League of Legends domestic splits are already moving to the playoffs stage, and the developer has started to make changes before the game gets its Worlds patch.
As League moves closer to Worlds 2025, the developer is keeping a tight check and making bigger moves right now to balance the meta and bring the forgotten champions to the spotlight before the mega event in China.
When does LoL Patch 25.18 release?
League updates are released on Wednesdays, and this schedule remains consistent for every upcoming patch. The updates are made available on the PBE servers with new features and adjustments, and then it is released on the live servers for players. The next update is scheduled for Sept.10, 2025. While the official release times across all regions are yet to be confirmed, the expected release windows for each area are as follows:
- 3pm CT (NA)
- 5am GMT (EU West)
- 3am CET (EU North East)
- 8am KR (Korea)
What’s in Patch 25.18?
League Patch 25.18 brings a plethora of changes with multiple buffs to lost champions, which have made little to no appearance in esports this year, along with nerfs to the champions, who have been becoming Fearless favorites for many teams. It also brings the highly anticipated T1 Championship 2024 skins to the live servers.
Champion buffs
The following champions will all be receiving buffs in League Patch 25.18:
Amumu
[Q] Bandage Toss
- Cooldown has been reduced from 16-12 to 16-10 seconds.
- Mana Cost has been decreased from 45-65 to 50.
Ashe
She is struggling despite item buffs, but she is considered sleeper overpowered, so small tuning.
AD Growth has been increased from 2.95 to 3.45.
Cassiopeia
She is getting a small buff to improve her matchup reliability against other midlane control mages. It helps her be a more consistent fearless draft option.
- Base mana has been increased from 400 to 450.
[E] Twin Fang: Poisoned Base Damage has been increased from 20-100 to 20-112.
Garen
[E] Judgment: AD Ratio per spin has been increased from 36-48 percent to 38-50 percent.
Hwei
- [P] Signature of the Visionary: AP Ratio has been increased from 30 to 35 percent.
- [WQ] Fleeting Current: Movespeed has been increased from 20-30 percent (+2 percent per 100 AP) to 30-40 percent (+3 percent per 100 AP).
- [E] AP Ratio (all subjects) has been increased from 60 to 65 percent.
Jayce
Ranged [Q]: To the Skies! base damage has been increased from 60-310 to 80-310.
Vel’Koz
[E] Tectonic Disruption: Cooldown has been decreased from 14-12 to 12-10.
[R] Life Form Disintegration Ray: Base damage has been increased from 450-800 to 450-925.
Champion nerfs
The following champions will all be receiving nerfs in League Patch 25.18:
Annie
Annie’s W has been nerfed to tone down her dominance in esports.
- [W] Incinerate: Base damage has been reduced from 70-250 to 70-230.
- [R] Summon Tibbers: Passive penetration has been decreased from 15/17.5/20 percent to 10/15/20 percent.
Aurora
Her Liandry’s-based damage builds are being nerfed. Burst builds remain mostly unchanged, slightly weaker early but stable late.
[P] Spirit Abjuration: Damage has been decreased from 2.5 percent (2 percent per 100 AP) to 1 percent (2.7 per 100 AP).
Azir
Azir is overperforming after the recent buffs, now the aim is to bring him closer in line with other midlane mages.
Attack speed growth has been decreased from 5.5 to five percent.
Galio
[P] Colossal Smash: AP Ratio has been decreased from 45 to 40 percent.
[Q] Winds of War: Tick damage has been decreased from 2.5 percent (10 percent over duration) to 2 percent (8 percent over duration).
Qiyana (Jungle and Mid)
Base AD has been decreased from 66 to 64.
Armor Growth has been decreased from 4.7 to 4.5.
[P] Royal Privilege: Damage has been decreased from 30 to 25 percent Bonus AD.
Sylas (Jungle)
[P] Petricite Burst: Monster Damage Amp has been decreased from 150 to 130 percent.
Volibear
[P] The Relentless Storm: AS AP Ratio has been decreased from 4 percent per 100 AP to 3 percent per 100 AP.
Yunara
She is too dominant at high levels due to E uptime and early power spikes from her kit synergies. So adjustments will weaken E’s reliance power and bring more baseline strength into W.
- Base Health has been decreased from 600 to 575.
- Base AD has been decreased from 56 to 53.
[E] Kanmei’s Steps
- Movement speed has been decreased from 50-70 percent to 30-50 percent.
- Movement speed duration has been decreased from 1.5-2.5 percent to 1.5 seconds all ranks.
Champion adjustments
The following champions will be adjusted in League Patch 25.18:
Briar
Briar’s damage on hit has been lowered to balance the change and reduce feast-or-famine outcomes. Ultimate counterplay is being lower to make it land more reliably.
[Q] Head Rush: Damage has been changed from 60-180 (+80 percent BAD)(+60 percent AP) Magic to 60-180 (+80 percent BAD)(+60 percent AP) Physical.
[R] Certain Death
- Damage has changed from 150/250/350 (+50 percent bonus AD) (+120 percent AP) to 150/250/350 (+130 percent AP).
- Range has been increased from 10000 to 12000.
- SFX playing on the cast has been changed to after the one-second cast time.
Illaoi
The developer has fixed the tentacles not slamming against E vessels for more consistency. In addition, a compensation nerf was added to offset this bugfix.
[P] Prophet of an Elder God: No longer spawns tentacles during teleport.
[W] Harsh Lesson: Max health has been decreased from 3/3.5/4/4.5/5 percent + 4 percent per 100 total AD to 3/3.5/4/4.5/5 percent + 3.5 percent per 100 total AD.
[E] Test of Spirit: Vessel duration has been increased from three to four seconds.
System adjustments
Here is a look at all the system adjustments coming with this patch:
Bami’s Cinder and Sunfire Cape
Bami’s is getting a buff to make Sunfire’s first purchase feel smoother and more rewarding.
- Bami’s immolate monster Damage Bonus has been increased from 50 to 100 percent.
- Sunfire’s immolate minion/monster damage bonus has been increased from 50 to 60 percent.
Mercurial Scimitar
The item is receiving a net buff to improve its appeal and reliability as a defensive option.
- Attack Damage has been increased from 40 to 50.
- Magic Resist has been reduced from 40 to 35.
- Active Movement Speed Duration has been increased from 1.5 seconds to two seconds.
