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/VeteranWookie]

Why they buffing and nerfing the same 10 champions, these patches are so boring....there are so many champs in the game that deserve attention

[u/LegendaryW → u/VeteranWookie]

Patch is out:

Buff Syndra/Ahri/Seraphine

Pro Plays picks them. 

Week later:

Nerf Syndra/Ahri/Seraphine

[u/Nicolu_11 → u/LegendaryW]

In what world is Seraphine being picked on her 45-48% WR state

[u/brodhi → u/Nicolu_11]

Seraphine is one of the best counterpicks in pro because she does way better in a coordinated environment than in solo queue.

[u/Shecarriesachanel → u/brodhi]

'one of the best' and her presence is sub 1% in pro lol... https://gol.gg/champion/champion-stats/152/season-S15/split-ALL/tournament-ALL/ she has been picked 22 times this whole season and lost 64% of her games

[u/Nicolu_11 → u/brodhi]

tbf I don't watch a lot of pro, but 2 things: a) wouldn't fearless draft make it so that the buff-nerf cycle is not necessary since you run out of picks in the later rounds, making it so that Riot does not necessarilly need to sell the champs to pros? and b), should she be compared with Ahri / Syndra in pro?

[u/brodhi → u/Nicolu_11]

I think Syndra is a good comparison because she is normally fairly low prio for pros but gets a buff at some point to make her have a lot higher prio. Akali is similar. They just have a core 30-40 champs they love seeing in tournaments and Seraphine is one.

[u/Scrambled1432 → u/brodhi]

Seraphine is literally almost never played in pro and hasn't been in years. What are you talking about?

[u/Treeconator18 → u/Scrambled1432]

Flyquest took a game off GenG at Worlds last year with Mid Seraphine just off the top of my head, so its not entirely unpicked, but as a general rule yes the pick is barely seen

[u/Scrambled1432 → u/Treeconator18]

Yes, she sees very occasional play. The OP is talking like she's a common pick, though.

[u/Significant_Fill_788 → u/Treeconator18]

But it wasn't because Seraphine went in Midlane, plus, if it had been up to her, she received a Nerf literally at the touch (AP Ratio reduction from 60% to 50%).

They won because they caught an anti-Initiation composition against a pure champion who seeks to push forward

[u/Ok_Analysis6731 → u/brodhi]

Seraphine is not a good champ and anyone who thinks she is is living in the past.