Mel Medarda Nerf: Strong Start, but Are They Enough?

Mel, the newest addition to the League of Legends champion roster, has taken the Rift by storm. With her unique mechanics and versatile playstyles, she’s captured the hearts of players—but also sparked frustration among those facing her. Riot Games has already implemented hotfix nerfs to address her overwhelming strength, but the community is divided on whether these changes are sufficient.

Mel’s Dominance: S+ Tier Status Out of the Gate

From her release, Mel has proven to be a force to be reckoned with. As a mid-lane champion, she boasts an impressive 51% win rate and a 32% ban rate—unprecedented numbers for a brand-new champion. Even as a support, she’s already sitting at a 49% win rate, and her experimental role as an AP bot laner has hit a solid 50%. These stats are particularly noteworthy given that many players are still learning her kit.

Riot has expressed excitement over the community’s positive reception to Mel, noting that she’s “fun to play” and designed to perform well in multiple roles. However, they’ve acknowledged that her power levels, particularly her execution capabilities and gold generation, are currently too high.

What Changed in the Hotfix?

To address Mel’s early dominance, Riot applied the following nerfs:

Passive – Overwhelm
- Flat damage per stack reduced.
- AP ratio per stack dropped from 25% to 10%.
- Impact: This reduces her execution speed, giving enemies a larger window to survive her combos.
Q – Missile Barrage
- Base damage of each missile reduced slightly.
- Impact: A minor adjustment, but her Q remains a reliable poke and stacking tool.
R – Final Execution
- The passive damage bonus from leveling her ultimate was nerfed across the board:
  - Base damage reduced.
  - AP scaling reduced.
- Impact: Her ultimate’s burst potential is toned down, particularly against targets with fewer stacks.

These changes aim to lower her oppressive burst while maintaining her identity as a high-execution champion. Riot also hinted at a desire to preserve her versatility in mid, support, and bot lane roles.

Why Some Players Think It’s Not Enough

Despite these adjustments, many players argue that Mel’s strengths go beyond just numbers:

Q – Missile Barrage:
Her Q is incredibly fast in both cast and travel time, has exceptional range, and deals significant damage while applying multiple passive stacks. Players feel that its low cooldown and ease of use make it overly strong in the laning phase, allowing her to out-trade and zone opponents effortlessly.
E – Rooting Orb:
At rank one, Mel’s E provides a long-lasting root that offers excellent setup for her other abilities. Combined with her passive stacking, this makes her early game too forgiving.
Wave Control and Minion Execution:
Mel’s passive allows her to perfectly execute minions, guaranteeing she has a CS advantage over most opponents. Her ability to farm effortlessly while harassing enemies with Q makes her oppressive in the mid-lane.
Ultimate – Final Execution:
While the ultimate’s power has been reduced, its synergy with her passive still makes it a devastating tool. Combined with the speed at which she builds stacks, Mel can often eliminate targets before they have a chance to react.

Many top comments from the community suggest that Riot needs to address the speed and cooldown of her Q in addition to her damage numbers. Others highlight her overwhelming lane control and lack of meaningful counterplay to her execution-heavy playstyle.

What’s Next for Mel?

While the hotfix nerfs may slightly lower Mel’s win rate, they may not fully address her current dominance. Riot could implement further adjustments in the coming days if she continues to overperform. Larger changes could also arrive in the next patch, depending on how the community adapts to her and whether strategies to counter her become more prevalent.

For now, Mel remains a polarizing figure—fun to play, frustrating to face. Whether these changes bring balance or just a temporary reprieve remains to be seen.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Mel’s Hotfix Nerfs

What changes were made to Mel in the hotfix?

The hotfix nerfed Mel’s passive, reducing the flat damage and AP ratio per stack of Overwhelm. Her Q’s missile base damage was slightly lowered, and her ultimate’s passive bonus damage, base damage, and AP scaling were all reduced.

Why did Riot nerf Mel so quickly after release?

Mel was performing too strongly across multiple roles with a 51% win rate in mid-lane and a 32% ban rate. Riot felt her execution potential and gold generation were too high, warranting immediate adjustments.

Is Mel still viable after the hotfix?

Yes, Mel remains a strong champion. The nerfs have toned down her burst and execution power, but her kit is still highly effective, especially with proper use of her Q and ultimate.

What are the biggest complaints about Mel’s current state?

Players feel Mel’s Q is too strong due to its range, speed, low cooldown, and ability to stack her passive quickly. Her E’s root duration and her passive’s wave-clearing efficiency also make her difficult to counter.

Will Riot make more changes to Mel?

Further adjustments may come if Mel continues to overperform despite the hotfix. Riot will monitor her win rates and player feedback to decide if additional nerfs are necessary.

How can players counter Mel effectively?

To counter Mel, focus on avoiding her Q’s damage and passive stacking. Champions with mobility or long-range poke can force her to play defensively, and timing engagements around her W cooldown can help reduce her impact.