Riot Games has given a preview of League of Legends (LoL) Patch 26.8, which will release next week (April 15) with some big changes.
This patch has a bunch of champion buffs and nerfs, though upgrades for Veigo, one of the game’s most popular champions at the time of writing, have come as a big surprise.
After Phreak stepped away to work on a secret LoL project, Matthew ‘Phroxzon’ Leung-Harrison led the patch preview again and revealed that Riot is looking to enhance champions’ signature attributes:
“A lot of the direction of our changes in the near future is aimed at emphasizing the unique strengths/strategic differentiators of champions, even if it will cost some aspect of the champion being flat in win rate across skill levels.
“In many ways, a champion that has lost resonance with a core portion of their user base, even if they can sit at a higher power level, may represent a downgrade in experience for players of that champion.
“Expect the buffs this patch to translate more of the power budget into the area of the champions that are unique to them and we want to be moving the power of the roster like this over time.”
Here are the next set of changes coming to LoL and Riot’s reasoning behind them, as explained by Phroxzon.
LoL Patch 26.8 Champion Buffs
Hwei
“In line with the fantasy fulfilment I was talking about yesterday, Hwei changes are leaning into his identity as a combo mage,” Phroxzon explained.
“It is a cool pattern and in particular, this set of changes skews him more towards being effective in mid lane compared to bot lane with the level scaling. We’re not opposed to him being viable in bot lane, but pushing him towards midlane.”
- General adjustments:
- Hwei’s ability slows stack with each other for diminishing value
- Bugfix: [Q-E] Subject: Disaster – Molten Fissure and [R] Spiraling Despair slows no longer stack with other champion or item slows
- [P] Signature of the Visionary base damage increased 35-253 → 40-285 (based on level 1-20, linear)
Lillia
According to Phroxzon, “Lillia’s power clearing and movement speed are some of her most defining aspects,” so Riot is boosting her clear.
- [P] Dream-Laden Bough monster damage cap increased 65 → 70-180 (based on levels 1-18)
Lucian
Riot is trying to put more of Lucian’s power into his early mobility and giving him more casts of it to differentiate him from Corki.
Phroxzon adds that Riot will be keeping an eye on Lucian’s performances in solo lanes in case that needs adjusting.
- [E] Relentless Pursuit buffs:
- Cooldown reduced 18/17/16/15/14 → 16/15.5/15/14.5/14 seconds
- Mana cost reduced 40/30/20/10/0 → 32/24/16/8/0
Tahm Kench
- [P] An Acquired Taste adjusted 6-48 (based on levels 1-11, linear) (+1.5% AP per 100 bonus HP) (+4.5% bonus HP) → 5-60 (based on levels 1-12, linear) (+1.25% AP per 100 bonus HP) (+4% bonus HP)
Viego
Phroxzon admits: “There’s some notable discrepancies for specifically Viego’s data in our internal data that led us to want to initially buff him. Looking at external data, however, seems to be notably different.
“[I’m] Going to double-check this data tomorrow and validate the data pipelines before determining whether or not to proceed with the buff.”
- [Q] Blade of the Ruined King base damage increased 25/40/55/70/85 → 30/45/60/75/90
- [R] Heartbreaker base target’s missing HP damage increased 12/16/20% → 15/20/25%
LoL Patch 26.8 Champion Nerfs
Dr. Mundo
“Mundo consistently rates at the top of our frustration surveys and he’s been overperforming, especially in average play jungle,” says Phroxzon.
“We’re tapping down some of that late-game damage so that when he’s popping off, he can still go where he pleases, but he’s going to solo killing champions a bit less while doing so.”
Meanwhile, Riot believes Mundo top is in a reasonable spot.
- [Q] Infected Bonesaw maximum monster damage reduced 300/375/450/525/600 → 250/325/400/475/550
- [E] Blunt Force Trauma monster damage ratio reduced 200% → 140%
Karma
- Base AD reduced 51 → 49
- AD per level reduced 3.3 → 3
- [E] Inspire mana cost increased 50/55/60/65/70 → 60/65/70/75/80
Mel
“Mel’s buffs in 26.5 ended up being a bit over magnitude, so we’re pulling some of that back,” Phroxzon concedes.
“While we think after these changes, Mel will be in a balanced state, that is different to whether she is in a state that is sometimes too frustrating for players.
“We’re continuing to evaluate whether making further changes to her is going to be able to adequately resolve “play against” while also remaining resonant and accessible for her Arcane audience,” Phroxzon added.
The Rioter claims they’ve been “testing a few things” but isn’t revealing anything yet. Though Phroxzon admits Mel needs long-term changes and revealed that ARAM-specific changes will be coming soon too.
- [Q] Radiant Volley initial explosion damage reduced 60/90/120/150/180 (+60% AP) → 60/85/110/135/160 (+55% AP)
- [W] Rebuttal nerfs:
- Bonus Move Speed duration reduced 1.5 → 0.75 seconds
- Cooldown increased 35/32/29/26/23 → 38/35/32/29/26 seconds
LoL Patch 26.8 Champion Adjustments
Yuumi
Phroxzon revealed that a significant glitch has been impacting Yuumi significantly and are buffing her to make up for this bug being fixed.
“We recently discovered a Yuumi bug where her ultimate was healing her attached ally each time it heals another ally.
“While the number of times you’re hitting multiple people with ult are rare, it is a significant nerf to the healing in the best case. We’re fixing this bug and compensating the ultimate (and other sources of healing).”
- [R] Final Chapter adjustments:
- Heal per hit increased 30/40/50 (+10% AP) → 30/50/70 (+12% AP)
- [R-P] Feline Friendship – Best Friend bonus heal ratio increased 30% → 30-60% (based on levels 6-12, linear)
- Bugfix: [R] Final Chapter no longer heals her attached ally an additional time whenever it heals other allies
What do you think about these changes and the current LoL meta? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord.
And see the latest quality of life change added to LoL, which could prove to be very useful for players.
Comments