Patch 12.11 Overview - Durability Follow-Up

Rilea -

The latest patch acts a follow up to the huge durability changes, tweaking some of the most affected champions and systems; let's break down the biggest talking points.

ADCs

Kog'Maw was one of the greatest benefactors from the durablity changes, opting for the Juggermaw build and becoming very tanky in the late game. Between this tankiness and his incredible late game scaling, he has been a dominant pick so has received some damage nerfs:

  • Q (Caustic Spittle) - armour and MR shred decreased to 23/25/27/29/31%, down from 25/27/29/31/33%
  • W (Bio-arcane Barrage) - on hit % max health damage decreased to 3.5/4.25/5/5.75/6.5% down from 3/4/5/6/7%

Meanwhile, Caitlyn was struggling to find her place in the meta after being outclassed by other ADCs. Therefore, she's received some buffs to her Q and E to help her trading combo:

  • Q (Piltover Peacemaker) - damage increased to 50/90/130/170/210 (+125/145/ 165/185/205% AD), up from +130/145/160/175/190% AD
  • Mana cost decreased to 55/60/65/70/75, down from 50/60/70/80/90
  • E (90 Caliber Net) - damage increased to 80/130/180/230/280 (+80% AP), up from 70/110/150/190/230
  • Cooldown decreased to 16/14/12/10/8 seconds, down from 16/14.5/13/11.5/10

Senna has also received some changes this patch. Fasting Senna has been a very strong strategy due to its versatility (offering damage, a map-wide ultimate, CC, an AoE stealth, and infinite scaling) without needing to farm minions. Therefore, this strategy has been nerfed in favour of her ADC role being buffed:

  • Passive (Absolution) - Mist Wraith drop rate from minion Senna kills increased to 8.333%, up from 2.166%
  • Q (Piercing Darkness) - slow decreased to 15% (+10% per 100 bonus AD), down from 20%
  • Slow duration decreased to 1/1.25/1.5/1.75/2 seconds, down from 2 seconds at all ranks

However, this is another instance where the Mist Wraith drop rate has been changed to either buff or nerf Senna as an ADC or as a Support, depending on where her she is strongest. Perhaps this pattern raises deeper questions about whether Senna can truly function as a Support and ADC simultaneously.

Jungle

Gragas has always been a very flexible pick, finding success in top, jungle, mid and support. Though he provides lot of CC, his damage can be a little low so he has received a damage buff:

  • Q (Barrel Roll) - 80/120/160/200/240 (+80% AP), up from +70% AP
  • Cooldown - 10/9/8/7/6 seconds, down from 11/10/9/8/7
  • E (Body Slam) - cooldown reduced to 14/13.5/13/12.5/12 seconds, down from 16/15/14/13/12 seconds

Wukong has been a very powerful pick ever since his recent buffs, and seemed to become even stronger after the durability buffs. Therefore, he has received some nerfs to his jungle clear and mobility:

  • W (Warrior Trickster) - cooldown increased to 22/19.5/17/14.5/12 seconds, up from 20/18/16/14/12 seconds
  • E (Nimbus Strike) - damage to monsters decreased to 160%, down from 180%

Between increased tankiness and a ton of true damage from his E, Master Yi benefitted greatly from the durability patch. His health and E damage have consequently been nerfed:

  • Health growth - 100, down from 1o6
  • Health at level 18 - 2369, down from 2471
  • E (Wuju Style) - bonus true damage on-hit decreased to 30/35/40/45/50 (+35% bonus AD), down from 30/38/46/54/62

Grievous Wounds and Outer Turrets

Grievous Wounds was chaged in accordance with the durability patch and the reduced healing the game. However, it is still an extremely prevalent item that is being built in most games, rather than being a niche counter to comps with a lot of healing. Therefore, it has received further nerfs:

  • Grievous Wounds - healing reduction reduced to 25%, down from 30%
  • Empowered Grievous Wounds - healing reduction reduced to 40%, down from 50%

Not only will this make enchanters and champions with innate healing stronger, but it should make builds more diverse if it's no longer essential to build GW in every game. This nerf applies to all Grievous Wounds items (such as Thornamil and Chemtech Putrifier), as well as abilities (such as Varus W and Ignite).

One of the most notable changes from the durability patch was the damage increase to the outer turrets. This made early game dives extremely difficult, as players were being decimated by the turret while the enemy stayed safe underneath the turret. Therefore, the outer turret damage has been nerfed:

  • Damage reduced to 162-344 (between minutes 0:00 and 13:30), reduced from 167-391

This should make tower dives easier to pull off, and early games a little more bloodthirsty.

Summary

There were a lot more changes to the Rift in the latest patch as Riot reacts to the huge meta shift enforced by the durability patch. Be sure to read the full patch notes for even more changes!