LoL patch 25.05 notes: Lane swap punishment, Hextech Chests, Arena overhaul

League of Legends Patch 25.05 is set to make waves with some highly debated lane swap changes, which have stirred concerns among players. Alongside these adjustments, the patch also brings several champion updates and a fresh approach to the Arena mode.

Lane swapping has primarily been a tactic in professional League of Legends play, though it has occasionally appeared in normal matches. This strategy allowed bot laners to bypass the early laning phase, funneling gold towards the ADC with minimal risk. As a result, lane matchups became less impactful in high-level games.

In response, the balance team has decided to intervene, aiming to restore the importance of the laning phase in pro play. However, the changes they've introduced have sparked significant controversy—though not to the extent of the Hextech Chests removal incident, it’s still a point of contention.

While Patch 25.04 had a broader focus, 25.05 is largely targeted at high-level and professional play, with the lane swap changes being a key feature—along with other notable tweaks, including the Hextech Chest changes.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the lane swap adjustments and everything else you can expect from League of Legends Patch 25.05.

LoL patch 25.05 notes

Lane Swap Punishment

In this patch, more than one non-jungler champion being in mid or top lane will drastically buff turrets. Here’s what that debuff does as well as the AoE in which it applies:

• If two non-jungler enemy champs appear in top or mid lane, the outer turrets get buffed:95% damage reduction
• Tower shots are fully charged
• Deal 1000% damage to minions (this is functionally an execute)
• Enemy champs gold and XP reduced to 50%
• Defending minion and turret kills will redirect all gold to nearest allied champ
• Top lane tower grants 50% damage reduction to defending champion under tower
• Detection starts at 1:30 and ends at 3:30
  • Tower buff duration upon detection is 20 seconds for top, 8 seconds for mid
• Violating players will be continually pinged until they leave the detection zone
• This rule is disabled if no one on the team is jungling to keep this from ruining low level play where teams typically don’t have a jungler

These changes have the possible side effect of drastically changing normal matches with the removal of standard damage reduction on towers, as well as there being a chance pros wait to lane swap until the duration of the tower debuffs have run out to take advantage of reduced tower durability. There are also concerns players will use this mechanic to grief matches. Phroxzon, LoL’s lead gameplay designer, has already claimed that players who abuse this system on purpose will be punished.

Hextech Chests Make a Return in League of Legends

After weeks of backlash, League of Legends developers have confirmed that Hextech Chests will be making a comeback, albeit with some significant changes. While they won’t be as easy to earn or offer as many opportunities for free loot as before, Hextech Chests will now be integrated into the Battle Pass system.

Along with this change, Blue Essence adjustments are on the way, making it easier for new players to unlock champions. This update aims to address concerns related to the rapid changes in how players earn rewards, which has created some challenges in acquiring champions.

Though it’s not part of this patch, Riot has confirmed that the Blue Essence Emporium and Your Shop will return soon. Your Shop is expected in Patch 25.06, while the Emporium will make its comeback in Patch 25.07.

In terms of Hextech Chest drop rates, they remain unchanged, and the chests will replace the free skin reward in the Battle Pass. Up to 10 chests can be earned per Battle Pass.

Atakhan Spawn Adjustments

The Ruinous Atakhan boss has rarely spawned, leading to changes aimed at reducing the kill requirement for his appearance. Additionally, a detection system will now monitor kills between tower lines to influence which side of the map Atakhan spawns on.

Arena Mode Returns!

Arena mode is returning to League of Legends, complete with new features, including a progression system that rewards dedicated players. Full details on this exciting return can be found below the Summoner's Rift patch notes.

Champion Changes

Ambessa

E: Lacerate

• Damage per hit: 40-140 >>> 40-120

Aphelios

Base Stats:

• Attack speed ratio increased:.640 >>>.658

Ashe

R: Enchanted Crystal Arrow

• Base damage decreased: 250-650 >>> 200-600

Aurora

E: The Weirding

• AP scaling decreased: 80% AP >>> 70% AP

R: Between Worlds

• Exit slow decreased: 75% >>> 50%

Cho’Gath

Q: Rupture

• Base damage decreased: 80-340 >>> 80-320

W: Feral Scream

• Base damage decreased: 80-300 >>> 80-280

E: Vorpal Spikes

• Max HP damage adjusted: 3% >>> 2.5-3.5%

Elise

Q: Neurotoxin (Human Form)

• Base damage decreased: 40-160 >>> 40-140

Q; Venomous Bite (Spider Form)

• Base damage decreased: 60-180 >>> 50-170

K’Sante

Passive: Dauntless Instinct

• Passive mark base damage decreased: 20 >>> 12

W: Path Maker

• All-out bonus true damage decreased: 10-100% >>> 10-80%

Mundo

Base Stats:

• Base HP increased: 613 >>> 640

Poppy

Base Stats:

• HP growth per level: 104 >>> 110

Passive:Iron Ambassador

• Shield scaling smoothed and increased: 13/15.5/18% max HP shield at levels 1/7/13 >>> 11-20% max HP linear level scaling

Seraphine

Q: High Note

• Max champion damage amp increased: 60% >>> 75%

Skarner

Q: Shattered Earth

• Max HP damage decreased: 10% >>> 8%
• Slow duration decreased: 1.25 seconds >>> 1 second

E: Ixtal’s Impact

• Cooldown increased: 20-16 >>> 22-18

Yorick

R: Eulogy of the Isles

• Monster damage cap: 100 >>> 50

Items

Staff of Flowing Water

• Buff duration: 4 seconds >>> 6 seconds

Yun Tal Wildarrows

• Crit per stack increased for melee champs:.2% >>>.4%Ranged unchanged

Runes

Axiom Arcanist

• Ultimate amp decreased: 14% >>> 12%
• AoE modification: 9% >>> 8%

Sixth Sense

• Cooldown reduced: 275.350 >>> 250

Unflinching

• Armor and MR increased: 2-10 >>> 6-12

Full Arena changes

A Fame system is being added that rewards players for not only grinding matches, but for good performance within games. Here’s a rundown of how to earn Fame:

• 10 Fame each round played (20% bonus if you play with friends)
• 50 Fame the first time you play a champion
• 150 Fame the first time you win with a champion (Finish in the Top 4)
• 200 Fame first time you finish in 1st place with a champion
• 30 Fame if you use the “Bravery” button. (Lock
• in a random champion).
• 10 Fame if you play a “Crowd Favorite” champion

Leveling up fame will add Augments to your pool and actually change the game amongst other rewards.

• Level 1 (100 Fame): Overflow (Silver Augment) added to the pool
• Level 2 (1400 Fame): Hattrick (Gold Augment) added to the pool
• Level 3 (2900 Fame): Matchup intro upgrade
• Level 4 (4900 Fame): Slow and Steady (Gold Augment) added to pool
• Level 5 (7400 Fame): 1 Reroll
• Level 6 (10400 Fame): Matchup intro upgrade
• Level 7 (14400 Fame): And My Axe (Gold Augment) added to pool
• Level 8 (19400 Fame): Transmute: Chaos (Prismatic Augment) added to pool
• Level 9 (28400 Fame): Matchup intro upgrade
• Beyond level 9: Fame will increment infinitely, and will show off in your Arena lobbies to your friends

Two new features have also been added in champ select that allow you to spice up your arena experience.

• Bravery grants a bonus stat anvil and two bonus rerolls, and all you need to do is be brave enough to roll the dice for a random champion. Your champion will not be revealed to anyone until the loading screen.
• Crowd Favorite is an option for those of you looking to expand your champion pool but aren’t feeling up to the challenge of going full bravery. During Champion Select you’ll see2-5 random champions (based on how many champions you own) with an anvil icon on the portrait. Selecting one of these will grant you a bonus stat anvil.

As if all that wasn’t enough, the Arena maps will also look much different from before, and the mode will feature a Guests of Honor that drastically change the gameplay experience. Here’s what every guest of honor does:

• Darius: Each team takes 50 damage, whenever a team is eliminated the remaining team heals 5 HP
• Rell: Reduce the price of Prismatic Anvils by 1000 gold
• Vladimir: Everyone receives a bonus matching Augment
• Swain: Collect Ravens during combat. The number of Ravens you collect determines the tier of your future augment offerings.
• Kled: When your combat ends, gain a spell that can be cast to disrupt any ongoing combats
• Xin Zhao: When your team’s health is reduced below 60 gain a Gold Stat Anvil. The first time you’re at risk of elimination gain a Prismatic Stat Anvil.
• Briar: Round damage is increased by 5. Winning a round while at risk of elimination heals 15 Team Health
• Mordekaiser: During combat, a random player on each team enters the death realm
• Mel: Four additional Hexgates are enabled in each combat
• Talon: A combatant on each team deals 20% increased damage but grants 250 gold when slain
• Sion: The Ring of Fire spawns 15 seconds sooner and then rapidly constricts while slowly drifting around each arena
• Samira: Striking your opponent first empowers you with two juices, increased to 4 while hot streaking
• Elise: Revives are replaced with Elise wrapping players in cocoons that their ally must break