
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.
We already explained how the nerfs will affect Sona and Soraka, and the numbers for the nerfs were confirmed.
Sona
Soraka
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
Patch 10.4 is buffing some champions that are popular in both the professional scene and solo queue. Starting with Caitlyn.
Caitlyn
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
Lux
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
The mana improvements in patch 10.4 will allow Jayce to cast his abilities more frequently, and this way he can trade effectively.
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
Diana
Garen
Gnar
Mordekaiser
Talon
Zed
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.
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