Neeko’s Passive Takes on a New Shape Via Latest Mid-Scope Update

Riot Games has been fine-tuning the kits and looks of older League of Legends champions through regular mid-scope updates, comprehensive gameplay updates (CGUs), and also visual and gameplay updates (VGUs). At the start of the year, talks of Neeko’s mid-scope update intrigued the player base and left the community wanting it immediately. In a developer video, Game Designer Ezra “Phlox” Lynn gave a sneak peek of the new Neeko passive. After almost three months, the Neeko rework is nearing the finishing stages and getting ready to be rolled out.

On 18th April, Phlox took to Twitter to state that the Neeko rework via her mid-scope update is live on the Public Beta Environment (PBE) and called it a “big project” that a lot of people worked on. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Neeko rework, the new passive ability in her kit after the mid-scope update, and more.

Neeko’s new kit explained

At the start of 2023,  players were intrigued to see Neeko not just micmick her allies, buy also turn into other elements on the Summoner’s Rift including minions, jungle plants, monsters, and even Teemo’s shrooms. 

Explaining the intent behind the Neeko passive rework and other changes, Riot Phlox said, “These changes were really intended to preserve current Neeko playstyles (like AS, mage, or even tank) and really heighten her Trickster gameplay. Also a little spice toward R.”

Phlox added that the changes that were introduced to help Neeko in the jungle are simply a bonus. He said, “Jungle changes are really just a bonus, I don't expect it to be her primary role or anything, but it's a very exciting place for her to be able to exist imo, so worth trying out.”

Here are Neeko’s abilities after her mid-scope update:

Inherent Glamour (P):

• [NEW]: When Neeko is near a non-epic monster, minion, trap, ward, or plant for two seconds she stores their Sho'ma. Neeko can click on her bar to become that unit. Click on Neeko's face to return to Neeko’s form. Click on the little ‘x’ to clear out that Sho'ma. Only one unit can be stored at a time.

• [NEW]: Disguise no longer breaks on taking damage, only when the disguised self would have died or when you are crowd controlled.

• [Adjusted]: Neeko no longer inherits base Attack Speed/Movement Speed from the disguise target if that stat is higher than hers

Blooming Burst (Q):

• Secondary/Tertiary Pop Damage: 40/65/90/115/140+ 20% Ability Power (AP) >>> 35/60/85/110/135 + 25% AP

• [NEW] Explosions deal: 30/40/50/60/70 bonus damage to monsters

Shapesplitter (W):

• After casting Neeko can reactivate to send the clone to a new location.

• Clone now plays animations and sounds of Q/E/Dance/Joke/Taunt/Recall/Laugh and survives for their duration

• [NEW]: Empowered Attacks deal 50 bonus damage to monsters

Tangle-Barbs (E):

Damage: 80/115/150/185/220 + 60% AP >>> 70/105/140/175/210 + 65% AP

Pop Blossom (R):

• After channeling, Neeko jumps into the air, suspending all nearby enemies

• After 0.6s Neeko crashes to the ground with all suspended enemies and deals damage to all nearby enemies, the stun lingers for 1.25s total

• No Longer Shields

• Damage: 200/425/650 (+130% AP) >>> 150/350/550 (+100% AP)

• Cooldown: 90s >>> 120/105/90s

Neeko’s rework is currently live on the PBE and therefore, players can expect to see her on the live servers in LoL Patch 13.9, which is scheduled to roll out on 3rd May, according to the official timeline.