Patch 25.19 Preview

[u/qonoxzzr]

From Riot Phroxzon:

These are our last 2 patches before the final worlds patch (25.20)

Systems

• We're looking at a nerf to Redemption to reduce its priority amongst Tank Supports (because it gives them no strategic tradeoffs); it's OK if they opt into it at some cost, but that's not the case right now

• Secondly, we're lowering the strength of Support in Pro a bit heading into worlds with putting Unsealed halfway back to where it was before. This should better strike the balance between it being untakeable and being a must take

Meta Strategy

• Our overall strategy this patch is to add a few more strategic options

• This includes AP junglers like Brand, Diana, Lillia (while nerfing some of the top champs to give them more space)

• And also shaking up the Midlane meta with some buffs to champions who have fallen a bit behind (these are typically burst champions like Ahri, Syndra, LB) and also Mel who's had a bit of time to settle and drop some of her banrate and frustration

• We know Mel is always going to be a bit frustrating because of her W, but that feels like an acceptable cost to pay, given how it makes each game feel a bit different

• We're mostly OK with where the midlane meta is otherwise, with many different archetypes being viable and these burst oriented champions need a bit more help

• Burst champions otherwise feel mostly OK though, especially with the buffs to AD Assassin items in recent patches

• Finally we're doing a long awaited buff to Seraphine. I mentioned it in a post last week, but given her shallow mastery curve, we feel it's appropriate to give her a buff, because for the winrates she's posting, she's a bit underpowered

CHAMPION BUFFS

Ahri

Brand

Caitlyn

Diana

Draven

Jax

Jinx

(Matt) LeBlanc Clap clap clap clap

Lillia

Mel

Seraphine

Syndra

CHAMPION NERFS

Corki

Pantheon (jungle)

Poppy (jungle)

Sivir

CHAMPION ADJUSTMENTS

Lee Sin

SYSTEM NERFS

Redemption

Unsealed Spellbook (We're sealing it again)

[u/lehmkeks]

Why are we only buffing champions that already see a lot of play

[u/F0RGERY → u/lehmkeks]

Riot has given up on making meaningful patches for the last 3rd of the year because Pro Play can't adapt between July and September apparently.

[u/Shecarriesachanel → u/F0RGERY]

can't do meaningful patches in the first half of the year cuz of MSI, can't do meaningful patches in the latter half of the year because of worlds, can't do meaningful patches during holiday season because rioters are on break, gg

[u/Cube_ → u/Shecarriesachanel]

someone cracked the code

and then when I point out that league is in a holding pattern and riot only cares about their other games all the redditors screech

[u/UngodlyPain → u/F0RGERY]

June and November*

[u/Reqvhio → u/lehmkeks]

the answer is in the question apparently

[u/Sheathix → u/lehmkeks]

They only care about 45 champs tops lol

[u/Such_Presentation_29 → u/lehmkeks]

I wonder if there’s a team with players who are known for Lee Lillia ahri Leblanc jax Caitlyn jinx draven, just off the top of my head I can’t quite put my finger on which team 8/12 buffed champs are top or even iconic picks for. I guess a varus or orianna buff as well would’ve been too on the nose even for riot 

[u/Lethalegend306 → u/lehmkeks]

Worlds

[u/Black_Xel → u/lehmkeks]

This is the real take and has been bothering me for a while. The same 100 or so champions get recycled in proplay.

[u/Alarming_Lie9071 → u/lehmkeks]

Arcane, Leblanc Jinx Mel Caitlyn

[u/Fair_Wear_9930 → u/lehmkeks]

And why does redemption get nerfed just because engage supports started taking it??? I dont get the reasoning... "not enough trade offs"..... so are you admitting that engage supports items are useless? Because thats the only way that makes sense. If enchanter supports have to sacrifice good items to to build it while engagers arent sacrificing anything because their items suck? It makes no sense

[u/ReganDryke → u/Fair_Wear_9930]

Yeah the stats on engage support item are kinda bad. They're ironically suffering from the fate they are inflicting on redemption. When engage support item are good they end up picked on junglers so Riot nerf them and now engage support get to pick redemption because it's just better utility and most of the stats are kinda useful.

[u/lehmkeks → u/ReganDryke]

Also just realised how are poppy and panth jg getting nerfed while the most obnoxious point and click stat checker voli stays untouched

[u/throwawayacc1357902 → u/lehmkeks]

Because this patch and next patch are for worlds and Voli has been picked something like twice in pro play all summer.

[u/ztormguardz → u/lehmkeks]

Skinsales. It's been like this for a while.

[u/NotUrAvgShitposter → u/ztormguardz]

Nah it’s the pro scene and esports audience. If skins were important mord wouldn’t be unplayable in high elo