LoL Patch 10.4 nerfs Sona and Soraka, expands jungle champion pool

It’s time for patch 10.4!

As we reported before, patch 10.4 hits primarily the champions that are wreaking havoc in the top lane, Sona and Soraka. It also targets the powerful Aphelios and buffs some of the favorites in pro play. On top of that, patch 10.4 increases the jungle champion pool.

Patch 10.4 is hitting the live server one day later than usual, it will be released on February 20.

Sona, Soraka, Aphelios nerfed in patch 10.4

We already explained how the nerfs will affect Sona and Soraka, and the numbers for the nerfs were confirmed.

Sona

• Q, W, and E cost increased by 25. Sona gains 30 mana the first time she tags an ally with her aura.

Soraka

• Health 535
• Health Growth 74
• Mana 375
• Mana Growth 40
• Attack Damage 50
• Q – Starcall, Self-Heal 40/50/60/70/80 (+0.3 Ability Power). Rejuvenation Heal Duration 2.5 Seconds. Cost 60/65/70/75/80 Mana. Bonus Movement Speed 10/12.5/15/17.5/20%.
• W – Astral Infusion, Heal 80/115/150/185/220.

Sona must be nearby an ally at all times if she wants her mana bar to last. Soraka’s base stats were improved, but now she doesn’t have the same strong scaling as before. Because Soraka cannot heal herself like she used to, it’s better to play her in the bottom lane. The changes are strong enough to make the players think twice before picking these champions in the solo lanes.

Aphelios is getting a nerf in patch 10.4 that targets the range of his R and makes life easier for his opponents.

Aphelios

• Weapon view, opponents can now see the two guns that Aphelios is holding
• R – Moonlight Vigil, Range 1300

Caitlyn, Lux, Garen buffed in patch 10.4

Patch 10.4 is buffing some champions that are popular in both the professional scene and solo queue. Starting with Caitlyn.

Caitlyn

• Bonus Attack Speed 20% At Level 1

The buff gives Caitlyn the ability to harass the enemy at early levels. Overall, Caitlyn is a strong champion because she often outranges the enemy.

The next champions buffed in patch 10.4 is the sibling duo from Demacia, Garen and Lux.

Garen

• Q – Decisive Strike, Empowered Basic Attack Damage Ratio 0.5 Attack Damage
• W – Courage, Blood Of My Enemies at max resistances from enemy kills, Garen increases his bonus armor and magic resist by 10%. Shield 70/95/120/145/170 (+0.2 Bonus Health)

Lux

• Q – Light Binding, Base Damage 80/125/170/215/260. Damage Ratio 0.6 Ability Power. Cooldown 11/10.5/10/9.5/9 Seconds
• R – Final Spark, Lux Can Now Flash While Casting Final Spark

The Lux buff is a way to give her back the power as a support that she lost when her W was nerfed.

In Garen’s case, the buff gives him more damage and makes him generally stronger. This is a champion that could find his way back to the competitive stage now that his loyal partner Yuumi is back in the meta.

Another champion getting buffed in patch 10.4 is the Man of the Future himself.

Jayce

• Mana 375
• Mana Growth 45
• Q – To The Skies! Base Damage 55/95/135/175/215/255

The mana improvements in patch 10.4 will allow Jayce to cast his abilities more frequently, and this way he can trade effectively.

Jungle changes in patch 10.4

The most interesting part of patch 10.4 is the change in the jungle champion pool. Riot Games is giving certain champions unique abilities so they can function specifically as junglers. These are champions that are preferred by new and low elo players. So, instead of forcing those players to learn other champions to jungle, patch 10.4 makes their favorite champions more viable in the jungle.

Darius

• Passive – Hemorrhage Damage Now Deals 120% Damage to All Monsters
• Q – Decimate Heal Now Heals from Large Monsters

Diana

• Passive – Moonsilver Blade Damage Increased By 150% On Non-Epic Monsters

Garen

• E – Judgment Damage Now Deals 150% Damage to Non-Epic Monsters

Gnar

• W – Hyper Base Maximum Bonus Damage To Monsters 100/150/200/250/300 ⇒ 300 At All Levels

Mordekaiser

• Passive – Darkness Rise Maximum Damage To Monsters 25-120 (Levels 1-18)

Talon

• Passive – Blade’s End Monster Damage Abilities Now Wound All Monsters For 120% Damage

Zed

• Passive – Contempt for The Weak Damage Increased By 100% Against Monsters. Maximum Damage to Monsters 200/350/500 (Levels 1, 7, 17)

Riot Games believes that these changes will make players more comfortable in the jungle position. But 100 Thieves’ jungler William “Meteos” Hartman disagrees.

“All of those changes to the jungle pool champions seem like it will just make those champions better at taking camps as a laner rather than being played as a jungler,”  Meteos wrote on Twitter.

Overall, the junglers are in a difficult position in Season 10. The changes to the jungle experience are affecting the scaling and unless the junglers stay aggressive and active, they fall behind. Giving the laners the ability to their camps faster doesn’t seem to be the way to help the junglers.

The full patch notes are available on Riot Games’ website.