League of Legends Patch 9.2: Significant Nerf to Smite Spell
League of Legends Patch 9.2 is bringing a major balance-focused update. A lot of content has recently arrived on the PBE, including changes to champions, items, and the new champion Sylas.
One of the most notable changes on the test client is a nerf to Smite, which has remained largely unchanged for a long time. Even during Riot’s significant jungle alterations in 2018, Smite was left untouched. However, the latest PBE update introduces a significant nerf to the Summoner Spell.
Fortunately, the damage that Smite inflicts on monsters remains unaffected. If Riot had made changes to that aspect, it would have taken some time for junglers to adapt. The nerfs specifically target both variations of Smite and focus on their effectiveness against enemy champions. There is a considerable decrease in the total damage of both Chilling Smite and Challenging Smite against champions. Additionally, Challenging Smite’s DoT (Damage over Time) duration and damage have also been reduced, and it no longer provides vision of the target.
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These nerfs will significantly impact the value of junglers overall. The reason is simple: Challenging and Chilling Smite have become like a fifth ability for junglers, providing them with combat power during early ganks and teamfights throughout the game. These changes directly reduce the impact of junglers on lanes and in major fights later on.
To be honest, this isn’t terrible, but it is definitely a major change. The value of Smite against monsters remains the same, so camp clearing will remain unchanged, and there is no need to change how the spell is used when contesting epic monsters. The sole purpose of these nerfs is to reduce the impact of junglers elsewhere, and it certainly achieves that. These changes particularly make Challenging Smite, currently dominating the meta, feel much weaker.
The key aspect of Challenging Smite, its damage debuff, has not been removed like the vision. This is what makes the spell valuable, so using it may feel weaker, but it will not feel different. If these changes pass the testing cycle, they will be implemented in Patch 9.2 in approximately two weeks.
League of Legends, Patch 9.2, Smite, nerf, junglers, Chilling Smite, Challenging Smite, combat power, meta.