Two weeks have passed, so we have a brand- new patch on our hands to break down. This is a big one for multiple reasons. There aren’t many buffs, but the nerfs that are shipping are absolutely key and will definitely impact your solo queue adventures and competitive play as well. So, what’s League of Legends patch 9.3 really about? Well, for starters, it’s about pushing the game in a positive direction. A good majority of players were waiting for 9.3 changes for quite some time now, and they’ve finally seen the light of day.

AD carries have been in a pretty bad spot over the last couple of months (and that might be an understatement), their itemization paths and options were limited and one-dimensional, and to top it all off, multiple champion picks reigned supreme in both competitive and casual play. Patch 9.3 should change that, or at least usher in a more stable meta — one that’s equally exciting for everyone regardless of the role they opt to play.

So, without any further ado, let’s focus on the changes that are shipping with League of Legends patch 9.3!

Nerfs

The 9.3 list of nerfs is a lengthy one, and with good reason. Riot decided to hit multiple meta mainstays which should, in turn, create a noticeable shift when it comes to pick and ban priority going forward.

Aatrox

Riot is shipping a solid nerf to Aatrox, aimed primarily at his E “Umbral Dash.” Going forward, it will no longer heal against non-champions, and Aatrox won’t be able to store a charge of the ability after a shorter amount of time. Furthermore, its cooldown is getting increased. A lot. From 3/2.5/2/1.5/1 seconds to 9/8/7/6/5, but you’ll be able to reduce it through additional cooldown reduction.

To compensate a bit, they’re buffing his base health regen (from 5 to 8) and base health regen growth (from 0.25 to 0.75).

Akali

Akali is finally receiving some hard-hitting nerfs. Her Q “Five Point Strike” will no longer heal her — at all. As for her W “Twilight Shroud,” it will no longer prevent turrets from revealing Akali (at long last), and its cooldown will be a bit longer when maxed out.

According to Riot, the changes to her Q should open up “meaningful counters” whereas the one to her W should reduce opponent frustration. Will these nerfs pan out as planned? Almost certainly. In fact, you could argue that Riot nerfed her “to the ground,” but seeing how she was at the top of competitive play for so long, maybe that isn’t such a bad thing for the time being.

Camille

Camille’s E “Hookshot” will no longer stun minions and jungle monsters. Riot wants to keep her jungle prowess in check, while also maintaining her strength as a top laner. This is a concrete change, but it shouldn’t exactly phase her out of the spotlight.

Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia is getting another set of nerfs this patch. The base damage of her Q “Noxious Blast” is going down (from 75/120/165/210/255 to 75/110/145/180/215), while its AP ratio will go up (from 0.8 to 0.9).

Her W “Miasma” is also getting adjusted, or seriously nerfed, rather. Its cost will go up (from 70 mana at all ranks to 70/80/90/100/110), its damage per second will go down (from 20/30/40/50/60 to 20/25/30/35/40) along with its flat maximum damage (from 100/150/200/250/300 to 100/125/150/175/200).

Irelia

The nerfs to Irelia are also quite big, but they’re layered and a bit more complex. These changes should, by all means, phase her out of the meta. She will still be a somewhat strong pick (depending on player skill and match-up), but she should no longer be first- pick or ban- worthy.

Lissandra

Riot is increasing the mana cost on Lissandra’s Q “Ice Shard” (from 60/63/66/69/72 mana to 60/65/70/75/80), while also nerfing the damage on her E “Glacial Path” — from 70/115/160/205/250 to 70/105/140/175/210.

Sion

Sion is currently a fantastic blind pick. He brings some damage, some crowd control, and a metric ton of tankiness. Riot is nerfing his Q “Decimating Smash” (minimum damage is going down by ten at all ranks) and its full-charge damage (by thirty at all ranks), along with the cooldown of his W “Soul Furnace” — from 11 seconds at all ranks to 15/14/13/12/11.

Zyra

Zyra’s plant damage is going down from 24-109 (at levels one through 18) to 20-100. Not exactly an expected nerf, but a good one regardless, especially if you’re an ARAM regular.

Item Changes

Cloak of Agility

In short, Riot is bringing back the Cloak of Agility. If you’re an OG player, there’s reason to celebrate. It’ll cost 800 gold, and you’ll gain a 20% critical strike chance by buying it.

Infinity Edge

Riot is reverting Infinity Edge back to its original form — to a certain extent, at least. Its build path is changing (B.F. Sword + Pickaxe + Cloak of Agility), and will now give ten additional AD (80 in total). The most important part is that it will now provide critical strike chance (25%) but will only increase critical strike damage by 25% (rather than 50% like in the good old days).

Essence Reaver

There are many changes to Essence Reaver shipping with patch 9.3. In short, it will now be a somewhat simple “CDR + Crit” item.

Total cost will go up from 3000 gold to 3200. There will be a different build path (Pickaxe + Caulfield’s Warhammer + Cloak of Agility + 425 gold), it’ll provide less flat Attack Damage (from 75 to 60), along with a 25% bonus critical strike chance.

Unfortunately, you’ll no longer gain 300 mana, but the item will refund 1.5% of your missing mana on basic attacks (up from 1%). Essence Reaver will also lose its built-in “Essence Flare” passive.

Spear of Shojin

There’s an exciting new item coming with 9.3, and its Spear of Shojin. It’ll cost 3400 gold;, its build path will be a somewhat expected one (B.F. Sword + Kindlegem + Long Sword + 950 gold), it’ll provide 60 flat AD, 250 HP, and a whopping 20% cooldown reduction.

As if that wasn’t enough, the item also has a passive component called “Awakened Dragon.” After casting your ultimate, your next basic attack will grant you a six-second buff that’ll provide 50% attack speed and 20% basic ability cooldown refund on basic attacks.

Stormrazor

The total cost of the item will go down (from 2800 to 3100 gold), its build path will change (it’ll build out of a B.F. Sword + Long Sword + Kircheis Shard + 850 gold), it’ll provide less flat AD (from 60 to 55), and will have less attack speed (from 35% to 25%).

On the upside, it’ll now give bonus 65 magic damage on-hit when you reach maximum stacks and a noticeable 40% slow that decays over just a single second.

Phantom Dancer

One of the more legendary League of Legends items underwent a lot of change this patch. First of all, it’ll be a bit cheaper (from 2700 to 2600 gold), its build path will be a bit different (Dagger + Brawler’s Gloves + Zeal + 700 gold), its attack speed is going down (from 45% to 30%) along with its bonus critical strike chance (from 30% to 25%).

The item will no longer decrease damage taken from the last champion you attacked but will instead provide a shield that absorbs up to 240-600 damage (scaling starts at level 9 and goes up to 18), for a two-second period.

Basically, a built-in Maw of Malmortius or Sterak’s Gage. Not too shabby.

Kircheis Shard

Total cost went down from 800 to 600 gold.

Zeal

Total cost went down from 1300 to 1200 gold.

Rapid Firecannon

Total gold cost went down from 2800 to 2600 gold. The item will also lose a bit of its oomph seeing how it’ll no longer provide 30% bonus critical strike chance but instead 25%.

Runaan’s Hurricane

Exact same changes as with Rapid Firecannon.

Statikk Shiv

Same story as with Rapid Firecannon and Runaan’s Hurricane. Although it’s important to mention that Riot is specifically upping Shiv’s bonus attack speed from 35% to 40%.

Last Whisper

Riot is making the Last Whisper a much more potent item starting with patch 9.3. It’ll give 10 more AD (from 10 to 20), but it’ll also provide 20% total armor penetration, instead of just 10%.

Its cost will go up (from 1300 to 1450 gold), but that’s a negligible step up in price considering what you’re getting in return.

Lord Dominik’s Regards and Mortal Reminder

Both items are getting a small buff to the flat amount of AD that they provide — from 40 to 45.

Upcoming Skins and Chromas

As with every new patch, Riot is releasing a couple of incredible new skins and accompanying chromas.

Heartpiercer Fiora

Heartbreaker Vi

That’s it for our League of Legends patch 9.3 breakdown! These are some hard-hitting changes, and they should heavily impact the meta going forward — and that includes both competitive as well as solo queue play. Finally, if you want to go over the patch in a more official manner, you can visit Riot’s official patch notes by clicking here.