League of Legends Patch 25.16: Riot Wants the Game Less Balanced

League of Legends patch 25.16 is here, and surprisingly, Riot’s goal this time isn’t perfect balance — it’s the opposite. According to lead game designer Phroxzon, the overwhelming player sentiment is that LoL is too balanced, creating a stagnant meta. With major events like MSI and the Esports World Cup now over, Riot wants to shake things up and inject unpredictability into the game.

While this update won’t be as sweeping as a mid-season or preseason overhaul, it could still lead to unexpected meta shifts. Don’t be surprised if Nautilus somehow becomes an S-tier jungler after these tweaks.

Champion Changes 🛡️⚔️

Brand

• Passive – BlazeMonster damage: 240% → 260%
• Q – SearStun duration: 1.5s → 1.75s
• R – PyroclasmCooldown: 110–90s → 100–80s

Gnar

• Q – Boomerang ThrowCooldown: 20–10s → 16–10s

Illaoi

• Passive – Prophet of an Elder GodTotal AD scaling: 105% → 110%Tentacle spawn cooldown: 20–7.25s → 18–7s

Jarvan IV

• Armor per level: 5.2 → 4.6

Kalista

• AD growth per level: 4 → 4.25
• E – RendAP scaling:E1: 20% → 65%
• E2+: 20% → 50%

Lulu

• E – Help, Pix!Cooldown: 8s → 10–8sDamage: 80–240 → 70–230Shield: 80–240 (+55% AP) → 70–230 (+50% AP)

Master Yi

• Q – Alpha Strike now works with Kraken Slayer and Terminus

Mordekaiser

• Q – Obliterate now scales with 120% bonus AD

Morgana

• W – Tormented ShadowMin damage: 12–56 (+17% AP) → 14–70 (+20% AP)Max damage: 32.4–151.2 (+45.9% AP) → 28–140 (+40% AP)

Nautilus

• E – RiptideMonster damage: 150% → 100%First hit vs. monsters: 150–250 (+50% AP)

Nocturne

• Armor growth per level: 4.7 → 4.2
• Q – Duskbringer bonus AD: 20–60 → 15–55

Qiyana

• Q – Edge of Ixtal damage: 60–180 → 70–190
• W – Terrashape attack speed: 5–25% → 15–35%

Rek’Sai

• Base AD: 58 → 62

Rell

• W – Crash Down shield scaling: 13% → 11% max HP

Rumble

• Q – FlamespitterBugfix: No more reduced red-side damage
• Max duration: 3s → 3.5s
• Now hits untargetable enemies if debuffed
• Damage: 60–180 (+110% AP) (+6–9.2% max HP) → 60–180 (+100% AP) (+6–8% max HP)

Singed

• Q – Poison TrailBugfix: No more reduced red-side damage
• Tick rate: 0.5s → 0.25s

Shaco

• Passive – Backstab scaling: 30% → 25% bonus AD
• Q – Deceive scaling: 30% → 25% bonus ADCooldown: 12–10s → 13–11s

Sion

• Passive – Glory in Death HP cost per tick: 2.3–24.4 → 2–19
• E – Roar of the Slayer armor reduction: 20% → 25%
• R – Unstoppable Onslaught scaling: 40–80% → 60–120% bonus AD

Sylas

• Passive – Petricite Burst monster damage: 100% → 150%

Trundle

• W – Frozen Domain attack speed: 30–110% → 30–90%Cooldown: 16–12s → 18–14s

Varus

• Q – Piercing Arrow max damage: 90–370 → 80–360
• W – Blighted Quiver on-hit damage: 6–30 → 6–38
• E – Hail of Arrows damage: 60–220 (+100% bonus AD) → 60–180 (+90% bonus AD)

Viego

• Attack speed growth: 2.5 → 2.25
• Q – Blade of the Ruined KingDamage: 15–75 → 25–85
• Crit multiplier: 100% → 75%
• Minion healing: 50% → 100%
• Monster healing: 145% → 125%
• Champion healing: 135% → 150%

Warwick

• Base AD: 60 → 66
• Passive – Eternal Hunger base damage: 12–46 → 6–46

Xin Zhao

• Base HP: 640 → 620
• Q – Three Talon Strike damage: 20–80 → 15–75

Yuumi

• Q – Prowling Projectile empowered damage: 80–380 → 80–355
• W – You and Me!Heal/shield power: 5–15% → 4–8%
• On-hit heal: 3–11 (+4% AP) → 3–7 (+3% AP)

Item Changes 🛒

• Experimental HexplateAttack speed: 50% → 30%
• Movement speed: 15% → 20%

System Changes 🌌

• Baron NashorBase HP: 11,500 → 11,800
• HP per minute: 180 → 190

Patch 25.16 won’t reinvent the game overnight, but with these targeted tweaks, the LoL meta could become much more unpredictable — exactly as Riot intends.