The first balance update of Season 14 has arrived with patch 14.1b, bringing impactful changes to champions, items, and systems. Several overperforming AP champs like Fizz and Kayle are being toned down after benefiting too much from new mage itemization.
The patch aims to expand options rather than just nerf. With nuanced systems changes like Lethality adjustments, Riot is taking a delicate balancing approach to sustain a healthy meta. For veteran players, keeping up with these granular item and rune changes will be key to gaining an edge with optimal picks and builds. There’s bound to be some further turbulence before things stabilize, but 14.1b lays the groundwork for greater long-term champion diversity and item flexibility as players continue exploring Season 14’s new systems.
Also Read: New and Improved: Baron Nashor Rework, Voidgrub, and More in Season 14!
Champion Buffs
To open up champion diversity and viability, the 14.1b patch brings targeted buffs to a selection of champions. Corki receives improvements to give his poke and burst more punch. Ezreal‘s cooldowns are lowered to make his spell rotation more fluid. Hwei and Lux see general stat and damage increases to boost their potency.
Corki
Base Stats:
- Base AD increased: 59 >>> 61
R: – Missile Barrage buffs: tAD ratio increased 15/45/75% >>> 25/50/75% (Doubled for the Big One)
Ezreal
W – Essence Flux: cooldown reduced 12 >>> 8 seconds
E – Arcane Shift: mana cost reduced 90 >>> 70
Hwei
Base Stats:
- HP per level increased: 104 >>> 109
Q-Q Subject: Disaster – Devastating Fire: base damage and AP ratio increased 60/90/120/150/180 (+70% AP) >>> 60/90/120/150/180 (+75% AP)
E: Subject: Torment – spells’ base damage increased 60/90/120/150/180 >>> 70/110/150/190/230
R – Spiraling Despair missile: width increased 80 >>> 90
Lux
Base Stats:
- Base HP increased: 560 >>> 580
- Base Armor increased: 19 >>> 21
- Attack Speed per level: 2% >>> 3%
W: Prismatic Barrier AP ratio increased 35% >>> 40%
Naafiri
Base Stats:
- Base Move Speed increased: 335 >>> 340
P: We Are More buffs:
- Packmate base AD increased: 5-25 (based on level) >>> 6-30 (based on level)
- Packmate spawn: cooldown reduced 30/25/20/15 (based on levels 1/6/11/16) >>> 30/25/20/15/10 seconds (based on levels 1/6/9/12/15)
Zac
P – Cell Division: Goo blob max HP healing increased 4/5/6/7% >>> 5/6/7/8% (based on Ult Let’s Bounce! rank)
E – Elastic Slingshot: cooldown reduced 24/21/18/15/12 >>> 22/19/16/13/10 seconds
R – Let’s Bounce!: cooldown reduced 130/115/100 >>> 120/105/90 seconds
Zed
W – Living Shadow: cooldown reduced 20/19.25/18.5/17.75/17 >>> 20/19/18/17/16 seconds
E – Shadow Slash: base damage increased 65/85/105/125/145 >>> 65/90/115/140/165
R – Death Mark: base damage tAD ratio increased 65% >>> 100%
Champion Nerfs
While buffs aim to increase options, some targeted nerfs in patch 14.1b look to delicately bring overperforming champions in line. Aphelios and Fizz see reductions in their excessive scaling. Gwen and Kayle‘s dominant lane trades are toned down. LeBlanc has her early game attack speed adjusted to curb unintended build paths. Singed, Taric, and Teemo have their tankiness or poke potential pulled back slightly.
Aphelios
Base Stats:
- AD per level reduced: 3 >>> 2.3
Fizz
Q – Urchin Strike: AP ratio reduced 55% >>> 50%
W – Seastone Trident: empowered attack AP ratio reduced 50% >>> 40%
Gwen
P – Thousand Cuts: target’s max HP damage AP ratio reduced 0.8% per 100 AP >>> 0.65% per 100 AP
Kayle
P – Divine Ascent: Zealous bonus Attack Speed AP ratio reduced 1% per 100 AP >>> 0.5% per 100 AP per Zeal stack
LeBlanc
Base Stats:
- AD per level reduced: 2.7 >>> 2.2
- Attack Speed ratio reduced: 0.625 >>> 0.4
- Attack Speed per level increased: 1.5 >>> 2.35%
Q – Sigil of Malice: AP ratio increased 40% >>> 45%
E – Ethereal Chains: AP ratio increased 35% >>> 40%
Singed
Q – Poison Trail: AP ratio per tick reduced 11.25% >>> 10% (45% >>> 40% per second)
Taric
Base Stats:
- Armor per level reduced: 4.6 >>> 4.3
W – Bastion: total Armor ratio reduced 10/11/12/13/14% >>> 9/10/11/12/13%
Teemo
Q – Blinding Dart: AP ratio reduced 80% >>> 70%
R – Noxious Trap: AP ratio per tick reduced 13.75% >>> 12.5% (55% >>> 50% total)
Also Read: Top Of The Top: Best Champions in Top Lane Patch 13.24
System Buffs
Patch 14.1b also contains targeted buffs to several core items and systems to open up more diversity. Essence Reaver sees cost and spellblade adjustments for greater viability on its users. Tanky fighters like Heartsteel and Stridebreaker are improved to bolster their presence in top lane. Lethality items including Hubris and Profane Hydra receive upgrades to bring them in line with premiere choices.
Essence Reaver
Cost reduced: 3000 >>> 2900
Spellblade base AD ratio increased: 130% >>> 140%
Heartsteel
HP increased: 800 >>> 900
Hubris
Eminence buffs:
- AD increased 10 (+1 per statue rank) >>> 15 (+2 per statue rank)
- Duration increased: 60 >>> 90 seconds
Profane Hydra
Cost reduced: 3400 >>> 3300 gold
Heretical Cleave: tAD increased 80%, 120% against those below 30% max HP >>> 100%, 150% against those below 50% max HP
Ravenous Hydra
Life Steal increased: 10% >>> 12%
Ravenous Crescent: cast time adjusted 0.2 flat seconds >>> Attack Windup time
Stridebreaker
AD increased: 50 >>> 55
Attack Speed increased: 20% >>> 25%
Breaking Shockwave buffs:
- Slow increased 30% >>> 35%
- Bonus Move Speed increased: 30% >>> 35%
Tiamat
Crescent buffs:
- AD ratio increased 60% >>> 75%
- Cast time adjusted 0.2 flat seconds >>> Attack Windup time
Also Read: League of Legends: Dragonmancer Skin Line is Here!
System Nerfs
While targeted buffs aim to increase diversity, some items and systems are being toned down in patch 14.1b after proving too powerful early on. The Collector and Hextech Rocketbelt have excessive snowballing potential trimmed back. Stormsurge, the new AP legendary, receives effects adjustments to bring it more in line with comparable options. Sustain tools like Titanic Hydra and the support item Trailblazer are weakened slightly from dominance.
Collector
Cost increased: 3000 >>> 3100 gold
Hextech Rocketbelt
Supersonic base damage reduced: 175 >>> 125
Stormsurge
Squall damage reduced: 120-260 (based on level) (+40% AP) >>> 100-200 (based on level) (+30% AP)
Titanic Hydra
HP reduced: 550 >>> 500
AD reduced: 55 >>> 50
Trailblazer
Cost increased: 2400 >>> 2500 gold
HP reduced: 250 >>> 200
Conclusion
The new LoL Patch notes deliver impactful changes aimed at expanding diversity rather than just nerfing outliers. While champions like Fizz and items like Rocketbelt are toned down from overperformance, strategic buffs open new possibilities for picks like Corki and Naafiri. The nuanced systems adjustments create space for experimentation with Leethality, Hydras, and more.
For veterans, meticulously optimizing builds around each granular change will be key. Casual players can enjoy options opening up across the roster. There is still instability to come before true balance settles this season.
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