A dozen AP items will be adjusted, with one in particular proving a little too strong on the Rift recently.
League of Legends developers are taking a swing at Ability Power systems with a suite of changes on the way with next week's patch 25.10. The major focus for devs is on items, with Liandry's Torment identified as the main problem.
But it's not as easy as nerfing it, according to gameplay designer Matt "Phroxzon" Leung-Harrison. Instead, a large majority of AP items are getting adjusted.
12 LoL AP items to receive changes in mid-May patch
Phroxzon broke down the changes earlier this week in his fortnightly update post on X/Twitter. The goal, according to the team, is to make each AP build "more balanced against each other."
"We're trying to make items more viable on users and balance more holistically," Phroxzon said, but he noted the rise of Liandry's Torment was what has led this mentality shift. Liandry's Torment is purchased by one in 10 players in any given game, according to League of Graphs — second only to Infinity Edge.
Win rate is a little harder to track given the champions have received plenty of changes over each update, but Liandry's has remained a constant — but nerfing it into oblivion isn't the fix, Phroxzon said.
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"Liandry's [is] the main thing propping the class up. While Liandry's being strong was the catalyst for all of this, just nerfing it would leave AP items in a generally underpowered and unsatisfying stage."
Twelve items are getting looked at in the hopes AP champs in all roles flex into other options. Cryptbloom is one of the big winners; while it'll cost slightly more to build, an AP and magic penetration boost will make it a potent item especially for those looking into ability haste and ganking.
Other changes are smaller, such as gold cost and build paths. The goal is for AP champs to stop heading straight for Liandry's — but time will tell whether the changes stick.
We've broken down the exact changes below:
Item | Change(s) |
|---|---|
| Bloodletter's Curse | HP increased from 350 to 400. AP increased from 60 to 65. Vile Decay: Magic Resistance reduction per stack increased from 5% to 7.5%, max stack count reduced from 6 to 4. |
| Cryptbloom | AP increased from 60 to 70. Magic Pen. increased from 30% to 35%. Cost increased from 2,850 to 3,000. - Now uses Amplifying Tome in build path. Life From Death: Healing AP ratio reduced from 25% to 15%. |
| Hextech Rocketbelt | HP reduced from 350 to 300. AP increased from 60 to 70. Ability Haste increased from 15 to 20. Cost reduced from 2,700 to 2,650. - Now uses Fiendish Codex, Ruby Crystal in build path (Kindlegem cut). |
| Horizon Focus | AP increased from 75 to 110. Cost increased from 2,700 to 2,900. - Now uses Blasting Wand in build path (Amplifying Time cut). Hypershot: No longer grants bonus damage on revealed enemies. |
| Liandry's Torment | AP reduced from 70 to 60. |
| Lich Bane | AP reduced from 115 to 100. Cost reduced from 3,200 to 2,900. - Now uses Blasting Rod in build path (Needlessly Large Rod cut). |
| Luden's Companion | Cost reduced from 2,850 to 2,750. |
| Malignance | AP increased from 85 to 90. |
| Morellonomicon | Cost reduced from 2,950 to 2,850. |
| Nashor's Tooth | Cost reduced from 3,000 to 2,900. |
| Seraph's Embrace | Lifeline: Bonus shield reduced from 200 + 20% current mana to 0 + 18% max mana. |
| Stormsurge | Move speed increased from 4% to 6%. Cost reduced from 2,900 to 2,800. Stormraider: No longer grants 25% move speed for 1.5 seconds. Squall: No longer grants gold if target dies before lightning strike. |
These item changes aren't concrete, with devs likely to adjuist exact values before patch 25.10 arrives next Tuesday, May 13.
For more LoL news and updates stay tuned to esports.gg.
