LoL Patch 13.4 Preview: Riot Games Balances Supports, Jungle Pathing & More

Riot Games is continuing its efforts to bring a sense of balance to the game by adjusting the support meta that is dominating League of Legends currently. The last patch of 13.3 saw some much-needed buffs to tanky supports and in its latest preview of LoL Patch 13.4, Riot Games developers are continuing to balance the support champions. Additionally, the company is also changing up things in the jungle when it comes to early game pathing and is keen on addressing the early game snowballing effect. On 14th February, Riot Games teased the preview of LoL Patch 13.4 along with a long list of buffs, nerfs, and system changes.

Lead Designer of League Balance Team & Preseason (Summoner's Rift Team) Matt “Phroxzon” Leung-Harrison wrote on Twitter that Riot’s tools are a lot more stable now, following the social engineering attack that threw a wrench in Season 13 at the start of the year. He said, “Lots of changes for champions this patch, our tools are a lot more stable, so we should be back to normal now! The theme of this patch is balancing ranged vs melee supp[orts] in bot lane, balancing optimal jungle pathing,  addressing early snowballing & flattening some healing.”

Here’s everything you need to know about LoL Patch 13.4.

Champion buffs and nerfs in LoL Patch 13.4

A total of 20 champions are due for buffs and nerfs in LoL Patch 13.4, according to the preview shared by the developer. 

The champions that are getting buffed are as follows:

• Veigar

• Cho'Gath

• Alistar

• Ahri

• Malphite

• Lil’ Kenny [Kennen]

• Viego

• Aphelios

• Senna

• Riven

• Orianna

Meanwhile, those getting hit by the nerf hammer are:

• Samira

• Jax

• Maokai

• Elise

• Amumu

• Udyr

• Jarvan IV

• Anivia

• Azir

Additionally, Thresh’s spell max order in the game is also getting adjusted.

LoL Patch 13.4 Balance changes: Support champions

As Riot Phroxzon stated, Riot Games is focusing on the ranged support vs melee support prioritization in the game and hence, the company will be targeting systems around the bottom lane.

Firstly, Riot Games has buffed melee support items Relic Shield and Steel Shoulderguards so that more players are inclined towards melee champions in the support role. To make this easier, the ranged support items of Spellthief's Edge and Spectral Sickle are getting nerfed.

Meanwhile, some of the other system nerfs are directed at reducing the snowball effect in the game:  

• Kill Experience

• Kill Comeback Experience 

• Treasure Hunter

• Demonic Embrace Clearspeed

The system adjustments are for jungle sustain and clear speed, Doran’s Shield, and also for masteries Triumph and Grasp of the Undying.

According to the official schedule, LoL Patch 13.4 will go live on the servers on 23rd February (Thursday) provided there are no delays from Riot Games’ end.