LoL Arena is the newest game mode that has been added to the game and it's been around for a while now, which is why the balance team is going to be making a lot of adjustments in LoL Patch 13.16.
LoL Arena is the newest game mode and in the upcoming LoL Patch 13.16, Riot has some major buffs and nerfs planned for the characters in Arena. Arena is the hot new thing in town and Riot is trying to make it as attractive as possible to a broad spectrum of players.
That's why the balance team has been hard at work determining which champions are just way too strong and which champions still need some love so they can shine in the Arena mode as well.
LoL Patch 13.16: Arena Balance Changes
First and foremost we have to talk about just how many balance changes Riot is adding into this League of Legends patch. There are 18 champions getting buffed, while only 3 will receive nerfs. This is a huge discrepancy, but it goes to show where Riot want to take Arena.
If some champions are too OP, let's just make everyone a little bit OP, right? Right. So, the balance team is working hard to create a balanced environment of insanely strong champions. That's why there is going to be so many buffs in this patch.
LoL Champion Buffs
As just mentioned, the buff list is pretty darn long this time around. Riot is tackling all the problem children of the Arena mode and giving them some hefty adjustments this League of Legends patch.
Xerath
First on the list is none other than Xerath. This champion will have both his Q and his ultimate adjusted, so that he can truly shine in the next round of Arena. He has to be strong since he's not mobile, right?
- Q - Arcaneopulse
- Base Damage: 70/110/150/190/230 >>>100/140/180/220/260
- R - Rite of the Arcane
- Base Damage: 180/230/280 >>> 250/300/350
Sion
Sion, with his passive, seems like a great pick in Arena, right? Well he's been underperforming on all fronts, which is why Riot is going to be adding adjustments to every single part of his kit.
- Q - Decimating Smash
- Min Base Damage: 40/60/80/100/120 >>> 65/85/105/125/145
- Max Base Damage: 90/155/220/285/350 >>> 130/195/260/325/390
- W - Soul Furnace
- Stacks for champion kills: 15 >>> 45
- E - Roar of the Slayer
- Armor Reduction: 20% >>> 40%
- SLow: 40/45/50/55/60% >>> 55/60/65/70/75%
- R - Unstoppable Onslaught
- Min Damage: 150/300/450 >>> 200/235/500
- Max Damage: 400/800/1200 >>> 600/1000/1400
Lee Sin
Lee Sin, another dueller, would be a shoe-in for greatest Arena champion ever, right? Well, it seems like he has also needed some love from Riot, so we're getting some more buffs this time for his Q, W and E.
- Q - Sonic Wave/Resonating Strike
- +30 Abilty Haste
- W - Safeguard/Iron Will
- Lifesteal and Spell Vamp: 5-27% >>> 15-35%
- Shield Value: 50-250 >>> 60-300
- E - Tempest/Cripple
- Base Damage: 35-155 >>> 55-195
- Slow: 20-80% >>> 40-80%
Nunu & Willump
Nunu and Willump need a little bit of help from their friends in the balance team. While the champion has great sustain, the damage just hasn't been there to make them one of the champions sought after in pick/ban.
- Q - Consume
- Ability Haste: 30 (12/11/10/9/8 >>> 9.23/8.46/7.69/6.92/6.15)
- Base Damage: 100/160/220/280/340 (+65% AP)(+5% bonus health) >>> 120/180/240/300/360 (+70% AP)(7% bonus health)
- W - Biggest Snowball Ever!
- Base Damage: 180.225.270.315.360 (+150% AP) >>> 215/260/305/350/395 (+150% AP)
- R - Ansolute Zero
- Base Damage: 625/950/1275 (+300% AP) >>> 655/980/1305
- Shield: 65/75/85 (+150% AP)(+30/40/50% bonus health) >>> 85/95/105 (+40/50/60% bonus health)
Ezreal
Ezreal is mobile and has quite decent damage, but it seems he's been overshadowed by other bot lane champions like Kai'Sa that just have more to offer when it comes to Arena. Hence he's been added to the list and will be getting key buffs as well.
- Q - Mystic Shot
- Damage: 20/45/70/95/120(+130% AD)+15% AP) >>> 30/60/90/110/135 (+135% AD)(+17% AP)
- E - Essence Flux
- Ability Haste: 15 (21.6/19.17/16.67/14.17/11.67 >>> 19.2/17/14.8/12.6/10)
- Damage: 80/130/180/230/280 (+50% bonus AD) (+75% AP) >>> 90/140/190/240/290 (+50% bonus AD) (+80% AP)
- R - Trueshot Barrage
- Damage: 350/500/650 (+100% bonus AD)(90% AP) >>> 390/540/690 )+95% AP)
Akali
Akali is struggling. Both on Summoner's Rift and in Arena she just isn't performing how you'd expect. The buff to her passive and the energy restore for her W are going to be some great changes for her in the new game mode.
- Passive - Assassin's Mark
- Base AD Ratio: 60% >>> 70%
- AP Ratio: 55% >>> 65%
- W - Twilight Shroud
- Energy Restore: 100 >>> 150
- Bugfix: Now properly gets the +100 max energy from the global arena buff
Evelynn
While Evelynn might have one of the most annoying cameos in the game, she is one of the weaker champions in the game. Her abilities have thankfully been buffed so she should feel much better.
- Q - Heat Spike
- Base Damage: 25/30/35/40/45 (+30% AP) (In total 45/75/105/135/165 (+75% AP)) >>> 35/40/45/50/55 (+30% AP) (In total: 105/120/135/150/165 (+90% AP))
- Bonus Magic Damage: 15/25/35/45/55 (+25% AP) (in total: 45/75/105/135/165 (+75% AP)) >>> /2535/45/55/65 (+30% AP) (In total: 75/105/135/165/195 (90% AP))
- W - Allure
- Abiltiy Haste: 20 (15/14/13/12/11 >>> 12.5/11.6/10.8/10/9.1)
- E - Whiplash
- Base Damage: 55/70/85/100/115 (+3%(1.5% per 100 AP) of target's Max Health) >>> 5% of max health
- Empowered Magic Damage: 75/100/125/150/175 (4%(2.5% per 100 AP) of target's max health) >>> 7% of max health
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Hecarim
Hecrim might be fun, but his speed won't help him on the tiny Arena maps. So, to protect himself he needs some buffs this patch.
- Q - Rampage
- Base Damage: 60/85/110/135/160 (+90% bonus AD) >>> 80/65/80/95/110 (+60% bonus AD)
- W - Spirit of Dread
- Healing 25% (+2% of 100 bonus AD) of the damage dealt to enemies >>> 35% (3% of 100 bonus AD) of the damage dealt to enemies
- E - Devastating Charge
- Minimum Base Damage: 30/45/60/75/90 (+50% bonus AD) >>> 50/65/80/95/110 (+60% bonus AD)
- Maximum Damage: 60/90/120/150/180 (+100% bonus AD) >>> (100/130/160/190/220) (+120% bonus AD)
Sejuani
Another champion you expect to be pretty good in the Arena game mode, right? Well Sejuani hasn't been impressing people enough to make her worthwhile, with other champions that have easier CC taking prio over her. So, she is getting buffed.
- Passive - Fury of the North
- Stun Hit Damage: 10% max Health >>> 12% max Health
- Q - Arctic Assault
- Ability Haste
- E - Permafrost
- Per champion Cooldown: 8 >>> 5
Cho'Gath
Cho'Gath hasn't been able to rise to his true size during the Arena game mode, which is why Riot have decided to buff his ultimate, gaining more HP and damage, as well as improve his Q and E.
- Q - Rupture
- +25 Ability Haste
- Damage: 80/140/200/260/320 >>> 100/160/220/280/340
- Slow: 60% >>> 70%
- E - Vorpal Spikes
- Damage: 22/34/46/58/70 >>> 32/44/56/68/80
- Slow: 60/35/40/45/50 >>> 40/45/50/55/60
- R - Feast
- +30 Ability Haste
- Damage: 300/475/650 >>> 400/575/750
- HP per stack: 80/120/1606 >>> 100/150/200
Tryndamere
So many champions that should sound OP on papaer have not been the most popular or best. Whether it's because of their weak state in general or just not enough data being there, Tryndamere is one of the champions getting buffed this patch.
- Passive - Battle Fury
- Gains 50% more Fury
- Q - Bloodlust
- Base Heal: 30-70 (+30% AP) >>> 60-140 (50% AP)
- Heal Per Fury: .5-2.3(1.2% AP) >>> 1-4(2% AP)
- W - Mocking Shout
- Slow: 30-60% >>> 50-80%
- AD Reduction: 20-80 >>> 30-120
Nidalee
This is where the buffs go pretty insane. The Arena balance team is even adding new AD ratios and stuff to Nidalee, just for the Arena mode though, so she can survive.
- Passive - Prowl
- Movement Speed Doubled
- Q - Javelin Toss/Takedown
- Ranged Minimum AP Ratio: 50% >>> 80%
- Melee AD Ratio: .75 tAD >>> 1.2 tAD
- W - Bushwhack/Pounce
- Maximum Traps: 40-10 >>> 100
- E - Primal Surge/Swipe
- Ranged Base Heal: 35-95 >>> 60-180
- Ranged bonus Attack Speed: 20-60% >>> 40-80%
- [NEW] Melee New AD Ratio: 0% >>> 80% bAD
Quinn
Quinn is another champion that just kind of seems like she would be decent in Arena. Aa top laner who is used to 1v1's you'd think she was a good champion, but she will be getting some buffs since she hasn't been up to par.
- Passive - Harrier
- Damage Bonus: 10-95 (based on level) (+16%-50% (based on level) AD) >>> 11.5-109.25 (based on level) (+18.4%-57.5% (based on level) AD)
- Q - Blinding Assault
- Damage Ratio: (+80/90/100/110/120% AD)(+50% AP) >>> (+90/100/110/120/130% AD) (+75% AP)
- W - Heightened Senses
- R - Behind Enemy Lines
LeBlanc
LeBlanc is able to move all over the map, blinking in and out of existence, but she's very squishy. And she hasn't been bursting down enemies how you'd expect.
- Q - Sigil of Malice
- Base damage: 65/90/115/140/164 (+40% AP) >>> 75/100/125/150/175 (+40% AP)
- W - Distortion
- +15 Abiltiy Haste
- R - Mimic
- +15 Ability Haste
- RQ1 Base Damage: 70/140/210 (+40% AP) >>> 60/160/230 (+50% AP)
- RE1 Base Damage: 70/140/210 (+40% AP) >>> 60/160/230 (+50% AP)
Ekko
Ekko is getting buffed in League of Legends Patch 13.16 for Summoner's Rift, as well as Arena. Let's hope this helps the unique mid laner and jungler out.
- Passive - Z-Drive Resonance
- Damage: 30-140 (based on level) +90%AP >>> 33-154 (based on level) +90% AP
- Q - Timewinder
- 1st Hit Damage: 60/75/90/105/120 >>> 70/85/100/115/130
- 2nd Hit Damage: 40/65/90/115/140 >>> 50/75/100/125/150
- W - Parallel Convergence
- Base Bonus Magic Damage: 3% >>> 4% of target's missing health when they are bewlo 30%
Gragas
Gragas has missed happy hour the last few weeks in a row, but now Riot is setting an alarm to help the top laner and jungle champion become as strong as he should in such a fun game mode.
- Passive - Happy Hour
- Cooldown: 12s >>> 4s
- W - Drunken Rage
- Targets Max HO Damage: 7% >>> 12%
Diana
Diana is a skirmishing jungler who loves to go in and fight. Sounds ideal right? Well, she needs the right damage numbers to have a good time and that has been missing from her kit for a while now.
- Passive - Moonsilver Blade
- AP Ratio: 50% >>> 75%
- W - Pale Cascade
- Base Shield: 45-105 >>> 60-160
- R - Moonfall
- Damage: 200-400 >>> 300-600
Galio
Finally on the buff list is Galio. The mid lane champion is a great supportive champ, but he does need some help, which is why Riot is finally going to buff him.
- Q - Winds of War
- Base Damage: 70-120 >>> 100-280
- W - Shield of Durand
- +30 Ability Haste
- Passive Shield HP Ratio: 6% >>> 10%
- Passive Shield OUt of Combat Timer: 12s >>> 5s
- R - Heroes Entrance
- Stun Duration: .75s >>> 1.5s
Augment Buffs In Patch 13.16
There are also some augments in the game that need to be looked at. Riot is going to be buffing a multitude of Augments to make the game more fun and flow with more ease. This likely won't change the fact that every second person picks Heimerdinger and Zyra together.
Phenomenal Evil
- Cooldown: 0.75 global >>> 0.75 per spell slot (P/Q/W/E/R)
Circle of Death
- Damage Conversion: 40% >>> 50%
Combo Master
- Phase Rush Movespedd: 15%-40% >>> 20-60%
- Electrocute Damage: 30-180(+40% bonus AD)(+25% AP) >>> 50-250(45% bonus AD)(30% AP)
From Beginning to End
- First Strike Damage Amp: 11% >>> 15%
- Dark Harvest Base Damage: 25-75 (+30% Bonus AD)(820% AP)(+6 per Stack) >>> 50-100 (+35 Bonus AD)(+25% AP)(+10 per stack)
Banner of Command
- Stats increased by 15% >>> 20%
Blunt Force
- Percent AD: 10% >>> 15%
Tormentor
- Total Burn % Max HP Damage: 4% >>> 5%
First Aid Kit
- Heal and Shield Power: 20% >>> 35%
Eureka
- AP to Haste Conversion: 20% >>> 25%
Item Buffs In Patch 13.16
We've gone through quite a lot of buffs already, rigth? Well there are more and this time we're looking at items. It was noted that while Edge of Night is a good iteam in the Arena game mode, the item was added due to assassin's being generally weak in this game mode, hence why the buffs.
Edge of Night
- HP: 325 >>> 400
Imperial Mandate
- Initial Proc Damage: 50-90 >>> 70-130
- Ally Proc Damage: 100-160 >>> 120-200
Night Harvester
- Cooldown: 30s >>> 15s
Everfrost
- Root/Slow Duration: 1s >>> 1.5s
Ardent Censer
- Attack Speed granted: 30% >>> 40%
- On-Hit Damage: 20 >>> 25
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Goredrinker
- HP: 200 >>> 300
- AD: 0-50 >>> 55
Locket of the Iron Solari
- Shield Amount: 400-1000 >>> 600-1200
Galeforce
- Cooldown: 45s >>> 30s
- Attack Speed: 15% >>> 25%
Kraken Slayver
- 35 AD >>> 40 AD
Ionian Boofs of Lucidity
- Movement Speed: 30 >>> 45
LoL Champion Nerfs
While the buff list is way too long to remember every single change, the nerf list looks very different. Riot seems to go with the philosophy of 'buff buff buff' and therefore have only added in three champion nerfs into LoL Patch 13.16.
Fiora
Fiora is probably one of the best champions in the entire game mode. She can easily block abilities and she's got insane sustain built into her kit which makes her quite a menace to play aaginst. So, some nerfs are in order.
- Passive - Duelists' Dance
- True Damage: 3%+(4% per 100 bAD) >>> 2%+(3% per 100 bAD)
- W - Riposte
- -20 Ability Haste
Warwick
Warwick is another champion like Fiora. He has insane sustain, and damage output. Add in the movement speed buffs he's got and you have on scary hunter in Arena.
- Q -Jaws of the Beast
- %HP Damage: 6-10% >>> 5-9%
- AD Ratio: 1.2% >> 1%
- E - Primal Howl
- -20 Ability Haste
- R - Infinite Duress
- Base Damage: 175+525 >>> 100-300
Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia has been one of the top picks since the start of the game mode, and even with some sligth adjustments she's still just way too good. So, Riot is nerfing her.
- Passive - Serpentine Grace
- Bonus Movement Speed Reduced by 30%
- W - Miasma
- -30 Ability Haste
LoL Arena Augment Nerfs
Some of the Augments are also getting up nerfed since they outshined the other ones in the game. We need to keep things fair and square, right?
With Haste
- 2x Haste as Movespeed >>> 1.5x
Restless Restoration
- Base Heal per 1000 UNits Traveled: 50-150 >>> 30-150
Tank it or Leave it
- Critical Defend Damage Reduction: 40% >>> 30%
Ok Boomerang
- Damage: 55-275 (+30%Bonus AD)(+20% AP) >>> 45-225 (25% Bonus AD)(+17% AP)
Spirit Link
- Damage Redirected: 30% >>> 20% (Note: live tootlip says 40% but it's bugged)
- Healing Copied: 40% >>> 45%
LoL Arena Item Nerfs
There are also a few item nerfs this patch for Arena. Thankfully, there are only two. Riot had some mercy with the players, eh?
Radiant Virtue
- Periodic Heal: 6% Max HP >>> 4% Max HP
Eclipse
- Proc % Max HP Damage: 8% >>> 7%
Overall, there are a lot of changes this League of Legends patch for the Arena game mode. This should shift the meta around once more and hopefully we will recieve some more variance in duo partners, since the meta has stagnated throughout Patch 13.15.
LoL Patch 13.16 is set to release on August 16, 2023 so you will be able to find all these changes on the live servers then! Make sure you don't miss out and try out some of those buffed champions. I'm especially hyped for Nunu.