Riot prepares for Worlds 2019 with patch 9.19 buffs and nerfs

League of Legends patch 9.19 is live and has brought balance changes to a number of champions, along with new skins, chromas, and some bug fixes.

The most important patch of the season and the patch League of Legends 2019 World Championship will be played on is now live across all servers. With Riot Games not wanting to negatively impact Worlds participants with impulsive changes, this patch includes a long list of slightly buffed champions and a few nerfs.

Buffs for Akali, Aatrox, other champions in patch 9.19

The most notable buff of the patch is Heimerdinger’s, as he’s considered one of the weaker champions in the game with his unique kit. H-28G Evolution Turret (Q)’s and H28Q Apex Turret’s (R) ratios have been increased to 35% AP, and CH-2 Electron Storm Grenade’s (E) stun duration has been increased to 1.5.

Due to a slight overnerf in the patch 9.18, Aatrox’s Darkin Blade (Q) minion damage reduction has been lowered to 45% to give him back some wave clear. Akali and Annie were also readjusted, so Akali’s Perfect Execution (R2) maximum damage has been reverted to 255/450/645, while Annie’s Molten Shield (E) cooldown now decreases with levels and movement speed increases.

Ashe’s passive now slows more, and her Ranger’s Focus (Q) resets auto attacks. These changes to Ashe make her a more favorable pick with stronger laning utility. Players should have more initiative to pick Blitzcrank too, as his Rocket Grab (Q) now has a higher range, and Static Field (R) charges up to three stacks.

To have Fiora be as strong later in the game as she is in early, Riot has decided to grant turret hits to Lunge (Q) and add bonus damage to turrets from Bladework’s (E) second attack. This will enhance the top lane champion’s tower pushing power.

Rek’Sai’s unborrowed Queen’s Wrath (Q) also now works on turrets, and her base armor has been slightly increased. Graves received a minor buff to damage, health, mana, and mana regen stats.

Mordekiser received a slight shield buff, Pantheon got a damage buff to Shield Vault (W), and Orianna’s crowd-controlling ultimate now deals 200/275/350 damage with higher AP scaling.

With the belief that Sion’s this buff will help bring him to a higher-level play, Riot decided to buff Soul Furnance’s (W) shield, especially at earlier levels, to 50/75/100/125/150.

Vayne got more damage to Final Hour (R), and Veigar’s Event Horizon (E) now has a lower cooldown on higher levels. In the jungle Xin Zhao’s early game power has been buffed with a higher passive healing, and higher damage on Three Talon Strike (Q), while Zac’s Let’s Bounce bloblets now restore an additional 1/2/3% maximum health to balance his late-game scaling.

Patch 9.19 brings needed nerfs to Karma, Sylas, more

Karma is considered one of the strongest blind picks as she can be played in multiple roles. To balance that, Riot is nerfing her non-support damage by lowering Inner Flame’s (Q) damage ratio to 40% AP. Another versatile champion, Sylas, has also been made less effective.

With Gragas being one of the top-tier meta champions, his clear speed has now been nerfed. Drunken Rage (W) now has a higher cooldown and deals less of the target’s maximum health as damage.

Also in the jungle, Sejuani has taken a hit to her damage output, with the damage she passively deals based on the target’s maximum health now been capped at its lowest level of 10%.

Tahm Kench received another nerf and is more vulnerable to poke with Thick Skin’s (E) heal now scaling with levels.

Yuumi has been showing a bit too strong in the competitive scene, so the patch has nerfed her Prowling Projectile (Q) by capping its slow and lowering its duration, but removing the decay over time.

New skins and chromas in patch 9.19

With patch 9.19 comes the announcement of new skins available beginning September 26. The skins joining the vault include Hextech Amumu, Championship Ryze, Valiant Sword Riven and its Prestige edition, Majestic Empress Morgana, and Splendid Staff Nami. Chromas will be available for the new Morgana, Nami, and Ryze’s skins.

The patch also implemented a number of bug fixes and performance adjustments. Full patch notes are available here.