League of Legends Patch 13.9 Preview: Buffs for Champions and Items
After the release of Patch 13.8, which highlighted the MSI tournament, Riot Games is looking ahead with Patch 13.9. This patch will bring adjustments to champions and items, focusing on those in need of a boost.
Today, Riot provided a teaser of the changes that will be made in the Patch 13.9 update, scheduled to go live on May 3. Unlike previous patches, this one will have a smaller list of adjustments. The changes will include buffs for select champions—who haven’t seen updates in a while—and a single item, which will be fully detailed tomorrow.
Related: Early Look at LoL Patch 13.9 Notes
Aatrox and Volibear will receive buffs for the top lane in this upcoming patch. Both champions have seen low pick rates due to the current meta favoring tanks and Heartsteel builders. Riot is also aiming to shake up the jungle meta with buffs for Amumu and Trundle, who currently have win rates below 50 percent, according to OP.GG.
Swain will make a return to the patch preview after being absent since Patch 12.22. While the specific changes to Swain’s kit are unknown, the champion occasionally appears in professional play. Significant buffs may push him back to the top of the mid lane meta.
The only item receiving a buff in the next patch is Lich Bane. This Legendary-tier item is mainly built by mages who incorporate auto attacks into their playstyle. However, champions like Fizz and Azir tend to avoid this item in favor of better first and second full-item purchases. The details of the buff are currently unclear, but it may involve changes to the item’s pricing to make it less attractive for players.
Related: Nerfs and Adjustments for Neeko, Jinx in LoL Patch 13.9
All of these buffs will be fully revealed tomorrow and uploaded to the PBE for a week of testing. As with all patch previews, these changes are subject to alteration before their official release on the live servers on May 3.