As we gradually get used to the Syndra mid-scope changes and experiment with AP builds on champions like Twitch and Kai’Sa once more, Riot’s lead balance designer Matt “Phroxzon” Leung-Harrison has already begun to inform players about the most recent buffs and nerfs coming to League of Legends with Patch 12.20.
His tweet states that the balance team’s main goal will be to weaken the top pro play picks. Thus, it is understandable why Sett, Maokai, and Aatrox were included. Lethal Tempo and Iceborn Gauntlet will once again receive nerfs in addition to the standard champion nerfs from Riot.
Sett, Maokai, and Aatrox will experience severe reductions in their early-game effectiveness, lane safety, and damage. Since Aatrox has a 100 presence during both the play-in stage and the group stage, Riot will likely target him in particular, especially because he is still too strong after Eclipse changes. After his update, Maokai was already overdue for nerfs, in large part because the champion currently has no weaknesses and is a solid pick in virtually every matchup.
Lethal Tempo and Iceborn Gauntlet are the targets of system nerfs due to hyperscaling abusers like Bel’Veth who stack attack speed with defense stats to become tentacle monsters that can outrun you without inflicting any harm. The balance improvements are aimed at this broken combo in order to stop this exploitation and encourage carriers to start building carry goods again.