Experimental Teamfight Tactics changes could massively affect healing

Riot Games have revealed some major Teamfight Tactics item and champion adjustments that they’re planning to test on the Public Beta Environment (PBE).

The game’s latest major update, Patch 9.16, only arrived on August 14, but Riot already have their sights set on some major changes for future patches, which largely center around the healing and anti-heal mechanics.

According to TFT Lead Designer Riot Mort, the team are currently considering some changes to key items that would drastically affect their place in the game’s meta, although he highlights that these changes are “highly experimental” and could very much be subject to change before hitting the live game.

Most notable are the changes to Morellonomicon and Red Buff, which in their current state deal burn damage of 20% of the enemy’s maximum health over 10 seconds, as well as preventing healing during that time.

• Read more: Teamfight Tactics item cheat sheet

The changes would see them instead deal 60% damage over 45 seconds, a distinct nerf to the damage-per-second of each. This update would be designed to push the items towards being primarily used for their anti-heal functions, as Riot currently feel both are too versatile right now.

They’re not the only items due some fairly sizeable nerfs, however, as on the flipside two of the most powerful healing items – The Bloodthirster and Hextech Gunblade – are also getting hit. The former drops from 50% lifesteal to 40%, while the latter will be down to healing 25% of damage done from 33%.

It’s not just items that are under the spotlight, however, as one of the most powerful champions in the game, Swain, is also getting a hit to his own heal. Meanwhile, the heal provided by the Noble trait buff is also being nerfed.

If all of these changes make it through to the live game without major adjustments, they’d likely have a drastic effect on the meta, especially for those compositions relying on sustain through healing.

Given the “highly experimental” nature of the changes, it seems unlikely that these changes will be ready to arrive with Patch 9.16b, which is due on August 21, so players will likely have to wait until at least Patch 9.17 on August 28 to see them on the live servers.