Worlds skins and major champion balance in League of Legends patch 9.8 – full patch notes
The latest major League of Legends update, Patch 9.8, has arrived, bringing with it a host of champion and item balance changes as well as an update to the ARAM game mode.
A total of sixteen champions are receiving balance updates, along with updates to several items that could have a broader impact.
Of particular note are even further changes to Kayle, who has been adjusted in every patch since her overhaul as Riot continue to fine-tune her power level, along with an apparent move in favor of aggressive top-lane play with buffs to Fiora, Renekton, and Camille.
This update is particularly noteworthy for fans of professional League of Legends as it will be the patch that one of the biggest tournaments of the year, the Mid-Season Invitational, will be played on.
Patch 9.8 will also see the introduction of some new skins, with Galaxy Slayer Zed and the Prestige Edition of K/DA Evelynn arriving. In addition, the World Championship skins honoring Invictus Gaming’s 2018 victory will also make their way into the game in Patch 9.8.
An overview of the patch highlights can be seen below, followed by the full patch notes.
Full Patch Notes
Champion Updates
Amumu
Passive damage increased. Q cooldown decreased. Amumu now follows enemies hit by Q if they move while he’s mid-flight.
The sad boi has some room for buffs so we’re helping him. While these buffs won’t feel too different between skill levels, we expect them to be felt a bit more in higher ranked games.
Passive – Cursed Touch
BONUS TRUE DAMAGE: Cursed targets take an additional 10% ⇒ 13% of pre-mitigation magic damage as true damage
Q – Bandage Toss
COOLDOWN: 16/14/12/10/8 seconds ⇒ 12/11/10/9/8 seconds
DON’T LEAVE ME: Amumu now follows his target for up to a reasonable distance from where he cast Bandage Toss, in case targets get out of the stun before he arrives
Camille
Base attack speed increased.
Camille’s attack speed nerf at the end of last year slowed her camp clear in the jungle, but also left her weaker in lane. We’re buffing it back up since we don’t expect it to make her swing too strong in either roles.
Base Stats
ATTACK SPEED: 0.625 ⇒ 0.644
Cassiopeia
E cost decreased at later ranks.
With the recent increases to her Q and W mana costs, we find that Cassio is having trouble staying afloat in lane and in mid-game skirmishes. Since E-max on Cassio makes for a great and aggressive playstyle anyways, we’re killing two birds with one stone, helping her stay in those situations longer and keeping her kill potential high.
E – Twin Fang
COST: 40/50/60/70/80 mana ⇒ 40/45/50/55/60 mana
Fiora
W damage and slow/stun duration increased. E cost flattened at all ranks.
We’re rewarding Fiora when she successfully outplays her opponents and making it easier for her to wave clear and take towers without running out of mana in the middle of taking one down.
W – Riposte
SLOW/STUN DURATION: 1.5 seconds ⇒ 2 seconds
DAMAGE: 90/130/170/210/250 (+1.0 ability power) ⇒110/150/190/230/270 (+1.0 ability power)
E – Bladework
COST: 40/45/50/55/60 mana ⇒ 40 mana at all ranks
Gnar
R cooldown decreased.
More throwing people against walls when Gnar is big and angry.
R – GNAR!
COOLDOWN: 120/100/80 seconds ⇒ 90/60/30 seconds
Jhin
E trap duration increased, traps recharge faster at later ranks. R damage multiplier increased and level-up tooltip corrected.
We’re buffing Jhin’s traps and ultimate, two skills that generally felt lackluster compared to the rest of his kit.
E – Captive Audience
TRAP DURATION: 2 minutes ⇒ 3 minutes
TRAP RECHARGE RATE: One trap every 28/27/26/25/24 seconds ⇒28/25/22/19/16 seconds
R – Curtain Call
DAMAGE MULTIPLIER: 1.0 to 3.5 (based on target’s missing health) ⇒ 1.0 to 4.0 (based on target’s missing health)
TOOLTIP: Fixed a bug where the level-up tooltip was displaying incorrect values
Kayle
Base attack damage, armor, attack speed ratio decreased. Kayle ascends based on level and R rank.
For a champion who’s supposed to have a risky and weak early game in relation to how powerful she becomes late game, Kayle is succeeding early too often. Changes to her base stats will keep her weaker early and when she ascends later compared to before. Also, shout out to Elixir of Skill, and you luckerdogs who saw it drop enough to use the strat.
Base Stats
ATTACK DAMAGE: 52 ⇒ 50
ARMOR: 28 ⇒ 26
ATTACK SPEED RATIO: 0.695 ⇒ 0.667 (the number bonus attack speed uses to calculate its effectiveness, not Kayle’s actual attack speed)
Passive – Divine Ascent
MEGA EVOLUTION: Ascensions are now based on Kayle’s level and skill points
Kayn
E Shadow Assassin cooldown decreased.
Shadow Assassin has almost always been overshadowed by Rhaast. We’re hoping that by doubling down on Shadow Assassin’s signature mobility, Kayn players will have more of an option when deciding between the two.
E – Shadow Step
SHADOW ASSASSIN COOLDOWN: 21/19/17/15/13 seconds ⇒ 8 seconds at all ranks
Master Yi
Master Yi is now ghosted during R.
We’re modernizing Master Yi’s ultimate to be in line with similar powerful, long duration movement speed buff-type spells released in the present.
R – Highlander
NEW – PATRICK SWAYZE: Master Yi can now move through units during Highlander
Nautilus
Passive root duration increased. Q damage increased.
The Nautilus buff to end all Nautilus buffs. We promise.
Passive – Staggering Blow
ROOT DURATION: 0.5/0.75/1/1.25/1.5 (at levels 1/6/11/16/18) ⇒0.75/1/1.25/1.5 (at levels 1/6/11/16)
Q – Dredge Line
DAMAGE: 80/120/160/200/240 (+0.75 ability power) ⇒100/145/190/235/280 (+0.9 ability power)
Ornn
Living Forge’s Forgefire Cape, Frozen Fist, and Infernal Mask base stats increased.
We want Ornn to be stronger, but in a way that’s unique to him. As such, we’re bulking up the items that come out of his passive to strengthen him late-game.
Passive – Living Forge
FORGEFIRE CAPE: Health increased from 625 ⇒ 750 and armor increased from 90 ⇒ 100
FROZEN FIST: Armor increased from 95 ⇒ 125
INFERNAL MASK: Health increased from 550 ⇒ 750 and magic resist increased from 90 ⇒ 100
Renekton
Base health, attack speed growth, and armor growth rounded up. Q healing vs. champions increased.
Get out of here decimals, we only like whole numbers for this crocodile. Clean numbers for our scaly god that’ll help him in the midst of a duel or trade.
(Ignore the fact that attack speed growth still has decimals.)
Base Stats
HEALTH: 572.16 ⇒ 575
ATTACK SPEED GROWTH: 2.65% ⇒ 2.75%
ARMOR GROWTH: 3.8 ⇒ 4
Q – Cull the Meek
HEALING VS CHAMPIONS: 9/13.5/18/22.5/27 ⇒ 12/18/24/30/36
EMPOWERED HEALING VS CHAMPIONS: 27/40.5/54/67.5/81 ⇒36/54/72/90/108
EMPOWERED HEALING CAP: 150/225/300/375/450 ⇒200/300/400/500/600
Sejuani
W damage ratio increased.
Small buffs to her scaling should help Sejuani’s clear speed, gank potential, and team fight presence without making her too overwhelming in all three fields.
W – Winter’s Wrath
FIRST CAST DAMAGE RATIO: 1.5% Sejuani’s max health ⇒ 2% Sejuani’s max health
SECOND CAST DAMAGE RATIO: 4.5% Sejuani’s max health ⇒ 6% Sejuani’s max health
Singed
Base health regen increased. W slow increased. E cost decreased.
Changes to items like Dark Seal have been indirectly weakening Singed. Along with his general weakness to ranged top lane champs, he’s seen better days. These buffs will help compensate for Singed’s past reliance on Dark Seal and let him cast Fling more often without having to go back to base.
Base Stats
HEALTH REGEN: 8 ⇒ 9.5
W – Mega Adhesive
SLOW: 40% ⇒ 60%
E – Fling
COST: 80/95/110/125/140 mana ⇒ 60/70/80/90/100 mana
Trundle
Q bonus damage increased late. R cooldown decreased.
More chomping! More subjugation!
Q – Chomp
BONUS DAMAGE: 20/35/50/65/80 ⇒ 20/40/60/80/100
R – Subjugate
COOLDOWN: 110/90/70 seconds ⇒ 100/80/60 seconds
Zed
Q damage decreased. W cooldown increased.
We’re reducing Zed’s burst potential a bit and giving his opponents more chances to catch him.
Q – Razor Shuriken
BASE DAMAGE: 90/125/160/195/230 ⇒ 80/115/150/185/220
W – Living Shadow
COOLDOWN: 20/18.5/17/15.5/14 seconds ⇒ 22/20/18/16/14 seconds
Item Changes
Bilgewater Cutlass
Cost increased.
We’re rolling back part of the cost reduction on BotRK from 8.11 by increasing the early cost of Cutlass. We first decreased the price in a cost-cutting sale across the board, following a noticeable increase in price of marksmen items. But the “discount price” since then has made the item too valuable for marksmen.
COMBINE COST: 250 gold ⇒ 350 gold
TOTAL COST: 1500 gold ⇒ 1600 gold
Blade of the Ruined King
Cost increased.
We’re rolling back part of the cost reduction on BotRK from 8.11 by increasing the early cost of Cutlass. We first decreased the price in a cost-cutting sale across the board, following a noticeable increase in price of marksmen items. But the “discount price” since then has made the item too valuable for marksmen.
TOTAL COST: 3200 gold ⇒ 3300 gold (combine cost unchanged due to Bilgewater Cutlass cost increase)
Hextech Gunblade
Combine cost decreased.
To compensate for Cutlass’ price increase, we’re decreasing the additional cost to keep Gunblade’s total cost unchanged.
COMBINE COST: 850 gold ⇒ 750 gold (total cost unchanged due to Bilgewater Cutlass cost increase)
Bramble Vest
Grievous Wounds duration increased.
Making Bramble Vest’s Grievous Wounds duration consistent with the effect on other items.
GRIEVOUS WOUNDS DURATION: 1 second ⇒ 3 seconds
Enchantment: Cinderhulk
Minion and monster aura damage increased.
We changed the tooltip in 9.7, but didn’t actually apply the change… Fixed it now, woops.
GRILLED RAZORBEAK: Deals 200% ⇒ 300% bonus magic damage to minions and monsters
Stormrazor
Energized effects increased and slow decays over a longer period of time.
Right now, the only champion who’s really buying Stormrazor is Kai’Sa, which is mainly due to its stat profile than its Energized passive. We want players considering it for its unique effects too.
GIVES YOU WINGS: Energized effects are increased by 30% ⇒ 35%
SLOW BURN: Energized effects slow the target by 40%, decaying over 1 second ⇒ 1.5 seconds
Thornmail
Grievous Wounds duration increased.
Making Thornmail’s Grievous Wounds duration consistent with the effect on other items.
GRIEVOUS WOUNDS DURATION: 1 second ⇒ 3 seconds
Runes
Coup De Grace
No longer grants adaptive force for 10 seconds. Damage to champions increased.
Simplifying Coup De Grace to be entirely focused around dealing more damage to low health targets.
REMOVED – ADAPTIVE FORCE: No longer grants 9 bonus attack damage or 15 ability power for 10 seconds on champion takedown
BONUS DAMAGE: 7% ⇒ 8% (to champions below 40% max health)
ARAM
Butcher’s Bridge is sinking below the depths! 9.8 marks the end of the ARAM – Back to Bilgewater event and we’ve made some decisions on which experimental changes to keep based on your feedback! Here are the changes; stay tuned for a more in-depth post about these decisions on Nexus.
WINTER IS HERE: Howling Abyss has returned. Butcher’s Bridge is gone until next time!
REMOVED – PIRATE’S BOUNTY: Mariner’s Vengeance and Ghostwalkers are going down with the ship. Bridge. Whatever.
WARMOG’S: Warmog’s Armor will continue to grant health regen based on missing health rather than max health
REMOVED – SUMMONER SPELL: Backtrack is going back into nonexistence
NEW – RUNE ADJUSTMENTS: Rune adjustments from 9.7 will continue as a permanent feature in ARAM
REMOVED – BANS: After much discussion and weighing your feedback, bans will not be a permanent feature in ARAM.
UPDATED – END IT MY DUDES: After 15 minutes in all ARAM games, minion waves’ spawn rates will increase, minions will gain more movement speed, and champions will deal more damage to structures
- At 15:00, they start gaining movement speed every minute until 20:00 ⇒ 25:00when they’ll have 425 movement speed.
- From game start to 15:00, champions deal 10% ⇒ 0% more damage to structures.
- At 15:00, that value increases linearly until 25:00 when they’ll deal 30% ⇒ 15%bonus damage to structures.
UPDATED – POKE POKE: Built-in poke reduction range increased from 900 ⇒ to 1000 in all ARAM games
NEW – CHAMP BALANCE: Champions will continue to receive balance changes in ARAM every few months
New Nerfs in 9.8
ALISTAR +5% damage taken
GALIO +5% damage taken
ILLAOI -5% damage dealt
KAI’SA -3% damage dealt
NAUTILUS +5% damage taken
SION -8% damage dealt
YORICK -5% damage dealt
New Buffs to 9.8
ELISE +5% damage dealt
FIDDLESTICKS +1% damage dealt & -6% damage taken
FIZZ +5% damage dealt
KARTHUS +2% damage dealt
LUCIAN +5% damage dealt
MAOKAI +2% damage dealt & -2% damage taken
NUNU & WILLUMP -5% damage taken
PANTHEON +5% damage dealt
RIVEN +5% damage dealt
VI +5% damage dealt
XIN ZHAO -5% damage taken
ZED +5% damage dealt
Bugfixes
- Fixed a bug where the Master tier ladder displayed incorrectly and would only show the first 101 people multiple times
- Karthus can now dance
- Corporate Mundo’s voice lines are no longer replaced by his base skin’s
- Diana’s W – Pale Cascade no longer deals more than double the damage when using R – Lunar Rush at close range
- Pajama Guardian Lulu’s right wing is no longer pointing in a different direction during her Homeguard animation
- Fixed a bug where Teemo’s blind did not correctly display on Battlecast Kog’Maw
- Fixed an issue where 4-digit XP gains would make the progress circle wrap weirdly
- Range/Cast indicators for certain champions’ abilities (Lucian’s Q – Piercing Light, Poppy’s E – Heroic Charge, Jhin’s Q – Dancing Grenade, Ryze’s E – Spell Flux, Miss Fortune’s Q – Double Up, Jayce’s Q – To the Skies!, Jayce’s E – Thundering Blow, and Orianna’s E – Command: Protect) are now appearing correctly
New Skins
Galaxy Slayer Zed
K/DA Evelynn Prestige Edition
World Championship Skins
The skins representing the 2018 World Championship winners, Invictus Gaming, will also be arriving this patch.
- Invictus Gaming Camille
- Invictus Gaming Fiora
- Invictus Gaming Irelia
- Invictus Gaming Kai’Sa
- Invictus Gaming LeBlanc
- Invictus Gaming Rakan
