LoL Patch 12.22 Preview: Forest Changes and the Return of the Himtek Dragon

On November 16, patch 12.22 became available for download in the League of Legends client. A large-scale update is timed to coincide with the start of the Off-Season and will bring a lot of new things to the game: from balance and character changes to forest processing.

We chose the main thing from a large patchnote and collected everything in one place.

New object - Himtek Dragon

The Himtek Dragon has returned to Summoner's Rift. Riot encourages aggressive playstyle, which is why this type of dragon is coming back into the game.

Killing a Himtek Dragon grants characters a boost in the form of +5% Tenacity and +5% Healing and Shields.

Soul of the Himtek Dragon grants wearers a temporary buff of +10% damage dealt and -10% damage taken.

Picking up the unit will not be easy: at below 50% health, the Himtek Drake starts dealing 50% more damage. Every fourth attack of the dragon deals additional physical damage equal to 100% of the target's attack power and 4% of the target's health.

Forest changes

The biggest changes of the patch came to the forest. Riot took the matter seriously and decided to rethink the concept of jungler play.

The priority now is clearing your own forest with subsequent help to the team. To do this, we added buffs in our forest, reworked items and more.

Strength in their own forest: Jungles deal 20% more physical and magical damage on their side of the map.

Black Mark: When killing a large monster, all small monsters receive a black mark. It activates after 10 seconds out of combat with a champion, destroying the remaining creeps.

Parting Gifts: When finishing off a large monster, the champion heals for 27 +3/health level and 15 +2/mana level. Recovered stats are increased up to x2.25 based on missing health or mana when a companion is present.

At the same time, the recommended stripping minibuses will appear in the game. They will act at the start of the game, which will help beginners quickly get used to the role.

Refining gold and experience in the forest

Along with the above changes, the reward system for junglers has been redesigned in the game: the formulas for gaining experience and gold for minions have been changed. And they concern both foresters and characters from the lines.

Minion EXP: Killing minions in a lane gives the jungler 75% experience before the companion evolves.

Large Forest Monster Gold: Reduced gold from large monsters by 15. Affects everyone except junglers.

Large Forest Monster XP: Reduced experience gained from killing by 15 (except Ancient Krug) for all but junglers. Experience gained from killing a large kraus with a character other than a jungler has been reduced by 12.

Big Forest Monster XP for Jungles: If you have a companion, killing big monsters will give you 15 more experience.

Forest Monster Changes

• Health: 1850 ⇒ 2300
• Attack Damage: 78 ⇒ 66
• Damage on Hit (New): Blueguard now deals 5% of the target's current health on hit

Gromp

• Health: 1650 ⇒ 2200
• Attack Damage: 74 ⇒ 70
• Attack Range: 200 ⇒ 175
• Damage on Hit (New): Gromp now deals 5% of the target's current health on hit
• Parting Gift (Removed): Gromp no longer heals the champion that killed him

Leggings

• Ancient Krug Health: 1050 ⇒ 1350
• Ancient Krug Attack Damage: 74 ⇒ 57
• Damage on Hit (New): Ancient Krag now deals 3% of the target's current health on hit
• Krug Health: 500 ⇒ 650
• Ancient Krug and Krug death animation duration, and Small Krug spawn animation duration: 1.3 seconds ⇒ 1 second
• Sticking Together (removed): Ancient Krugs no longer spawn 2 Krugs after killing them instead of them, 4 small crags immediately appear
• 1=2 (new): Ancient Krugs now increase minion kill counter by 2 (note: entire Krug camp increases the counter by 4)

Gloom Wolves

• Two-Headed Gloomwolf Health: 1200 ⇒ 1600
• Two-Headed Gloomwolf Attack Damage: 35 ⇒ 30
• Damage on Hit (New): Two-Headed Gloomwolf now deals damage equal to 3% of the target's current health on hit
• Gloomwolf Health: 480 ⇒ 630

Sharpbeaks

• Crimson Sharpbeak Health: 800 ⇒ 1100
• Crimson Sharpbeak Attack Damage: 20 ⇒ 17
• Damage on Hit (New): Scarlet Sharpbeak now deals 3% of the target's current health on hit
• Sharpbeak Health: 425 ⇒ 500
• Sharpbeak Attack Damage: 10 ⇒ 7

Red Firewood

• Attack Damage: 78 ⇒ 66
• Health: 1850 ⇒ 2300
• Damage on Hit (New): Red Firewood now deals 5% of the target's current health on hit

Herald of the Void

• Experience gained by champions within 600 range: 200 ⇒ 300
• First Void Herald Dash Damage: 2000 ⇒ 1500 (note: actual damage will be greater than this value)

shy crab

• Spawn Time: 3:15 ⇒ 3:30
• Level 1 Health: 1050 ⇒ 1550
• Defenseless (removed): The shy crab no longer has a shield

Companions

Another key update in patch 12.22 is companions. In fact, they replace part of the functions of Kara - the spell of the Summoner.

In total, 3 companions will be available in the League of Legends: baby windfox, grass lizard and firewolf. They appear in the character when choosing the Kara spell and tend to evolve: for this they need to get goodies.

1 treat is given for killing a champion or a large monster. The treat is given every minute until reaching the final form of the companion, and after every 90 seconds. Killing mobs while having extra treats grants 2 treats and 50 gold on top.

Companion Evolution

Companions are not just a decorative item that slightly improves the gameplay of junglers. It's a fulfilling task that demands attention and rewards effort.

First evolution

• Smite net damage to monsters is increased to 900.
• The wearer gains the ability to cast Smite on enemy champions. In doing so, she deals 80-160 (based on level) true damage to the target and slows them by 20% for 2 seconds.
• The forest item remains in inventory.
• The appearance of the companion changes.
• Kara's icon changes.

final evolution

• Smite's pure damage to monsters is increased to 1200. In addition, she begins to deal 50% of her damage to other monsters around.
• The owner becomes stronger and gains new effects depending on the chosen companion.
• The forest item disappears from the inventory.
• The appearance of the companion changes.
• Kara's icon changes.

There is only one evolution process, and there are 3 companions. Each of them gives different bonuses to its owner.

• Grass Lizard: gives a shield in the amount of 75-330 units (depending on the character's level). The buff has no duration and expires when the shield is broken.

Increases defense in a radius of 1300 units, there are at least 2 allies. The owner of the herbivore takes 30% less damage from monsters.

• Firewolf: Gains 3 Heat charges every 0.5 seconds. After gaining 100 charges, the firewolf wearer slows enemies within 250 range by 30%. The target of the strike is ignited, taking 5% of their maximum health for 4 seconds.

Increases defense in a radius of 1300 units, there are at least 2 allies. The owner of the firewolf takes 30% less damage from monsters.

• Vetrolis: Increases the owner's movement speed by 45% when using bushes. The effect weakens over time after the bushes come out. Killing a large forest monster increases the effect by up to 60%.

Increases defense in a radius of 1300 units, there are at least 2 allies. The wearer of the windfox takes 30% less damage from monsters.

Patch 12.22 for the League of Legends is massive, and therefore we will talk about changes to champions and items in the second part of the patch review.