What To Expect In LoL Patch 14.4

In Riot Games’ ever-popular MOBA League of Legends (LoL), we saw mammoth changes arrive in the 14.1 update. And since then, the developer has made even more adjustments to the game. In LoL Patch 14.4, the focus is bringing balance to Summoner’s Rift. Put on those reading glasses and prepare for all the balance changes and gameplay adjustments in LoL Patch 14.4!

Please note: The details discussed in this guide to patch 14.4 are subject to change. Information is based on a preview from Riot Games’ Matt Leung-Harrison, the LoL Lead Gameplay Designer. Once the developer releases the update, head to the official LoL Patch Notes page for every tiny detail.

Patch 14.4 Release Time & Date

Patch 14.4 releases on Feb. 22, 2024, though when you’ll receive the update depends on your time zone. You can see Riot Games’ patching schedule below:

• Oceanic at 10:00 AEST
• North America at 13:00 PST
• Europe East at 03:00 CET
• Europe West at 05:00 GMT
• South Korea at 08:00 KST

And yes, we know that LoL usually updates on a Wednesday. However, we suspect that Riot pushed the release back a day (Thursday, Feb. 22) because of a US holiday (President’s Day) on the 19th.

New Skins & Prices

More skins from the Porcelain skin line appear in Patch 14.4, adding to the Lunar New Year theme. Below, you can find a full list of the skins and their prices.

• Porcelain Graves (Epic) for 1,350 RP.
• Porcelain Morgana (Epic) for 1,350 RP.
• Porcelain Irelia (Epic) for 1,350 RP.
• Porcelain Darius (Epic) for 1,350 RP.
• Porcelain Miss Fortune (Epic) for 1,350 RP.
• Porcelain Aurelion Sol (Legendary) for 1,820 RP.
• Prestige Porcelain Kindred for 2,000 Event Tokens.

Lethal Tempo Rune Change

It’s been a long while coming, but Riot Games has finally reduced the power of the Lethal Tempo Rune.

• Melee Attack Speed per stack adjusted 9-13.5% >>> 5-16% (based on levels 1-18)

The nerf is welcome, mostly because it was just too powerful for melee champions in the early game.

Patch 14.4 Support Item Changes

To improve early lane gameplay and make support items more consistent throughout a match, Riot has made several changes (buffs and nerfs) that you can view below.

• World Atlas – Quest adjustments:
  • Recharge time increased 18 >>> 20 seconds
  • First charge time reduced 2:08 >>> 1:50
• Runic Compass – Quest recharge time increased 18 >>> 20 seconds
• Bounty of Worlds buffs:
  • HP increased 100 >>> 200
  • Health Regeneration increased 50% >>> 75%
  • Mana Regeneration increased 50% >>> 75%
  • Now matches the upgrade stat values
• Bloodsong – Spellblade increased damage ratio reduced 10/6% >>> 10/5% (melee/ranged)
• Solstice Sleigh – Going Sledding adjustments:
  • Bonus movement speed adjusted 90 flat decaying over 4 seconds >>> 30% decaying over 3 seconds
  • Healing adjusted 120 flat >>> 7% max HP
• Zaz’Zak’s Realmspike – Void Explosion adjustments:
  • Damage adjusted 50 (+15% AP) (+3% target max HP) >>> 20 (+20% AP) (+4% target max HP)
  • Cooldown adjusted 9-6 (based on levels 1-18) >>> 8/7/6 (based on levels 1/11/16) seconds

The developers noted that Ranged support items are overperforming a bit, which is why there are slight nerfs, as you can see from the Bloodsong change.

System & Item Changes in Patch 14.4

Riot is also making gameplay system changes and item changes in this patch. Interestingly, fountain regen has been increased from 2.1% >>> 2.6% per tick, which translates to 10.4% per second after the change.

We’re also seeing some tentative buffs to Black Cleaver’s Carve, Ravenous Hydra’s lifesteal, and some Juxtaposition buffs for Terminus. Mana Mage items have received buffs, too, namely:

• Archangel’s Staff and Seraph’s Embrace Ability Haste increased 20 >>> 25
• Luden’s Companion Ability Haste increased 20 >>> 25
• Force of Arms (Masterwork Item) Ability Haste increased 30 >>> 35
• Malignance Ability Haste increased 20 >>> 25
• Enmity of the Masses (Masterwork Item) Ability Haste increased 30 >>> 35

However, the biggest focus of Patch 14.4 remains the champion balance changes, which brings us to the next section of this guide.

Champion Balance Changes in Patch 14.4

You’ll find all the champion buffs, nerfs, and huge adjustments for K’Sante, Rek’Sai, and Smolder in the relevant sections below.

Champion Buffs

Eight champions received buffs in Patch 14.4.

Ahri:

• HP per level increased 96 >>> 104
• [Q] Orb of Deception AP ratio increased 45% >>> 50%

Jayce:

• Base AD increased 57 >>> 59
• [Hammer-W] Lightning Field buffs:
  • Mana restore increased 10/12/14/16/18/20 >>> 15/17/20/21/23/25
  • Base damage per tick increased 35/50/65/80/95/110 >>> 40/55/70/85/100/115
• [Hammer-E] Thundering Blow now Roots target on cast similar to Lee Sin [R] Dragon’s Rage

Kai’Sa: 

• [R] Killer Instinct range increased 1500/2250/3000 >>> 2000/2500/3000

Lulu & Pix:

• [Q] Glitterlance second bolt damage increased 25% >>> 50%
• [E] Help, Pix! buffs:
  • Base damage increased 80/120/160/200/240 >>> 80/125/170/215/260
  • Base shield increased 75/115/155/195/235 >>> 80/125/170/215/260

Renekton:

• [Q] Cull the Meek champion healing increased 12/18/24/30/36 (+15% bAD) >>> 12/20/28/36/44 (+17% bAD)
• [E] Slice and Dice cooldown reduced 16/15/14/13/12 >>> 16/14.5/13/11.5/10 seconds
• [R] Dominus bonus HP increased 250/400/550 >>> 300/500/700

Soraka:

• [P] Salvation bonus Move Speed increased 70% >>> 90%
• [Q] Starcall heal increased 50/65/80/95/110 >>> 60/75/90/105/120
• [R] Wish cooldown reduced 160/145/130 >>> 150/135/120 seconds

Thresh:

• Base Armor increased 28 >>> 31
• [E] Flay base damage increased 75/115/155/195/235 >>> 75/120/165/210/255
• [R] The Box cooldown reduced 140/120/100 >>> 120/100/80 seconds

Volibear:

• [Q] Thundering Smash bonus Move Speed increased 8/12/16/20/24% >>> 12/17/22/27/32%
• [E] Sky Splitter cooldown reduced 13 >>> 12 seconds
• [R] Stormbringer adjustments:
  • Cooldown reduced 160/140/120 >>> 130/115/100 seconds
  • Turret disable duration reduced 3/4/5 >>> 2/3/4 seconds
  • No longer grants Crowd Control Immunity, still grants Unstoppable

Champion Nerfs

Riot Games has picked up its Nerf bat and smacked some of the champions dominating pro play, such as Kalista and Varus.

Aurelion Sol:

• [Q] Breath of Light burst bonus magic damage reduced 60/70/80/90/100 (+35% AP) >>> 55/65/75/85/95 (+30% AP)

Bard:

• Armor per level reduced 5.2 >>> 5
• Base Attack Speed increased 0.625 >>> 0.658
• Attack Speed ratio increased 0.625 >>> 0.658
• [P-Meeps] Traveler’s Call – Meeps damage adjusted 35 (+14 per 5 Chimes) (+30% AP) >>> 35 (+10 per 5 Chimes) (+40% AP)
• [Q] Cosmic Binding damage adjusted 80/125/170/215/260 (+65% AP) >>> 80/120/160/200/240 (+80% AP)

Fiora:

• [W] Riposte Cripple reduced 50% >>> 25%

Illaoi:

• [P] Prophet of an Elder God damage adjusted 9-162 (+115% AD) >>> 9-182 (based on level 1-18) (+100% AD)

Kalista:

• [P] Martial Poise bugfix: Boots of Speed now properly affects passive dash distance (buff)
• [E] Rend base damage reduced 20/30/40/50/60 >>> 10/20/30/40/50 (damage per stack unchanged)

Maokai

• Base Armor 39 >>> 35
• [Q] Bramble Smash base damage reduced 70/120/170/220/270 >>> 65/115/165/215/265
• [R] Nature’s Grasp root duration 0.8-2.6 >>> 0.75-2.25 (based on distance traveled 0-1000 units)

Urgot:

• Hullbreaker interaction nerf: Skipper stacks are now granted via on-hit rather than on-attack.

Varus:

• Base AD 62 >>> 60

Zyra:

• [P-Q & P-E] Deadly Spines – Thorn Spitter and Grasping Roots – Vine Lasher adjustments:
  • Base damage reduced 20-88 >>> 16-84 (based on level 1-18)
  • Bonus monster damage increased 40-100 >>> 60-100 (based on level 1-18)

K’Sante Adjustments

In the current meta, K’Sante is simply overperforming, according to the developers. As a result, Riot has removed some slow effects from abilities and increased cooldowns, along with several other adjustments. To compensate for all these changes, some of K’Sante’s base stats have increased.

• Base HP increased 570 >>> 625
• Base mana increased 290 >>> 320
• [R-Q] Ntofo Strikes All Out Slow removed 80% >>> 0%
• [W] Path Maker adjustments:
  • Damage Armor and Magic Resistance ratio increased 50% >>> 85%
  • [R-W] All Out nerfs:
    • Minimum charge time increased 0.5 >>> 0.75 seconds (same as base)
    • Cooldown increased 18/16.5/15/13.5/12 >>> 24/22/20/18/16 seconds (same as base)
• [E] Footwork adjustments:
  • Untargeted dash speed reduced 1500 >>> 900
  • Ally target dash speed reduced 1800 >>> 1500
  • [R-E] All Out untargeted dash speed reduced 2100 >>> 1450

Rek’Sai Adjustments

Riot Games has made several adjustments to Rek’Sai, too. The goal is to make the void burrower more of a fighter and less of a “one-shot assassin.”

• Base HP Regeneration reduced 7.5 >>> 2.5
• HP Regeneration per level reduced 0.65 >>> 0.5
• Base Move Speed increased 335 >>> 340
• [P] Fury of the Xer’Sai changes:
  • Now only generates 50% Fury from Minions
  • Maximum healing adjusted 10 (+2-10% max HP (based on levels 1-16 every 3 levels)) >>> 0 (+12-20% max HP (based on levels 1-16 every 3 levels))
• [Unburrowed-Q] Queen’s Wrath rescripted to act as Attacks instead of spells replacing Attacks (provides 45% Attack Speed to make it feel similar to before)
• [Burrowed-Q] Prey Seeker changes:
  • Damage changed 60/95/130/165/200 (+50% bAD) (+70% AP) physical >>> 50/80/110/140/170 (+25% bAD) (+70% AP) magic
  • Cooldown reduced 12/11.5/11/10.5/10 >>> 10 flat seconds
• [Unburrowed-W] Burrow changes:
  • Burrowed bonus Move Speed changed 5/10/15 (based on levels 1/6/11) >>> 5/10/15/20/25 (based on ability rank)
  • Burrowed vision increased 25% >>> 35%
  • Burrowed no longer reduces attack range 75 >>> 0
• [Burrowed-W] Unburrow changes:
  • Damage changed 50/85/120/155/190 (+80% bAD) (+0% AP) physical >>> 50/75/100/125/150 (+0% bAD) (+80% AP) magic
  • CC changed Knock Up primary target for 1 second and Knock Back and 80% Slow secondary targets for 0.5 seconds >>> Knock Up all targets for 1 second
• [Unburrowed-E] Furious Bite changes:
  • Damage changed 5/10/15/20/25 (+70% AD) >>> 0 (+100% AD)
  • Max fury bonus changed damage doubled and converted to true damage >>> additional +6/8/10/12/14% target’s max HP physical damage (capped against monsters 60-400 (based on level))
  • Cooldown reduced 12 >>> 10 seconds
• [Burrowed-E] Tunnel changes:
  • Cooldown reduced 26/23.5/21/18.5/16 >>> 18/17/16/15/14 seconds
  • Recharge time reduced 10/8/6/4/2 >>> 6/5/4/3/2 seconds
  • Tunnel dashes are faster
• [R] Void Rush bAD ratio reduced 175% >>> 100%

[embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ojTE9-loNc]

Smolder Adjustments

There are some tentative adjustments to Smolder, as Riot continues to monitor the Shojin AP build.

[Q] Super Scorcher Breath:

• Number of missiles adjusted 2 (+1% [P] Dragon Practice stacks) >>> 1 (+1.5% [P] Dragon Practice stacks) (rounds up)
• Still grants a [P] Dragon Practice stack if target dies while missile is in flight

[W] Achooo!:

• Cooldown adjusted 13/12.5/12/11.5/11 >>> 14/13/12/11/10 seconds
• Glob damage changed 70/90/110/130/150 (+25% total AD) (+35% AP) >>> 50/80/110/140/170 (+25% bonus AD) (+20% AP)
• Explosion bAD ratio added 0% >>> 25%
• Explosion AP ratio increased 65% >>> 80%

[R] MMOOOMMMM! no longer fizzles on death

Patch 14.4 Tether Changes

Tethers on the champions listed below will instantly snap for the specific skills mentioned when exceeding the maximum range.

• Aatrox [W] Infernal Chains
• Fiddlesticks [W] Bountiful Harvest (Tether range increased 700 >>> 725)
• Illaoi [E] Test of Spirit
• Karma [W] Focused Resolve
• Kled [Q] Bear Trap on a Rope
• LeBlanc [E] Ethereal Chains
• Nocturne [E] Unspeakable Horror
• Morgana [R] Soul Shackles
• Renata [Q] Handshake
• Zac [Q] Stretching Strikes

[embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ6NBMCL2fc]

Are You Ready For Patch 14.4?

As Patch 14.4 rolls out, LoL players and spectators alike will have plenty to unpack and adjust to—until the next patch arrives, of course. In the meantime, be sure to refer to our guide to see what has changed since the last time you logged in, and if it’s time to consider using a new champion.

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