This new patch is designed to make several important adjustments to the game, with a focus on melee assassins that will likely alter their power dynamics considerably.

In this patch, many melee assassins are undergoing significant changes. Champions like Zed, Yone, Yasuo, Irelia, and Akali are all receiving major updates that will impact their power levels in meaningful ways. These changes aim to balance their effectiveness and ensure a more equitable gameplay experience.

Additionally, boots items are being nerfed across the board. Many of these items will see increases in cost and reductions in their effective resistances and other stats. These adjustments are intended to balance the overall power of boots and their impact on gameplay.

League of Legends Patch 14.15 early notes

Champions

Akali

W: Twilight Shroud

• Cooldown reduced: 20 seconds flat >>> 20-16 seconds

R: Perfect Execution

• Cooldown increased: 100-60 seconds >>> 120 – 60 seconds
• R1 base damage changed: 80-360 >>> 110-330
• R2 base damage increased: 60-200 >>> 70-210

Cassiopeia

Base Stats

• Base mana increased: 350 >>> 400
• Mana growth reduced: 60 >>> 40

Q: Noxious Blast

• Mana cost reduced: 50-90 >>> 50-70
• AP ratio reduced: 90% >>> 80%

W: Miasma

• Mana cost reduced: 70-110 >>> 70-90

E: Twin Fang

• Mana cost reduced: 50-42 >>> 40 flat

Irelia

Base Stats

• Base health increased: 590 >>> 630
• Base health regen reduced: 8.5 >>> 6

Passive: Ionian Fervor

• Duration reduced: 6 seconds >>> 5 seconds

Skarner

Base Stats

• Health growth increased: 105 >>> 110
• Armor growth increased: 4.8 >>> 5

Q: Shattered Earth/ Upheaval

• Mana cost reduced: 50 >>> 40

E: Ixtal’s Impact

• Backwards kidnap removed
• Bug fix to stun more consistently

Sylas

Q: Chain Lash

• Cooldown reduced: 11-7 seconds >>> 10-6 seconds
• Explosion base damage reduced: 70-290 >>> 60-260
• Explosion AP ratio reduced: 90% >>> 80%

W: Kingslayer

• Heal now scales with 5% bonus HP
• Heal AP ratio reduced: 35% >>> 20%
• Damage AP ratio reduced: 80% >>> 70%

E: Abscond/ Abduct

• AP ratio reduced: 100% >>> 80%

Yasuo

E: Sweeping Blade

• Base damage increased: 60-100 >>> 70-130
• No longer scales with 20% bonus AD
• Bonus damage per stack increased: 15-25% (1-18) >>> 25% flat

Yone

Q: Mortal Steel

• Base damage increased: 20-100 >>> 20-120

R: Fate Sealed

• Cooldown increased: 120-60 seconds >>> 120-80 seconds

Zed

Q: Razor Shuriken

• Base damage increased: 80-220 >>> 80-240
• Bonus AD ratio reduced: 110% >>> 100%

E: Shadow Slash

• Base damage changed: 65-165 >>> 60-180
• Bonus AD ratio increased: 65% >>> 80%
• Cooldown changed: 5-3 seconds >>> 4 seconds flat
• Energy cost increased: 40 >>> 50

R: Death Mark

• Cooldown increased: 120-80 seconds >>> 120-100 seconds

Items

Abyssal Mask

• MR reduction increased: 20% >>> 30%
• Cost increased: 2300 >>> 2500
• Aura radius increased: 600 >>> 700

Wit’s End

• Dagger replaced by Recurve Bow in recipe
• On hit damage changed: 15-80 >>> 40-80(linear)

Null-Magic Mantle

• Cost reduced: 450 >>> 400
• MR reduced: 25 >>> 20

Mercury’s Treads

• Cost increased: 1100 >>> 1200
• MR reduced: 25 >>> 20

Plated Steelcaps

• Cost increased: 1000 >>> 1200

Ionian Boots of Lucidity

• Cost increased: 900 >>> 1000
• Summoner spell haste reduced: 12 >>> 10

Sorcerer’s Shoes

• Magic pen reduced: 18 >>> 15

Berserker’s Greaves

• Attack speed reduced: 35% >>> 30%

Boots of Swiftness

• Cost increased: 900 >>> 1000

Runes

Dark Harvest

• Cooldown reduced: 40 seconds >>> 35 seconds
• Takedown cooldown reduced: 1.5 seconds >>> 1.25 seconds

According to the patch schedule, League of Legends Patch 14.15 is expected to go live on July 31, 2024. Players can look forward to experiencing these changes and seeing how they affect the dynamics of the game.

Naafiri, known as The Hound of a Hundred Bites, has maintained a decent win rate of around 51 percent in Platinum ranks and higher. However, her play rate in the mid lane remains relatively low, sitting at only 2.8% in the same ranked distribution.

LoL players don’t like playing Naafiri

While the champion seems strong based on statistics, many players feel that her kit lacks diversity and excitement, making her less interesting to play. Some players on the League subreddit have described her as “baby’s first assassin” and “extremely boring” due to her straightforward gameplay mechanics and lack of complex ability combos.

“Cause most assasin players want to play high skill fantasy champs or at least one with high outplay potential, naafiri doesn’t have either, she is a very simple and statchecky assasin with her only “outplay” spell being her short e dash which is minor(she also heals/shields a decent amount but that’s a bruiser fantasy rather than an assasin so she also has that problems“

Unlike other assassins like Akali or Zed, who offer exhilarating outplay potential and fast-paced gameplay, Naafiri’s gameplay is considered too simple and linear. This simplicity may not appeal to players seeking more engaging and challenging champions.

“I have tried to play her a couple games and just find her extremely boring. ”

It’s worth noting that the developers designed Naafiri to be one of the easier champions to learn in the assassin role, which may deter experienced players. She relies heavily on her passive ability, which spawns a Packmate and is integral to her various abilities and strategies.

Additionally, her appearance as a monstrous champion may also contribute to her lower popularity. Riot has stated that non-human champions tend to be less popular than humanoid champions, further impacting Naafiri’s appeal to players.

Katarina is known for her ability to unleash devastating pentakills, striking fear into squishy champions. A well-fed Katarina can single-handedly dominate a game, however, her impact seems to diminish as you climb the ranked ladder.

Katarina’s performance has been lackluster lately, evident in her win rate in Patch 13.20, according to League statistic op.gg. Riot August, during one of his recent Twitch streams, discussed champions with minimal presence in professional play, and Katarina naturally came up. She’s rarely chosen by pro players, primarily because her design doesn’t align with the pro play style.

According to Riot August, Katarina is in need of buffs. Currently, her win rate hovers at 48.80% across all ranks. He believes that Katarina mains’ skill and dedication have a more significant impact on her win rate compared to non-mains. This makes sense since Katarina is a high-skill-floor champion which attracts dedicated one-trick players.

Despite her dominating reputation, even skilled Katarina mains struggle to achieve victory with her. What often goes unnoticed is her weak laning phase. If Katarina can’t secure an advantage through roaming, her value in the game diminishes.

Recent adjustments by Riot to the jungle and the increased durability of marksmen have impacted the burst damage of assassins, including Katarina. She no longer destroys marksmen as swiftly as before.

Additionally, her passive ability requires her to secure a takedown before she can unleash her full potential. With support champions being potent in the current meta, squishy champions have access to substantial sustain. All these factors contribute to her low win rate, despite having dedicated and skilled one-trick players.

In conclusion, it appears that Riot August’s call for Katarina buffs is well-founded. However, Riot currently has its hands full with upcoming patches and preseason changes, so the timeline for addressing this issue remains uncertain.

Zed’s current state in League of Legends

A Reddit thread that surfaced on October 2nd boldly asserted that Zed is the primary issue within the game. The argument pivots on Zed’s exceptional safety, formidable scaling, and a skill ceiling that contributes to his pick rate compared to other assassins. The claim is that Zed, unlike other assassins, can navigate the laning phase with a flexibility playstyle to mages rather than the traditional assassin playstyle.

Zed’s ban rates in ranked underscore the community’s concern, with bans ranging from 30% in the Master tier to a staggering 36% in the Bronze tier.

This discussion builds upon previous threads from the last week that ignited passionate debates within the community. The discourse initiated on September 29th with a thread delving into the potency of Zed when adopting a Haste build.

Phroxzon, the lead gameplay designer at Riot Games, responded on October 2nd, shedding light on the developer’s philosophy regarding assassin balance. However, the response did not explicitly address Zed’s current state. The community has been vocal in their plea for Riot Games to address the imbalance, either through nerfs or a more nuanced distribution of power across the game phases.

In response to the ongoing dialogue, a forthcoming change is slated for Zed in Patch 13.20, anticipated for release on October 12th. The alteration involves an increase in the cooldown of Zed’s W ability, shifting it from 20-14 seconds to 20-17 seconds.

This adjustment is a direct response to concerns about the ability being too easily spammed. While this change has been welcomed by the community, lingering doubts persist as to whether it will effectively rein in Zed’s dominance in the meta. The League of Legends community remains eager to witness how these changes will influence the dynamic of the game and the perceived prowess of the Master of Shadows.

Assassins to have less “one-shot” potential in the future

Balancing Assassins in League has always been a challenge. The devs often walk a tightrope, leaving players either frustrated with the perception of not dealing enough damage to swiftly eliminate targets or, conversely, feeling victimized by the rapid death caused by them.

The ongoing Season 13 has witnessed a series of sweeping changes to Assassin items, reflecting Riot’s continuous effort to fine-tune their mechanics. Prowler’s Claw underwent a comprehensive rework, Duskblade faced multiple nerfs, and Shojin received noteworthy buffs.

These adjustments collectively signal a gradual shift away from the traditionally high damage potential of the champion’s class, with a focus on redefining their role and playstyle.

In the midst of these changes, Phroxzon responded to the mounting criticism, suggesting that perhaps Assassins might find a more balanced identity by having less one-shot capability.

“We’ve been trying to move certain classes away from damage and into other outputs (eg. Assassins using Haste instead of damage to make them more about repeatability and less about one-shotting).” 

This, however, did not sit well with a considerable faction of the player community. Many argue that such a shift might inadvertently incentivize building bruiser items, potentially diluting the core identity of the class, which is built around the fast elimination of targets.

The community is now grappling with uncertainty about how League’s persistent efforts to remove one-shot capabilities will unfold over time. Striking a delicate balance that caters to the desires of Assassin players without unduly affecting other roles, is undoubtedly a formidable challenge for the devs.

“Sorry but i feel like the repeatability on assassins just ruins the entire class and IDEA of the class in the first place. An assassin goes in, gets a kill, gets out. There is INSANE AMOUNTS of ways to outplay this concept, especially in these new seasons. IDK why u change that”

“I really do not think you guys go in the right direction for assassins. Not one person wants to play/play against bruiser talon / bruiser zed / bruiser qiyana. This literally already exists with the current zed build / old qiyana first strike resolve build/ old bruiser talon hp stacking build.”

As the game heads into Season 14, the trajectory of Assassin items and their impact on gameplay will be closely monitored. The delicate dance of maintaining excitement for players while ensuring fair and enjoyable gameplay experiences for others will likely continue to be a focal point of discussion within the League of Legends community.

A player stated in a recent League of Legends Reddit thread that they played 10 games of Naafiri on the PBE and that she is the strongest jungler in League. As a Kindred main, the player emphasised gap closure, massive damage, and, most importantly, how much enjoyable she is to play.

This is fairly surprising given that Riot Games classified Naafiri as a midlane assassin. The player tried her in that capacity as well, but she was even worse.

“This champion is the most fun Jungler I’ve ever played,”

“This champion is amazing in the jungle.”

“I’ve also tried her in middle, but honestly she feels horrible into most ranged match ups”

Other players concurred, saying it’s strange that the devs labelled Naafiri as a mid laner. She appears to have the appropriate arsenal to rapidly clear the jungle and gank lanes, with an easy gap closer, high-damage, and low-cooldown abilities.

Aside from that, the creators feel she also teaches players on how to be better assassins as well as how to defeat them.

Essentially, RiotRaptorr noted that Naafiri’s kit trains players to answer three essential assassin questions when contemplating a fight: who to target, when to go in, and from what angle.

Despite its simplicity, Naafiri’s kit is incredibly potent, and if a player correctly answers all three of these questions, they should be able to get the kill easily. They should also be able to leave safely owing to the reset on her ultimate.

On the other side, the developer mentioned a lack of mechanism counterplay against assassins, like Naafiri. The dev agrees to some extent, noting that the ideal counter vs assassins should be based on a macro approach rather than specific mechanics like sticking with your team.

“…assassins are primarily countered through macro play, rather than mechanics,”

In his last observations, the developer emphasised that while being the easiest assassin to play, Naafiri still has a high skill cap. The Darkin Assassin is likely to be available in League with Patch 13.14, which is set to release on July 19th.

Riot has recently published the cinematic trailer for Naafiri. This cinematic concentrates on her lore more than anything else. But it finally gave Naafiri and her troop their due.

On the lore front, this teaser depicts Naafiri’s beginnings, notably how she is the host of the entire pack of dogs. Originally, a shuriman was transferring Naafiri’s dagger to another location. Then, in the midst of his trek, he was assaulted by a swarm of shuriman dogs. In that instance, Naafiri gained control of the dogs.

Naafiri is a one-of-a-kind champion that focuses on employing a pack of hounds as her primary source of damage. She has lots of mobility and burst, which should please any assassin player in terms of terrifying late-game potential.

She, like many other assassins, must combine her abilities well in order to maximise her entire damage, as well as find some tough angles to dive into the backline and bust any AD carriers or mid laners hiding behind their tanks.

Riot has also released a Naafiri’s abilities rundown on their official page with, while not much, some details and description about her abilities, along with a demo clip of each abilities.

League of Legends Naafiri Abilities

Passive – We Are More

Naafiri spawns Packmates that attack the targets of her attacks and abilities. Hitting champions with abilities or killing enemies reduces this ability’s cooldown.

Q – Darkin Dagger

Naafiri hurls up to two daggers, each inflicting bleed, or each inflicting bonus damage if the target is already bleeding. If the target is a champion, she restores some health.

Packmates leap to attack champions hit by this skill.

W – Hounds’ Pursuit

Naafiri and her packmates dash at an enemy, colliding with the first champion hit and dealing damage. Her Packmates become untargetable and dash alongside Naafiri, dealing additional damage per Packmate.

E – Eviscerate

Naafiri dashes and damages enemies in an area, recalling and healing her Packmates to full.

R – The Call of the Pack

Naafiri empowers her pack and spawns additional Packmates, gaining a burst of speed and vision and a shield when she attacks a champion.

On first champion takedown, all effects are refreshed.

The Darkin Assassin is set to be released in League of Legends in patch 13.14 on July 20, 2023.

In a recent dev Q&A video, executive producer Jeremy “Brightmoon” Lee and studio head Andrei “Meddler” van Roon revealed a few additional facts about the unannounced Darkin assassin, including when players may expect to see her on the PBE.

According to Meddler, players will be able to test out Naafiri later this month, around the end of June. The developers did not provide a particular date for when the champion will be available for testing, but more information should become available in the coming weeks as the release date approaches.

Riot disclosed Naafiri’s gameplay and backstory details in a Champion Roadmap written by head champion producer Alexia Gao two months ago.

Naafiri is a Shurima-based hunter who uses her Darkin assassin skills to seek down her prey. Several teasers and Meddler himself have intimated that she is a “dog.” She was created to be played in the mid lane and uses a dagger to slay her opponents.

In League, assassins have always been extremely micro-focused; the ability to spot opportunities to take down opponents and perform accurate kills is critical to the assassin gameplay experience. Riot’s intention with Naafiri, on the other hand, is to reduce the cost of that killing and allow for much more level on the macro plays.

“We hope to lower the burden of that execution and allow much more concentration on the macro plays with Naafiri.”

“With the change to assassin gameplay that Naafiri brings, we also built a lot of new tech to accommodate her unique gameplay thematic that should help make it feel more alive, dynamic, and decluttered.”

The champion design team has made it clear that the Darkin assassin is an assassin since the champion was initially revealed earlier this year. According to Gao, the champion is aimed for players who “want to focus on the hunt.”

This is significant. League of Legends Patch 13.10 is now here, and Riot Games devs didn’t lie when they stated they’d utilise the 2023 Mid-Season Invitational downtime to change things up. Riot is releasing four new things, one of which is a returning upgrade, and making modifications to practically every other items on the Rift. After Ivern’s midscope upgrade was postponed somewhat, only Neeko and some ADCs are being modified.

Without further ado, here are the champion and item changes in League of Legends patch 13.10 notes. (the full patch notes can be seen here)

League of Legends Patch 13.10 notes

Champions

Akshan

• Passive – Dirty Fighting
  • Magic Damage on Third Stack: 10-165 (based on level) >>> 10-165 (based on level) (+ 60% AP)
  • Shield Value: 40-280 (+35% bonus AD), scaling linearly with champion level >>> 40-280 (+35% bonus AD), scaling non-linearly, mirroring base stat growth.
• Q – Avengerang
  • Bonus Movement Speed Upon Hitting An Enemy Champion: 40% >>> 40% (+5% per 100 AP)

Kalista

• E – Rend
  • Slow: 10/18/26/34/42% >>> 10/18/26/34/42% (+5% per 100 AP)
  • Physical Damage: 20/30/40/50/60 (+ 70% AD) >>> 20/30/40/50/60 (+ 70% AD) (+20% AP)
  • Additional Stack Damage: 10/16/22/28/34 (+23.2/27.55/31.9/36.25/40.6% AD) >>> 10/16/22/28/34 (+23.2/27.55/31.9/36.25/40.6% AD) (+20% AP)

Kindred

• W – Wolf’s Frenzy
  • Magic Damage: 25/30/35/40/45 (+20% bonus AD) (+1.5% (+1% per mark) target’s current health) >>> 25/30/35/40/45 (+20% bonus AD) (+20% AP) (+1.5% (+1% per mark) target’s current health)
• E – Mounting Dread
  • Slow: 50% >>> 50% (+5% per 100 AP)

Neeko

• Q – Blooming Burst
  • Bonus Damage to Monsters: 30/40/50/60/70 >>> 35/50/65/80/95
• W – Shapesplitter
  • Bonus Damage to Monsters: 50 >>> 75
• R – Pop Blossom
  • Magic Damage: 150/350/550 (+100% AP) >>> 150/350/550 (+120% AP)

Vayne

• Q – Tumble
  • Bonus Physical Damage on Next Attack: 75/85/95/105/115% AD >>> 75/85/95/105/115% AD + 50% AP

Crit item changes

Bloodthirster

• Total Cost: 3200
• Item Recipe: B.F. Sword + Cloak of Agility + Vampiric Scepter + 400 Gold
• Attack Damage: 55
• Critical Strike Chance: 20%
• Life Steal: 15% >>> 18%
• Unique Passive – Engorge: While above 50% Health, gain an additional 10-40 Attack Damage (based on level).

Galeforce

• Total Cost: 3400
• Item Recipe: Noonquiver + Cloak of Agility + Pickaxe + 625 gold >>> B. F. Sword + Zeal + Long Sword + 650 Gold
• Attack Damage: 60 >>> 55
• Attack Speed: 20% >>> 15%
• Critical Strike Chance: 20%
• Bonus Movement Speed: 7%
• Active – Cloudburst: Dash and deal 150-350 (plus up to 250, based on Critical Strike Chance) physical damage to the lowest health nearby enemy, prioritizing champions. Damage is increased based on your target’s missing health. (Cooldown: 90 seconds) (Note: Maximum execution threshold: 25% current health, Maximum execution strength: 60% bonus damage.)
• Mythic Passive: Empowers each of your other Legendary items with 5 Attack Damage.

Typhoon

• Attack Damage: 80 >>> 70
• Attack Speed: 35% >>> 30%
• Critical Strike Chance: 20%
• Bonus Movement Speed: 7% >>> 9%

Guinsoo’s Rageblade

• Tier Change: Legendary Tier >>> Mythic Tier
• Total Cost: 2600 >>> 3200
• Item Recipe: Rageknife + Cloak of Agility + Dagger + 900 gold >>> Amplifying Tome + Rageknife + Pickaxe + 690 Gold
• Attack Damage: 30
• Ability Power: 30
• Attack Speed: 45% >>> 25%
• Unique Passive – Wrath: Attacks apply 30 magic damage On-Hit. Convert your Critical Strike Chance into up to 150 more.
• Unique Passive – Seething Strike: Basic attacks grant a stack of 8% attack speed, up to 4 times. At max stacks, every third attack applies on-hit effects twice.
• Mythic Passive: Empowers each of your other Legendary items with 5% Armor Penetration and 6% Magic Penetration.

Seething Sorrow

• Attack Damage: 40
• Ability Power: 50
• Attack Speed: 35%

Hearthbound Axe

• Total Cost: 1000 >>> 1100
• Item Recipe: Long Sword + Dagger + 350 gold >>> Long Sword + Dagger + Long Sword + 100 gold
• Attack Damage: 15 >>> 20

Immortal Shieldbow

• Tier Change: Mythic Tier >>> Legendary Tier
• Total Cost: 3400 >>> 3000
• Item Recipe: Noonquiver + Cloak of Agility + Vampiric Scepter + 600 gold >>> Pickaxe + Cloak of Agility + Vampiric Scepter + 625 Gold
• Attack Damage: 50
• Critical Strike Chance: 20%
• Life Steal: 7%
• Attack Speed: 20% >>> 0 (Removed)
• Unique Passive – Lifeline Shield Strength: If you would take damage that would reduce you below 30% of your maximum health, you first gain a 250-630 (based on level) shield for 3 seconds. >>> If you would take damage that would reduce you below 30% of your maximum health, you first gain a 215-500 (based on level) shield for 3 seconds. (Note: Lifeline’s shield is back loaded toward later levels.)
• Unique Passive – Lifeline Bonus Stats: When Lifeline is triggered the user gains 15-35 AD for 8 seconds. >>> When Lifeline is triggered the user gains 30% Attack Speed for 8 seconds.

Infinity Edge

• Tier Change: Legendary Tier >>> Mythic Tier
• Total Cost: 3400
• Item Recipe: B. F. Sword + Pickaxe + Cloak of Agility + 625 Gold
• Attack Damage: 70
• Critical Strike Chance: 20%
• Critical Strike Damage: 35% (Note: Identical to the removed Perfection passive)
• Mythic Passive: Empowers each of your other Legendary items with 5 Attack Damage

Edge of Finality

• Attack Damage: 100

Kircheis Shard

• Total Cost: 700
• Item Recipe: Dagger + 400 gold >>> Long Sword + 350 gold
• Attack Damage: 15
• Attack Speed: 15% >>> 0% (Removed)
• Unique Passive – Jolt: Energized attacks apply 80 bonus magic damage >>> Energized attacks apply 60 bonus magic damage

Kraken Slayer

• Tier Change: Mythic Tier >>> Legendary Tier
• Total Cost: 3400 >>> 3000
• Item Recipe: Noonquiver + Cloak of Agility + Pickaxe + 625 gold >>> Noonquiver + Cloak of Agility + Recurve Bow + 400 Gold
• Attack Damage: 65 >>> 40
• Attack Speed: 25% >>> 30%
• Critical Strike Chance: 20%
• Unique Passive – Bring It Down: Every third Attack applies 20 + 60% Total AD + 45% AP bonus magic damage. Subsequent triggers on the same target within 6 seconds increases this damage by 50% (Up to a maximum of 100% increased damage).

Mercurial Scimitar

• Magic Resistance: 40 >>> 50

Mortal Reminder

• Attack Damage: 35 >>> 40

Navori Quickblades

• Tier Change: Legendary Tier >>> Mythic Tier
• Total Cost: 3400
• Item Recipe: Caulfield’s Warhammer + Pickaxe + Cloak of Agility + 825 gold
• Attack Damage: 60
• Critical Strike Chance: 20%
• Ability Haste: 20
• Unique Passive – Transcendence: Attacks reduce non-Ultimate Ability cooldowns by 12% of their remaining cooldown
• Unique Passive – Impermanence: Your abilities deal up to 20% increased damage based on Critical Strike Chance
• Mythic Passive: Empowers each of your other Legendary items with 5 Ability Haste

Flicker

• Attack Damage: 80
• Ability Haste: 30

Phantom Dancer

• Total Cost: 2600 >>> 2800
• Item Recipe: Long Sword + Zeal + Long Sword + 850 gold >>> Hearthbound Axe + Zeal + 600 gold
• Attack Speed: 25% >>> 30%

Rageknife

• Total Cost: 800 gold >>> 1200 gold
• Item Recipe: Dagger + Dagger + 200 gold >>> Dagger + Dagger + 600 Gold
• Attack Speed: 25%
• Unique Passive – Wrath: This item grants 20 magic damage On-Hit
• Unique Passive – Seething Strike: Attacks grant 5% Attack Speed, stacking up to 3 times for a maximum of 15% Attack Speed

Rapid Firecannon

• Total Cost: 2500 >>> 3000
• Item Recipe: Zeal + Kircheis Shard + 750 gold >>> Long Sword + Zeal + Kircheis Shard + 850 gold
• Attack Damage: 30
• Attack Speed: 35% >>> 15%
• Critical Strike Chance: 20%
• Bonus Movement Speed: 7%
• Unique Passive – Sharpshooter: Your Energized attack applies 120 bonus magic damage. In addition, Energized attacks gain up to 35% bonus Attack Range >>> Your Energized Attack applies 60-140 (based on level) bonus magic damage. In addition, Energized attacks gain up to 35% bonus Attack Range

Recurve Bow

• Total Cost: 1000 >>> 700
• Item Recipe: Dagger + Dagger + 400 gold >>> Dagger + 400 gold
• Attack Speed: 25% >>> 15%
• Unique Passive – Steel Tipped: 15 bonus physical damage on-hit >>> 15 bonus magic damage on-hit

Runaan’s Hurricane

• Total Cost: 2600 >>> 2800
• Item Recipe: Dagger + Zeal + Dagger + 950 gold >>> Zeal + Recurve Bow + 1000 gold
• Attack Speed: 45% >>> 40%
• Unique Passive – Peck: Attack apply 30 magic damage On-Hit
• Unique Passive – Wind’s Fury Bolt Damage: 40% total AD >>> 50% total AD
• Unique Passive – Wind’s Fury: Wind’s Fury now additionally searches for any minions in range if no champions can be found

Statikk Shiv

• Total Cost: 3000
• Item Recipe: Noonquiver + Cloak of Agility + Kircheis Shard + 400 Gold
• Attack Damage: 45
• Attack Speed: 25%
• Critical Strike Chance: 20%
• Unique Passive – Electroshock: Your Energized attack fires chain lightning that applies 60-170 + 50% AP bonus magic damage. These Energized attacks will hit 6-12 targets, they chain to the next target within 600 range every time it deals damage, and they deal 120% bonus damage to minions.

Stormrazor

• Total Gold: 2700 >>> 3000
• Item Recipe: B. F. Sword + Cloak of Agility + Kircheis Shard >>> Noonquiver + Cloak of Agility + Kircheis Shard + 400 Gold
• Attack Damage: 45 >>> 55
• Attack Speed: 15%
• Critical Strike Chance: 20%
• Unique Passive – Bolt: Your Energized attack applies 25 + 65% Total AD + 50% AP bonus Magic Damage and grants 45% Move Speed for 1 second

The Collector

• Lethality: 12 >>> 18

Zeal

• Total Cost: 1050 >>> 1100
• Attack Speed: 18% >>> 15%
• Movement Speed: 7% >>> 5%
• Passive – Zealous: Bonus Movement Speed is no longer a unique passive. (Removed)

Assassin item changes

Duskblade of Draktharr

• REMOVED Unique Passive – Nightstalker: Nightstalker Passive will no longer empower your next basic attack against an enemy champion every 15 seconds.
• NEW Unique Passive – Nightstalker: Your spells deal up to an additional 15% bonus damage based on the target’s missing health (maximized at 20% remaining health).
• Unique Passive – Nightstalker: When a champion you have damaged within the past 3 seconds dies, you become invisible for 1.5 seconds ⇒ When a champion you have damaged within the past 3 seconds dies, you become untargetable by non-structures. This effect does not destroy incoming missiles and breaks upon taking any action that would normally exit stealth. (10 second cooldown)

Prowler’s Claw

• NEW Tier Change: Mythic Tier ⇒ Legendary Tier
• Total Cost: 3100 ⇒ 3000
• Attack Damage: 60 ⇒ 55
• Ability Haste: 20 ⇒ 15
• Lethality: 18 ⇒ 15
• REMOVED Active – Sandswipe: Sandswipe active removed.
• NEW Passive – Sandstrike: After dashing, blinking, or exiting Stealth, your next attack on an enemy champion deals 85+45% AD (65+30% AD for ranged) (10s CD). If the owner is melee, the attack also slows by 99% for 0.5 seconds.

Youmuu’s Ghostblade

• NEW Tier Change: Legendary Tier ⇒ Mythic Tier
• Total Cost: 3000 ⇒ 3100
• Attack Damage: 55 ⇒ 60
• Ability Haste: 15 ⇒ 20
• Active – Wraith Step: 20% bonus Movement Speed ⇒ 25% bonus Movement Speed
• REMOVED Passive – Haunt: Haunt passive that grants 40 bonus out-of-combat movement speed has been removed.
• NEW Passive – Haunt: Moving generates Spectral Shards (up to 100). For each stack gain 0.4 Movement Speed (maximum of 40 Movement Speed) out of combat. At maximum stacks, gain 8-20 (based on level) Lethality. These stacks reset 3 seconds after dealing damage to an enemy champion while at maximum stacks.
• Mythic Passive: Empowers each of your other Legendary items with 7 Attack Damage.

Youmuu’s Wake

• Attack Damage: 75
• Ability Haste: 25
• Lethality: 26

Support item changes

Abyssal Mask

• Total Cost: 3000 >>> 2400
• Item Recipe: Catalyst of Aeons + Spectre’s Cowl + 450 gold >>> Kindlegem + Negatron Cloak + 700 gold
• Health: 550 >>> 300
• Ability Haste: 10
• Magic Resistance: 40 >>> 60
• Unique Passive – Unmake: Enemy champions within 550 units of you become cursed, reducing their magic resistance by 5 (+ 1.2% bonus health), capped at a reduction of 25. Gain 9 bonus magic resistance per cursed enemy.
• Unique Passive – Eternity: Unique Passive – Eternity has been removed from Abyssal Mask (Removed)

Ardent Censer

• Total Cost: 2300 >>> 2100
• Item Recipe: Amplifying Tome + Forbidden Idol + Amplifying Tome + 630 gold >>> Aether Wisp + Forbidden Idol + 450 gold
• Ability Power: 60 >>> 35
• Base Mana Regeneration: 100% >>> 75%
• Bonus Heal and Shield Power: 8%
• Movement Speed: 5%
• Unique Passive – Sanctify: Healing or shielding another ally enhances you both for 6 seconds, granting your attacks 10-30% (based on ally’s level) bonus Attack Speed and 5-20 (based on ally’s level) magic damage on-hit >>> Healing or Shielding another ally enhances you both for 6 seconds, granting your attacks 15-30% (based on ally’s level) Attack Speed and 15-30 (based on ally’s level) magic damage on-hit

Chalice of Blessing

• Total Cost: 900 gold
• Item Recipe: Ruby Crystal + Faerie Charm + 250 gold
• Health: 200
• Base Mana Regeneration: 50%
• Unique Passive – Harmony: Gain 25% base health regeneration for every additional 25% base mana regeneration

Chemtech Putrifier

• Total Cost: 2300 >>> 2100
• Item Recipe: Oblivion Orb + Forbidden Idol + 700 gold >>> Oblivion Orb + Forbidden Idol + 500 gold
• Ability Power: 40 >>> 35
• Ability Haste: 15
• Base Mana Regeneration: 100% >>> 75%
• Heal and Shield Power: 8% >>> 10%
• Unique Passive – Puffcap Toxin: Dealing damage to an enemy champion inflicts Grievous Wounds for 3 seconds.

Echoes of Helia

• Total Cost: 2300
• Item Recipe: Chalice of Harmony + Bandleglass Mirror + 400 gold
• Ability Power: 30
• Health: 200
• Ability Haste: 15
• Base Mana Regeneration: 125%
• Unique Passive – Soul Siphon: Dealing damage to an enemy champion grants a Soul Shard (up to 2 max). Healing or shielding an ally consumes all Soul Shards and restores 20 – 100 (based on ally’s level) Health and deals 30 – 200 (based on ally’s level) magic damage per Shard to the nearest enemy champion.
• Unique Passive – Dissonance: Gain 3 Ability Power per 25% Base Mana Regeneration. Disables Harmony.
• Mythic Passive: Empowers each of your other Legendary items with 5 ability haste.

Cry of the Shrieking City

• Ability Power: 60
• Health: 300
• Ability Haste: 20
• Mana Regeneration: 225%

Evenshroud

• Total Cost: 2500 >>> 2300
• Item Recipe: Kindlegem + Aegis of the Legion + 500 gold >>> Lifewell Pendant + Null Magic Mantle + 800 gold
• Health: 200
• Armor: 30
• Magic Resistance: 30
• Ability Haste: 20
• Unique Passive – Coriscation: Becoming affected by or applying an immobilizing or grounding effect to or from an enemy champion affects them and all enemy champions within 600 units of you with Repent, increasing the damage they take by 10% for 5 seconds.
• Mythic Passive: Empowers your other Legendary items with 5 armor and 5 magic resistance

Imperial Mandate

• Total Cost: 2500 >>> 2300
• Item Recipe: Bandleglass Mirror + Kindlegem + 750 gold >>> Bandleglass Mirror + Fiendish Codex + 450 gold
• Ability Power: 40 >>> 55
• Ability Haste: 20
• Base Mana Regeneration: 100%
• Unique Passive – Coordinated Fire: Abilities that Slow or Immobilize a champion deal 45-75 (based on ally’s level) bonus magic damage and marks them for 4 seconds (6 second cooldown per enemy champion mark application). Allied champion damage detonates the mark, dealing an additional 90-150 (based on ally’s level) magic damage and granting you both 20% Move Speed for 2 seconds. >>> Abilities that Slow or Immobilize a champion deal 35-75 (based on ally’s level) bonus magic damage and marks them for 4 seconds (6 second cooldown per enemy champion mark application). Ally champion damage detonates the mark, dealing an additional 70-150 (based on ally’s level) magic damage and granting you both 20% Move Speed for 2 seconds.

Knight’s Vow

• Total Cost: 2300 >>> 2200
• Item Recipe: Crystalline Bracer + Rejuvenation Bead + Kindlegem + 400 gold >>> Lifewell Pendant + Crystalline Bracer + 350 gold
• Health: 400 >>> 350
• Armor: 25
• Ability Haste: 20 >>> 15
• Base Health Regeneration: 200% >>> 125%
• Unique Active – Pledge: Designate the target ally as being Worthy (60 second cooldown)
• Unique Passive – Sacrifice: While your Worthy ally is nearby, redirect 10% of pre-mitigation damage they take to you and heal for 10% of the damage dealt by your Worthy ally to Champions. If they have less than 30% Health the damage reduction is increased to 20%. (Note: this was changed from post-mitigation damage to pre-mitigation damage.)

Lifewell Pendant

• Total Cost: 1050
• Attack Damage Growth: Cloth Armor + Ruby Crystal + 350 gold
• Health: 150
• Armor: 25
• Ability Haste: 5

Locket of the Iron Solari

• Total Cost: 2500 >>> 2300
• Item Recipe: Kindlegem + Aegis of the Legion + 500 gold >>> Lifewell Pendant + Null Magic Mantle + 800 gold
• Health: 200
• Armor: 30
• Magic Resistance: 30
• Ability Haste: 20
• Active – Devotion: Grant you and allied champions within 850 units a shield for 180-330 (based on target’s level) for 2.5 seconds. >>> Grant you and allied champions within 850 units a shield for 200-360 (based on target’s level) for 2.5 seconds.
• Unique Passive – Consecrate: Grant nearby allied champions 3 Armor and Magic Resist.
• Mythic Passive: Grant all other Legendary items 2 Armor and 2 Magic Resist increase to Consecrate.

Mikael’s Blessing

• Total Cost: 2300
• Item Recipe: Forbidden Idol + Negatron Cloak + 600 gold >>> Chalice of Harmony + Forbidden Idol + 550 gold
• Health: 250
• Magic Resistance: 50 >>> 0 (Removed)
• Base Mana Regeneration: 100%
• Heal and Shield Power: 16% >>> 15%
• Active – Purify: Remove all crowd control debuffs (except Knockups and Suppression) from an ally champion and restore 100-180 (based on ally’s level) health. (120 second cooldown) >>> Remove all crowd control debuffs (except Knockups and Suppression) from an ally champion and restore 100-250 (based on ally’s level) health. (120 second cooldown)
• Unique Passive – Harmony: Gain 25% base health regeneration for every additional 25% base mana regeneration

Moonstone Renewer

• Total Cost: 2500 >>> 2300
• Item Recipe: Bandleglass Mirror + Kindlegem + 750 gold >>> Bandleglass Mirror + Kindlegem + 550 gold
• Ability Power: 40 >>> 35
• Health: 200
• Ability Haste: 20
• Base Mana Regeneration: 100%
• Unique Passive – Starlit Grace: Healing or shielding an ally chains to the nearest ally champion (excluding yourself), healing for 20-35% (based on ally target’s level) or shielding 30-40% (based on ally target’s level) of the original amount.
• Mythic Passive: Empowers each of your other Legendary items with 5 ability haste.

Starcaster

• Ability Power: 65
• Health: 300
• Ability Haste: 25
• Mana Regeneration: 200%

Radiant Virtue

• Total Cost: 3200 >>> 2700
• Item Recipe: Aegis of the Legion + Kindlegem + Ruby Crystal + 800 gold >>> Aegis of the Legion + Giant’s Belt + 600 gold
• Health: 400 >>> 350
• Armor: 30
• Magic Resistance: 30
• Ability Haste: 20 >>> 10
• Unique Passive – Guiding Light: Upon casting your ultimate, you Transcend for 9 seconds. While Transcended, increase your maximum health by 15% and cause you and all allies within 1200 units to heal for 3% of your maximum health upon you Transcending and every 3 seconds thereafter (90 second cooldown). >>> Upon casting your ultimate, you Transcend for 9 seconds. While Transcended, increase your maximum health by 12.5% and cause you and all allies within 1200 units to heal for 2.5% of your maximum health upon you Transcending and every 3 seconds thereafter (90 second cooldown).
• Mythic Passive: Grants all other Legendary items 100 bonus Health >>> Grants all other Legendary items 75 bonus Health

Primordial Dawn

• Health: 500
• Armor: 40
• Magic Resistance: 40
• Ability Haste: 15

Redemption

• Total Cost: 2300
• Item Recipe: Kindlegem + Forbidden Idol + 700 gold >>> Chalice of Harmony + Forbidden Idol + 550 gold
• Health: 200 >>> 250
• Base Mana Regeneration: 100%
• Heal and Shield Power: 16% >>> 15%
• Active – Intervention: Target an area within 5500 range. After 2.5 seconds, call down a beam of light to restore 180-340 (based on target’s level) Health to allied champions and burn enemy champions for 10% max Health true damage (90 second cooldown). >>> Target an area within 5500 range. After 2.5 seconds, call down a beam of light to restore 200-400 (based on target’s level) Health to allied champions and burn enemy champions for 10% max Health true damage (90 second cooldown).
• Unique Passive – Harmony: Gain 25% base health regeneration for every additional 25% base mana regeneration

Shurelya’s Battlesong

• Total Cost: 2500 >>> 2300
• Item Recipe: Kindlegem + Bandleglass Mirror + 750 gold >>> Kindlegem + Bandleglass Mirror + 550 gold
• Ability Power: 40 >>> 35
• Health: 200 (Note: Unchanged)
• Ability Haste: 20 (Note: Unchanged)
• Base Mana Regeneration: 100% (Note: Unchanged)
• Active – Inspire: Grants you and all allies within 1000 units +30% bonus movement speed for 4 seconds (75 second cooldown) (Note: Unchanged)
• Unique Passive – Motivate: Healing, shielding, or buffing allies grants you and them +25% bonus movement speed for 1.5 seconds >>> Healing, shielding, or buffing allies grants you and them +20% bonus movement speed for 1.5 seconds
• Mythic Passive: Empowers each of your other Legendary items with 5 ability haste

Shurelya’s Requiem

• Ability Power: 65
• Health: 300
• Ability Haste: 25
• Mana Regeneration: 200%

Staff of Flowing Water

• Total Cost: 2300 >>> 2100
• Item Recipe: Amplifying Tome + Forbidden Idol + Amplifying Tome + 630 gold >>> Aether Wisp + Forbidden Idol + 450 gold
• Ability Power: 50 >>> 35
• Base Mana Regeneration: 100% >>> 75%
• Heal and Shield Power: 8%
• Movement Speed: 5%
• Unique Passive – Rapids: Healing or shielding another ally grants you both 25-45 (based on ally’s level) Ability Power and 20 Ability Haste for 4 seconds >>> Healing or shielding another ally grants you both 30-45 (based on ally’s level) Ability Power and 20 Ability Haste for 4 seconds

Watchful Wardstone

• One Quest Please: Watchful Wardstone can only be purchased after completing your support quest.
• Total Cost: 1100
• Item Recipe: None
• Health: 150
• Ability Haste: 10
• Base Mana Regeneration: 50%
• Unique Passive – Arcane Cache: This item can store up to three purchased Control Wards
• Unique Passive – Blessing of Ixtal: Grants an 8% increase to bonus Health, bonus Attack Damage, Ability Haste, and Ability Power.

Vigilant Wardstone

• One Quest Please: Vigilant Wardstone can only be purchased after completing your support quest.
• Total Cost: 2300
• Item Recipe: Watchful Wardstone + 1200 gold
• Health: 250
• Ability Haste: 10
• Base Mana Regeneration: 50%
• Unique – Arcane Cache: This item can store up to 3 purchased Control Wards
• Unique – Behold: Increase your Stealth Ward and Control Ward placement caps by 1
• Unique – Chosen of Ixtal: Grants a 20% increase to bonus Health, bonus Attack Damage, Ability Haste, and Ability Power.

Zeke’s Convergence

• Total Cost: 2400 >>> 2200
• Item Recipe: Kindlegem + Glacial Buckler + 700 gold >>> Lifewell Pendant + Glacial Buckler + 250 gold
• Health: 250 ⇒ 200
• Mana: 250
• Armor: 35 >>> 45
• Ability Haste: 20 >>> 15
• Active – Conduit: Designate an Accomplice (60 second cooldown)
• Unique Passive – Convergence: For 8 seconds after you immobilize an enemy, your Accomplice’s attacks (On-Hit) and ability hits apply an additional 30 – 70 (based on level) (+7.5%AP) (+1.5% Maximum Health) magic damage on-hit to that enemy

The champion was revealed earlier this year and is expected to be released in 2023. Riot revealed Naafiri’s playstyle today in a Champion Roadmap penned by head champion producer Alexia Gao.

Assassins have always been incredibly micro-focused in League; the ability to discover windows of opportunity to knock down opponent champions and execute precise kills is essential to the assassin gaming experience. However, Riot’s goal with Naafiri is to decrease the cost of that killing and allow much more level on the macro plays, according to today’s Champion Roadmap.

“We hope to lower the burden of that execution and allow much more concentration on the macro plays with Naafiri.”

“With the change to assassin gameplay that Naafiri brings, we also built a lot of new tech to accommodate her unique gameplay thematic that should help make it feel more alive, dynamic, and decluttered.”

Since the Darkin Assassin was first teased earlier this year, the champion design team has made it readily apparent that the champion is an assassin. The champion is intended for gamers “who want to focus on the hunt,” according to Gao. However, there could be a world where assassins can make the flashy play while still assisting their team in the macro game.

“While working on Naafiri, game designer Glenn “Riot Twin Enso” Anderson explored tons of kits with fervent hunger. But the team felt like they were losing control over Naafiri’s kit, so they decided to icebox what Riot Twin Enso had uncovered, especially since they felt it was more in-line with a diver/skirmisher’s gameplay rather than an assassin’s.”

Despite having known some details of Naafiri’s gameplay style and background, players are still unaware of the champion’s appearance and kit. The champion is rumoured to be the next champion to be introduced to the League roster, and he looks to be the most advanced of all champions in the development process, so gamers should learn more about him soon.