LoL Patch 12.5b All Buffs and Nerfs

The changes for League of Legends mid patch 12.5 changes have been revealed by the game's lead designer Riot Phlox. Patch 12.5 was, already a small one, but taking into account that it's supposed to encompass the whole month of March, that makes it even smaller. Still, the changes in patch 12.5b are geared towards balancing out certain champions and items.

When speaking of balancing champions, Riot Games intend to dish out buffs to 5 League of Legends champions, while four of them are prepared to get nerfed. The biggest change is, of course, the buff they are giving to Mastery Yi, just days after his hotfix. Nevertheless, when Mater Yi is in question, there can never be enough balancing.

Locket of the Iron Solari Changes in Patch 12.5b

Locket of the Iron Solari is a support mythic item, bought by every support champion under the sun. Though the item is reserved for engage support champions such as Nautilus or Leona, now it's being bought by enchanters as well, should the enemy team have a lot of burst damage stacked up.

Don't get us wrong, power creep in League of Legends is definitely a real thing. However, the shielding meta has also become far too prominent. Taking into account that only recently Locket of the Iron Solari has had its price bumped up by 100 gold, and is again getting nerfed, speaks for itself. What we can expect are likely longer cooldowns on the active ability of the item itself, as well as some reduced shielding or, perhaps, even removing the decaying factor of the shield completely.

Champion Buffs in Patch 12.5b

There are five champions currently on the Buff list for patch 12.5b. While most of the champions make sense, there is one we have not expected to find himself needing a buff this quickly that of course being Master Yi. It seems the hotfix really messed him up.

Master Yi

After the changes in patch 12.5 that skyrocketed his win rate even in high elo, the recent hotfix has brought them crashing back down to 40%. It seems Riot just can't get this champion right, and will likely be reinstating some base, previously nerfed, stats back.

• Base Health 550 ⇒ 599
• E - Wuju Style
  • True Damage 30/37/44/51/58 (+30% bonus AD) ⇒ 30/38/46/54/62 (+30% bonus AD) (base damage reverted only)

• R - Highlander
  • Cooldon 100/90/80 seconds ⇒ 85 seconds at all ranks (reverted)

Draven

The favorite of ADC smurfs in low elo, Draven's win rate has been hovering at around 48% for quite some time now. Let's wait and see what Riot have in store for his comeback.

• Base AD 60 ⇒ 62

Varus

Even worse than Draven, Varus has only been relevant as an off-meta pick. It's come to the point that literally no one in the world is now banning this champion.

• W - Blighted Quiver
  • Passive Bonus Magic Damage On-Hit 7/9/11/13/15 (+30% AP) ⇒ 7/10.5/14/17.5/21 (+30% AP)
• R - Chain of Corruption
  • Base Magic Damage 150/200/250 ⇒ 150/250/350

Ashe

As Vayne's main counter, an Ashe buff couldn't have come at a better time, even accounting for the fact that the champion has an almost healthy win rate of 49%.

• W - Volley
  • Mana Cost 70 at all ranks ⇒ 75/70/65/60/55
• R - Enchanted Crystal Arrow
  • Cooldown 100/80/60 seconds ⇒ 80/70/60 seconds

Lucian

Just a few months ago Lucian and Nami were the bane of every other bot lane's existence. Now, Nami is still meta, while Lucian has fallen by the wayside with a 49% win rate as well.

• AD Growth 2.3 (101.1 at level 18) ⇒ 2.9 (111.3 at level 18)
• Passive - Lighslinger
  • Vigilance Bonus Magic Damage On-Hit 14 (+10% AD) ⇒ 14 (+20% AD)

Champion Nerfs in Patch 12.5b

There are, currently, four champions on the chopping block regarding this patch's nerfs. Interestingly but not surprisingly, of the new champions, it's Zeri that is getting nerfed again and not Renata Glasc.

Zeri

With a win rate of 52% and a ban rate of staggering 55%, we hope beyond hope that, this time, Riot will do something, anything, about her Trinity Force build.

• Base AD 58 ⇒ 53
• Health Growth 85 (1945 at level 18) ⇒ 90 (2030 at level 18)
• Base Armor 23 (+3.5 per level), 82.5 at level 18 ⇒ 22 (+3 per level), 73 at level 18
• Basic Attack - Charged Magic Damage Ratio Based on Target's Max Health 3-15% (levels 1-18) ⇒ 1-10% (+0.5% levels 1-7, +1% levels 8-13)
• Q - Burst Fire
  • Total Physical Damage 9/13/17/21/25 (+110% AD) ⇒ 10/15/20/25/30 (+ 110% AD)
• E - Spark Surge
  • Cooldown 23/22/21/20/19 seconds ⇒ 23 seconds at all ranks
  • Pierce Damage 80/85/90/95/100% ⇒ 60/70/80/90/100%
• R - Lightning Crash
  • Stacks per Champion hit by Initial Lightning Crash 3 ⇒ 4
  • Bonus Move Speed per Stack 2% ⇒ 1.5%

Ryze

Though it's not reflected in his win rate, Ryze has been scaling a bit too quickly with his damage recently, considering his status as a late-game scaling champion.

• Passive - Arcane Mastery
  • Max Mana Increased 5% per 100 AP ⇒ 10% per 100 AP
• Q - Overload
  • Damage 75/100/125/150/175 (+40% AP) (+3% bonus mana) ⇒ 70/90/110/130/150 (+45% AP) (+3% bonus mana)

Jinx

Just as she's done in Arcane, Jinx is wreaking havoc on the Rift as well. Hopefully, Riot will focus their nerfs to her base damage, as she doesn't;t need items to run down an enemy ADC by herself.

• Q - Switcheroo
  • Fishbones Mana Cost 16/17/18/19/20 ⇒ 20 at all ranks
  • Fishbones Range 100/125/150/175/200 ⇒ 80/110/140/170/200

Aphelios

Without Riot's direct input, we are really unsure what this champion even does, much less what needs to be changed about him. What we do know, though, is that his Infernum damage and healing are off the rails.

• Base Armor 28 ⇒ 26
• Base Health 530 ⇒ 510

Hopefully, the break that Riot are taking will not impact the effectiveness of the implemented changes meant for the champions, as all of these are more than deserving of both buffs and nerfs. Now, if only they could do something about Tryndamere.