10 days ago, patch 8.4 came to League. And, as Riot put it, “this is probably our first true ‘big patch.’” So what does this entail and how do we go about interpreting these buffs and nerfs?
Items
Lost chapter has gone from 900 to 1100 gold, due to it being useful as a starting item for mid-laners (AP only, due to mana increase and extra AP.) Luden’s echo has gone up 100 gold, due to lost chapter being added, but this means cooldown reduction, no movement speed so be cautious on the champions that primarily used luden’s for the movement speed increase. Hextech GLP-800 has mostly remained the same, but there have been nerfs to it, so if you relied on the slow effect or missile effect, it might be better to stick with the Hextech Protobelt-01, which may have more of the active you wanted for the extra damage. Archangel’s staff has even more mana and less AP, so if you want this maybe try using a mana-heavy champ like Zilean and Ryze, the less squishy champs that do require more mana. Liandry’s torment is now “tank-bleeding” object, so use this for the squisher champs when you have a tanky opponent team, and like usual, this is great for Teemo. Haunting guise goes along with Liandry’s, adding a bit of AP for tank destruction. Morellonomicon is more useful for champions trying to go defensive, going against a primarily AP team and is now now 1000 more gold, due to it being good for the extra magic penetration and tank effect. The oblivion orb is more for what they took out of Liandry’s, so if you were looking for the flat magic penetration aspect, this is the item. Spellbinder is very good for any mage, for it adds an extra 100 AP and provides movement speed that was taken away from luden’s, but keep in mind you do have to activate it when you want the AP boost. Twin shadows is also good, similar to spellbinder but not as much AP and it sends ghosts, slowing the opponent so this is good for a champion that needs the extra slow. The last few items were AP, making minor changes like 10 less or more ap, and increasing/decreasing price for the worth. Wit’s end was also buffed, making it more balanced for melee champions, so don’t be afraid to use this on Diana or Akali. Relic shield line has been decreased as far as the health aspect so don’t rely on it for support as much. As Riot said, the ancient coin line was not making as much progress, so movement speed is granted with it, this is good for the squisher supports as well. Frozen mallet’s slow has been decreased for ranged champions, but will still be good for a last item to get for some ADCs and definitely needed for Gnar.
Riot also tried to help top and jungle, by limiting the overpoweredness of top lane and also providing ‘blast cones’ for jungle, which means not as much pressure on lanes and easing the early game.
Runes
Runes have been changed, so recommended for now are the ones that have been buffed which are as follows: keystone-press the attack, bone plating, time warp tonic. Otherwise with runes there have been changes with the rows, but the most effective change is time warp tonic due to the potions, elixirs, and biscuits being able to heal 20% more, a significant increase for durability.
Champions
The most important changes are associated with the champions. Zoe has the most changes, due to her being so OP. Her q damage is down, but she has more base health. You may want to play her a bit more on the AP tank side. Zed’s ultimate will be even more useful now, he may be in the meta now, for the cooldown is decreased at higher ranks. Xin Zhao will be hot right now, for the keystone-press the attack is good with him. Volibear must be played now, everything has been buffed on him like movement speed, a knock back, and cooldown reduction. Twitch is also very useful for keystone-press the attack. Tristana has been nerfed, so don’t rely on her ultimate and her peeling as well. Talon is tankier, with more magic resist, so build upon this with MR items. Swain has been buffed everywhere, with cost decreased, heal increased, and health threshold decreased. Shyvana OP with keystone-press the attack, so has had nerfs to her such as damage decreased. Rengar will be useful with trinity force now and has mostly earned buffs to him such as more vision, damage, and his much-loved, old Q. Kog’Maw has buffs to W, so more OP than before, and easier to go tankier on him or items like bloodthirster. Kalista is nerfed, by her mana sustain and attack range decreasing, she will not be as OP and Kog’Maw may be the better choice for ADC now. Fiddlesticks has a cooldown reduction to his R and E, and his damage is more on monsters than minions (for jungle.) Evelynn is in the same boat as Kog’Maw, she will be a bit more OP due to them being ‘too hard’ on her last patch. Renekton has more damage, and as he is tanky like Darius, they should be popular this patch. Poppy also has more damage, she will be a heavier AD tank. Ornn has been nerfed a bit, so don’t make him a go-to, the health has been fixed and you won’t be as godly, as the other buffed tanks will be. Darius has more health and damage right now, this would be the top recommended choice. Gnar and Gangplank are your standard nerfs that won’t make much of a difference besides Gangplank’s barrels being OP in their aspect of sight and duration.
Items
Lost chapter has gone from 900 to 1100 gold, due to it being useful as a starting item for mid-laners (AP only, due to mana increase and extra AP.) Luden’s echo has gone up 100 gold, due to lost chapter being added, but this means cooldown reduction, no movement speed so be cautious on the champions that primarily used luden’s for the movement speed increase. Hextech GLP-800 has mostly remained the same, but there have been nerfs to it, so if you relied on the slow effect or missile effect, it might be better to stick with the Hextech Protobelt-01, which may have more of the active you wanted for the extra damage. Archangel’s staff has even more mana and less AP, so if you want this maybe try using a mana-heavy champ like Zilean and Ryze, the less squishy champs that do require more mana. Liandry’s torment is now “tank-bleeding” object, so use this for the squisher champs when you have a tanky opponent team, and like usual, this is great for Teemo. Haunting guise goes along with Liandry’s, adding a bit of AP for tank destruction. Morellonomicon is more useful for champions trying to go defensive, going against a primarily AP team and is now now 1000 more gold, due to it being good for the extra magic penetration and tank effect. The oblivion orb is more for what they took out of Liandry’s, so if you were looking for the flat magic penetration aspect, this is the item. Spellbinder is very good for any mage, for it adds an extra 100 AP and provides movement speed that was taken away from luden’s, but keep in mind you do have to activate it when you want the AP boost. Twin shadows is also good, similar to spellbinder but not as much AP and it sends ghosts, slowing the opponent so this is good for a champion that needs the extra slow. The last few items were AP, making minor changes like 10 less or more ap, and increasing/decreasing price for the worth. Wit’s end was also buffed, making it more balanced for melee champions, so don’t be afraid to use this on Diana or Akali. Relic shield line has been decreased as far as the health aspect so don’t rely on it for support as much. As Riot said, the ancient coin line was not making as much progress, so movement speed is granted with it, this is good for the squisher supports as well. Frozen mallet’s slow has been decreased for ranged champions, but will still be good for a last item to get for some ADCs and definitely needed for Gnar.
Riot also tried to help top and jungle, by limiting the overpoweredness of top lane and also providing ‘blast cones’ for jungle, which means not as much pressure on lanes and easing the early game.
Runes
Runes have been changed, so recommended for now are the ones that have been buffed which are as follows: keystone-press the attack, bone plating, time warp tonic. Otherwise with runes there have been changes with the rows, but the most effective change is time warp tonic due to the potions, elixirs, and biscuits being able to heal 20% more, a significant increase for durability.
Champions
The most important changes are associated with the champions. Zoe has the most changes, due to her being so OP. Her q damage is down, but she has more base health. You may want to play her a bit more on the AP tank side. Zed’s ultimate will be even more useful now, he may be in the meta now, for the cooldown is decreased at higher ranks. Xin Zhao will be hot right now, for the keystone-press the attack is good with him. Volibear must be played now, everything has been buffed on him like movement speed, a knock back, and cooldown reduction. Twitch is also very useful for keystone-press the attack. Tristana has been nerfed, so don’t rely on her ultimate and her peeling as well. Talon is tankier, with more magic resist, so build upon this with MR items. Swain has been buffed everywhere, with cost decreased, heal increased, and health threshold decreased. Shyvana OP with keystone-press the attack, so has had nerfs to her such as damage decreased. Rengar will be useful with trinity force now and has mostly earned buffs to him such as more vision, damage, and his much-loved, old Q. Kog’Maw has buffs to W, so more OP than before, and easier to go tankier on him or items like bloodthirster. Kalista is nerfed, by her mana sustain and attack range decreasing, she will not be as OP and Kog’Maw may be the better choice for ADC now. Fiddlesticks has a cooldown reduction to his R and E, and his damage is more on monsters than minions (for jungle.) Evelynn is in the same boat as Kog’Maw, she will be a bit more OP due to them being ‘too hard’ on her last patch. Renekton has more damage, and as he is tanky like Darius, they should be popular this patch. Poppy also has more damage, she will be a heavier AD tank. Ornn has been nerfed a bit, so don’t make him a go-to, the health has been fixed and you won’t be as godly, as the other buffed tanks will be. Darius has more health and damage right now, this would be the top recommended choice. Gnar and Gangplank are your standard nerfs that won’t make much of a difference besides Gangplank’s barrels being OP in their aspect of sight and duration.
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