LoL PBE 9.18 changes buff Akali, revert Sylas and Cassiopeia

The League of Legends Public Beta Environment (PBE) servers have received an update featuring balance changes, new icons, and visual improvements.

Riot Games is preparing for the 2019 World Championship and is testing out balance changes that will shuffle and set the tournament’s meta. With the latest update to the game’s PBE servers come changes to Akali, Cassiopeia, and Sylas, as well as three new summoner icons, improvements to the Splendid Staff Nami splash art, and a new loading screen border for Valiant Sword Riven Prestige Edition.

The update comes as a part of the 9.19 patch cycle.

Teamfight Tactics is also receiving a balance update featuring changes to Anivia and Miss Fortune.

PBE update buffs Akali, revert Cassiopeia and Sylas buffs

Dashes on Akali’s Perfect Execution ultimate had their base damage increased from 65/140/215 to 85/150/215 for both physical damage on the first and magical damage on the second dash. This change gives Akali a stronger early and mid-game and smoother damage scaling with levels.

Earlier implemented buffs to Cassiopeia have been reverted, so her Twin Fang (E) is back to dealing only 10/30/50/70/90 in empowered damage. This comes as no surprise, as Cassiopeia’s damage burst is scary to fight against even without the buff, let alone with it.

And while the buff to Sylas’ Petricite Burst passive range received the same treatment and is back to 350, his armor per level has actually been increased from 2 to 2.5, peeling back some of the vulnerability given to him with his latest nerfs.

TFT PBE changes to Miss Fortune, Anivia

The Teamfight Tactics mode has gotten two balance updates. The five-star Gunslinger Miss Fortune received an ability damage nerf, from 1400/2100/2800 to 1300/2000/2700. Previous changes to Anivia’s Glacial Storm have been reverted, with its total damage now counting up to 800/1100/1400.

It seems Riot continues to believe the TFT meta is in a good place and is testing only minor changes. They also added three new TFT summoner icons on the PBE.

These changes haven’t necessarily been finalized, so it can’t be said for sure if they’ll be going live with the League of Legends patch 9.19, which is scheduled for September 25.