League of Legends Patch 14.19 Preview: Item Adjustments, Lethal Tempo, K’Sante

Caitlyn Pauley

League Of Legends

The upcoming League of Legends Patch 14.19 is expected to bring significant changes to the game. K’Sante and Tristana will undergo major adjustments, and there may also be tweaks to Lethal Tempo. These changes, combined with modifications to items and runes, will likely impact the overall gameplay as we approach the end of the ranked season. Remember, these are just previews, and the final changes may differ. Keep an eye out for the official patch notes for the full details. The release of League of Legends Patch 14.19 will bring sweeping changes that will affect item stats, champion modifications, and overall gameplay dynamics as we approach the 2025 pre-season.

This update indicates significant adjustments aimed at enhancing player experience and game balance. In summary, League of Legends Patch 14.19 delivers substantial adjustments focusing on gameplay dynamics, champion balance, and itemization. Players will find themselves adapting to new strategies that encourage more thoughtful play and cooperation in their matches. These changes set the stage for invigorating gameplay in the League universe as we look forward to the pre-season of 2025.

League of Legends: Patch 14.19 Preview

Champion Adjustments

K’Sante

  • Goal: Make him less reliant on tank items and more viable as a bruiser.
  • Changes:
    • Base stat adjustments.
    • Adjustments to damage, scaling, and cooldowns of his abilities.

Tristana

  • Goal: Enhance her early-game threat potential.
  • Changes:
    • Increased attack range.
    • Adjustments to W and E abilities.

Other Champions

  • Possible Changes: Riot has hinted at further champion adjustments, but specifics remain unclear.

Item Changes

  • Focus on Third Ranked Split: This patch will prioritize balance changes relevant to the third split of the ranked season.

Rune Adjustments

  • Lethal Tempo: The rune might see some changes, though the exact details haven’t been confirmed.

Release Date

  • Expected Release: September 25th, 2024.

Patch 14.19 is scheduled for release on September 25, 2024. The developers are expected to release patch previews by September 18th. Riot Games has already announced that the championship will run on patch 14.18 so this update will not be used at the World Championship 2024.

Additional Information

  • World Championship: Patch 14.19 will not be used for the 2024 World Championship. The tournament will be played on Patch 14.18.

Short Summary:

  • Legendary items are facing global nerfs across the board.
  • Lethal Tempo makes its return with revised mechanics.
  • Major rework for the champion K’Sante, along with other champion updates.

As League of Legends enters patch 14.19, the focus shifts to rebalancing the game, particularly leading into the 2025 pre-season. Riot Games has detailed that nearly all Legendary items will undergo nerfs, ranging from 5% to 15% in effectiveness. The intention behind these changes is to decrease the power of items that facilitate snowballing while allowing champions’ abilities to shine more prominently.

“Players have become exceptionally proficient at farming over recent seasons,”

stated the developer team.

“This proficiency has resulted in an accelerated pace that has outstripped our design intentions.”

Hence, rather than simply lowering gold yields, the team has chosen to make gold less potent to redefine the dynamics of gameplay at all levels.

Key Changes to Items and Gameplay

A standout feature in patch 14.19 is the introduction of item queuing. This allows players to efficiently manage their gold and purchases, as they’ll be able to mark items in their queue, helping them visualize how much gold they need to reach their next purchase. Furthermore, a “One Click Purchase” option will enable players to buy as many components toward a major item as their current gold permits, streamlining the buying process.

Another interesting change is the adjustment to mobile pings. Players will now receive notifications for various actions, such as low health, potions usage, and crucial objective spawns, leading to improved communication and teamwork. The new ‘My Bad’ ping is also introduced for players to acknowledge their mistakes to teammates.

Champion Changes

Focusing more on champions, this patch brings a substantial overhaul to K’Sante, making him a more versatile and balanced champion:

  • Base Stats:
    • Base AD: Increased from 64 to 66
    • Attack range: Reduced from 175 to 150
    • Base attack speed: Increased from 0.625 to 0.658
  • Passive – Dauntless Instinct: No longer provides bonus range, but base damage increased significantly.
  • Q – Ntofo Strikes:
    • Base damage increases substantially across ranks
    • Cast time now scales with resistances instead of health.
  • W – Path Maker:
    • Base damage and percentage max HP damage adjusted.
  • E – Footwork:
    • Cooldowns adjusted and sharing of the dash stat modified.
  • R – All Out:
    • Damage switched from magical to physical.

Another champion receiving attention is Quinn, who will get visual updates to align her ability effects with the current art standards, though her balance remains unchanged.

Similarly, Tristana also experiences a shift in her base statistics, such as adjustments to HP regeneration and attack speed. These shifts exemplify Riot’s formation of a balanced meta that can cater to numerous champions.

Return of Lethal Tempo

Arguably one of the most notable adjustments in this patch is the reintroduction of the Lethal Tempo keystone.

The updated version of Lethal Tempo will facilitate bonus damage upon reaching max stacks rather than surpassing the attack speed cap. With each attack, champions will receive a percentage of increased attack speed, peaking at a maximum increment with bonus damage tied to this scaling.

According to the developers, the adjustments are designed to ensure that champions can maintain their identity without excessive reliance on a singular keystone that disrupts the gameplay balance.

“The return of Lethal Tempo aims to preserve the strengths of champions while carefully managing their impacts on the game,”

noted a Riot spokesperson.

“Our focus remains on creating a fair environment for all champions.”

Furthermore, adjustments to runes like Biscuit Delivery and Presence of Mind will offer new opportunities for strategic gameplay, impacting health restoration and mana management.

Legendary Item Balancing

With nearly all Legendary items witnessing reductions in stats, players can expect a shift in itemization paths for various champions. Some of the most impacted items are:

  • Abyssal Mask: MR reduced from 50 to 45 while ability haste increased.
  • Blade of the Ruined King: AD reduced from 50 to 40.
  • Bloodthirster: Passive shield improved, although cost increased slightly.
  • Infinity Edge: Attack damage decreased, but costs adjusted for balance.

These adjustments reflect Riot’s aim to ensure that players explore various item options without dominating the game purely through item power.