The latest League of Legends patch 14.17 brings significant changes, particularly targeting champion balance and rune adjustments. With these updates, the metagame is set to shift, affecting both casual and competitive play.
Key Nerfs: Senna’s AP Ratios and Popular Champions
One of the most notable changes in this patch is the nerf to Senna’s AP ratios. Senna’s enchanter builds have been dominating the solo queue, leading to this substantial adjustment. The reduction in power suggests a possible shift toward bruiser builds, with items like Black Cleaver potentially rising in popularity.
Senna, a champion that received significant attention in patch 14.16, is also seeing further adjustments. Her Q base heal and AP ratios are reduced, which will likely impact her support and AD carry playstyles.
Major Rune Adjustments: Absorb Life and Fleet Footwork
Riot has continued to tweak the Absorb Life rune due to its overperformance. The latest change modifies how the rune scales across different levels, making it less effective early game but maintaining its utility in the late game. Similarly, Fleet Footwork, a go-to choice for many ADCs, is getting nerfed. The reduction in healing and movement speed will likely force players to reconsider their rune setups.
Champion Buffs: Caitlyn, Kindred, and More
On the buff side, Caitlyn receives a cooldown reduction on her W, making her traps more accessible in the early game. Additionally, her attack speed ratio has been slightly increased, potentially improving her overall DPS.
Kindred, who had fallen out of favor due to recent nerfs, is getting much-needed buffs. The increase in Q attack speed and E base damage, along with a reduced cooldown on E, might bring this jungler back into the spotlight.
Other champions like Graves, Lissandra, and Twisted Fate also receive minor buffs, focusing on cooldown reductions and damage increases, which could see them more frequently picked in both solo queue and professional play.
