Image Credits: Riot Games
League of Legends Patch 25.19 arrives just as three major leagues — LEC, LTA, and LCK — head into their finals this weekend.
The update brings targeted buffs, nerfs, and adjustments to shake up the competitive scene without overhauling normal play. Several underperforming champions are now stronger, while some dominant picks are slightly weakened to keep matches balanced.
Jungle and bot lane are the main targets of this patch. Diana and Lillia receive buffs that improve jungle clear and effectiveness, encouraging more AP-focused options while Pantheon and Poppy are slightly nerfed to reduce their dominance in pro play, opening room for other picks.
In the bot lane, Caitlyn’s base AD has been increased, boosting her lane presence, while Corki’s wave-clear has been slightly reduced.
Beyond champion balance, Patch 25.19 introduces several gameplay updates. Brawl returns temporarily for testing, ARAM receives balance tweaks, and the final Doom Bots Trial of Doom is now available.
The patch also includes numerous quality-of-life improvements, bug fixes, and rune adjustments aimed at enhancing both accessibility and competitive integrity. Additionally, new Arcana skins for Aurora, Karthus, and Zilean are set for release on September 24, offering fresh cosmetic options for players.
Image Credits: Riot Games
Patch 25.19, the second-to-last patch before the first Worlds matches, brings changes aimed at shaping the pro meta this weekend and in the upcoming international event.
Champions like Pantheon and Poppy have been nerfed to create more room for other top and jungle champions — like Jax. Riot explicitly wants Jax to be a “more meta-defining top laner at Worlds this year,” with his ultimate ability now granting higher initial armour, giving highly skilled players and coordinated teams more to leverage.
In the mid lane, Riot is enhancing a few champions designed to encourage aggressive, high-reward plays. Ahri, described by Riot as “statistically fairly weak right now,” gains increased damage on Spirit Rush, rewarding risky dives into enemy lines.
Brand receives multiple AP scaling improvements which could allow him to “run over games where he gets off to a good start by nuking his opposition.”
LeBlanc is buffed to improve wave control and PvP burst in side lanes, supporting “flighty assassin play” for highly coordinated teams — there are some highly skilled Le Blanc mid-laners already qualified for Worlds who are now smiling as they read these patch notes.
Bot lane may see shifts as Caitlyn is nudged back into pro relevance with a base AD increase, while Corki, labelled as “a little stale in pro play,” is slightly nerfed to open up the meta. Draven and Jinx, both missing from professional play, receive early-game buffs aimed at making them competitive options again.
Jungle and support diversity are encouraged as well. Diana’s monster mod is buffed to strengthen her jungle clear, Lee Sin gains a sharper early-game niche, and Lillia’s ultimate is enhanced to 150–250 bonus damage. Meanwhile, Seraphine’s healing on W rises from 3–5% to 8–16% of missing HP, giving her more reliability and teamfight impact.
The World Championship is nearing, and it’s evident that Riot is prioritising adjustments aimed at rewarding skilful play and coordination among its players.
