LoL Patch 13.16 Notes: All Balance Changes & Upcoming Skins

LoL Patch 13.16 is one of the big pre-Worlds 2023 patches with some more pro-skewed changes awaiting us. Dive into this article to find out which buffs, nerfs and overall changes await you in the latest League of Legends update!

Zeri Immortal Journey
LoL Patch 13.16: Zeri is going to be looking good as ever with this new skin. | © Riot Games

The next League of Legends update has just hit the live servers! We're going to be moving on from the Tournament of Souls and Soul Fighter and into a brand-new chapter of the League of Legends calendar. With most League of Legends professional leagues coming to a close, we're inching ever closer to Worlds 2023.

This is going to be a patch that will decide the balance for the biggest esports event of the year, so we expect more and more pro-skewed changes.

LoL Patch 13.16: All Buffs & Nerfs

There are multiple champion buffs in this League of Legends patch, with some champions like Sylas, Lulu and Wukong receiving some love from Riot this time around. Of course, there are also key champion nerfs to picks like Naafiri and Shyvana as well.

One of the biggest balance changes this patch has got to be in the systems, with multiple assassin items getting slight updates and Duskblade finally receiving a major nerf. The item has become quite popular on bruiser champions as well, and this patch intends to put a stop to that.

Champion Buffs

Milio Faerie Court Splash
LoL Patch 13.16 will be buffing the newest support champion. | © Riot Games

Milio is receiving some well-needed compensation for his pro-skewed nerfs earlier in the year. Riot is adding some damage to his fireballs and making his hugs a little warmer. While we can't tell if this brings him back into the meta, it is definitely helping him out in these trying times for enchanter supports.

Milio

  • Q - Ultra Mega Fire Kick
    • Damage: 90/135/180/225/270 (+90% AP) >>> 80/145/210/275/340 (+120% AP)
  • E - Warm Hugs
    • Base Shield: 60/80/100/120/140 (+25% AP) >>> 60/85/110/135/160 (+30% AP)

Caitlyn

  • P - Headshot
    • Attacks per Headshot: 7 >>> 6

Lucian

  • P - Lightslinger
    • Vigilance Bonus Magic Damage On-Hit: 10 >>> 15

Lulu

  • Base Stats
    • Health per Level: 88 >>> 92
  • Q - Glitterlance
    • Damage: 70/105/140/175/210 (+40% AP) >>> 70/105/140/175/210 (+50% AP)
  • E - Help, Pix!
    • Damage: 80/120/160/200/240 (+40% AP) >>> 80/120/160/200/240 (+50% AP)

Nidalee

  • Cougar E - Swipe
    • Damage: 80/140/200/260 (+45% AP) >>> 80/140/200/260 (+40% bonus AD) (+45% AP)

Karma

  • Q - Inner Flame
    • Base Damage: 70/120/170/220/270 (+40% AP) >>> 70/120/170/220/270 (+50% AP)
    • Mantra Detonation Damage: 35/140/245/350 (+60% AP) >>> 35/140/245/350 (+70% AP)
  • R - Mantra
    • Cooldown: 40/38/36/34 >>> 40/37/34/31
Jade dragon wukong
Wukong buffs should make him a top lane menace once more. | © Riot Games

Wukong

  • Base Stats
    • Mana Regen Growth: 0.65 >>> 0.8
  • Q - Crushing Blow
    • Mana Cost: 40 >>> 20
  • W - Warrior Trickster
    • Mana Cost 80/70/60/50/40 >>> 60/55/50/45/40

Akali

  • Q - Five Point Strike
    • Energy Cost: 130/115/100/85/70 >>> 110/100/90/80/70
    • Damage: 40/65/115/140 (+65% AD) (+60% AP) >>> 45/70/95/120/145 (+65% AD) (60% AP)

Brand

  • Passive - Blaze
    • Mana Restore: 20-40 (based on level) >>> 30-50 (based on level)
  • Q - Sear
    • Damage: 80/110/140/170/200 (+55% AP) >>> 80/110/140/170/200 (+65% AP)
  • E - Conflagration
    • Damage: 70/95/120/145/170 (+45% AP) >>> 70/95/120/145/170 (+50% AP)

Ekko

  • Q - Timewinder
    • Initial Damage: 60/75/90/105/120 (+30% AP) >>> 70/85/100/115/130 (+30% AP)
    • Slow: 32/39/46/53/60% >>> 40/45/50/55/60%
  • W - Parallel Convergence
    • Shield Strength: 70/90/110/130/150 (+150% AP) >>> 100/120/140/160/180 (+150% AP)

Malzahar

Don't be fooled by the lower minion execute threshold: the doubled tick rate should still result in more successful lasthits for you.

  • E - Malefic Visions
    • Damage tick rate: 0.5 seconds >>> 0.25 seconds
    • Minion Execute Threshold: 15-45 health (based on level) >>> 10-30 health (based on level)

Sylas

  • Base Stats
    • Base Mana 310 >>> 400

Champion Nerfs

Naafiri Soul Fighter skin
Naafiri nerfs are in order this time around. | © Riot Games

There are much fewer nerfs this patch than there are buffs so it seems like Riot is sort of happy with the current state of the League of Legends meta. These are all the champions getting nerfed in LoL Patch 13.16:

Naafiri

  • Base Stats
    • Base Armor: 32 >>> 30
    • Base AD: 57 >>> 55
    • Base Attack Speed: 0.688 >>> 0.663

Rek'Sai

  • Q - Queen's Wrath/Prey Seeker
    • Unburrowed bonus physical damage: 21/27/33/39/45 (+50% bonus AD) >>> 34/38/42/46/50% total AD (base damage is your basic attack damage)

Shyvana

  • W - Burnout
    • Damage per second: 20/32.5/45/57.5/70 (+30% bonus AD) >>> 20/30/40/50/60 (+20% bonus AD)
    • On-hit damage: 5/8.125/11.25/14.375/17.5 (+7.5% bonus AD) >>> 5/7/9/11/13 (+5% bonus AD)

Tristana

  • Base Stats
    • Health: 670 >>> 640
    • Armor: 26 >>> 30
    • Armor Growth: 4.2 >>> 4.5
    • MR: 30 >>> 28

Shaco (Support)

  • Base Stats
    • Mana Regen: 7.15 >>> 6
  • W - Jack In The Box
    • Mana Cost: 50/55/60/65/70 >>> 70 at all ranks

System Updates in LoL Patch 13.16

We are also going to have some key system changes this League of Legends patch. Finally, Riot is going to nerf Duskblade, while also buffing Prolwer's Claw, but what other systems are being targeted?

Duskblade of Draktharr

  • Cooldown: 10 seconds >>> 30 seconds
  • Missing health damage: 20% >>> 18%

Prowler's Claw

  • Cooldown: 10 seconds >>> 5 seconds
  • Bonus AD Ratio: 45% melee/30% ranged >>> 55% melee/35% ranged

Umbral Glaive

  • Lethality: 10 >>> 13

Serpent's Fang

  • Lethality: 12 >>> 15

Axiom Arc

  • Base ultimate cooldown refund on takedown: 5% >>> 10%

New Surrender System in League of Legends Patch 13.16

Battle Boss Yasuo
Now the typical Yasuo player won't be able to spam the surrender vote, after dying 10 times in 1v1's |©Riot Games

One of the oldest features in League of Legends is also being changed on Patch 13.16 – the Surrender System.

These are the Quality of Life improvements made to the surrender feature:

  • The name of the player that started a surrender vote is no longer revealed.
  • After starting a surrender vote, the player that started the surrender mode will not be able to begin another vote for 6 minutes. Note, the team cooldown on calling for a surrender vote remains unchanged at 3 minutes and takes priority over individual cooldowns.
  • The surrender vote will automatically resolve when a vote can no longer pass and will no longer remain open waiting for players to vote.
  • The surrender box text has been updated to reflect the type of surrender vote being called: Surrender, AFK Surrender, or Remake.

It will be interesting to see how these changes might impact the behavior of a certain type of players in League of Legends. But it might be a nice update, since spamming surrender votes can be demoralizing for everybody else in the team.

Arena Balance Changes In LoL Patch 13.16

Samira Soul Fighter Arena Header
Samira is looking down upon the multitude of balance changes in Arena this time around. | © Riot Games

Arena is going to stick around until the end of the month, which means we're going to have some more major balance changes for multiple LoL Arena champions as well this time around. There are a few picks that are just way too weak and this patch Riot chose to buff a lot of champions.

LoL Arena Champion Buffs

The buff list for arena is huge. The Arena balance team have taken matters into their own hands and decided to buff 18 champions in this League of Legends patch. Arena has been a huge success thus far, so maintenance is a key part of the game mode to have it come back sooner rather than later.

Xerath

  • Q - Arcanopulse
    • Base Damage: 70/110/150/190/230 >>>100/140/180/220/260
  • Rite of the Arcane
    • Base Damage: 180/230/280 >>> 250/300/350

Sion

  • 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 takedowns: 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

  • Q - Sonic Wave/Resonating Strike
    • Abilty Haste: 0 >>> 30
  • 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%
Space Groove Nunu
Nunu is getting buffed in Arena so we're all dancing with joy! | © Riot Games

Nunu & Willump

  • Q - Consume
    • Ability Haste: 0 >>> 30
    • 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 - Absolute 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

  • 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: 0 >>> 15
    • 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 (+100% bonus AD) (+95% AP)

Akali

  • 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

  • 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: 0 >>> 20
  • 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

Hecarim

  • Q - Rampage
    • Base Damage: 60/85/110/135/160 (+90% bonus AD) >>> 80/105/130/155/190 (+90% 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

  • Passive - Fury of the North
    • Stun Hit Damage: 10% max Health >>> 12% max Health
  • Q - Arctic Assault
    • Ability Haste: 0 >>> 20
  • E - Permafrost
    • Per champion Cooldown: 8 >>> 5

Cho'Gath

  • Q - Rupture
    • Ability Haste: 0 >>> 25
    • 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
    • Ability Haste: 0 >>> 30
    • Damage: 300/475/650 >>> 400/575/750
    • HP per stack: 80/120/160 >>> 100/150/200
Nightbringer Tryndamere
Will these buffs be able to make Tryndamere a sought after pick in Arena? | © Riot Games

Tryndamere

  • Passive - Battle Fury
    • Gains 50% more Fury
  • Q - Bloodlust
    • Base Heal: 30-70 (+30% AP) >>> 60-140 (50% AP)
    • Heal Per Fury: 0.5-2.3 (1.2% AP) >>> 1-4 (2% AP)
  • W - Mocking Shout
    • Slow: 30-60% >>> 50-80%
    • AD Reduction: 20-80 >>> 30-120

Nidalee

  • Passive - Prowl
    • Movement Speed Doubled
  • Q - Javelin Toss/Takedown
    • Human Minimum AP Ratio: 50% >>> 80%
    • Cougar AD Ratio: 75% total AD >>> 120% total AD
  • W - Bushwhack/Pounce
    • Maximum Traps: 4/6/8/10 (based on level) >>> 100 (yes, 100. This is not a typo)
  • E - Primal Surge/Swipe
    • Human Base Heal: 35-95 >>> 60-180
    • Human bonus Attack Speed: 20-60% >>> 40-80%
    • NEW: Cougar E now has an 80% bonus AD ratio

Quinn

  • 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
    • Passive Attack Speed: 28/36/44/52/60% >>> 30/40/50/60/70%
    • Ability Haste: 0 >>> 100
  • R - Behind Enemy Lines
    • AD Ratio: 70% >>> 100%

LeBlanc

  • Q - Sigil of Malice
    • Base damage: 65/90/115/140/165 (+40% AP) >>> 75/100/125/150/175 (+40% AP)
  • W - Distortion
    • Ability Haste: 0 >>> 15
  • R - Mimic
    • Ability Haste: 0 >>> 15
    • Mimicked Q Damage: 70/140/210 (+40% AP) >>> 90/160/230 (+50% AP)
    • Mimicked E Damage: 70/140/210 (+40% AP) >>> 90/160/230 (+50% AP)

Ekko

  • 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
    • Passive Bonus Magic Damage: 3% (+3% per 100 AP) >>> 4% (+3% per 100 AP)

LoL Arena Augment Buffs

Lol arena
Augment buffs are incoming! | © Riot Games

Of course there are some augments in the League of Legends Arena mode which could also use some love. There are a lot of different augments in the game, but some just aren't cutting it, which is why Riot has decided to buff some of them in this League of Legends patch.

Phenomenal Evil

  • Cooldown: 0.75 global >>> 0.75 per spell

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 Amplifier: 11% >>> 15%
  • Dark Harvest Base Damage: 25-75 (+30% Bonus AD) (20% 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%

LoL Arena Item Buffs

Lo L Soul Fighter Header
So many item buffs have been added to the new mode as well. | © Riot Games

There are quite a few items that need some help as well in the game mode, which is why we've got a pretty long list of item buffs as well in LoL Patch 13.16. 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

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 Arena Champion Nerfs

Lunar Guardian Warwick
Time for some nerfs to Warwick. | © Riot Games

Of course, there are not just Buffs hitting the LoL Arena mode, but a couple of champions are also seeing some nerfs from the side of Riot. So let's go over the few champion nerfs we've got.

Fiora

  • Passive - Duelists' Dance
    • True Damage: 3% (+4% per 100 bonus AD) >>> 2% (+3% per 100 bonus AD)
  • W - Riposte
    • Ability Haste: 0 >>> -20

Warwick

  • Q - Jaws of the Beast
    • % health Damage: 6-10% >>> 5-9%
    • AD Ratio: 1.2% >> 1%
  • E - Primal Howl
    • Ability Haste: 0 >>> -20
  • R - Infinite Duress
    • Base Damage: 175-525 >>> 100-300

Cassiopeia

  • Passive - Serpentine Grace
    • Bonus Movement Speed: Reduced by 30%
  • W - Miasma
    • Ability Haste: 0 >>> -30

LoL Arena Augment Nerfs

There are also a lot fewer augment nerfs than there are buffs in this League of Legends patch.

With Haste

  • Haste as Movespeed: 200% >>> 150%

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% >>> 25%
  • Healing Copied: 40% >>> 45%

LoL Arena Item Nerfs

Finally, we get to the last nerfs of LoL Patch 13.16. There have been quite a few changes to Arena this time around, so thankfully Riot is only adding two item nerfs for Arena.

Radiant Virtue

  • Heal Strength: 6% Max HP >>> 4% Max HP

Eclipse

  • Attack Damage: 60 >>> 50
  • % Max Health Damage: 8% >>> 7%

Skins In LoL Patch 13.16: Immortal Journey

Immortal Journey Soraka
Soraka getting another legendary... I ain't even mad. | © Riot Games

We are going to be getting some new Immortal Journey skins this League of Legends patch. Six champions and seven skins will be released in this League of Legends update. Soraka will have her third legendary skin, Sona will receive a new prestige skin and Shyvana will finally get a new skin as well! Everything is coming together, eh?

  • Immortal Journey Soraka
  • Immortal Journey Zed
  • Immortal Journey Zeri
  • Immortal Journey Kayle
  • Immortal Journey Shyana
  • Immortal Journey Sona
    • Immortal Journey Sona Prestige Edition

We won't have an event for these skins either, instead Riot will be holding a skin showcase for this round of skins. The Sona skin is also going to be available for purchase in the Mythic Shop, instead of getting it with event tokens.

The Immortal Journey skins will hit the in-game shop on August 16, 2023 at 9:00 PM BST / 1:00 PM PST.

This is going to be a pretty fun patch, and players can get more and more excited for the upcoming League of Legends World Championship, with some major champion adjustments on the horizon for some.

Sabrina Ahn

Sabrina Ahn is the League of Legends and Riftfeed Lead. During her time at Concordia University in 2014 she fell in love with LoL and is playing it since – how she hasn't lost her sanity is still unclear....