Teamfight Tactics: Patch 12.5 – Notes of changes
Details of the change in patch 12.5 Teamfight Tactics.
Welcome, Neon Knights!
Or is it Knights who say Ne-on? Regardless, welcome to patch 12.5 which will be live for a full four weeks instead of the standard two—but we’ll get to that shortly. Despite our larger than usual balance change, many critical balance changes for patch 12.5 were delivered early last week in our 12.4 mid-week patch, so be sure to check those out if your looking for info on our swift acting nerfs to Hextech, Innovator, and other overperforming units. That said, we’ve made a ton of changes to keep Neon Nights feeling strategically diverse through balance adjustments, a focus in Augments, and, well, just keep reading for that third thing!
Patch highlights
Why the long patch?
Patch 12.5 will be live for four weeks (instead of the usual two) as all of us at Riot connect, reflect, and discuss our company-wide goals. Look, I know four weeks is a long time for a TFT patch, but we’ve got a plan to make 12.5 as healthy and stable as possible during this time.
Large changes
Large, like the amount of time (4 weeks) this patch will be on live—read more about that by scrolling up.
Tome of Traits
Tome of Traits breakpoints have been nerfed slightly to make tailored Emblems appear less frequently. This allows us to nerf the early combination of five traits (with Yordle, Twinshot, Enchanter) to cheat out the Emblem that you want, while also nerfing Tome of Traits generally.
- No tailored Emblems: 0 – 4 active traits ⇒ 0 – 5
- One tailored Emblem: 5 – 6 active traits ⇒ 6 – 7
- Two tailored Emblems: 7 – 8 active traits ⇒ 8 – 9
- Three tailored Emblems: 9 – 10 active traits ⇒ 10 – 11
- Four tailored Emblems: 11+ active traits ⇒ 12+
Augments
It’s no surprise that many combat Augments are getting nerfed here. When taken early and combined with a second combat Augment, their flat values are often enough to get players into a top four position.
Some of the struggling yet fun Augments are getting a bit of love. Expect Woodland Trinkets to be made of more than just twigs.
Finally, we’re adding one of my personal favorites, High Five, back into the mix. You may have remembered seeing High Five during PBE, but it ended up being so underpowered that we pulled it right before the clock struck Neon Nights. Now that we’ve had time to rebalance it as the Prismatic Augment players chasing 3-star 5-costs deserve, it’s ready for the taking!
- Battle Mage I / II / III bonus Ability Power: 30/45/60 ⇒ 25/35/50
- Chemtech Unity: Silver ⇒ Gold
- Concussive Blows: Silver ⇒ Gold
- Concussive Blows cooldown: 7 seconds ⇒ 6 seconds
- Cybernetic Implants III Health: 450 ⇒ 350
- Disintegrator I / II / III 2/3/4% ⇒ 1.5/2.5/4%
- Double Trouble I / II / III bonus AD, AP, Armor, & MR: 40/50/65 ⇒ 30/40/50
- Electrocharge I / II / III damage: 90/135/180 ⇒ 60/100/160
- Four Score Number of 4-cost Champions: 3 ⇒ 4
- Future Sight II, Golden Egg, Radiant Relics option, Mistral (Radiant Zephyr), Banish duration: 10 ⇒ 8 seconds
- Golden Egg and Radiant Relics option, Sunlight Cape (Radiant Sunfire Cape), max Health burn: 120% ⇒ 90% over 30 seconds
- Luden’s Echo I / II / III Spell Damage: 135/200/275 ⇒ 100/150/200
- NEW High Five (Prismatic): Gain 5 random 5-cost champions
- High Five (Prismatic) can only appear as the 3rd augment
- Portable Forge Armory option, Zhonya’s Paradox AP: 45 ⇒ 50
- Portable Forge Armory option, Zhonya’s Paradox Armor & MR: 35 ⇒ 50
- Portable Forge Armory option, Zhonya’s Paradox Invulnerability Duration: 2.5 ⇒ 3 seconds
- Second Wind III REMOVED
- Tri Force bonus Health: 233/333/433 ⇒ 133/233/333
- Tri Force can now only be offered if you have two or more 3-cost units in play
- Woodland Trinket Clone Health: 250 ⇒ 300
Traits
Every lobby is hard when you force Bodyguard. But with these buffs… eh, you still shouldn’t force it. Just let it come naturally like Braum’s gains.
Since Janna and Taric have become disenchanted with TFT, there’s been less outrageous healing, which has posed a problem for a trait whose power comes from enhanced healing and shielding.
Our adjustments for Hextech Dragon solve the powerful and yet unclear strength that the critical strike chance could give to champions with Infinity Edge, which converted the overflow critical strike chance into bonus critical strike damage. We’re removing this powerful synergy from the situation, without weakening the case for non-Infinity Edge users.
- Bodyguard starting Shield: 150/350/700/1200 ⇒ 200/400/800/2000
- Enchanter Heal & Shield Boost: 25/40/60/100% ⇒ 25/45/70/100%
- Enchanter Magic Resistance: 20/35/50/75 ⇒ 25/45/70/100
- Enforcer Stun duration: 4 ⇒ 3 seconds
- Hextech Shield: 100/150/300/600 ⇒ 120/170/340/600
- Innovator, Hextech Dragon ADJUSTED: The dragon’s roar no longer grants 75% Critical Strike Chance. Instead, units buffed by the roar will always critically strike if able (Spells still require Jeweled Gauntlet/Lotus).
- Innovator, Hextech Dragon Electrifying Roar Critical Strike Damage increase: 10% ⇒ 25%
- Innovator, Hextech Dragon Lightning Damage: 500 ⇒ 600
Units: Tier 1
Debonair has been lacking its Deboflair. Luckily Brand’s here to light it off!
We were thinking about renaming Jarvan IV to Jarvan VI because of the six people in each lobby going for him, but instead we’re just going to nerf the prince of early game comps. And with the early game power of Hextech, you’re probably not shocked to see Nocturne here as well.
- Brand base Sear Damage: 120/160/210 ⇒ 135/175/235
- Brand bonus Sear Damage: 150/225/300 ⇒ 165/225/300
- Jarvan IV Attack Speed: 0.65 ⇒ 0.6
- Jarvan IV starting Mana nerf: 60/100 ⇒ 50/100
- Nocturne Unspeakable Horror Stun Duration: 2/2.5/3.5 ⇒ 2/2.5/3
- Nocturne Unspeakable Horror Damage: 200/300/400 ⇒ 190/300/450
- Nocturne’s Unspeakable Horror now correctly scales with Ability Power
- Twitch Piercing Bolt Attack Damage scaling percent: 125/135/150% ⇒ 125/130/140%
- Twitch Piercing Bolt base Damage: 25/50/75 ⇒ 30/50/70
Units: Tier 2
Rek’Sai’s been running into more than just punctuation errors. She can get into unkillable states too quickly too often, invalidate resistance items and traits, and do all this while working three different jobs: tank buster, tank, and damage dealer. By reworking Rek’Sai we’re giving her just one job: a tanky unit that buys time for her team through self-sufficient healing, and the option to pick up a Bloodthirster if she really wants to.
- Ashe Volley number of arrows: 6/7/8 ⇒ 8/8/8
- Ashe Volley range: Her Range ⇒ Her Range + 1 Hex
- REWORKED Rek’Sai Spell Base Damage: No longer scales with AP
- Rek’Sai Armor & Magic Resist: 40 ⇒ 45
- Rek’Sai Resist steal (removed): 10% ⇒ 0%
- Rek’Sai Heal: 150/250/400 (no Ability Power scaling) ⇒ 150/200/350 (Ability Power scaling)
- Rek’Sai NEW: If Rek’sai has already bit her target, she heals for 250/350/500 (scales with AP) health instead.
Units: Tier 3
Lucian goes in. He’s got low range, and loves to get into the heat of battle. He probably shouldn’t have the same defensive stats as a backline Sniper like Miss Fortune. As for his damage buff, just remember that he shoots twice.
Malzahar’s been the great beneficiary of some of our Augments and Mutant 7 chase traits. We’re hitting him here, but will be keeping our vision on Arcanist if the trait continues to struggle.
- Ekko starting Mana nerf: 80/120 ⇒ 60/120
- Gnar: increased the range of Mega Gnar’s boulder by one hex
- Lucian Relentless Pursuit Damage: 175/275/300 ⇒ 185/295/315
- Lucian Health: 650 ⇒ 700
- Lucian Armor & Magic Resist: 25 ⇒ 30
- Malzahar Malefic Visions Damage: 625/875/1050 ⇒ 600/825/950\
- Senna Piercing Darkness Attack Damage scaling: 160% ⇒ 150%
- Senna Piercing Darkness Damage: 80/125/200 ⇒ 80/120/180
Units: Tier 4
Our Ahri changes below make her less dependent on Blue Buff for that first cast, allowing her to build Spear of Shojin (3 autos per cast after initial) for situations where you just can’t find that second Tear. Blue Buff will still be slightly more optimal; that is, of course, if you aren’t building Attack Damage Carry Ahri—which you shouldn’t be, for the record. The change in angle between her orbs allows her to more consistently hit her primary target with multiple orbs, leading to higher burst on earlier casts (shotgun effect) while still transitioning to a high spread fantasy.
We’re shifting Draven’s power away from his awkward AP focused Debonair build that seems to be overperforming. To be clear this is a buff for Draven’s floor, but an overall nerf to Draven’s capped out ceiling.
I heard that Vi is the star of a hit TV show, so if you want her to keep punching hard, then star her up!
- Ahri starting Mana buff: 0/50 ⇒ 30/50
- Ahri Angle Between Each Orb: 20 ⇒ 10
- Alistar Pulverize Damage: 200/350/1200 ⇒ 150/250/1000
- Braum Vault Breaker Stun Duration: 1.75/2.25/8 ⇒ 2/2.75/8
- Draven Range: 3 ⇒ 4
- Draven NEW: Now has innate 25% Armor Penetration
- Draven VIP Bonus Armor Penetration: 50% ⇒ 25%
- Draven Spinning Axes Attack Damage scaling: 150/160/400% ⇒ 170/180/400%
- Draven Spinning Axes Base Damage: 150/200/500 ⇒ 120/150/400
- Renata Toxic Wave Damage: 45/70/240 ⇒ 40/65/220
- Sivir Attack Speed: 0.7 ⇒ 0.8
- Vi Piltover Pulverizer Damage: 150/225/450 ⇒ 125/200/450
- Vi Piltover PulverizerThird Cast Damage: 300/400/900 ⇒ 250/350/900
Units: Tier 5
Now you’ll be less sad when Tahm Kench puts a Colossus in his mouth. Spit that out Mister Thomas Kench!
- Galio Colossal Entrance max Health Scaling: 5% ⇒ 6%
- Kaisa Attack Speed: 1.1 ⇒ 1.2
- Tahm Kench Devour Damage on Crowd Control Immune Targets: 35% ⇒ 50%
- Zeri Attack Damage: 80 ⇒ 85
Items
Assassin hard counter now counters a bit softer. We rarely want to completely hard counter something in TFT, as completely shutting down something a player has inVested in isn’t very fun. But in removing some of the ‘hard counterness’ we have to give Bramble Vest a bit more bramble (that’s the spiky reflective damage).
- Bramble Vest Critical Strike bonus Damage reduction: 100% ⇒ 75%
- Bramble Vest Reflect Damage: 60/80/120 ⇒ 75/100/150
SMALL CHANGES
Small, like my chances of getting a 5 Mercenary opener.
Augments
Swift Justice used to give attack speed back in PBE, but now it gives true damage. We’ve renamed it to make more sense, and to pass on the message that true justice shouldn’t be rushed.
With Treasure Trove III already only appearing as the first or second Augment, we’re giving its counterparts the same quality of life treatment.
- Battlemage can no longer be offered if you are playing 2+ Snipers
- Dominance can only appear if you: won your previous combat ⇒ are on a 2+ win streak
- Golden Egg and Radiant Relics option,Covalent Spark (Radiant Ionic Spark), damage: 300% ⇒ 275% of max Mana
- Golden Egg and Radiant Relics option, Brink of Dawn (Radiant Edge of Night), second stealth Health threshold: 25% ⇒ 30%
- Golden Gifts can only appear as the 2nd augment
- Knife’s Edge can no longer be offered Knife’s Edge if you are playing: 2+ Arcanists, 2+ Scholars, 2+ Snipers, 2+ Enchanters
- Portable Forge Armory option, The Collector chance to drop Gold: 50% ⇒ 60%
- Swift Justice has been renamed to True Justice
- Treasure Trove I and II can now only appear as the 1st augment
Traits
Twinshot needs a better shot, especially when you have five Twinshots. Wait… shouldn’t that be Quintupletshot?
- Twinshot Bonus Attack Damage: 10/25/40/60 ⇒ 10/25/45/80
Units: Tier 1
- Ezreal Attack Damage: 50 ⇒ 45
Units: Tier 2
Corki Uncork(i)ed.
- Corki Bombardment Damage: 200/260/333 ⇒ 220/275/350
- Lulu Wild Growth Bonus Health: 325/350/375 ⇒ 350/370/390
Units: Tier 3
- Morgana Soul Shackles Shield: 425/550/750 ⇒ 475/575/675
- Tryndamere Spinning Slash base spin Damage: 60/90/150 ⇒ 50/75/100
Units: Tier 4
It’s time we desert Kha’Zix’s old spell name, as his trait makes it null and void.
- Irelia Attack Damage: 90 ⇒ 85
- Jhin Curtain Call Attack Damage scaling: 150/200/300% ⇒ 175/200/300%
- Kha’Zix Arid Assault has been renamed to Void Assault
Units: Tier 5
You’re perfect… with just 5 more Armor and Magic Resist.
- Jinx Armor & Magic Resist: 40 ⇒ 45
Items
- Edge of Night Health threshold for stealth: 50% ⇒ 60%
- Statikk Shiv lightning Damage: 70 ⇒ 60
Double up
Team Chat
Keep your Double Up strategies secret and safe… now by default.
- [PC] Team chat is here! Chat now defaults to partner only; use /all to send messages to the whole lobby.
Bug fixes
- We’ve fixed an issue with nontypical mobile login methods that have been causing account lockouts
- We’ve fixed an issue with crashes related to brand spanking new phones that we weren’t prepared to support—until now!
- Hyper Roll components MIA: Fixed an issue where players would sometimes get fewer than the intended minimum number of components from PvE rounds.
- Stacking the Tri Force II and Tri Force III Augments will now grant the proper amount of Mana
- Recombobulator now spawns Magnetic Removers in the top left corner like other loot Augments
- One and done: Archangel’s Embrace II has been renamed to Archangel’s Embrace since there is only one tier
- Radiant Banshee’s Claw’s tooltip now specifies that it blocks up to 600 Ability damage, similar to normal Banshee’s Claw
- Fixed a bug where Tahm Kench would still “consume” and deal damage over time to units affected by Silco’s Unstable Concoction without actually consuming and disabling them
- Dawn of Nights: Enforcer no longer detains units with Radiant Quicksilver or units affected by Radiant Zephyr
- Thematically bugged: Warwick with Mutant Emblem no longer deals more damage than intended
- Fixed an issue where Yordle Mana costs would not always update immediately as players switched between Yordle 3 and Yordle 6
- Tahm Kench no longer stuns and deals damage to enemies who escaped his stomach with Edge of Night
- Fixed an issue where Cho’Gath’s Colossus Health bonus would not activate the first time Cho’Gath is placed onto the board
- Silco will no longer cast Unstable Concoction on a target that’s inside Tahm Kench’s belly
- Luden’s Echo will no longer deal 0 damage the first time a unit is put onto the board
- Hextech, Debonair, or Striker trait augments can no longer be offered after picking Built Different
- The Soul is a construct: Fixed an issue causing Innovator Soul to never show up as an augment offering