Patch 14.9 is less than one week away! Read on to get up to date on all the changes that are coming live next Wednesday, including a bundle of Empyrean skins and the Lee Sin ASU!
These changes appeared on PBE on the 17th of April, but have been slowly shifting over the past week, and will continue to do so. As such, keep in mind that not all of these changes may make it to the live patch. If you’d like to check any of the following changes out before next Wednesday, hop on PBE and queue up!
New Cosmetics - Empyrean
New cosmetics are coming straight from the Neon Strata universe! Five new Epic Empyrean skins are hitting the store, including Empyrean Akali, Empyrean Brand, Empyrean Kayle, Empyrean Malzahar, and Empyrean Nocturne. Each of these skins will be available for the standard cost of 1350 RP. Each skin comes with 9 chorma options, which you can buy at 290 RP a pop.
Our sixth Empyrean skin is of the Legendary tier. You can get Empyrean Varus for 1820 RP. Empyrean Varus also comes with six different chromas, which are once again available for 290 RP apiece.
Empyrean Kayle also comes in a Prestige variety, and you can buy this version for 2000 MSI Tokens in the Event Hub tab in the client. You can collect MSI Tokens throughout the MSI event by purchasing the Event Pass that will be available starting on May 1st and then completing in-game missions. The basic event pass is 1650 RP, while the Event Pass bundles go for more, but also include a skin, bonus tokens, a Chroma, and an emote.
The MSI Pass Bundles, from left to right: 1650 RP - 2650 RP - 3650 RP
Lee Sin ASU
The Blind Monk has been visually revamped. Lee Sin has an updated model on each skin, updated or brand new splash arts for several skins, and tons of new animations. Riot's Art and Sustainability Team highlighted that their goal with Lee Sin was to introduce a consistency between his 2011 and 2024 skins and across the multiple skinlines he's a part of. Check out our Lee Sin ASU article or Riot’s dev blog, Modernizing the Monk, for more details!
Arena Round Three
Arena, the beloved 2v2v2v2 gamemode is back with patch 14.9 - with heaps of changes. It’s now a bona-fide tournament, with eight participating duos instead of four! New items and augments are hitting the stage, including a new type of item entirely, called Prismatic Items. Check out our article on all of the Arena changes, or peruse through Riot’s dev blog, Arena Round Three.
Champion Changes
Buffs
Amumu, Karma, Kennen, Malzahar, Sejuani, Seraphine
Several champions are getting slight buffs - Amumu, Malzahar, and Seraphine. These champions are meant to facilitate new players, so Riot wants them to feel more powerful for newer players. Amumu's getting a small armour and base AD boost, while Seraphine's High Note (Q) AP ratios are going up. Malzahar's Call of the Void (Q) is getting a scaling mana cost, rather than a flat 80 cost, while Malefic Visions (E)'s cooldown is going down.
Karma is continuing to get adjustments to incentivise players into playing her in the support role. This time, she's getting a stronger slow on Inner Flame (Q), and even more buffs to Defiance (R+E AoE). Namely, the AoE shield’s strength and movement speed boost have both been increased.
In the top lane, Kennen has gotten some quality-of-life changes. His ultimate, Slicing Maelstrom, comes with a brand new animation in this patch, and it can now be cast while Kennen is moving. Lastly, Lightning Rush (E) now has a range indicator when hovering. Finally, Sejuani is getting a passive and W buff. Her passive will now grant her better protection, while W will now deal more damage to tankier units.
Nerfs
Ahri, Aurelion Sol, Blitzcrank, Evelynn, Jinx, Kassadin, Master Yi, Olaf, Pyke, Skarner, Taliyah, Twitch, Urgot
Several champions have gotten small flat or percentile number nerfs on their various abilities, like how Ahri's Fox-Fire (W) now deals 5 less damage, Master Yi's Wuju Style (E) now deals 10 less damage, and Pyke's Ghostwater Dive (W) costs 15 more mana.
Of the more substantial nerfs, we have Skarner, Twitch, and Olaf. Skarner's nerfs are aimed at overall weakening his duelling powers. Shattered Earth (Q) now deals less damage, Seismic Bastion (W)’s slow is weaker (20-40% > 20%), and the shield he gains from the ability now scales with less of his maximum health (9% > 8% of maximum HP). Olaf's Undertow (Q) will do less damage overall, but slightly more damage to monsters, further incentivising jungle Olaf. Berserker Rage (P) will now grant less resistances overall.
Adjustments
Akshan, Bel'Veth, Janna, Nilah
Akshan's Avengerang (Q) is getting two nerfs, with non-champion damage being reduced, as well as the bonus movement speed boost going from a scaling 20/25/30/35/40% to a flat 20%. Comeuppance (R) is getting adjusted - with more base damage and higher AD scaling, but less damage based on a target's missing health. Bel'Veth's Death in Lavender (P) attack speed per stack has been reduced, as well as the AD ratio on Void Surge (Q). However, Void Surge will now deal more damage to monsters, increasing her clear speed.
Janna is being pushed into a more supportive and less aggressive role in bot lane, with damage being reduced on her Zephyr while her base shield power improves. Also bot lane, Nilah is getting some adjustments to Formless Blade (Q) - the damage being reduced, but her attack speed being increased.
Item Changes
Buffs
Death's Dance
Death's Dance will now grant 60 AD instead of 55, and its passive’s AD ratio has been increased to 75% (from 50%). Its build path has been changed to Steel Sigil + Caufield's Warhammer + Pickaxe + 125 gold, though its overall price remains the same.
Nerfs
Eclipse, Sundered Sky, Sterak's Gage
Eclipse will now deal less damage based on a target's maximum health. Sundered Sky's passive, Lightshield Strike, which empowers a user's next basic attack and heals them, is taking several hits - namely, the passive's cooldown has been increased, and the healing has been reduced. Finally, Sterak's Gage now costs 100 gold more, and its passive, Lifeline, which grants you a shield when you're below 30% of your maximum health, is now on a 90 second cooldown, instead of 60.
Adjustments
Hexdrinker, Maw of Malmortious
Hexdrinker's recipe has changed to Long Sword + Null-Magic Mantle + Long Sword + 150 gold. It now grants 30 MR instead of 35. Maw of Malmortius has received several changes, starting from the recipe. It's now built out of Hexdrinker + Caulfield's Warhammer + 700 gold. It now grants less magic resistance, but more AD and now grants 15 Ability Haste as well. Lifeline, its passive, now lasts longer, and grants 8% Omnivamp, instead of Lifesteal.
System Changes
Hitbox Adjustments
Riot is tackling champion hitboxes in this patch. Hitboxes have been pretty inconsistent for a long time, and David "Riot Phreak'' Turley has taken it upon themselves to fix the issue. Champions should be more consistent to click on (both to attack and select) and champions' hitboxes should now feel more in line with their size.
Spectator Delay
You can now disable spectator delay when creating a custom game in the client. While most users probably don’t engage in custom games, this will be useful for in-house tournaments and similar events!
