The world of League of Legends is gearing up for a new wave of changes. With the arrival of Patch 25.16, the keyword echoing through the community isn’t a specific buff or nerf, but the concept of “balance”. The developers have listened to top-tier players who feel the game has become too predictable.
In this article, we’ll break down the key patch notes, from key champion adjustments to system changes designed to inject a fresh dose of life into the Rift.
League of Legends Patch 25.16 Notes
One of the most interesting revelations from the balance team is the sentiment that the game is “too balanced.” While this sounds like a great problem to have, it can lead to a sense of monotony where games feel identical patch after patch.
To combat this perception, the development team is focusing on a particular strategy: pushing certain champions into non-traditional roles without “breaking” the game. The goal? To add new strategies and surprises to the Rift. Examples include the possibility of seeing Nautilus jungle, Viego mid, or even Qiyana jungle. These changes, which are often hard to prioritize when there are urgent balance issues to address, are now getting their moment.
However, there is caution. The developers are aware that this sentiment largely comes from elite players and streamers, so they must be careful not to alienate regular players who are more sensitive to drastic changes. For this reason, outside of major season starts, you shouldn’t expect massive shakeups.
Buffs to Champions
- Illaoi: Previous changes in patch 25.15 meant to improve her gameplay around the “curse” landed a little harder than intended. To remedy this, Patch 25.16 will implement a slight “walk back” to mitigate the negative impact. The team has heard complaints about her E and repeated slams but didn’t have time to address them in this patch.
- Rek’Sai: Similar to Illaoi, changes to Rek’Sai made her a bit weaker than intended. To fix this, they are looking to buff her E, bringing back the true damage—a feature her historical players greatly enjoyed.
- Kalista: Although her power has been catching up, her pro presence remained a problem. This patch’s adjustments will aim to add more power to her late game, an attempt to make her more viable for regular play without spiking her immediately back into pro play.
Nautilus
- Monster damage reduced from 150% to 100%
- Now deals 150 – 250 + 50% AP bonus monster damage in the first hit
Adjustments to Champions
Game Systems: Farewell to Baron’s Regeneration
Regarding game systems, there are two important changes:
- Baron Nashor: Get ready for one of the most anticipated new features: Baron Nashor’s HP regeneration is going away for real this time. This means players will no longer have to worry about Baron healing mid-fight, making smites easier and objective fights more predictable.
- Hexplate: This item, which has been unpopular for a long time, will receive a significant buff. To compensate, Nocturne, one of the few champions who used it, will get a nerf. This aims to make Hexplate a more attractive option for other champions without unbalancing Nocturne.
Conclusion on LoL Patch 25.16
Patch 25.16 Notes is more than just a list of changed numbers; it’s a declaration of intent. The developers are showing that, in addition to putting out balance fires, they are also listening to the needs of elite players and actively looking for ways to inject life into the meta. With champion adjustments and system changes, this patch promises not only to correct past mistakes but also to open the door to new and exciting strategies on the Summoner’s Rift.
Our source of information for these changes is @Spideraxe30 on X, you can find more details on their profile.
