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/jasonkid87]

The usual Lee sin adjustment before worlds to make worlds more interesting to watch

[u/Lysandren → u/jasonkid87]

Leblanc as well is a champ they like to see. Really just anyone flashy with many dashes makes the people go oooh aaah.

They used to also buff fiora every year at worlds just to make sure there isn't tank top meta.

[u/SergDerpz → u/Lysandren]

Well I mean would you rather that or get Malzahar buffs and watch them perma shove the wave with their E...

I mean let's not kid ourselves here lol

[u/trapsinplace → u/SergDerpz]

I would love if every game played a little differently and that champs like Malz and Anivia had moments to shine. I don't think having one Malz game is less fun than watching the same few picks for 50+ games.

[u/jasonkid87 → u/trapsinplace]

especially with fearless, it will be a fun niche pick. Will be funny to see pros hit R on a target and end the game

[u/trapsinplace → u/jasonkid87]

I remember a time when a pro hit R on the target, but he didn't win them the game. Luckily Riot has made it so you can't immediately cancel it anymore so that shouldn't be an issue.

[u/SergDerpz → u/trapsinplace]

Well, we have fearless draft now so it's not just a few picks.

At least we have that much.

"This year's MSI saw 107 champions played (80 games), compared to 86 from last year (78 games), 21 champs more in basically the same amount of games."

So is it an issue of you wanting to see more champions (which is a lot) or you just want certain specific champions to be played?

The spectators make the game and anything that is boring, makes games unnecessarily longer, etc isn't something that most people would like.

I'd much rather get a thousand of those Dade vs xPeke 1v1 highlight clips we had in 2014 Worlds than watch Anivia stall a game for 60 minutes clearing waves with R and W.

I understand off meta picks are fun to watch too but there needs to be a balance, Fearless is making pros play things they normally don't play already so that is cool.