Worlds 2025 is fast approaching with patch 15.20, but League of Legends patch 15.18 has arrived first, delivering a critical round of champion and item balancing before the pro scene reaches its peak. Riot Games is taking direct aim at dominant picks in professional play while bolstering underused champions and optimizing item viability. With gameplay-calibrating adjustments and some bug fixes to boot, this patch is poised to reshape drafts, strategies, and solo queue dynamics alike.

TLDR: What’s Changing in Patch 15.18

Buffed Nerfed Adjusted
Amumu Annie Briar
Ashe Aurora Illaoi
Cassiopeia Azir
Garen Galio
Hwei Qiyana
Jayce Sylas
Vel’Koz Taliyah
Volibear
Yunara
Bami’s Cinder
Sunfire Cape
Mercurial Scimitar

Patch preview from Riot developer available on Riot Phroxzon’s official Twitter channel.

Buffs: Underused Champions Brought Back to Life

Amumu (Support)

  • Q cooldown: 16-12s → 16-10s
  • Q mana cost: 45-65 → 50
  • AD growth: 2.95 → 3.45

Increased Q availability gives Amumu more engage presence, while higher AD scaling improves his baseline trade power.

Ashe

  • AD growth: 2.95 → 3.45

Despite recent item meta shifts favoring ADCs, Ashe remained lacking. This AD buff gives her slightly better scaling to compete in longer fights.

Cassiopeia

  • Base mana: 400 → 450
  • E poisoned base damage: 20-100 → 20-112

Extra mana and poison-enhanced damage help Cassiopeia hold her own against mid lane staples like Galio and Sylas.

Garen

  • E AD ratio per spin: 36-38% → 36-40%

A modest boost in damage ensures Garen stays relevant amid stronger lane contenders.

Hwei

  • Passive (P) AP ratio: 30% → 35%
  • W movement speed: 20-30% (+2%/100 AP) → 30-40% (+3%/100 AP)
  • E AP ratio: 60% → 65%

Hwei’s supportive and offensive capability both benefit from these changes, enhancing his late-game presence and utility.

Jayce

  • Ranged Q base damage: 60-310 → 80-310

Improved poke helps Jayce better contest lane matchups and mid-game skirmishes.

Vel’Koz

  • E cooldown: 14-12s → 12-10s
  • R base damage: 450-800 → 450-925

Buffs enhance Vel’Koz’s threat in artillery duels, especially against other zoning mages.

Nerfs: Taming Overperformers in Pro Play

Annie

  • W base damage: 70-250 → 70-230
  • R passive pen: 15/17.5/20% → 10/15/20%

W-max Annie gained overwhelming teamfight weight; these tweaks refocus her damage curve.

Aurora

  • Passive damage: 2.5% (+2%/100 AP) → 1% (+2%/100 AP)

Durability and DPS combined too strongly with Liandry’s builds. This nerf restores counterplay windows.

Azir

  • Attack speed growth: 5.5% → 5%
  • W AP ratio: 45% → 40%

Azir’s laning consistency and sustained output are reined in to prevent draft dominance in pro play.

Galio

  • Passive AP ratio: 45% → 40%
  • Q tick damage: 2.5% (10% total) → 2% (8% total)

Reduces Galio’s persistence in lane trades and late-game duels without limiting his utility engage role.

Qiyana

  • Base AD: 66 → 64
  • Armor growth: 4.7 → 4.5
  • Passive damage bonus AD: 30% → 25%

Designed to nerf jungle Qiyana’s overperformance at the highest MMR tiers without gutting her mid lane viability.

Sylas (Jungle)

  • Passive jungle amp: 150% → 130%

Sylas jungle clearing was eclipsing mid as his dominant role. This smoothing values sustainability between paths.

Taliyah

  • Q base damage: 56-130 → 55-125
  • E base damage: 25-105 → 25-85
  • E movement speed duration: 1.5-2.5s → 1.5s

Lane pressure reduced while jungle relevance remains, refining her dual-role balance.

Volibear

  • AP ratio (P): 4%/100 AP → 3%/100 AP

Off-builds scaling too efficiently with AP options; this aims to normalize without impacting core AD builds.

Yunara

  • Base health: 600 → 575
  • Base AD: 56 → 53
  • E movement speed: 50-70% → 30-50%
  • E duration: 1.5-2.5s → 1.5s flat

Substantial nerfs address Yunara’s lane priority, especially top lane pressure in professional drafts.

Champion Adjustments: Targeted Refinements

Briar

  • Q damage: 60-180 → 60-160
  • R cast delay: Now plays 1s after cast (was on cast)
  • R AP ratio: 120% → 130%
  • R range: 10,000 → 12,000

Her feast-or-famine ultimate now provides more warning but gets better long-range utility and AP viability as a tradeoff.

Illaoi

  • Passive teleport interaction: Tentacles no longer spawn during teleport
  • W HP damage: now scales 3.5%, down from 4% per 100 AD
  • E vessel duration: 3s → 4s

Fixes longstanding bugs affecting Illaoi’s reliability and includes slight nerfs to compensate.

Item Buffs: Enabling New Build Paths

Bami’s Cinder & Sunfire Cape

  • Bami’s immolate monster damage: 50% → 100%
  • Sunfire immolate bonus: 50% → 60%

Tank clears get faster and more reliable with these changes, reviving item pathing for lower-income frontliners.

Mercurial Scimitar

  • Attack damage: 40 → 50
  • Magic resist: 40 → 45
  • Active MS boost duration: 1.5s → 2s

Improved stats allow this item to contend more effectively against other defensive and situational options for ADCs under heavy CC pressure.

How the Patch Reshapes the Meta Before Worlds

Patch 15.18 is aimed squarely at tournament balance, shaking up champion priority in both draft and solo queue. Hard-hitting poke mids and jungle dominance are being reined in, while champions like Cassiopeia, Hwei, Jayce, and Vel’Koz get another shot at occupying competitive niches. Tanks see welcome improvements through item buffs, and utility items such as Mercurial now justify their gold cost in key matchups. With significant nerfs to top-performing champions, the patch lays a strategic foundation for the critical lead-up to Worlds 2025.

FAQ

When is patch 15.18 releasing?

Patch 15.18 will go live on September 11, 2025 – two cycles before Worlds begins.

Why are Bami’s Cinder and Sunfire Cape being buffed?

Both tank items were underperforming. The buffs make Bami’s Cinder an impactful first component and Sunfire Cape more effective for wave and jungle clears.

What happened to Yunara?

Yunara received substantial nerfs to her base stats and E mobility, reducing her dominance in early top lane and pro play without affecting late-game presence.

Which mid laners were nerfed?

Annie, Aurora, Azir, and Galio all received reductions to core damage or sustain to bring their pro-level power under control.

Who are the biggest winners this patch?

Ashe, Cassiopeia, Vel’Koz, and Jayce each saw meaningful buffs. Tanks benefit from improved early itemization, positioning them stronger in both solo queue and coordinated play.

For more League of Legends patch notes, esports updates, and skin reveals, visit LoLNOW.gg.

Source: Riot Phroxzon