League of Legends Lead Game Designer Jeevun “Jag” Sidhu released the patch 11.18 preview on Tuesday. It includes 30 champion changes. This update will be a test run for upcoming League of Legends World Championship, providing the balance team an opportunity to see what they want to change for the professional meta before the tournament begins.
The actual Worlds patch will go live on Patch 11.19 as the final update before the big tournament.
11.18 Full Preview is here!
Reminder – this is a pro focused patch in anticipation of Worlds.
Relative to the preview, I corrected some champions as "adjustments" instead of buffs.
We also added Camille to the nerf list given the Renekton/Jayce nerfs favoring her in the meta. pic.twitter.com/qakPGkMKid
— Jeevun Sidhu (@JeevunSidhu) August 31, 2021
LoL Patch 11.18 champion buffs
The list of champion buffs is long, and includes way more champions than the nerf list. Each buff is an attempt by Riot Games to introduce new characters into the Worlds meta, or at least make them viable for professional teams to try out at the international LAN.
The current list includes Dr. Mundo, Gangplank, Jinx, Kai’sa, Karma, Kog’Ma, Miss Fortune, Morgana, Taliyah, Twitch, Urgot, Yone, Yummi, Zedd and Zoe. The current plan looks to be, off of the current buff list, to introduce more champions into the bot lane. None of the changes are significant, an increase in armor here, a reduction in mana cost there, but they are the changes Riot thinks the champions need to see action at Worlds.
Draven, Singed and Soraka also received buffs in the form of new mechanics. Draven’s ultimate now executes champions that have health points lower than his current League of Draven stacks after getting hit with the spell. Soraka can now remove Grievous Wounds with her ultimate, while Singed’s ultimate applies Grievous Wounds to all of his damaging abilities.
Champion nerfs
The nerfed champion list does not include system changes, just small tweaks that make them less oppressive in the pro meta. Champions on the nerf list include Aphelios, Ashe, Camile, Jayce, Kalista, Lee Sin, Renekton, Thresh, Trundle and Varus. There is a clear agenda to shake up the power picks in the top lane with these nerfs, while also clearing some room for the buffed bot laners to come in.
Lastly, some champions are just getting changes, or adjustments as it is listed in the preview. Fizz, Qiyana, Lilia, Rumble and Talon are the champions in that nebulous state between nerf and buffed. These adjustments seem to be aimed at the jungle as a way to add some more variety into the role. LoL Patch 11.18 will go live on Sept. 9 with its sister patch coming on Sept. 22.
