League of Legends Patch 14.21 Preview: Swain rework, Kai'Sa nerfs and more!

Patch 14.21 of League of Legends is just around the corner, and with it, several exciting changes are coming into the game. The list of champion buffs and nerfs is particularly long for patch 14.21, so expect incoming meta changes very soon.

Perhaps the most important part of the patch, however, is the upcoming release of Swain's rework. Due to Swain's low presence in the solo lanes, a rework was imminent for the Noxian Grand General. Now, that day is finally arriving!

Swain 

Swain has been in a state for a while where his most popular role is support; has been most popular in support, while being his weakest role. His farming roles have pretty consistently been more powerful, but unsatisfying and as a result unpopular.

The changes aim to make his farming roles (especially in solo lanes) more satisfying, powerful and reliable.

Azir and Corki 

Azir, Corki have been champs that have been historically a bit pro skewed. We're adding some power back to these champions in attemped less pro skewed ways; to tide them over for a bit, but still looking to do some larger changes to Corki.

Non-Item Scalers 

Karthus/Kassadin/Brand/ASol/Taric/Nasus/Senna/Camille, etc. are champs who benefitted a bunch from items becoming weaker as their inherent kit scalings have become relatively stronger and they've risen above the pack.

We're targeting some nerfs at these champions to bring them down some amount as a result.

All information about patch 14.21 is taken from an X (Twitter) post made by Matt "Phroxzon" Leung-Harrison, League of Legends' Lead Gameplay Designer.

Swain rework

• Base mana reduced 468 >>> 400
• Mana per second increased 8 >>> 10
• [P] Ravenous Flock - Soul Fragment healing reduced 3/4/5/6% (based on levels 1/6/11/16) >>> 2-5% (based on levels 1-18, linear)
• [Q] Death's Hand adjustments:
  • Damage adjusted 65/85/105/125/145 (+40% AP) >>> 60/85/110/135/160 (+45% AP)
  • Additional damage per bolt beyond the first adjusted 15/25/35/45/55 (+10% AP) >>> 15/21.25/27.5/33.75/40 (+11.25% AP)
  • Mana cost reduced 45/50/55/60/65 >>> 40/45/50/55/60
• [W] Vision of the Empire adjustments:
  • Damage adjusted 80/115/150/185/220 (+55% AP) >>> 70/105/140/175/210 (+60% AP)
  • Slow adjusted 25/35/45/55/65% for 2.5 seconds >>> 50/55/60/65/70% for 1.5 seconds
  • Reveal duration 4/5/6/7/8 >>> 6 flat seconds
• [E] Nevermove adjustments:
  • Outgoing damage removed 35/70/105/140/175 (+25% AP) >>> 0
  • Incoming explosion damage increased 35/45/55/65/75 (+25% AP) >>> 80/120/160/200/240 (+60% AP)
  • Incoming missile width increased 170 >>> 180 units
  • Outgoing missile speed adjusted 935/1235/1735/2735 (based on travel time 0/0.08/0.30/0.525 seconds) >>> 1125-1800 (accelerating, max speed at 0.6 seconds) (travel time increased 0.562 >>> 0.585 seconds)
  • Incoming missile speed increased 600/1400/2200 (based on travel time 0/0.25/0.45 seconds) >>> 2000-2800 (accelerating, max speed at 0.4 seconds) (travel time reduced 0.666 >>> 0.4 seconds)
  • Cooldown increased 10 flat >>> 14/13/12/11/10 seconds
  • Mana cost increased 50 >>> 60/65/70/75/80
• [R] Demonic Ascension adjustments:
  • Damage per tick reduced 10/20/30 (+5% AP) >>> 7.5/12.5/17.5 (+2.5% AP) (20/40/60 (+10% AP) >>> 15/25/35 (+5% AP) per second)
  • Heal per tick adjusted 7.5/13.75/20 (+9% AP) >>> 7.5/15/22.5 (+2.5% AP) (+0.5% bonus HP) (15/27.5/40 (+18% AP) >>> 15/30/45 (+5% AP) (+1.25% bonus HP) per second)
  • Cooldown increased 100/80/60 >>> 120 flat seconds
  • [R] Demonflare adjustments:
    • Can now be recast, 8 second static cooldown (can't be reduced with Ability Haste)
    • Damage adjusted 150/225/300 (+60% AP) >>> 150/250/350 (+50% AP)
    • Slow increased 60% >>> 75%

Champions buffs

Azir

• HP regen increased 5 >>> 7
• Base AD increased 52 >>> 56

Corki

• [P] Hextech Munitions damage increased 15% >>> 20%
• [W] Valkyrie damage increased 150-450 + 150% bonus AD >>> 200-500 + 200% bonus AD
• [R] Missile Barrage damage increased 80/160/240 + 70% bonus AD >>> 90/170/250 + 80% bonus AD

Gangplank

• Mana regen increased 7.5 >>> 8
• [E] Powder Keg recharge time reduced 18-14 >>> 17-13

Irelia

• [Q] Bladesurge damage increased 5-85 + 60% total AD >>> 5-85 + 70% total AD
• [Q] Bladesurge minion damage bonus reduced 55-265 >>> 50-237
• [Q] Bladesurge mana cost reduced 20 >>> 15
• [Q] Bladesurge cooldown reduced 11-7 >>> 10-6
• [R] Vanguard's Edge no longer reduces [Q] Bladesurge cooldown

Kayle

• [W] Celestial Blessing mana cost reduced 90-130 >>> 75-115

Malphite

• Base HP increased 644 >>> 665

Nilah

• EQ damage projectile: Missile >>> Instant
• [R] Apotheosis attack lockout duration reduced 1.1s >>> 1.0s

Qiyana

• HP regen increased 6 >>> 8
• [W] Terrashape bonus magic damage increased 8-40 + 10% bonus AD >>> 8-40 + 20% bonus AD

Sivir

• Base AD increased 58 >>> 60
• [Q] Boomerang Blade damage increased 15-75 + 80-100% total AD >>> 60-160 + 100% bonus AD

Talon

• [W] Rage return damage increased 50-170 + 80% bonus AD >>> 60-180 + 90% bonus AD

Teemo

• [W] Move Quick passive speed increased 10-26% >>> 12-28%
• [W] Move Quick active speed increased 20-52% >>> 24-56%

Xayah

• [W] Deadly Plumage bonus damage increased 20% >>> 25%

Champions nerfs

Aurelion Sol

• Base HP reduced 620 >>> 600
• [E] Singularity damage reduced 50-150 + 80% AP >>> 50-150 + 60% AP

Brand

• Mana regen reduced 10.65 >>> 9
• [P] Blaze detonation damage reduced 9-13% max health >>> 8-12% max health
• [Q] Sear mana cost increased 50 >>> 70

Camille

• Base health reduced 670 >>> 650
• [W] Tactical Sweep flat damage reduced 70-190 + 60% bonus AD >>> 50-150 + 60% bonus AD
• [E] Hookshot damage reduced 60-180 + 90% bonus AD >>> 60-180 + 75% bonus AD
• [R] The Hextech Ultimatum on-hit damage reduced 5/10/15 + 4/6/8% current HP >>> 0 + 4/6/8% current HP

Elise

• Armor per level reduced 5.2 >>> 4.5

Fiddlesticks

• [Q] Terrify damage reduced 6-10% current HP >>> 5-9% current HP

Galio

• Base mana reduced 500 >>> 410

Gwen

• [P] Thousand Cuts damage reduced 1% + 0.72% per 100 AP >>> 1% + 0.6% per 100 AP

Hwei

• [Q-Q] Devastating Fire damage reduced 60-180 + 3-7% max HP + 75% AP >>> 60-180 + 3-7% max HP + 70% AP
• [E] Subject: Torment cooldown increased 12-10 >>> 13-11

Kai'Sa

• [P] Second Skin first stack damage reduced 5-23 + 15% AP >>> 4-24 + 12% AP
• [P] Second Skin damage per stack reduced 1-12 + 2.5% AP >>> 1-6 + 3% AP

Karthus

• [R] Requiem damage reduced 200/350/500 + 75% AP >>> 200/350/500 + 70% AP

Kassadin

• [Q] Null Sphere damage reduced 65/95 /125/155/185 + 70% AP >>> 65/95 /125/155/185 + 60% AP
• [E] Force Pulse damage reduced 60 / 90 / 120 / 150 / 180 + 70% AP >>> 60 / 90 / 120 / 150 / 180 + 65% AP

Nasus

• [P] Soul Eater life steal reduced 12-24% >>> 9-21%
• [Q] Siphoning Strike base damage reduced 40-120 >>> 35-115

Senna

• Base armor reduced 28 >>> 25
• Armor per level reduced 4.7 >>> 4

Taric

• [W] Bastion bonus armor reduced 9-13% >>> 6-10%

Viego

• Armor per level reduced 5.2 >>> 4.6

Volibear

• [W] Frenzied Maul cooldown increased 12 >>> 14

Yone

• [W] Spirit Cleave damage reduced 10-50 + 11-15% max HP >>> 10-50 + 10-14% max HP

Yorick

• [P] Shepherd of Souls damage reduced 2-88 + 25% total AD >>> 4-90 + 20% total AD

System buffs

Lethal Tempo

• Melee attack speed per stack reduced 5% >>> 6%

System nerfs

Blade of the Ruined King

• On-hit damage reduced 10% current HP >>> 8.5% current HP

Sorcerer's Shoes

• Magic penetration reduced 15 >>> 12

System adjustments

Champion bounties rework

• Minion/monster gold now directly contributes to bounties instead of comparing to the average farm of the enemy team
• Kill bounties are now based on gold earned from kills/assists minus gold given away from deaths instead of kill/death streaks

With reworks to Swain as well as the Champion bounties, patch 14.21 promises a change of tides for League of Legends.

Moreover, the long list of champion buffs and nerfs aims to find a balance for all those champions whose power was indirectly hit by the large wave of item changes in patch 14.19.

With the long list of champions being hit in patch 14.21, it may take some time for the dust to settle before any clear winners can be declared.

For the latest League of Legends news, follow Strafe Esports. To follow everything on Worlds 2024, check out our full guide. Also follow the Strafe YouTube channel for exclusive interviews with your favorite players and coaches.

Image source: Riot Games

---

Read more:

G2 Esports to reportedly part ways with Yike and Mikyx

League of Legends Worlds 2024 Quarterfinals Pick'Em Guide

Worlds 2024 Knockout Stage: Round 1 Draws, Matchups, Schedule and Predictions