League Of Legends Current PBE Changes Buff Ezreal, Kindred, And More
The PBE testing grounds for League of Legends was expected to be pretty full of changes during [...]
The PBE testing grounds for League of Legends was expected to be pretty full of changes during this cycle, and it looks like that's exactly what it's shaping up to be. There are a wide array of buffs that are currently being looked at in the PBE as the balance team gears up for the upcoming Patch 7.15, the one that will have several of the Worlds Qualifiers games played on.
There were a couple of ideas we reported on earlier from Riot Meddler that were suggested changes for the upcoming patch, changes that would hopefully create a couple more viable picks in the competitive play. Not long after Meddler discussed the potential changes, some of the tentative buffs and nerfs have already hit the PBE. As always, these nerfs and buffs that are courtesy of Surrender@20 are very much subject to change, but some of them are quite significant.
Top Lane
Gangplank looks like he might be an encouraged pick when the Worlds Qualifiers games come around to provide some serious damage output to the top lane. His passive, Trial by Fire, is getting an increased amount of true damage added onto the burning attack.
Yorick's buffs might not seem like the biggest change, but they'll certainly improve his teamfighting ability. Yorick has a solid identity as a split pusher, but unless he can trap someone in his W, he can't offer too much help besides damage in teamfights. With the slow on his Mourning Mist being increased to 70 percent at later ranks, he can finally better help catch someone out for his team to pick off in teamfights.
These two aren't the only ones going through some changes on the PBE, the full list of which can be seen below.
Gangplank
- Trial by Fire (Passive) bonus true damage changed from 30-200 to 45-215
Irelia
- Transcendent Blades (R) cooldown changed from 110/85/60 to 100/80/60
Malphite
- Ground Slam (E) magic damage increased from 60/95/130/165/200 to 70/110/150/190/230
Yorick
- Mourning Mist (E) slow increased from 30% at all ranks to 30/40/50/60/70%
Jungle
Lee Sin, Zac, and Elise are just a couple of the champions that remain stars of competitive play, but there are plenty more viable options out there for jungle picks, and that's exactly what these buffs and nerfs are trying to promote.
If you're worried about Zac getting a nerf here, you can be reassured by knowing that he's actually having some nerfs tested instead. Some of his abilities will cost more now, and others will significantly lower his damage.
Shyvana is also another jungler that hasn't been seen in awhile that's getting buffed, but Udyr is really the champ that many are looking at right now. He's already got a few ability changes in the works, and these buffs look to add to those.
Kindred
- Dance of Arrows (Q) damage increased from 55/75/95/115/135 to 65/85/105/125/145
Shyvana
- Base armor increased from 27.628 to 30
Udyr
- Turtle Stance (W) Shield strength changed from 60/95/130/165/200 to 80/105/130/155/180
- Bear Stance (E) bonus movement speed duration changed from 2/2.25/2.5/2.75/3 to 3 at all ranks
Zac
-
Stretching Strikes (Q)
- cost increased from 4% of current health to 8% of current health
- cooldown changed from 12/11/10/9/8 to to 13/12/11/10/9
- Unstable Matter (W) magic damage changed from 30/45/60/75/90 to 15/30/45/60/75
Mid Lane
The mid lane has what appears to be the most changes that are currently being tested on the PBE, and utility and artillery are the key factors in these changes. Meddler said in a previous post that artillery mages like Xerath and Ziggs hadn't seen play in awhile, but these changes might just fix that.
Ekko
- Phase Dive (E) cooldown changed from 11/10/9/8/7 to 9/8.5/8/7.5/7
Lissandra
- Base Damage increased from 50.536 to 53
- Mana per level increased from 50 to 58
Lux
- Light Binding (Q) cooldown lowered from 15/14/13/12/11 to 13/12.5/12/11.5/11
Twisted Fate
- Base movespeed increased from 330 to 335
Xerath
- Eye of Destruction (W) slow increased from 10% to 25%
- Rite of the Arcane (R) magic damage changed from 200/230/260 to 200/240/280
Ziggs
- Satchel Charge (W) cooldown changed from 26/24/22/20/18 to 24/21/18/15/12
ADC
Supports didn't get much love in the current PBE cycle with only one change being reverted on Thresh, unless you'd consider using Lux as a support, but the ADCs certainly got a few buffs.
Ezreal's Mystic Shot, the core part of his rapid-fire kit that keeps the Qs coming, has actually had its cooldown lowered. Since landing a Q lowers the cooldowns of his other abilities, lowering this ability's CD has effectively lowered other parts of his kit, though watching mana is still going to be a concern.
Sivir only got one buff with these changes, but it's a pretty significant one on her main damage-dealing ability. Her Q, Boomerang Blade, received quite a jump in its damage output by raising a whole 30 points per rank. Getting caught in both the toss and return of her blade will mean quite a bit more health lost if the damage changes go through.
Ezreal
- Mystic Shot (Q) cooldown lowered from 6.5/6/5.5/5/4.5 to 4.5 at all ranks
Jinx
- Zap! (W) cooldown lowered from 10/9/8/7/6 to 8/7/6/5/4
Miss Fortune
- Base attack speed reverted from .690 to .656
- Attack Speed per level reverted from 5 to 3.
Sivir
- Boomerang Blade (Q) physical damage increased from 25/45/65/85/105 to 55/75/95/115/135