the bot focused buffs this patch, we're trying to make these a little easier to take for ahead top laners
Some of these changes will happen this patch and some in the next patch (junglers find it easier to take Voidgrubs, because they find it easier to deal with the Voidmites)
Cho'Gath, Ornn, Shen, Sion
Each of these champions were intended to benefit from Sunfire and Heartsteel changes and the items are now in a reasonable spot, but the champions are still weak
They're all receiving a small buff
We're hearing you on wanting more Ornn items
Making Ornn items is technically a lot more difficult than it seems, to the point that it's unsustainable to keep making them in the manner that we have been & we need a new system for making these
We've been thinking about how to go about this, but also don't want to leave Ornn weak while we're doing it. Hopefully we'll have some good news to share on this front soon
Galio
Galio's builds have trended towards heavy glass cannon ever since the new item changes
We're making some changes to make Galio's pattern more fun and with more spellcasts, while being a bit more durable
While it's somewhat amusing to see the colossus flying in, one shotting and then getting one shot, it's undermining his champion fantasy somewhat
At the same time, we're trying to keep his mid powerful and not move his primary role to support (OK if it's viable though)
Smolder
We overshot on the Smolder changes last patch (underestimating how much the E damage did in particular)
Our hotfix nerfs pulled him back halfway, but we're looking to pull back a bit more, similar to his previous power level, but with the feels improvements from the changes
He's certainly in frustrating territory right now, but we think that's mainly due to his power level exacerbating an otherwise balanceable champion, rather than due to any specific unbalanceable underlying issue (true damage, scaling, etc.)
More on the other champions tomorrow when their changes have more context!
PBE CHANGES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Credit to /u/FrankTheBoxMonster for PBE changes.
>>> Champion Buffs <<<
Cho'Gath
Diana (Jungle)
- Attack Speed ratio increased 0.625 >>> 0.694
Attack Speed per level reduced 2.25% >>> 2%
[P] Moonsilver Blade buffs:
- Bonus Attack Speed now scales over levels 1-18 instead of levels 1/3/6/9/12/15
- Duration of bonus Attack Speed after casting an ability increased 3 >>> 5 seconds
Ornn
Shen
Sion
Tryndamere
>>> Champion Nerfs <<<
Briar
Gragas (Top)
Karma (Mid)
- Mana per level reduced 50 >>> 40
Mana Regeneration per level increased 0.5 >>> 0.8
[P] Gathering Fire [R] Mantra cooldown reduction reduced 5 >>> 4 seconds
[Q/R-Q] Inner Flame/Soulflare mana cost increased 45 flat >>> 40/50/60/70/80
[R-E] Defiance bonus shield reduced 25/75/125/175 >>> 50/90/130/170 (based on [P] Mantra rank)
[R] Mantra cooldown increased 40/37/34/31 >>> 40/38/36/34 seconds
Senna (ADC)
Smolder
Volibear
>>> Champion Adjustments <<<
Galio
- HP per level reduced 126 >>> 114
Base Move Speed increased 335 >>> 340
[P] Colossal Smash adjustments:
- Cooldown now static (can't be reduced with Ability Haste)
- Cooldown now reduced by 3 seconds when hitting champions and Epic Monsters with abilities, once per cast
- Damage reduced 15-200 (based on levels 1-18) (+100% AD) (+50% AP) (+60% bonus Magic Resistance) >>> 15-115 (based on levels 1-18) (+100% AD) (+40% AP) (+60% bonus Magic Resistance)
[Q] Winds of War adjustments:
- Initial damage AP ratio reduced 75% >>> 60%
- Cooldown reduced 12/11/10/9/8 >>> 10/9.5/9/8.5/8 seconds
[W] Shield of Durand adjustments:
- Magic Damage Reduction adjusted 25/30/35/40/45% (+5% per 100 AP) (+12% per 100 bonus Magic Resistance) >>> 25/30/35/40/45% (+4% per 100 AP) (+8% per 100 bonus Magic Resistance) (+1% per 100 bonus HP)
- Minimum damage AP ratio reduced 30% >>> 20%
- Cooldown reduced 18/17/16/15/14 >>> 18/16.5/15/13.5/12 seconds
[E] Justice Punch adjustments:
- Damage AP ratio reduced 90% >>> 75%
- Non-champion damage ratio increased 50% >>> 85%
- Cooldown reduced 11/10/9/8/7 >>> 9/8.5/8/7.5/7 seconds
>>> System Buffs <<<
Infinity Edge
- Critical Strike Damage increased 40% >>> 50%
Navori Quickblades
AD increased 60 >>> 65
Build path changed Pickaxe + Caulfield's Warhammer + Cloak of Agility + 725 gold >>> B.F. Sword + Caulfield's Warhammer + Cloak of Agility + 300 gold
Lord Dominik's Regards and Mortal Reminder
- Armor Penetration increased 30% >>> 35%
>>> System Nerfs <<<
Epic Item Stat Efficiency
Bami's Cinder - Immolate damage adjusted 12 (+1% bonus HP) >>> 13 (0.5% bonus HP)
Brutalizer Lethality reduced 8 >>> 5
Caulfield's Warhammer AD reduced 25 >>> 20
Fiendish Codex AP reduced 35 >>> 25
Glacial Bucker adjustments:
- Cost increased 900 >>> 950 gold
- Build path adjusted Sapphire Crystal + Cloth Armor + 250 gold >>> Sapphire Crystal + Cloth Armor + Glowing Mote + 50 gold
Haunting Guise AP reduced 35 >>> 30
Hearthbound Axe adjustments:
- AD reduced 20 >>> 15
- Cost reduced 1200 >>> 1150 gold
Hextech Alternator AP reduced 50 >>> 45
Kircheis Shard - Jolt damage reduced 60 >>> 50
Serrated Dirk AD reduced 25 >>> 20
Spectre's Cowl adjustments:
- HP reduced 250 >>> 200
- Base HP Regeneration added 0% >>> 100%
- Incorporeal passive removed
- Build path adjusted Ruby Crystal + Null-Magic Mantle + 400 gold >>> Ruby Crystal + Null-Magic Mantle + Rejuvenation Bead + 100 gold
Steel Sigil build path adjusted Long Sword + Cloth Armor + 450 gold >>> Long Sword + Cloth Armor + Cloth Armor + 150 gold
Tunneler cost increased 1100 >>> 1150
Verdant Barrier cost reduced 1800 >>> 1700
Solstice Sleigh
Support Item Gold Income
World Atlas - Quest nerfs:
- Upgrade threshold reduced 500 >>> 400 gold
- Minion execute gold reduced 20 >>> 15
- Enemy champion or structure damage gold reduced 30/28 >>> 22/20 (melee/ranged)
Runic Compass - Quest nerfs:
- Upgrade threshold reduced 1000 >>> 800 gold
- Minion execute gold reduced 28 >>> 20
- Enemy champion or structure damage gold reduced 34/32 >>> 24/22 (melee/ranged)
>>> System Adjustments <<<
Voidgrubs
- Defensive Measures changed to provide a heal instead of a shield to remaining Voidgrubs when one is killed
Starting Items
- The following are now unique items that cannot be purchased together:
- Doran's Ring
- Doran's Blade
- Doran's Shield
- Gustwalker Hatchling
- Mosstomper Seedling
- Scorchclaw Pup
- World Atlas
- Runic Compass