LoL patch 10.3 improves jungling and hits Akali with a big nerf

League of Legends Patch 10.3 has arrived!

Patch 10.3 is currently live and it targets some of the most problematic champions in the game. On the visual side of the game, Patch 10.3 adds three new skins. True Damage Senna Prestige Edition, Heartseeker Jinx and Heartseeker Yuumi. The new skins will be available on the store on February 6.

Nerfed champions in patch 10.3

Akali is currently the most banned champion in professional play, as the Rogue Assassin is at a 100% ban rate in three of the major regions. In previous patches, Akali offered too much flexibility. Unlike other champions can only do one thing or play one style, Akali was able to adapt to almost any situation. Whether it was pushing the side lines or brawling with the enemies, she could do it all.

Not anymore.

Akali

• Q – Five Point Strike, Cost 120/115/110/105/100 Energy
• W – Twilight Shroud, Movement Speed In Shroud 30/35/40/45/50% Decaying Movement Speed For 2 Seconds On Cast
• R – Perfect Execution, R1 Targeted Enemy Champion

The nerfs in patch 10.3 reduce Akali’s ability to escape from the fights in whatever direction is most convenient for her. Akali won’t be able to spam her Q and the Shroud is not a perfect hiding place anymore. All of these changes should affect her priority in pro play, though she is still in a good place for the Akali enthusiast in solo queue.

Some of the most-played champions in pro play are getting nerfed in patch 10.3, starting with Aphelios. From being the most banned champion in solo queue to being the go-to option for the pro players, Aphelios has been dominant. Aphelios was nerfed in previous patches and yet he’s one of the strongest champions in the game.

Patch 10.3 is targeting one of Aphelios’ most annoying traits, the attack range for his rifle.

Aphelios

• Q – Calibrum, The Sniper Rifle, Marked Enemy Attack Range 1800

No more getting snipe from an insane distance. Range is recurring topic in Patch 10.3, Senna is getting a nerf that indirectly targets her range.

Senna

• Passive – Absolution, Mist Wraith Drop Chance 25% On Minions Senna Doesn’t Kill, 1.67% On Cannon Minions Senna Kills

Senna’s attack speed doesn’t scale, so what makes her attractive as an AD carry is the range she gets through her passive. This nerf reduces the passive drop chance significantly and makes it more difficult for Senna to reach that desired attack range.

Sett is getting a small nerf in Patch 10.3 that targets his W.

Sett

• W – Haymaker, Cooldown 18/16.5/15/13.5/12 Seconds. Base Damage 90/120/150/180/210

The nerf is small enough to keep Sett relevant, but takes away one of his more oppressive skills in the early game.

Last but not least is Sona. In the LCS, Evil Geniuses tried to make Sona happen again after the small buff she got on Patch 10.2. Riot Games is going back on those buffs and taking Sona back to where she was in previous patches.

Sona

• E – Song Of Celerity, Self Movement 20% (+0.03 Per 100 Ability Power)

Buffed champions in patch 10.3

Riot Games wants to diversify the mid lane meta, so the developer is pushing more buffs for Azir and Corki.

Azir

• Base Mana, 480
• R – Emperor’s Divide, Wall Length 6/7/8 Soldiers

These simple changes make Azir better in the early game and stronger in the late game. It’s not much, but certainly a step in the right direction.

Corki

• W – Special Delivery, Damage Per Second Ratio 0.5 Bonus Attack Damage, 0.06 Ability Power. Burn Duration 1.5 Seconds. Now slows champions that are directly hit and knocked aside for 1.5 seconds.

Corki deals more damage for a longer time and can now slow down his opponents. These changes put him in a good position to get back into the pro play meta.

Against the wishes of G2 Esports’ jungler Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski, Riot Games decided to buff Sejuani.

Sejuani

• Bonus Attack Speed 10% At Level 1

The buff improves her clearing speed and now, Sejuani can compete with other junglers that can move through jungle camps fast.

Jungle changes on Summoner’s Rift in patch 10.3

Speaking of junglers, patch 10.3 introduces some changes to the jungle experience. After the offseason changes, junglers are complaining about the experience granted by the jungle camps and how it affects their performance. It’s more difficult for the junglers to get levels and stay relevant in the game, particularly if they fall behind early. Some pro players have said that junglers are now glorified gank bots with little to nothing to offer beyond that very early role.

The junglers will now get improved stats through their jungle items.

When it comes to the camps in the jungle, Krugs now grants 175 exp and 135 gold. There’s a catch, and it is that the largest Krug now grants significantly less experience so the junglers must go through the entire camp. The overall monster level experience was improved at levels four through six, so the jungle camps should be more rewarding for players tasked with clearing it out.