Worlds is right around the corner with patch 15.20, but before then patch 15.18 is bringing some big shake-ups across champions and items. Riot is addressing problem picks in pro play, bringing buffs to underperformers, and cleaning up champions whose mechanics were inconsistent. Here’s the full breakdown.
TLDR:
| Buffed | Nerfed | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Amumu | Annie | Briar |
| Ashe | Aurora | Illaoi |
| Cassiopeia | Azir | |
| Garen | Galio | |
| Hwei | Qiyana | |
| Jayce | Sylas | |
| Vel’Koz | Taliyah | |
| Volibear | ||
| Yunara | ||
| Bami’s Cinder | ||
| Sunfire Cape | ||
| Mercurial Scimitar |
Champion buffs
Amumu (support)
- Q cooldown: 16-12 → 16-10
- Q mana cost: 45-65 → 50
- AD growth: 2.95 → 3.45
Reasoning: Amumu has been struggling as a support, so Riot is giving him more reliability on his Q and higher scaling with base stats.
Ashe
- AD growth: 2.95 → 3.45
Reasoning: Despite buffs to items like Kraken Slayer and Phantom Dancer, Ashe hasn’t picked up much viability. These small buffs help her scale better without overtuning her.
Cassiopeia
- Base mana: 400 → 450
- E poisoned base damage: 20-100 → 20-112
Reasoning: Cassiopeia is weak in the current mid meta. Buffs aim to give her more power against control mages like Sylas, Galio, and Ryze, making her a more reliable pick in pro and fearless drafts.
Garen
- E AD ratio per spin: 36-38% → 36-40%
Reasoning: Small damage buff to keep him competitive in skirmishes and trades.
Hwei
- P AP ratio: 30% → 35%
- Q AP ratio: 30-40% (+3% per 100 AP) → 30-40% (+3% per 100 AP)
- W movement speed: 20-30% (+2% per 100 AP) → 30-40% (+3% per 100 AP)
- E AP ratio (all subjects): 60% → 65%
Reasoning: Hwei has fallen off since his release. Riot is giving him more power scaling so he feels impactful in both utility and damage builds.
Jayce
- Ranged Q base damage: 60-310 → 80-310
Reasoning: Jayce has been underperforming compared to other mid/top picks. Buffing his poke damage makes him more threatening in lane and mid-game fights.
Vel’Koz
- E cooldown: 14-12 → 12-10
- R base damage: 450-800 → 450-925
Reasoning: Vel’Koz has struggled in pro play. Lower cooldowns and higher ultimate scaling help him stay relevant against other artillery mages.
Champion nerfs
Annie
- W base damage: 70-250 → 70-230
- R passive pen: 15/17.5/20% → 10/15/20%
Reasoning: Pro Annies often max W before Q, gaining huge AoE damage early. These nerfs push her back toward Q max, which is healthier for solo queue balance.
Aurora
- P damage: 2.5% (+2% per 100 AP) → 1% (+2% per 100 AP)
Reasoning: Aurora’s Liandry’s build was overtuned, letting her be both tanky and high-damage. This nerf reduces her oppressive durability plus DPS combo.
Azir
- Attack speed growth: 5.5% → 5%
- W AP ratio: 45% → 40%
Reasoning: Azir was too strong after his 15.14 buffs. Riot is pulling back some of his consistent damage.
Galio
- P AP ratio: 45% → 40%
- Q tick damage: 2.5% (10% over duration) → 2% (8% over duration)
Reasoning: Galio has been thriving as a tanky AP pick in mid. These nerfs reduce his sustained DPS so he has clearer weaknesses.
Qiyana (jungle & mid)
- Base AD: 66 → 64
- Armor growth: 4.7 → 4.5
- P damage: 30% → 25% bonus AD
Reasoning: Jungle Qiyana was too strong at elite levels, overshadowing her mid role. These nerfs bring her power back in line.
Sylas (jungle)
- P monster damage amp: 150% → 130%
Reasoning: Jungle Sylas is stronger than intended. Tuning his passive damage against monsters keeps him viable without overtaking his mid role.
Taliyah
- Q base damage: 56-130 → 55-125
- E base damage: 25-105 → 25-85
- E movement speed duration: 1.5-2.5s → 1.5s flat
Reasoning: Taliyah’s base damage was too high across her kit. Riot is shifting some of that power into her jungle clear to reduce her oppressive lane power.
Volibear
- P AS AP ratio: 4% per 100 AP → 3% per 100 AP
Reasoning: Volibear’s AP scaling was too strong, making off-builds overtuned. Nerf keeps him in line without hurting his core builds.
Yunara
- Base health: 600 → 575
- Base AD: 56 → 53
- E movement speed: 50-70% → 30-50%
- E duration: 1.5-2.5s → 1.5s at all ranks
Reasoning: Yunara is overpowered in pro and elite play thanks to her strong early game mobility and E uptime. These nerfs reduce her oppressive strengths while leaving her late game intact.
Champion adjustments
Briar
- Q damage: 60-180 (+80% BAD) (+60% AP) → 60-160 (+80% BAD) (+60% AP)
- R cast: plays on cast → plays after 1s
- R damage: 150/250/350 (+50% bonus AD) (+120% AP) → 150/250/350 (+50% bonus AD) (+130% AP)
- R range: 10,000 → 12,000
Reasoning: Briar is too binary at higher levels. Riot is reducing her ult’s counterplay by changing its timing but compensating with less damage to make her less feast-or-famine.
Illaoi
- Passive no longer spawns tentacles during teleport
- W max health damage: 3/3.5/4/4.5/5% + 4% per 100 total AD → 3/3.5/4/4.5/5% + 3.5% per 100 total AD
- E vessel duration: 3s → 4s
Reasoning: Fixing the frustrating bug where tentacles wouldn’t slam on vessels. The change is paired with a small compensation nerf to her scaling.
Item buffs
Bami’s Cinder & Sunfire Cape
- Bami’s immolate monster damage bonus: 50% → 100%
- Sunfire’s immolate minion/monster bonus: 50% → 60%
Reasoning: Bami’s and Sunfire have been weak for a long time. Buffs make Bami’s more impactful as a first component, especially for tanks that don’t rush Sunfire immediately.
Mercurial Scimitar
- Attack damage: 40 → 50
- Magic resist: 40 → 45
- Active MS duration: 1.5s → 2s
Reasoning: Mercurial Scimitar has been underwhelming compared to other defensive items. These buffs make it a stronger choice into heavy CC and magic damage comps.
Final thoughts
Patch 15.18 is a balance-heavy update setting the stage for Worlds. Pro staples like Annie, Aurora, Galio, and Azir are being toned down, while tanks and control mages like Cassiopeia get buffs to open the draft meta. Yunara sees significant nerfs to curb her dominance, and system changes to Bami’s and Mercurial give tanks and ADCs stronger itemization tools. Expect to see big shifts in champion priority heading into the last patch before Worlds.
For more League of Legends patch notes, esports updates, and skin news, visit LoLNOW.gg
Source: Riot Phroxzon.
FAQ
When is patch 15.18 releasing
Patch 15.18 will go live on September 11, 2025, two patches before Worlds.
Why are Bami’s and Sunfire being buffed
These items have felt weak for a long time, so Riot is improving their damage to make them better first components for tanks.
What happened to Yunara this patch
Her base stats and E are nerfed to reduce her early dominance, especially in elite and pro play.
Which mid laners were nerfed
Annie, Aurora, Galio, and Azir all received nerfs to reduce their damage and durability synergy.
Who were the biggest winners this patch
Ashe, Cassiopeia, Vel’Koz, and Jayce all got buffs, along with tanks who build Sunfire.
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