League of Legends: The 5 Biggest Changes of Patch 11.3

While Riot didn’t take most of our suggestions for buffs and nerfs in Patch 11.3, but they did make quite a few significant changes. The latest League of Legends patch makes changes to a boatload of items along with smaller champion changes.

Among the biggest champion changes we might see, Shyvana getting buffed could be huge, as will be those buffs to Sylas. On the nerf end well…basically, every sustain tank and healer is getting a massive nerf in Patch 11.3, thanks to some significant item changes.

1. Decreased Healing

Chemtech Putrifier

"ABILITY HASTE: 15 >>> 20[UPD] PUFFCAP TOXIN PASSIVE: Inflicts immobilized enemy champions with 60% Grievous Wounds for 3 seconds >>> Healing or shielding an allied champion now empowers the ally’s next damage to an enemy champion with 60% Grievous Wounds for 3 seconds"

More from Blog of Legends

Ironspike Whip

"[REM] CRESCENT EMPOWERED DAMAGE: Ironspike no longer deals more damage to low health minions and monsters"

Goredrinker

"THIRSTING SLASH HEAL: 25% AD + 12% missing health >>> 25% AD + 8% missing Health"

Leeching Leer

"OMNIVAMP: 10% >>> 5%HEALTH: 150 >>> 250"

Riftmaker

"OMNIVAMP: 15% >>> 8%HEALTH: 150 >>> 300MYTHIC PASSIVE: 5% magic penetration >>> 8 AP + 2% omnivamp"

Eclipse

"EVER RISING MOON SHIELD: 150/75 >>> 180/90OMNIVAMP: 10% >>> 8%"

Ravenous Hydra

"OMNIVAMP: 15% >>> 10%"

Sterak’s Gage

"LIFELINE SHIELD: 200 >>> 100LIFELINE SHIELD DURATION: 5 seconds >>> 4 seconds"

Here are the biggest changes that Patch 11.3 brings to League of Legends!

This is a lot of changes that are all leading to one big conclusion: healing and sustain champions are getting hit hard with nerfs next patch. Almost every item that gives major sustain is getting nerfed, with Goredrinker and Sterak’s Gage getting hit particularly hard.

On top of that, Riot has reworked Chemtech Purifier so that it is better on Enchanters who want to help cut down healing. Now, champions like Soraka, Lulu, and Janna can spec into lifesteal reduction without having to hit enemies. Simply by shielding their ranged allies, they can constantly apply Grievous Wounds to enemies in teamfights.

I would expect that these changes mean that champions like Renekton and Camille, who have been dominating pro play, fall off significantly. We’ll also see a bit of a drop in the prevalence of jungle fighters like Hecarim and OIaf.

2. Mage Item Changes

Lich Bane

"ABILITY POWER: 80 >>> 70"

Horizon Focus

"ABILITY POWER: 100 >>> 115HYPERSHOT RANGE: 750 >>> 700"

Verdant Barrier

"[UPD] ADAPTIVE PASSIVE: Every 60 seconds gain 3 bonus magic resistance, stacking up to 5 times. Taking magic damage reduces the time it takes to gain magic resistance >>> Grants 0.5 magic resistance per each unit killed (maximum 15)COMBINE COST: 315 gold >>> 115 gold"

Banshee’s Veil

"ABILITY POWER: 65 >>> 80COMBINE COST: 400 gold >>> 700 gold"

Seeker’s Armguard

"COMBINE COST: 165 gold >>> 265 goldTOTAL COST: 900 gold >>> 1000 gold"

Zhonya’s Hourglass

"TOTAL COST: 2500 gold >>> 2600 gold"

A bunch of AP items are getting nerfed on Patch 11.3, but the two biggest changes come to Horizon Focus gaining AP and Lich Bane losing 10 AP. The 50 range buff on Horizon Focus (enemies can be closer to trigger the effect) is nice, but the 15 extra damage is massive. Currently, Horizon Focus is the least-efficient Hextech Alternator upgrade, even though it has 10 damage more than Hextech Rocketbelt and Night Harvester, but this change will now make it 25 damage higher than those two mythic items.

As for Lich Bane, though the item is extremely not cost-efficient, it’s still one of the most-picked AP items in League of Legends. That is likely to change after these nerfs as it will have the same amount of AP as Morellonomicon and Demonic Embrace.

3. Shyvana Buffs

Q – Twin Bite

"EMPOWERED BASIC ATTACK (FIRST STRIKE) DAMAGE: 100% AD >>> 100% AD + 25% APSECOND STRIKE BONUS DAMAGE: 20/35/50/65/80% AD >>> 20/35/50/65/80% AD + 15% AP"

W – Burnout

"BONUS MOVEMENT SPEED: 30/35/40/45/50% >>> 30/35/40/45/50% + (8%/100 AP) (still decays linearly)"

In an attempt to soothe the hearts of Shyvana mains, disappointed that the Half-Dragon lost the VGU fan vote (again), Riot is giving her some nerfs. Although this is fair, as Shyvana has been lagging in our jungle tier lists, the fact that Riot is buffing her AP, saying that her AD form is “dominating” is quite strange.

Almost all the high-elo Shyvana one-tricks are building primarily magic damage (usually Nashor’s Tooth into Night Harvester into Morellonomicon). These changes, adding AP ratios to her Twin Bite and Burnout might put Shyvana into hyperdrive in Patch 11.3!

4. Pantheon Nerfs

Q – Comet Spear

"REDUCED DAMAGE AGAINST: Minions >>> Minions and monstersCOOLDOWN: 10/9.5/9/8.5/8 seconds >>> 13/11.75/10.5/9.25/8 seconds"

This is really bad for Pantheon, who is just beginning to find his home in the jungle. The damage reduction now applying to monsters as well hurts Panth jungle a whole lot. The increased cooldown, however, doesn’t hurt as much since Comet Spear is maxed first. But with the damage reduction, Pantheon is going to have a much weaker early clear.

5. Sylas Buffs

Q – Chain Lash

"COST: 50/55/60/65/70 mana >>> 55 mana"

W – Kingslayer

"DAMAGE: 65/100/135/170/205 (+85% AP) >>> 70/105/140/175/210 (+90% AP)"

Two pretty decent buffs to the Unshackled one that should help bring him back into the mid and top lanes. Sylas has actually been fairly decent in both roles as of late, and he does well into some of the very good meta picks like Malphite, Irelia, Akali, and Gangplank. He’s already seen some picks in pro play as a result, and that could very well go up after these buffs land.

Home/Patch Updates