Riot’s Surprise Buff to True Damage: What It Means for Champions and Gameplay

Riot Games has quietly made a game-changing update to League of Legends: true damage is now affected by damage amplification effects. This seemingly small change could have major implications for several champions and even pave the way for entirely new builds. Let’s dive into the details, explore its impact, and examine which champions stand to gain the most.

What’s the Change?

True damage, which has always been an unmitigated source of damage that ignores resistances, used to remain untouched by damage amplification effects. However, as of now, all sources of true damage will scale with such effects. To break it down:

Damage amplification effects, like Press the Attack (PTA) and items such as Axiom Arc or Horizon Focus, now boost true damage alongside other types of damage.
True damage dealt by abilities, summoner spells (e.g., Ignite), and champion-specific mechanics will benefit from these boosts.
Exceptions: Pet-based damage and Smite’s true damage remain unaffected by this change.

How It Works in Practice

The effect is noticeable across multiple scenarios. For example:

Vayne: Her W (Silver Bolts) now scales even further with PTA, making her true damage output from each third attack more lethal, especially at higher levels and with a full build.
Ignite: The true damage from this summoner spell also benefits from PTA’s 8% damage increase, leading to a slightly stronger burn effect.
Darius: His R (Noxian Guillotine), which deals pure true damage on execution, now becomes even more terrifying when used with PTA or other amplifiers.

This buff introduces opportunities for champions to deal more consistent damage when paired with specific runes and items.

Items and Runes That Buff True Damage

Here are some of the key effects that now amplify true damage:

Press the Attack (Rune): Grants up to an 8% increase in damage after fully proccing the rune.
Horizon Focus: Provides bonus damage when hitting enemies with immobilizing effects or abilities from long range.
Axiom Arc: Boosts ultimate damage, which now includes true damage for champions with such mechanics.

This change also encourages creativity in itemization for champions who deal even partial true damage. Pairing these effects with true damage skills can lead to experimental and unconventional builds.

Which Champions Benefit Most?

Several champions will feel the effects of this update, with some potentially becoming even more oppressive:

Vayne: Already notorious for shredding tanks, her enhanced Silver Bolts procs could see her rise even further in priority.
Darius: His Noxian Guillotine gets deadlier, making him a bigger threat in extended fights where he can stack and execute reliably.
Fiora: Known for her ability to deal true damage via Passive (Duelist’s Dance), her scaling could see noticeable improvement when paired with items like Horizon Focus.
Irelia: Though she deals a mix of damage types, her true damage procs from her W (Defiant Dance) could gain an extra edge when amplified by runes like PTA.

This change might also open doors for unconventional builds, where champions that deal even minor true damage could start leaning into items that amplify it.

What Does This Mean for the Meta?

The buff to true damage has a few potential impacts on gameplay:

Greater Lethality for Hyper-Carry Champions: Vayne and Fiora, in particular, may become even more dangerous due to their already consistent true damage output.
Shift in Itemization: Items like Horizon Focus or even runes like PTA might see increased usage among champions who didn’t rely on them before.
Potential Balance Adjustments: If true damage becomes overly oppressive with these changes, Riot may need to tweak certain champions or damage amp mechanics to maintain balance.

Closing Thoughts

This buff marks a significant shift in how true damage interacts with other game mechanics, creating new possibilities and challenges. While champions like Vayne and Darius are already benefiting, the full extent of this change will become clearer as players experiment with new builds and strategies.

What are your thoughts on this change? Which champions do you think will dominate with amplified true damage? Let us know—and keep your nose safe from true damage hits!

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Frequently Asked Questions about Riot’s True Damage Buff

What is the new true damage buff in League of Legends?

True damage now scales with damage amplification effects, such as Press the Attack or items like Horizon Focus and Axiom Arc. This means true damage can now benefit from additional multipliers, making it stronger under specific conditions.

Which champions benefit the most from this true damage buff?

Champions like Vayne, Darius, Fiora, and Irelia are among those who benefit significantly, as they already have abilities or mechanics that deal true damage.

Does this buff affect Ignite or other summoner spells?

Yes, Ignite now benefits from damage amplification effects such as Press the Attack, making it deal slightly more damage over time.

Are there exceptions to this true damage buff?

Yes, pet-based true damage and Smite’s true damage are not affected by this buff. All other true damage sources can scale with amplification effects.

Will this change lead to new builds or strategies?

It’s likely! Champions with true damage may now consider items like Horizon Focus or runes like Press the Attack to maximize their damage output. Expect to see experimental builds in the coming weeks.

Can this buff make true damage overpowered?

While it enhances true damage, Riot may monitor the situation for balance issues. If certain champions become too strong due to this change, adjustments may follow.