In recent weeks, the top lane in League of Legends has been dominated by two champions: Yorick and Zac. These champions have wreaked havoc across all levels of play, with Yorick reigning supreme in SoloQ and Zac becoming a constant force in the professional scene.
To address this, Riot Games has implemented changes to both champions in Patch 14.5. Additionally, Bel’Veth and Twisted Fate receive adjustments for their dominance in SoloQ.
If you’ve played League of Legends recently, you’re likely aware of the nuisance caused by Yorick and Zac. Known for their strong laning phases and map control, these champions excel even in the face of mistakes.
Patch 14.5 introduces changes aimed at reducing the potential of both champions. Yorick’s power with the Maiden of the Mist and Zac’s oppressive early-game damage and healing are specifically targeted for adjustment.
Changes to Champions in Patch 14.5
Bel’Veth
- Passive: Death in Lavender
- Bel’Veth now receives 2 charges per Void Larva instead of 3.
- E: Royal Vortex
- Damage reduction: 42/49/56/63/70% -> 35/40/45/50/55%
Brand
- Passive: Blaze
- Damage against monsters: 200% -> 215%
- R: Pyroclasm
- Damage per bounce: 100/200/300 -> 100/175/250
- Cooldown: 105/90/75 -> 110/100/90 sec.
Evelynn
- Q: Hate Spike
- Scaling: 30% AP -> 25% AP
Jarvan IV
- Armor growth: 4.8 -> 5.2
- Q: Dragon Strike
- Cooldown: 10/9.5/9/8.5/8 -> 10/9/8/7/6 sec.
Kayn
- Passive: The Darkin Scythe
- Darkin healing: 25% -> 25% (+0.5% for every 100 additional health)
- R: Umbral Trespass
- Darkin healing: 65% of damage dealt -> 75% of damage dealt
Kog’Maw
- Passive: Icathian Surprise
- Movement speed: 0-40% -> 10-50%
- Q: Caustic Spittle
- Cast time: 0.25 sec. -> Now scales with Kog’Maw’s attack speed
- E: Void Ooze
- Slow: 30/35/40/45/50% -> 40/45/50/55/60%
- R: Living Artillery
- Scaling: 65% bonus AD -> 75% bonus AD
Maokai
- Movement speed: 335 -> 330
- Q: Bramble Smash
- Additional damage to monsters: 80/100/120/140/160 -> 120/130/140/150/160
- W: Twisted Advance
- Cooldown: 13/12/11/10/9 -> 14/13/12/11/10 sec.
🛠️ Patch 14.5 🛠️
Plug into this patch 🔌
🤖 PROJECT: Naafiri, Jax, Gangplank join the Rift
❄️ ARAM Balance Changes
🎶 Seraphine update and more!Read the full notes here:
➡️ https://t.co/oB09RwRgmk pic.twitter.com/SoVwRK8cvY— League of Legends // UK, IE & Nordics (@LoLUKN) March 5, 2024
Nidalee
- Movement speed: 340 -> 335
- Q: Javelin Toss
- Damage to hunted target: 40% -> 30%
Rek’Sai
- Rek’Sai receives significant updates to her kit. Read more here.
Senna
- Q: Piercing Darkness
- Scaling: 50% bonus AD -> 40% bonus AD
Seraphine
- Seraphine also receives significant updates to her stats and kit. Read more here.
Sivir
- Armor: 26 -> 30
Smolder
- Q: Super Mega Death Rocket!
- True damage: 6.5% of target’s maximum health -> 2% (+0.8% per stack) of target’s maximum health
- E: Get Excited!
- Attacks: 5-10 (based on critical strike chance) -> 5 (+1 per 50 stacks)
- R: On the Hunt
- Damage: 225/350/475 -> 200/300/400
- Healing: 110/160/210 -> 100/135/170 (+50% additional AD)
Twisted Fate
- E: Stacked Deck
- Additional attack speed: 10/22.5/35/47.5/60% -> 10/20/30/40/50%
- Scaling: 75% additional AD -> 20% additional AD
Vayne
- Passive: Night Hunter
- Movement speed: 45 -> 30
- Q: Tumble
- Cooldown: 4/3.5/3/2.5/2 -> 6/5/4/3/2 sec.
Veigar
- Q: Baleful Strike
- Scaling: 45/50/55/60/65% AP -> 50/55/60/65/70% AP
- R: Primordial Burst
- Cooldown: 120/90/60 -> 100/80/60 sec.
Vex
- Passive: Doom ‘n Gloom
- Damage: 30-140 (+20 AP) -> 40-150 (+25 AP)
- E: Gloom ‘n Doom
- Killing minions with [E] now triggers the passive.
Wukong
- Passive: Stone Skin
- Maximum charges: 10 -> 5
- Percentage per charge: 50% -> 100%
- Charge loss: All at once -> One at a time
Yorick
- Passive: Shepherd of Souls
- Now only the Maiden receives reduced damage from monsters
- E: Mourning Mist
- Additional curse damage: 30% -> 20%
- R: Eulogy of the Isles
- Maiden’s resistances: 10-50 -> 30-90
- No longer reduces area of effect damage by 50%
Zac
- W: Unstable Matter
- Damage: 35/50/65/80/95 -> 40/50/60/70/80
New Meta on The Way?
In conclusion, Patch 14.5 of League of Legends brings significant adjustments to various champions, particularly targeting Yorick and Zac’s dominance in the top lane. These changes aim to create a more balanced and diverse gameplay experience for players across all levels of play.