League of Legends Patch Notes – August 28, 2024: Champion Updates, MMR Adjustments, and New Features

Hey, Summoners! The latest League of Legends patch is here, and it’s full of exciting updates that are sure to change the way you play. From champion tweaks to item adjustments and even changes to MMR, this patch has it all. Let’s dive into the details of the August 28, 2024 patch!

Champion Adjustments: Buffs, Nerfs, and Reworks

This patch brings significant changes to several champions, aiming to balance the meta and introduce new strategies. Here are the key updates:

Buffs

1. Talon

• Base Attack Damage increased from 64 to 68, giving Talon players more power in early skirmishes.
• Noxian Diplomacy (Q) cooldown reduced from 8/7/6/5/4 seconds to 7/6/5/4/3 seconds.
• Talon’s early game just got a lot scarier, making him a stronger pick for those who love to roam and assassinate.

1. Karma

• Inner Flame (Q) damage increased from 80/125/170/215/260 to 90/135/180/225/270.
• Inspire (E) shield strength increased by 10 across all levels.
• These buffs make Karma more formidable in both solo lanes and as a support, giving her better lane control and survivability.

Nerfs

1. Aatrox

• World Ender (R) healing reduced from 50/60/70% to 40/50/60%.
• The Darkin Blade (Q) damage ratio decreased from 60/70/80/90/100% AD to 55/65/75/85/95% AD.
• Aatrox’s ability to sustain in fights is being toned down to balance his high damage output, making him less oppressive in extended battles.

1. Kai'Sa

• Icathian Rain (Q) missile count reduced from 10 to 8.
• Supercharge (E) attack speed bonus reduced from 40/50/60/70/80% to 35/45/55/65/75%.
• Kai'Sa's burst potential and late-game scaling are slightly weakened, bringing her more in line with other AD carries.

Reworks

1. Skarner

• Crystal Slash (Q) now applies a stacking slow that intensifies with each hit.
• Impale (R) can now be cast twice within 5 seconds, with the second cast pulling the target back to Skarner.
• Skarner’s rework is designed to make him more engaging and rewarding to play, focusing on his identity as a juggernaut that can disrupt and control the battlefield.

Item Changes: New Builds and Tweaks

This patch also introduces some important changes to key items, affecting how champions build and play:

1. Infinity Edge

• Critical Strike Chance requirement for the passive bonus reduced from 60% to 50%.
• This change allows marksmen to hit their power spikes sooner, making Infinity Edge an even more attractive buy in the mid-game.

1. Thornmail

• Reflect Damage increased from 10% to 15% of pre-mitigation damage.
• Grievous Wounds duration increased from 3 to 4 seconds.
• Thornmail now provides better counterplay against healing-heavy champions, making it a must-buy for tanks facing sustain-heavy enemies.

MMR Adjustments: Fairer Matchmaking

In this patch, Riot Games has made some important adjustments to the MMR (Matchmaking Rating) system. These changes are aimed at creating fairer and more balanced matches across all ranks. Here’s what’s new:

1. Improved MMR Accuracy

• MMR calculations have been fine-tuned to better reflect a player’s true skill level, leading to more accurate matchmaking.
• This adjustment ensures that players are more likely to be matched with and against others of similar skill, reducing the number of one-sided games.

1. Ranked Distribution Balancing

• Riot has adjusted the distribution of players across different ranks, making it easier for players to climb if they consistently perform well.
• This change is intended to smooth out the ranked experience, reducing frustration for players who feel stuck in a certain rank.

1. Placement Match Adjustments

• Placement matches will now have a greater impact on your starting rank for the season, allowing strong performances to be rewarded more effectively.
• This update gives new and returning players a better chance to start the season at a rank that truly reflects their skill.

These MMR changes are designed to make your ranked experience more enjoyable and rewarding, ensuring that every game feels competitive and fair.

Stunning New Skins and Cosmetics

The August 28 patch also brings a stunning new set of skins to the Rift:

• Star Guardian Seraphine: A celestial-themed skin that adds a touch of magic to your gameplay.
• Infernal Pantheon: A fiery, demonic look that makes Pantheon even more intimidating.
• Battle Academia Jinx: Channel your inner rebel with this vibrant and energetic skin.

These new skins not only look incredible but also offer new visual effects and animations that make them stand out in any match.

Bug Fixes and Quality of Life Updates

• Fixed an issue where Talon’s passive would occasionally fail to trigger in certain situations.
• Improved hitbox accuracy for Aatrox’s The Darkin Blade (Q), ensuring more consistent performance.
• Minimap updates now include clearer indicators for jungle objectives, making it easier to track and plan around them.

Conclusion: What to Expect Moving Forward

This August 28 patch brings some big changes to the League of Legends landscape, with key champion buffs, nerfs, a full rework, and significant MMR adjustments that will impact the meta in significant ways. Whether you’re a top laner, a jungler, or a bot laner, these updates are sure to influence your strategies and champion picks.

Stay ahead of the competition by experimenting with the new builds, mastering the reworked champions, and showing off your new skins. And don’t forget to keep an eye on your MMR as the changes take effect—it could make all the difference in your climb this season!

See you on the Rift, Summoners!