Patch 12.18 full preview: Last balance patch before Worlds

Riot Phroxzon shared full preview details of the last balance patch leading up to the biggest League event of the year

Preview specifics

>>> Champion Buffs <<<

Ashe

• [Q] Ranger’s Focus bonus AS increased from 20/25/30/35/40% >>> 25/32.5/40/47.5/55%

Thresh

• HP per level increased 115 >>> 120
• [E-A] Flay base damage increased 65/95/125/155/185 >>> 75/110/145/180/215

Lee Sin

• HP per level increased 99 >>> 105
• [W2] Iron Will life steal and spell vamp increased 5/9.5/14/18.5/23% >>> 5/10.5/16/21.5/27%

Nasus

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• [W] Wither AS slow increased 50% >>> 75% of the movespeed slow
• [R] Fury of the Sands cooldown reduced 120 flat >>> 110/100/90 seconds

>>> Champion Nerfs <<<

Miss Fortune

• HP per level reduced 107 >>> 103
• AD per level reduced 2.7 >>> 2.4

Kalista

• Base HP reduced 604 >>> 564

Hecarim

• [Q] Rampage nerfs:
  • Base damage bAD ratio reduced 95% >>> 90%
  • Per stack bAD ratio reduced 6% >>> 5% per 100 bAD
• [W] Spirit of Dread healing reduced 30% (+2.5% per 100 bAD) >>> 25% (+2% per 100 bAD)

Kayn (Rhaast)

• [Q-Darkin Slayer] Reaping Slash max HP damage bAD ratio reduced 5% >>> 3.5% per 100 bAD

Lulu

• [W] Whimsy nerfs:
  • Cooldown increased 17/16/15/14/13 >>> 17/16.5/16/15.5/15 seconds
  • Polymorph duration reduced 1.25/1.5/1.75/2/2.25 >>> 1.2/1.4/1.6/1.8/2 seconds
  • Base bonus movespeed reduced 30% >>> 25%

Nocturne

• AD per level reduced 3.1 >>> 2.6

>>> Champion Adjustments <<<

Maokai

• [P] Sap Magic max HP ratio reduced 4.8 – 14% >>> 4.5 – 12% (based on level)
• [Q] Bramble Smash bonus monster damage increased 40/60/80/100/120 >>> 80/100/120/140/160
• [E] Sapling Toss damage AP ratio reduced 42.5% >>> 40% (empowered 85% >>> 80%)

Udyr

• HP growth reduced 106 >>> 98
• Armor growth reduced 5.2 >>> 4.7
• [Q] Wilding Claw buffs:
  • Mana cost reduced from 45/41.6/38.2/34.8/31.4/28 >>> 20 flat
  • Now grants 50 bonus attack range for the first two attacks
  • Awakened lightning AP ratio increased 0.6% >>> 0.8% per 100 AP
  • Awakened max HP damage bAD ratio increased 6% >>> 9% per 100 bAD
  • Awakened max HP damage now deals an additional +2 – 5% max HP (based on level)
• [W] Iron Mantle changes:
  • Life steal increased 15% flat >>> 15/16/17/18/19/20%
  • Max HP heal reduced 1.2/1.26/1.32/1.38/1.44/1.5% >>> 1.2% flat
  • Max HP shield reduced 2/2.4/2.8/3.2/3.6/4% >>> 2/2.3/2.6/2.8/3.2/3.5%
• [R] Wingborne Storm changes:
  • Damage per second reduced 20/38/56/74/92/110 (+40% AP) >>> 20/36/52/68/84/100 (+35% AP)
  • Minion damage adjusted 50/60/70/80% >>> 40/55/70/85% (based on levels 1/6/11/16)

Riot playing it safe before Worlds

The previewed patch contains mostly minor changes as Riot does not wish to risk too much a meta shake-up right before Worlds, though they did manage to sneak in the mandatory annual Lee Sin Pre-Worlds buff.

Nasus is finally getting some love, but the hatred he will get from players trying to hit him with the new AS slow will balance it out.

A lot of players are expressing concerns that Yuumi was left untouched. The champion is consistently above 50% winrate in pubs and even more dominating in pro plays. Riot did attempt to nerf Yuumi in patch 12.16, but inexplicably buffed her again in a hotfix just 1 day later.

Patch 12.18 hits the client on September 21 and will likely come with brand new Halloween Fright Night skins