u/Glorx

Source: https://x.com/RiotPhroxzon/status/2074467901793550795

MSI is in full swing! Had some awesome games and we're pretty happy with the meta overall. There's decent representation across each class (assassins in jungle, a few LeBlanc picks).

Nerfing down some of the strongest picks in bot lane have also led to mages bot being more present in the meta.

We don't find this state particularly problematic right now, but we have had several conversations about the true power level of mages bots (especially when they carry high winrates). That said, there are a few that are over performing in soloq (seraphine) so she's receiving a nerf, but the overall conversation is a lot more nuanced (which pairings, familiarity as opponents, etc.)

Locke

• Locke has had a really resonant start
• players have resonated with his executes, resets and stack into burst gameplay
• he's shown to be a little skill skewed in the same way that a Katarina, akshan or other resetty, roamy champions might be, but not overly so
• that said he's still a bit strong when account for mastery growth and true power level
• his level of early game snowballing is a bit too high right now
• that said, we think his damage is appropriate if he needs to work a little harder to access it. As a result we're nerfing his waveclear (currently) to hit his ability to access it so reliably
• we know that one of the things that players find confronting is his damage output right now, but we think it's valuable to retain these types of unique edges in the game for champions

Systems

• Rocket belt has been one of the premier items for mages (especially immobile) at the highest level for several months now.
• We like and embrace this type of innovation, but it's also providing a bit too much versatility and removing a core weakness of these champs (ability to be killed), so forcing a bit stronger of a tradeoff
• The other major systems change for this patch is a nerf to the mid boots upgrade for gluttonous greaves
• it's adding a nice texture for playing say, mid vs top riven, but it's also the strongest performing boot in that lane and lacks clear counterplay
• again, the innovation here is great, but just a bit strong.

Champion buffs:

• Azir (Bugfixes)

• Brand (Jungle)

• Corki

• Mordekaiser

• Nami

• Yunara

Champion Nerfs:

• Garen

• Jayce

• Locke

• Senna

• Seraphine

Champion Adjustments

• Nasus (Jungle nerf, top buff)

System Buffs:

• Blue Buff

System Nerfs:

• Hextech Rocketbelt

• Immortal Path (Gluttonous Greaves mid quest upgrade)

• Jack of All Trades