Three new skins have been introduced in the 6.9 PBE cycle – Iron Inquisitor Kayle, Cursed Revenant Nocturne, and Black Scourge Singed!

 

Iron Inquisitor Kayle

750 RP

Cursed Revenant Nocturne

750 RP

Black Scourge Singed

750 RP

Here’s Nurse Flan with a Bugs & Feedback Thread on the new Singed, Kayle, and Nocturne skins:

“We present to you our “gothic horror”-inspired set of skins! We had a lot of fun imagining them as tough bosses in a dungeon during production!

Black Scourge Singed
Completely new model!
Set to be 750RP* (pricing always subject to change)

Iron Inquisitor Kayle
Completely new model!

Set to be 750RP* (pricing always subject to change)

Cursed Revenant Nocturne
Completely new model! Updated tail-trail effects (it’s less wonky!)
Set to be 750RP (pricing always subject to change)

*We’re in the middle of fixing his (W) spellshield VFX atm!

As players who get the first look at this in-progress skin, it would be wonderful to hear your thoughts and feelings on the new skins! The feedback and bugs you leave here will help us get a better idea of things we may still have to take a look at. :]

See you on the Rift!”

 

Mid-Season 2016 Updates on PBE

As you’ll see later in this post, a large set of MID-SEASON 2016 UPDATE changes are currently testing on the PBE – including numerous mage updates, the introduction of Elemental and Elder Dragon, Rift Herald and Turrets, itemization changes, and MUCH more!

Before diving into the nitty gritty, be sure to check out this overview:

[MID-SEASON MAGIC]

 

Elemental Dragons & Elder Dragon

One of the larger objective changes is dragon has been replaced with Elemental Dragons and Elder Dragon! For an overview, check out the MID-SEASON MAGIC post!

[Additional context on Dragon Changes from Meddler available here.]

 

Elemental Dragons

 

Each Elemental Dragon has slightly different attacks and stats:

• Fire – AOE damage (just like current dragon). Impacts positioning when taking dragon primarily, some impact on pet users.

• Water – Auto attacks slow. Mainly relevant if it’s a potentially contested dragon, since the slow will limit your ability to disengage quickly. Some optimizations around getting it to attack an enemy for the slow situationally.

• Earth –  Slow hard hitting auto attacks that also AOE. More health, armor and MR than other dragons. Slower to take, giving longer windows in which to contest it.

• Air – Fast moving and fast auto attacking. Highest single target damage, chases better than other dragons.”

Each Elemental Dragon gives a different bonus to the team on death, which can stack up to three times.

• Fire –  This unit has 8/16/24% (based on stacks) increased Ability Power and Attack Damage, +50% if they have Mark of the Elder Dragon.
• Water – Every 18/12/6 seconds this unit restores 10% of their missing Health and Mana, 15% if they have Mark of the Elder Dragon
• Earth –  This unit deals 10%/20%/30% additional damage as True Damage to Epic Monsters and Towers, +50% if you have Mark of the Elder Dragon
• Air – >This unit has 15/30/45 (based on stacks) additional Out of Combat Movement Speed, +50% if they have Mark of the Elder Dragon.

In addition to the buff bar, you can see what buffs a team has by looking at the scoreboard (tab):

[In this example, blue team has 3 water and 2 fire dragon buffs!]

These dragons spawn in a ~random order and can spawn the same dragon multiple times in a row.

A mark on the dragon pit wall will appear to denote which dragon is there or will be spawning next. This mark is always visible through fog of war and is up through the entire respawn time.

Once spawned, each elemental dragon also has a unique mini map icon:

Here are each dragon’s in game portraits:

   

Elder Dragon

 

After 35 minutes, the elemental dragons will stop spawning and instead the Elder Dragon will spawn!
(NOTE: If there is an elemental dragon up at 35 minutes, it won’t despawn – the next one will just be an elder dragon).

Like the elemental dragons, the Elder Dragon has a unique dragon pit marking and mini map icon:

Here is the Elder Dragon’s in-game portrait:

Elder Dragon grants Mark of the Elder Dragon to team on death, granting a true damage dot and buffing elemental dragon marks:

• “On dealing damage to non-turrets, this unit deals True Damage over 3 seconds equal to 45 + 45 per stack of Elemental Dragon Buff. This also empowers their current Dragon Marks, increasing their effects by 50%
  • Buff is temporary and lasts 90 seconds.

The buff bar dragon icon also changes to the elder dragon head when a team has Mark of the Elder Dragon:

Elder Dragon also has a longer respawn time than normal dragons, currently at 10 minutes.

MSMU Mage Gameplay Updates

As mentioned in the MID-SEASON MAGIC post, a wealth of mages have received gameplay updates this cycle!

Spot bugs? Report ‘em over on the Mid Season Mages bug thread!

Let’s start with a look at the six larger mage updates: Brand, Cassiopeia,  Malzahar, Vel’Koz, Vladimir, and Zyra:

Brand

[PBE boards discussion thread]

• Blaze (Passive)
  • Stacks up to three times, doing less damage per stack.
    • 2% Max health over 4 seconds per stack from 8% over 4 seconds.
  • [NEW EFFECT] When Blaze reaches max stacks on a Champion or large monster, the Blaze becomes unstable. It detonates in 2 seconds, dealing (~12 +.5 per level)% (+X% per ~100 AP – hard to confirm.) of each nearby enemy’s maximum Health in magic damage. That champion cannot stack Blaze again within 4 seconds.
    • Damage scales with Brand’s level, maxing out at level 9 at 16%

• Sear (Q)
  • Stun duration lowered to 1.5s from 2s
  • Damage lowered to 80/110/140/170/200 from 80/120/160/200/240
  • AP ratio lowered to .55 from .65

• Pillar Of Flame (W)
  • Cooldown lowered to 10/9.5/9/8.5/8 from 10 at all ranks
  • Mana cost lowered to 60/70/80/90/100 from 70/80/90/100/110

• Conflagration (E)
  • Cooldown lowered to 10/9/8/7/6 from 12/11/10/9/8
  • Damage reduced to 70/90/110/130/150 from 70/105/140/175/210
  • AP ratio decreased to .35 from .55

• Pyroclasm (R)
  • Damage lowered to 100/200/300 from 150/250/350
  • AP ratio decreased to .25 from .5
  • [NEW EFFECT] Blaze bonus now slows target by 30/45/60%
  • “Prioritizes stacking blaze on champions — so always prioritizes champions, and specifically tries to make as many bombs as possible.”

Here is his updated ability video:

And here are updated spotlights of his skins:

• Apocalyptic Brand
• Cryocore Brand
• Spirit Fire Brand
• Vandal Brand
• Zombie Brand

 

Cassiopeia

[PBE boards discussion thread]

• Stat Changes
  • Movement Speed changed to 328 from 335
  • Base health increased to 525 from 506
  • Base mana increased to 375 from 370
  • Base armor increased to 25 from 22.22
  • Armor Growth lowered to 3.5 from 4
  • Base Mana regen lowered to 1.6 from 1.672
  • Mana regen growth increased to .16 from .15
  • Base Health Regen increased to 1.2 from 1.08
  • Base Attack damage increased to 53 from 52.3
  • Attack damage growth lowered to 3 from 3.2
• Serpentine Grace (Passive) [REWORKED]
  • NEW EFFECT: “Cassiopeia gains 4 Movement Speed (4 per level). Cassiopeia cannot purchase Boots items.”

• Noxious Blast (Q)
  • Mana cost increased to 60/65/70/75/80 from 40/50/60/70/80
  • Cooldown lowered to 3.5 from 4
  • Damage increased to 75/120/165/210/255 from 75/115/155/195/235
    AP Ratio increased to .7 from .45
  • Movement speed bonus increased to 30/35/40/45/50% from 20%
  • Movement speed now decays over duration.

• Miasma (W)
  • Mana cost increased to 70 at all ranks from 40/50/60/70/80
  • Cooldown increased to 22/20/18/16/14 from 14/13/12/11/10

“Cassiopeia spews venom in an arc, leaving toxic clouds for 5 seconds.

Enemies in the clouds are continually afflicted with Debilitating Poison, inflicting a decaying 40/50/60/70/80% slow and grounding them, prohibiting the use of Movement abilities. They also take 20/35/50/65/80 (+0.15) magic damage per second.

Miasma has a minimum cast range and stops on the first terrain hit.”

• Slow now 35% at all ranks from 25/30/35/40/45%.
• Now fires multiple clouds in a large arc that lands at minimum (550) to max range (800) or first terrain hit.
  • [Repertoir notes this means “Effectively, there’s now a 250 unit band in which you can cast W”]
• Now GROUNDS enemies in cloud, preventing them from using movement abilities while in it.

• Twin Fang (E)
  • Mana cost changed to 60/65/70/75/80 from 50/60/70/80/90
  • Cooldown lowered to .9 seconds from 5 seconds.
  • Range Adjusted (now edge to edge from center to center)

“Deal X (dmg based on level) (+0.1 AP) magic damage to a target. If the target is killed by Twin Fang, or is killed during its flight, Cassiopeia gains 60/65/70/75/80 Mana.

If the victim is Poisoned when Twin Fang hits, it takes 10/40/70/100/130 (+.35 AP) additional magic damage and Cassiopeia heals for 5/10/15/20/25 (+.1 AP).”

• Damage is based on level starting at 52 (and +4 per level and going up to [X] .
  • 72 at level 6, 96 at 12, etc.

• Petrifying Gaze (R)
  • Slow reduced to 40% from 60%

Here is her updated ability video:

And here are updated spotlights of her skins:

• Jade Fang Cassiopeia
• Mythic Cassiopeia
• Siren Cassiopeia
• Desperada Cassiopeia

 

Malzahar

[PBE boards discussion thread]

• [NEW] Void Shift (Passive)

“When he hasn’t recently taken damage or been crowd controlled in the last 24 (minus 1 sec per level, down to 6? ) seconds, Malzahar gains 90% damage reduction and crowd control immunity, lingering for 1 second after taking damage or blocking a crowd control effect.

Damage from lane minions is not mitigated by this effect, but it does not trigger or reset its cooldown either.”

• Call of the Void (Q)
  • Mana cost reduced to 60 at all ranks from 80/85/90/95/100
  • Cooldown lowered to 6 seconds from 9
  • Damage reduced to 70/110/150/190/230 from 80/135/190/245/300
  • AP Ratio reduced to .7 from .8
  • Silence duration reduced to 1/1.25/1.5/1.75/2 seconds from 1.4/1.8/2.2/2.6/3 seconds.

• [NEW] Void Swarm (W)

60 Mana
20/19/18/17/16 sec Cooldown

“Summon a Voidling lasting 12 seconds to fight nearby enemies.
The first time a Voidling attacks a champion or monster, or assists in killing a unit, Malzahar spawns a new Voidling with the same remaining duration. When 3 or more Voidlings are active, they all gain 50% Attack Speed.

Voidling Details:

–Attacks deal [.3/.325/.35/.375/4 AD] physical damage plus 10/15/20/25/30 [+0.1 AP] magic damage (deals 75% damage against monsters)

–Deals triple damage to lane minions below 25% Health

–Will not spawn from a Voidling with less than 4 seconds left

–Prefers to attack targets with Nether Grasp or Malefic Visions and has 100% increased Movement Speed when seeking these targets

–Otherwise attacks the enemy nearest it”

• [Note: Voidlings no longer react to Malzahar’s auto attacks**.]
• [Note: Voidlings no longer have a leash/returnTP range.**]
• Voidlings gain health per champion level.
• Voidling cast/spawn range increased to 450 from 300**

• Malefic Visions (E)
  • Mana cost reduced to 60/70/80/90/100 from 60/75/90/105/120
  • Damage lowered to 80/115/150/185/220 from 80/140/200/260/320
  • AP ratio lowered to .7 from .8
  • Mana restore changed to 2% of max mana from 10/14/18/22/260 mana.
  • [NEW] Duration now refreshes if Malzahar uses Q or R on target

• Nether Grasp (R)
  • Flat damage removed.
  • [NEW] Now creates a zone around enemy ( like old W) that deals 6% (+ 1.5% per 100 AP) of enemies max health as magic damage per second for 5 seconds.

Here is his updated ability video:

And here are updated spotlights of his skins:

• Djinn Malzahar
• Overrlord Malzahar
• Shadow Prince Malzahar
• Snow Day Malzahar
• Vizier Malzahar

Vel’Koz

[PBE boards discussion thread]

• Organic Deconstruction (Passive)
  • Now deals [25 + (8 per level) + (.4 AP)] bonus true damage.
  • R no longer applies Deconstruction.

• Plasma Fission (Q)
  • Now refunds 50% of the mana cost per unit killed.
  • Target indicator now visible only for Vel’Koz

• Void Rift (W)
  • AP ratio reduced to [.15 and .25] from [.25 and .37.5]

• Tectonic Disruption (E)
  • AP ratio reduced to .3 from .5

• Life Form Disintegration Ray (R)
  • Damage increased to 500/725/950 + (1.0 AP) from 500/700/900 + (.6 AP)
  • Cooldown lowered to 120/100/80 from 130/110/90
  • No longer applies stacks of Organic Destruction.
  • [NEW] Passive: Deconstructing (3 hits) enemy champions RESEARCHES them for 7 seconds.  Basic attacks and all abilities refresh RESEARCH.
  • Now dealts True damage vs researched targets instead of magic damagea.

 

Vladimir

[PBE boards discussion thread.]

• Stat Changes:
  • Base health increased to 550 from 543
  • Health Growth lowered to 84 from 85
  • Attack damage increased to 52 from 48
  • Base armor increased to 23 from 21.88
  • Armor growth decreased to 3.3 from 3.5

• Crimson Pact (Passive):

• Bonus HP to AP factor increased to .04 from .025
• Bonus AP to HP factor decreased to 1.0 from 1.4

• Transfusion (Q):
  • Cooldown lowered to 9/8/7/6/5 from 10/8.5/7/5.5/4
  • Damage lowered to 80/100/120/140/160 (.45 AP) from 90/125/160/195/230 (.6 AP)
  • Heal lowered to 20/25/30/35/40 (.15 AP) from 15/25/35/45/55 (.25 AP)
  • [NEW] After casting Q twice, Vladimir gains Crimson Rush the next time it becomes available to cast.
    • Crimson Rush: Vladimir is briefly hasted and for the next 2.5 seconds Transfusion deals 100% increased damage and heals for an additional 40 + 15 per level plus 5% (+.025 AP)% of his missing health (healing halved against minions).
    • Crimson Rush charges are displayed on Vlad’s resource bar.

• Sanguine Pool (W) bonus health damage ratio reduced to 10% from 15%

• [NEW] Tides of Blood (E):
  • This ability has been reworked! Tooltip:

“Channeling Cost 10% of max Health

Range: 600

9/8/7/6/5 sec Cooldown

First Cast: Vladimir charges up a reservoir of blood over 1 second, spending up to 10% of his max Health to increase this spell’s damage by that amount.

Second Cast: Vladimir unleashes a nova of blood at surrounding enemies which deals between 30/40/50/60/70 (+0.025 HP) (+0.35 AP) and 60/80/100/150/140 (+.1 HP) (+.7) magic damage and, at full charge,
briefly slows by 40/45/50/55/60%. Targets hit block a portion of the nova.

Tides of Blood will release automatically if held for more than 1.5 seconds, or if this channel is broken.”

• Maximum Missles blocked by minions reduced to 5 from 7
• Missiles now “additionally deal their damage to neighboring minions within a small, ‘under-the-hood’ aoe around the target”

 

• Hemoplague (R):
  • Duration reduced to 4 seconds from 5 seconds
  • Damage amplification lowered to 10% from 12%
  • [NEW]  At the end of the duration, Hemoplague heals Vladimir for 50% of it’s damage [75/125/175 + (.35 AP)] for each enemy champion hit.

Here is his updated ability video:

And here are updated spotlights of his skins:

• Academy Vladimir
• Blood Lord Vladimir
• Count Vladimir
• Marquis Vladimir
• Nosferatu Vladimir
• Soulstealer Vladimir
• Vandal Vladimir

 

Zyra

[PBE boards discussion thread]

• Stat Changes
  • Movement Speed increased to 340 from 325
  • Base health increased to 499 from 479

• [NEW] Garden of Thorns (Passive)

New Effect: Seeds spawn around Zyra periodically, becoming faster with level and lasting 45 seconds (Max: 8 seeds planted). If an enemy Champion steps on a seed, it dies.

Cast Deadly Spines or Grasping roots near seeds to grow plants. Extra plants striking the same target deal 50% less damage.

• Plant life 5-7.5 seconds based on Zyra’s level.
• “Periodically spawns two seeds at the same time, though it won’t place them close “together”.**
• Seeds won’t spawn while Zyra is hiding in a brush.
• Plant health down to 2 ticks but increases with W passive.
• Plant Damage lowered: to [24 + (5 per level) + (.15 AP) ] from [23 + (6.5 per level) + (.2 AP)]
•  [NOTE: Plant AI also improved.]

• Deadly Spines (Q)
  • Mana cost reduced to 60 at all ranks from 75/80/85/90/95
  • Damage reduced to 60/90/120/150/180 (.55 AP) from 70/105/140/175/210 (.65 AP)
  • Now fires in a rectangular shape.

 [Deadly Spines (Q) has updated indicators to show increased seed growing range.]

• Rampant Growth (W)
  • [REMOVED] No longer gives 2-10% cooldown reduction.
  • Seeds from W now grant vision in small area and vision of enemy champion for 2 seconds if stepped on.
  • [NEW] Increases plant maximum health by 10/20/30/40/50%

• Grasping Roots (E)

[Grasping Roots (E) has updated indicators to show it’s increased seed growing range. ]

• Stranglethorns (R) now increases damage of plants within thicket by 150% rather than increasing their attack speed by 50%

Here is her updated ability video:

And here are updated spotlights of her skins:

• Haunted Zyra
• SKT T1 Zyra
• Wildfire Zyra

Next up we have the smaller scope mage updates, including an ability change or two:

Anivia

[Changelist on Reddit from ManWolfAxeBoss]

• Basic Attack
  • Particle cleanup
    • : (mostly just smaller, less noisy).]
  • Missile speed:: increased to 1500 from 1400.
  • Cast bone updated!
• [NOTE: (This only affects her second attack animation. Should come out of her wing now instead of center of body).]

• Flash Frost (Q):

• AP ratio reduced to .4 from .5
• Base damage reduced to 60/85/110/135/160 from 60/90/120/150/180
• -Stun duration now scales with rank. Increased to 1.1/1.2/1.3/1.4/1.5 from 1
• Slow increased now scales up 20/30/40% with R rank from 20% base.
• Improved damage display type on Q2 to better differentiate it from the pass through damage. Impact damage display type.
• Q’s stun particle is now visible to everyone
• [NOTE: (power hidden behind low clarity is bad)]

• Frostbite (E):
  • Missile speed increased to 1600 from 1200
  • Particle has been improved
• [NOTE: (better “hitbox,” slightly smaller, twirls so it’s pretty)]
• Cast range changes – Range lowered to 600 to 650 but now edge to edge (matches AA – Roughly 35 range increase)

• Glacial Storm (R):
  • Now has a cast animation
    • [ (NOT CAST TIME).]
  • [NEW EFFECT] Now expands from 150 up to 400 radius over 3 seconds
  • [NEW EFFECT] At max size, damages and slows by an additional 50% and Chills for an additional second (2 secs total)
  • Movement Speed Slow increased to 20/30/40% from 20%
  • Attack Speed slow removed
  • Cast range increased to 685 from 625 ( now matches AA)

 

Annie

[PBE board discussion thread]

• Pyromania (Passive) now displays stack count using a secondary resource bar (think Jhin!)

• Incinerate (W) :
  • Range increased to 600 from 560
  • “No longer cheats – ie: if you flash out of it before the cast finishes, it won’t hit you anymore”
• Molten Shield (E):
  • Duration reduced to 3 seconds from 5 seconds
  • No longer grants Armor/MR
  • Now reduces damage by 16/22/28/34/40%
  • No longer speeds up Tibbers (moved to R passive)

• Summon: Tibbers (R)
  • Initial AoE damage lowered to 150/275/400 (.65 AP) from 175/300/425 (.8 AP)
  • AoE aura damage lowered to 10/15/20 (.1 AP) from 20/30/40 (.4 AP)
  • Tibbers AA damage changed to 50/75/100 (.15 AP) from 80/105/130
  • Tibbers AA range increased to 150 from 125
  • [NEW EFFECT] Tibbers now ENRAGES, gaining 275% attack speed and 100% movement speed decaying over 3 seconds, on 1) summon , 2) when Annie dies, and 3) when Annie stuns a champion with Pyromania.
    • Ignores unit collision while Enraged.
    • Attack speed decays as Tibbers attacks & move speed ecays over time.
  • Tibbers now regens 6% max HP per second when out of combat for 5 seconds.
  • Tibbers now gains back 50% missing health when Annie dies.
  • Tibbers now has a larger healthbar.
  • Tibbers AI (attack commands, attack-move commands, etc) improved – Re-acquire target after cc, Better target prioritization, longer leash range to Annie, can target at Annie when no other enemies to order him to follow her.
  • Tibbers attacks Annie’s killer if hes within a reasonable distance (1200u). Otherwise he prioritizes low hp champs, then any enemy within 1200u of Annie’s body.

Fiddlesticks

[PBE board discussion thread]

• [NEW] Dread (Passive) 
  • Standing still or channeling abilities for 1.5 seconds empowers Fiddlesticks wit Dread. Immobilizing Crowd control resets this timer.Dread grants 25/30/35/40% movement speed (at 1/6/11/16), but only lasts for 1.5s after Fiddlesticks starts moving.

• Terrify (Q) range decreased to 525 from 575

• Drain (W):
  • Cooldown now starts at end of channel rather than on cast.
  •  Cooldown changed to [4/3.75/3.5/3.25/3 seconds at end of channel] from [10/9/8/7/6 seconds at start of channel]
• Dark Wind (E):
  • Amount of bounces increased to 7 from 5
  • Now prioritiezes Drain Targets > New Targets > Any Target.
• Crowstorm (R):
  • Now pings “on my way” on use.
  • Casts at Max range if casted outside of range.

 

Swain

[No context thread =(]

• Carrion Renewal (Passive) mana restore on kill increased to [~12 + 1 per level] from [9 +1  per level]
• Decrepify (Q):
  • Mana cost lowered to 60/65/70/75/80 from 60/70/80/90/100
  • Cooldown increased to 14/13/12/11/10 from 8 at all ranks
  • Deals double damage against minions.
  • [NEW] Swain now places Beatrice down in a zone for 4 seconds rather than targeting a specific champion for 3 seconds.
    • Beatrice prioritizes targeting units with Torment and will choose a new target if the one she is attacking dies or moves away.

• Nevermove (W) 
  • mana cost reduced to 80/85/90/95/100 from 80/90/100/110/120
• Torment (E)
  • Damage lowered to 50/80/110/140/170 from 75/115/155/195/235
  • AP Ratio increased to 1.0 from .8
  • Damage amplification now 20% at all ranks from 8/11/14/17/20%
• Ravenous Flock (R)
  • Cooldown increased to 10 seconds from 8 seconds.
  • Spawns 5 Ravens from 3
  • Heal against minions reduced to 15% from 25%
  • Tooltip now notes Ravens can not attack the same target again for 1 second.
  • Mana cost increase per second reduced to 5 at all ranks from 5/6/7

 

Syndra

[No context thread =(]

• Transcendent (Passive):

• Dark Sphere (Q) AP ratio increased to .75 from .6
• Scatter The Weak (E) cooldown lowered to 16/15/14/13/12 from  18/16.5/15/13.5/12

 

Veigar

[PBE board discussion thread]

• [Reworked] Phenomenal Evil Power (Passive)
  • “Striking an enemy champion with a spell grants Veigar a stack of Phenomenal Evil, granting him +1 ability power. Takedowns grant an additional 3 stacks.
    • [Takedowns include assists.]
    • [Stacks now show on Veigar’s buff bar.]

• Baleful Strike (Q)
  • Mana cost lowered to 40/45/50/55/60 from 60/65/70/75/80.
  • Passive AP gain on champion and minions removed (due to moved to new passive).
  • Now Grants on Phenomenal Evil stack on unit kill, two for Large Minions and Monsters.

• Dark Matter (W) mana cost reduced to 60/65/70/75/80 from 70/75/80/85/90
• Event Horizon (E) mana cost lowered to 70/75/80/85/90 from 80/85/90/95/100
• Primordial Burst (R)
  • Mana cost lowered to 100 from 125.
  • Enemy AP ratio REMOVED.
  • [NEW] Damage now increases based on target’s missing health.
  • Damage changed to [175/250/325 (.75 AP) to 350/500/650 (1.5 AP) based on target’s missing health] from [250/375/500 (1.0 AP)]

 

Xerath

[No context thread =(]

• Shocking Orb (E) stun duration changed to .5 to 2 seconds from .75 to 1.75 seconds.
• Rite of the Arcane (R)
  • Number of shots increased to 3/4/5 from 3 at all ranks
  • Damage changed to to 200/230/260 from 190/245/300
  • Now zooms out slightly while firing.
  • [Slightly increased impact range]
  • [VFX adjustments – larger R.]

 

Ziggs

[No context thread =(]

• Satchel Charge (W) [NEW EFFECT] will now destroy turrets if they are below 25/27.5/30/32.5/35% health.

• Mega Inferno Bomb (R)
  • Cooldown reduced to 120/105/90 from 120
  • Minions no longer take double damage.

[NOTE: There are also a few more AP user adjustments, these are listed below on the balance changes section.]

New Splash Art

To go along with his MYMU gameplay update, Malzahar has a brand new splash art!

[Loading Screen Slice // Portrait Icon]

Updated splash arts for UFO Corki, PAX Sivir and Glacial Olaf were also added to the PBE!

UFO Corki

[Loading Screen Slice]

PAX Sivir

[Loading Screen Slice]

Glacial Olaf

[Loading Screen Slice]

 

Finally, new splashes for Lil Slugger Trundle, Junkyard Trundle, and Traditional Trundle were added this cycle.

Lil Slugger Trundle

[Loading Screen Slice / Old Art]

Junkyard Trundle

[Loading Screen Slice / Old Art]

Traditional Trundle

[Loading Screen Slice / Old Art]

 

Texture Updates

Both Malzahar and Zyra has received small texture updates in addition to their MYMU changes:

Malzahar texture update comparison:

Zyra’s texture update comparison:

New Champion Ability Icons

Several of the updated mages (as well as Kennen) now have new ability icons on the PBE!

Anivia

Brand

Cassiopeia

Fiddlesticks

[Party hat visible on Surprise Party Fiddlesticks R icon]

 

Kennen

Malzahar

Vladimir

[Crimson Rush buff]

Zyra

New Summoner Icons

Four new summoner icons to go along with the new skins this cycle!

 

MSI 2016 Login Screen

With the 2016 Mid-Season Invitational starting up on May 4th and running through May 15th, a new login screen is now up on the PBE!

[Music / Image ]

[Not in 6.9] Early Surrender  / Remake feature

[NOTE: These changes were removed in the 4/26 PBE Update, but will most likely be coming back in a future cycle!]

Strings referencing an upcoming Early Surrender / Remake vote option have been added in today’s PBE update.  Riot Socrates tweeted out to confirm this featured is in development but will not be released in 6.9:

“Just to confirm, we are working on an early surrender to better deal with games that start with an AFK, but it won’t be in patch 6.9.”

RiotNeuroCat added:

“Hi guys – I’m on the team developing ‘/Remake’ (this feature). Just want to clarify that this will not be shipped with 6.9, but we want to get it into your hands ASAP :D”

Typing the comment “/remake” in chat will trigger the vote but things don’t appear to be fully hooked up yet. From the strings, seems like teams will be able to vote to remake the game if a player never connects to the game after champion select and no players are killed in-game.

Here are the two larger text strings:

game_announcement_OnSurrenderEarlyAllowed

 “Your team has X seconds to remake the game because a player dc’d and no kills occurred. Vote to end the game by typing /remake in chat.

Only the dc’d player will take a loss. This vote can only occur once.”

game_announcement_OnSurrenderEarlyAccomplice

“To protect high-tier competitive integrity, your remake would count as a loss because the dc’d player is in your premade”

There are also a few others in there just saying vote failed.

‘One For All: SR’ game mode live on PBE for Rotating Game Mode queue testing

During the 6.9 PBE cycle, One for All: SR is was up on the PBE for testing to get ready for it’s return in the rotating game mode queue (due to go live on May 5th!)

“Getting in to a rhythm with these game modes now. :) Next up for PBE testing is One For All: SR!

Updates:
New champs to test in OFA (try not to ban these ones so players can try them out! ^_-):
Aurelion Sol
Ekko
Fiora
Gangplank
Illaoi
Jhin
Kindred
Poppy
Shen
Most marksmen (the marksmen update happened after our last release of OFA)
Mages from Mid-season mage update

Known bugs
Taric is temporarily disabled while we fix some extra bugs, but will be available by the time OFA goes live. He’s pretty fresh so.. comin’ in HOT! :3

As always, thanks for helping us test these iterations. We know some of you are connect to PBE from far across the sea, making for a terrible ping and there’s often bugs that give games unsatisfying endings. :/ You guys are always super helpful though for us to deliver the best possible experience to everyone once it goes live. We couldn’t do it without you. <3

— L4T3NCY”

 

Miscellaneous 

• [VFX Clarity changes on 8 skins] – Ravenborn LeBlanc, Cosmic Reaver Kassadin, Headhunter Caitlyn, Bloodmoon Elise, Lunar Revel Caitlyn, Firecracker Jinx, Forecast Janna, Dark Valkyrie Diana.

 

Balance Changes

* Remember *: The PBE is a testing grounds for new, tentative, and sometimes radical changes. The changes you see below may be lacking context or other accompanying changes that didn’t make it in – don’t freak out! These are not official notes.

 

General

• [Death times “getting reduced some what, probably between 20-30 min mark]**
• [Boot Enchants removed]**
• [Baron buff duration up]**

Grievous Wounds

• Now reduces healing by 40% instead of just self healing.
  • (Several champion tooltips updated)
  • (Ignite tooltip updated)

Rift Herald

[Context thread]

• Now Spawns at 6 minutes and NEVER respawns.
• Rift Herald has significantly higher stats and is much harder to solo.
• Doom’s Eve buff REMOVED.
• Now Grants “Glimpse of the Void“:
  • Lasts 20 minute and persists through Death
  • While alone, you gain damage reduction vs champions.
  • While alone, attacks build corruption charges:
    • At 100 stacks, your next attack discharges all Coruptions to deal bonus magic damage (works on minions and towers too, reduced damage for ranged attacks)
    • Corruption stack rate and discharge damage scale with champion level.

“This unit has seized the Rift Herald’s essence. While no allied champions are nearby, it takes 5% reduced damage from enemy champions and passively generates Corruption.

Attacking with 100 Corruption stacks discharges them to deal bonus magic damage based on champion level (halved for ranged attacks).”

 

Jungle

[Context thread]

General

• [Jungling XP is getting adjusted, Machete gives more XP and base experience down.] **

Blue Buff*

• [REMOVED] AP per level removed.
• [NEW EFFECT] Now grants 15% total ability power.
• Mana regen based on Max Mana doubled (flat regen remains unchanged)
• Buff duration – reduced to 90 seconds from 120 seconds. First buff clear still 120 seconds duration.

Red Buff*

• Burn now applies damage tick immediately on apply or reapply, damage-per-tick reduced to compensate.
  • This means stronger attack speed scaling
• Health regen now scales “steeply” with champion level but shuts off when in combat with champions or epic monsters – triples effect at level 6 and again at level 11.
• Buff duration – reduced to 90 seconds from 120 seconds.  First buff clear still 120 seconds duration.

 

Camp Respawn Timers*

• When a camp that has a timer (Red, Blue, Dragon, Baron, Rift Herald) has less than 60 seconds to spawn, its timer is revealed to both teams (regardless of their vision of the camp), and an “about to spawn” icon appears in the minimap (will replace regular camp icon if you still haven’t seen the cleared camp)
  • These icons start “dull” at 60 seconds and then become bright at 20 seconds.

Turrets

[Context thread]

Turret Damage Ramp

• Inner and Outer turrets more quickly ramp up their damage when attacking champions, and they maintain full damage when switching targets.
• Inner and Outer turrets only take 4 shots to ramp up to full damage (instead of 5).

Turret Takedown Rewards

• Outer turret total gold reward reduced and local gold reward increased
  • Local gold increased to 300 from 220.
  • Global gold reduced to 100 from 125.
• Inner turret gold rewards reduced
  • Local gold lowered to 175 from 250.
  • Global gold lowered to 125 from 150.
• Innter Turret XP reward removed
• Inhibitor turret local gold reward increased increased to 50 from 0.

AP Damage Conversion

• When your attacks trigger AP damage conversion (occurs when attacking a turret while your AP is more than double your bonus AD), the converted damage is now magic instead of physical

Turret Stats

• Base Armor/MR increased to 40 from 0
• Base Health decreased to 3300 from 4000
• Turrets are now subject to armor and MR penetration (generally tankier than Live unless you have about 20 penetration or have a true damage proc; overall a small nerf to marksmen damage, but a buff to some mages and assassins)
• Reinforced Armor changed 66.67% damage reduction from 200 Armor & MR.

Champions

Illaoi

• Test of Spirit (E) :
  • Vessel now [lasts 12 seconds and spawns a tentacle every 5 seconds (scales down with level 5/4/3)] from [lasting one minute and spawning a tentacle every 10 seconds.]
  • Killing tentacles no longer clears Vessel debuff.
  • Tentacles can spawn closer to each other if spawning from Vessel. **
  • Tentacles no longer appear in Fog of War. **
  • Tentacles no longer prevented from spawning if the vessel is recalling.**

Kennen

• Mark of the Storm (Passive) diminishing return timer lowered to 6 seconds from 7 seconds.
• Thundering Shuriken (Q) energy cost lowered to 60/55/50/45/40 from 65/60/55/50/45
• Electrical Surge (W) 
  • Energy cost lowered to 40 at all ranks from 45.
  • [Range lowered to 750 from 800]
• Slicing Maelstrom (R):
  • Duration now 3 seconds at all ranks from 3/4/5
  • Now does damage to all nearby champions every .5 seconds from random nearby champion every 0.25 seconds.
  • Additional hits deal 25% less damage (to a minimum of 50%)

 

Kindred

• Dance of Arrows (Q) Casting W or using Q while in W zone now reduces cooldown to 4/3.5/3/2.5/2 seconds from 2 seconds.

• Wolf’s Frenzy (W):
  • Duration increased to 8.5 seconds from 8 seconds
  • Now builds stacks on attacking and moving rather than just moving.*
    • [Movement stacking slightly lowered, “overall you should be gaining a little more W if you are kitting well and a lot more if you are kitting poorly.” 1/2 ]
  • Wolf Attacks now do 50% increased damage to monsters

Nidalee

• Takedown (Q):
  • Execute Amp changed to  [1/1.25/1.5/1.75% per 1% missing HP] from [1.5% per 1% missing HP].

Rengar

• [Several bug fixes in the works for 6.9  – list available here.]

Soraka

• Starcall (Q):
  • Slow reduced to 30% at all ranks from 30/35/40/45/50%
  • Rejuvenation movement speed lowered to 10% from 15%
  • [Rejuvenation should no longer refresh Windspeaker’s Blessing (mastery) ***]

 

Taric

• Base mana increased to 300 from 250
• Mana growth lowered to 60 from 75
• Bastion (W)
  • [Cast / Tether range reduced by 300]
• Dazzle (E) 
  • Rectangle length reduced to 610 from 650
  • Rectangle width reeduced to 140 from 150.

 

Teemo

• Blinding Dart (Q) mana cost lowered to 70/75/80/85/90 from 70/80/90/100/110
• Noxious Trap (R):
  • Mana cost reduced to 75 at all ranks from 75/100/125
  • Recharge time lowered to 30/25/20 from 34/28/22

Viktor

[Changelist from ricklessabandon.]

• Siphon Power (Q):
  • Cooldown lowered to 8/7/6/5/4 from 10/8.5/7/5.5/4
  • Missile damage increased to 60/80/100/120/140 from 40/60/80/100/120
  • AP ratio increased to .4 from .2
  • Attack damage changed to 20/40/60/80/100 from 20-210 (based on level)
  • Shield changed to [8% max mana + (.15 AP)] from [30/50/70/90/110 + (.20 AP)]

• Death Ray (E):
  • Missile Speed increased to 1050 from 780
  • Laser Damage AP ratio reduced to .5 from .7
  • [Augment] Explosion damage changed to 20/60/100/140/180 (+ .7 AP) from 100% of Laser Damage
  • [Augment] REMOVED No longer reduces explosion damage by 60% against targets damaged by Death Ray.
  • [Augment] Explosion delay increased to 1 second from .6 seconds

• Chaos Storm (R):
  • Initial damage lowered to 100/175/250 (+.5 AP) from 150/250/350 (+.55 AP)
  • Tick interval increased to 2 seconds from .5 seconds
  • Tick damage changed to 150/250/350 (.6 AP) from 15/30/45 (.10 AP)
  • Duration reduced to 6.5 seconds from 7

Zac

• Movespeed increased to 340 from 335
• Cell Division (Passive) revive time now scales down with level!
  • Base: 8 seconds.
  • Level 6 = 7 seconds.
  • Level 10 = 6 seconds.
  • Level 13 = 5 seconds.
  • Level 17 = 4 seconds.

Items

 

Abyssal Scepter

• Price increased to 2750 from 2350
• New Recipe: Fiendish Codex + Negatron Cloak + Amplifying Tome + 695 Gold
• AP reduced to 60 from 70
• MR increased to 60 from 50
• Now gives 10% CDR
• UNIQUE Aura changed to reduce MR of nearby enemy champions by 10-25 based on level.

 

Arcane Sweeper (ARAM)

• Hextech Sweeper renamed to Arcane Sweeper

Archangel’s Staff

• Base mana regen removed
• UNIQUE Passive – Insight renamed to UNIQUE Passive – Awe, now refunds 25% of Mana Spent.

Athene’s Unholy Grail

• Price lowered to 2250 from 2700.
• New Recipe: Fiendish Codex + Chalice of Harmony + 650 gold
• AP reduced to 40 from 60
• Base Mana Regen lowered to +75% from +100%
• Removed UNIQUE Passive – Mana Font
• Removed UNIQUE Passive – Restores 30% of maximum Mana on kill or assist.”
• New UNIQUE Passive to “Gain 20% of the premitigation damage dealt to champions ad Blood Charges, up to 100 – 250 max. Healing or shielding another ally consumes charges to heal them, up to the original effect amount”
• New UNIQUE Passive: Increases Base Health regeneration by 100% if current Health % is lower than current Mana %. Increases Base Mana Regeneration by 100% if current Mana % is lower than current Health %.(Maximum amount of Blood Charges stored is based on level. Healing amplification is applied to the total heal value.)

Bami’s Cinder

• Health reduced to 280 from 300.

Banshee’s Veil

• Price reduced to 2450 from 2900
• New Reccipe: Spectre’s Cowl + Negatron Cloak + 530 Gold
• Health lowered to 300 from 500

The Black Cleaver

• Total Cost reduced to 3100 from 3500.
• Attack damage reduced to 50 from 55.

Catalyst of Aeons

• Price lowered to 1100 from 1200
• Name changed to “Catalyst of Aeons” from “Catalyst the Protector”
• Removed  UNIQUE Passive – Valor’s Reward.
• New  UNIQUE Passive – Eternity: 15% of damage taken from champions is gained as mana.Spending mana Restores 20% of the cost as Health, up to 15 per spell cast.

  (Toggled Spells heal for a maximum of 15 per second.)

Chalice of Harmony

• Price Reduced to 900 from 1000
• Removed UNIQUE Passive – Mana Font
• New  UNIQUE Passive: Increases Base Health Regeneration by 100% if current Health % is lower than current Mana %.Increases Base Mana Regeneration by 100% if current Mana % is lower than current Health %.

[NEW] Enchantment: Bloodrazor

• [Replaces Enchantment: Devourer]
• [Context thread on changes available here.]
• Total Cost: 2625 Gold
• Recipe: [Jungle Item + Recurve Bow + 625 Gold]
• Stats:
  • +40% attack speed
  • Unique Passive: Basic attacks deal 3% of the target’s maximum health in bonus physical damage (max 75 vs monsters and minions) on hit.

[REMOVED]  Enchantment: Devourer

• [Removed! Replaced by Enchantment: Bloodrazor.]

Enchantment: Cinderhulk

• Unique Passive – Immolate damage changed to [7 + 2 per level] from [15 + 0.6 per level]

Fiendish Codex

• Price increased to 900 from 800
• AP increased to 30 from 25

Frostfang

• Base mana regen lowered to 75% from 100%

 

Frost Queen’s Claim

• Base mana regen lowered to 75% from 100%

Frozen Heart

• New icon

Guinsoo’s Rageblade

• [Significantly changed!]
• [Context thread on changes available here.]
• New icon
• Total cost: 3600g
• Recipe: Blasting Wand + Recurve Bow + Pickaxe + 875 gold
• Stats:
  • +35 AD
  • +50 AP
  • Passive: Basic attacks deal an additional 15 magic damage on hit.
  • Unique Passive: Basic attacks grant +8% attack speed, +3 attack damage, and +4 ability power for 5 seconds (stacks up to 6 times). While you have 6 stacks, gain Guinsoo’s Rage.
    • Guinsoo’s Rage: Every other basic attack will trigger on hit effects an additional time.

 

Guardian Angel

• Total cost reduced to 2400 from 2700
• MR reduced to 45 from 60

[NEW] Hextech GLP-800

• Total Cost: 3000 Gold
• Recipe: Catalyst of Aeons + Hextech Revolver + 750 Gold
• Stats:
  • +300 Health
  • +400 Mana
  • +80 AP
  • UNIQUE Passive – Eternity: 15% of damage taken from champions is gained as Mana. Spending Mana restores 25% of the cost as Health, up to 25 per spell cast.
  • UNIQUE Active – Frost Bolt: Fires a spray of icy bolts that explode, dealing 100-200 (+35% of your Ability Power) magic damage to all enemies hit. (40 second cooldown, shared with other Hextech items).
    Enemies hit are slowed by 60% decaying over 0.5 seconds.
    (Frost Bolt has a cast time, in contrast to most actives.)”

Hextech Gunblade

• UNIQUE Active has several changes:
  • Renamed to “Lightning Bolt”
  • Magic damage increased to 250 (+30% of AP) from 150 (+40% of AP)
  • Slow cooldown increased to 40 seconds and is shared with other Hextech items.

[NEW] Hextech Protobelt -01

• Total Cost: 2500 Gold
• Recipe: Hextech Revolver + Kindlegem + 650 gold
• Stats:
  • +300 Health
  • +60 AP
  • +10% CDR
  • UNIQUE Active – Fire Bolt: Dash forward and unleash a nova of fire bolts that deal 75 – 150 (+35% of your Ability Power) as magic damage (40 second cooldown, shared with other Hextech items).
    Champions and Monster hut by multiple fire bolts take 20% damage per additional bolt.
    (This dash cannot pass through terrain.)“

Hextech Revolver

• Price reduced to 1050 from 1200
• 12% spell vamp removed.
• New UNIQUE Passive Magic Bolt – Damaging an enemy champion with a basic attack shocks them for 75 – 150 bonus magic damage (40 second cooldown, shared with other hextech items. (Damage now scales based on level. Hextech effects can trigger other item spell effects.)”

Hunter’s Machete & Other Jungle Items

• Killing a large monster now gives special bonus experience instead of 15 (machete & talisman), 30 (jungle items).
  • Special Bonus experience = 50 bonus experience + killing any monster higher level than you are gives 25 experience per level difference.
  • [NOTE: Base jungle experience also adjusted to go along with this change.]

[NEW] Lost Chapter

• Total Cost: 900 Gold
• Recipe: Aplifying Tome + Sapphire Crystal + 115 Gold
• Stats:
  • +25 AP
  • +300 Mana
  • UNIQUE Passive: Upon leveling up, restores 20% of your maximum Mana over 3 seconds.

 

Mercurial Scimitar

• Unique Active – Quicksilver now only removes crowd control debuffs instead of all debuffs.
• [CONTEXT THREAD on QSS/ Mercurial Changes.]

Manamune

• Removed +25% Base Mana Regen
• UNIQUE Passive – Awe now refunds 15% of Mana Spent
• UNIQUE Passive – Mana Charge no longer Grants 1 maximum Mana every 8 seconds.

Mikael’s Crucible

• Base mana regen increased to 150% from 100%
• Removed UNIQUE Passive – Mana Font
• New UNIQUE Passive: Increases Base Health regeneration by 100% if current Health % is lower than current Mana %. Increases Base Mana Regeneration by 100% if current Mana % is lower than current Health %.

 

Morellonomicon

• Price increased to 2900 from 2400
• New recipe: Fiendish Codex + Amplifying Tome + Lost Chapter + 665 gold
• AP increased to 100 from 80
• 20% cooldown reduction now a unique passive.
• Removed +100% Base Mana Regen
• Now gives +400 Mana
• UNIQUE Passive changed to “Dealing magic damage to champions below 35% health inflicts Grievous Wounds for 8 seconds.” from “below 40% for 4 seconds.”
• New UNIQUE Passive: Kills and Assists restore 20% of your maximum Mana.

Muramana

• Removed +25% Base Mana Regen
• UNIQUE Passive – Awe now refunds 15% of Mana spent.

Quicksilver Sash

• Unique Active – Quicksilver now only removes crowd control debuffs instead of all debuffs.
• [CONTEXT THREAD on QSS/ Mercurial Changes.]

Relic Shield

• Unique Passive – Spoils of War :
  • Heal on minion kill reduced to 20 from 40
  • Recharge rate lowered to 40 from 60

Righteous Glory

• Price lowered to 2500 from 2600
• New UNIQUE Passive – Eternity: 15% of Damage taken from champions is gained as Mana. Spending Mana restores 25% of the cost as Health, up to 25 per spell cast.
• UNIQUE Active :
  • Movement Speed when moving towards enemies or enemy turrets increased to +75% for 4 seconds from +60% for 3 seconds
  • Enemy champion Movement Speed slow reduced to 75% for 2 seconds from 80% for 1 second.

Rod of Ages

• Price lowered to 2600 from 3000
• Mana lowered to 300 from 400
• AP Lowered to 60 from 80
• Mana gained per stack lowered to 10 from 40
  • Mana at max stacks lowered to 100 from 400.
• Removed UNIQUE Passive – Valor’s Reward
• New UNIQUE Passive – Eternity: 15% of damage taken from champions is gained as Mana. Spending Mana restores 25% of the cost as Health, up to 25 per spell cast.

Seraph’s Embrace

• Removed +50% base Mana Regen
• UNIQUE Passive – Insight renamed to “UNIQUE Passive – Awe” and now refunds 25% of Mana spent.

Spectre’s Cowl

• Price increased to 1200 from 1100
• Health increased to 250 from 200
• MR lowered to 30 from 35

 

Spirit Visage

• MR reduced to 55 from 70
• Base health regen increased to 200% from 150%
• UNIQUE Passive healing increased to 25% from 20%

 

Sterak’s Gage

• Unique Passive now named LIFELINE.
  • [Now shares unique passive name with Hexdrinker and Maw of Mal.]
• [Tooltip wording switched around a bit to accommodate new passive name, functionality is the same.]

Sunfire Cloak

• Total cost increased to 2900 from 2700

 

Targon’s Brace

• Unique Passive – Spoils of War: Heal on minion kill reduced to 40 from 50

Tear of the Goddess

• Removed +25% Base Mana Regen
• New UNIQUE Passive – Awe: Refunds 15% of Mana spent.
• UNIQUE Passive – Mana Charge no longer Grants 1 maximum Mana every 8 seconds.

Warmog’s Armor

• Recipe changed to Giant’s Belt + Kindle Gem + Crystalline Bracer + 400g
• Health reduced to 800 from 850
• Now grants 10% cooldown reduction.

[REMOVED] Will of the Ancients

• Removed from the game.

Zhonya’s Hourglass

• Price reduced to 2900 from 3500
• New Recipe: Seeker’s Armguard + Fiendish Codex + 900 gold
• AP reduced to 70 from 100
• Added +10% Cooldown Reduction
• UNIQUE Active – Stasis cooldown increased to 120 seconds from 90 seconds

Wards

Vision Ward

• Health lowered to 4 from 5.
• Now Regen health out of combat.

Trinkets

Farsight Alteration

• Cooldown modifier increased to +10% from 33% reduction