Boards›Dev Corner

Patch Chat with the Playtest Team - 8.2

Novalas·1/24/2018, 9:06:31 PM·1 votes·25,449 views

Hey everyone and welcome to Patch 8.2, the second patch of the season!

I’m Riot Novalas & I’m a QA Analyst on Riot’s Playtest Team, a group of high elo players who work on Core Gameplay playing new champions, reworks, balance tweaks, items, and map updates before they’re released. It’s our job to test the changes that our designers come up with and ensure that we’re introducing positive changes to League in terms of both balance and fun.

Patch Chat serves as an opportunity for us to talk about the patches that come out every two weeks. You can find information on the most recent patch by following this link: https://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/news/game-updates/patch/patch-82-notes

In this patch, we've given Evelynn, Kha'Zix, and Vayne some nerfs. Ornn isn't unstoppable anymore, btw. Jinx received some changes to her play pattern. Nunu and Sona got some love! Sightstone, as an item, as well as all of it's upgrades are now gonezo and your support items now transform into a warding item!

Ask us ANYTHING about 8.2! Any changes that you have questions about? Maybe our favorite rune builds? Or how often we execute to jungle camps? We're also down to just chat, though!

Disclaimer: We have no insight on upcoming/future skins.

Adam “Riot Afic” Cohen Chris “Auberaun” Roberts Christy “Riot Ender L” Frierson Nick “Riot Endstep” Frijia Sigmundur “GangIeri” Helgason Arnor “Riot Hjarta” Halldorsson Rob “Riot King Cobra” Rosa Miktat “Riot Koyuncu” Koyuncu Brian “Riot Madness Heroo” Pressoir Nabi “Riot Novalas” Barak Dan “Riot penguin” Hardison Robert “ROBERTxLEE” Lee

232 Comments

RiotRiot ThEntropist1/25/2018, 12:39:31 AM8 votes

When are you guys gonna buff Ekko again? Like, come on, 10% attack speed? Are you kidding me?

Also has there been any consideration about bringing back DFG? DFG was imo the best item ever to grace league and it's a shame that there hasn't been any discussion to bring it back?

[katarina-love]

Ashen Rider1/24/2018, 9:13:22 PM7 votes

How do you guys feel about making changes to marksmen to make them better at sustained damage, while taking away their burst? I know a lot of people have been asking for this for a while. For instance, Vayne's tumble could be changed to add very little bonus damage initially, but multiple tumbles within a period of time would cause it to ramp up.

DontTouchMyBall1/24/2018, 9:24:22 PM7 votes

Hi, we meet again! I am the passionate Support Orianna Main, This "enabling champs access to other roles" is getting me really excited! As if I really needed even more to be hyped for this season!

This time I won't be talking about Orianna's potential as a support though.

Today I wanted to talk about Lissandra 's posiition in the game. The poke meta doesnt favor her now. But even during the former assassin meta she wasn't a popular pick either. A passive rework was considered but never went through. Can we expect anything coming her way?

PS: Ty 4 the SS changes, its good to be tax free!

Volibears Keeper1/25/2018, 9:26:51 PM4 votes

@riot Wittrock / whoever

In reference to Volibear..My opinion as a Volibear Main

I suggest that his Q gets some form of inherent tenacity, or it could break cc when activated. This fits from a logical standpoint (Bear's can enrage and become quite literally unstoppable IRL).
I understand this is way too strong of a change to just have him be completely unstoppable, so Instead I threw out the idea of Volibears Q negating the first cc effect tossed his way while in charge. This would allow him to not be so easily kited, but also keep him balanced in teamfights.
Perhaps a movement speed buff when under 50% health, and charging towards the direction of enemy champions?
I do like the idea of a small knockback on his E which was a previously discussed change.
An attack speed buff on his w was also discussed. I don't believe this is the right direction for the champion.

I look forward to what you guys end up deciding. I feel his biggest weakness isnt necessarily his damage.. but his survivability. His passive heals a good amount, and I really like how it influences his playstyle, but with the onset of the disengage meta, he's too easily kite-able. His character model is huge, thus he's a bit harder to sidestep with. I think if we give his Q a buff to improve his ability to gap close, he's in a decent spot. I would really love to hear more about what the plans are for Volibear . Even if its not detailed, just a general thought process would be appreciated.

Thanks, Volibears Keeper

Carnicore1/25/2018, 1:18:16 AM4 votes

I'd like to talk about the Master Yi changes in testing. Mainly the Meditate changes.

What were your impressions when playing with this uh... buff? Reactions from Yi players have varied between "skeptical that this buff will do anything" and "insulted because we were expecting something more meaningful." I tried it out myself on the PBE and I don't feel like the on-hit healing and CDR were worth using 50 mana and a 25 second cooldown. And as I explained in another post, I don't think it encourages tactically sound Master Yi play.

The compensating nerfs to Meditate were harsh in my opinion as well. The healing when you're low health has almost been halved so using Meditate in combat became worse than it already was.

Lower mana cost on Alpha Strike is appreciated though.

Tourna1/24/2018, 9:18:14 PM4 votes

Hello, it often gets brought up among communities after patches but what choices go behind nerfing tankyness of tanks instead of the pure dmg they do? It often feels that tanks can outduel duelists just by their basestats.

Ekko Will Rekko 1/24/2018, 9:10:55 PM3 votes

[deleted]

Spideraxe1/24/2018, 9:19:05 PM3 votes

Question for Cobra about Swain, what's your build, runes and maxing order and can you share any scrapped spells that you tested?

Blossom Crown1/24/2018, 9:25:28 PM3 votes

Hello! Any thoughts on Syndra's performance after receiving bug fixes not too long ago?

ThunderSkelett1/24/2018, 10:34:20 PM3 votes

I think the only thing that made Evelynn too strong was her ability to kill tanks but this nerf is just damaging her gameplay overall so why chose to nerf her that way.

Rock41/24/2018, 10:58:49 PM2 votes

item 3147

What do you think about Duskblade of Draktharr?

item 3401 2. Are you expecting tanky jungler would want to buy new targon line item? 3-4 wards in equipment, possible blue or red smite or even 7 with green. there was change on pbe 8.2 cycle with limit to 1 gold income item but it didnt make out

Raxistaicho1/24/2018, 9:29:17 PM2 votes

It seems like this patch was very good for Kayn overall, do you see him raising with other junglers getting nerfed, no more targons adcs and less early vision bot?

Kei1431/24/2018, 11:19:53 PM1 votes

Predictions on how the META would shake up in SoloQ and pro-play?

trashbagz1/25/2018, 6:29:12 AM1 votes

[deleted]

ßiggie Cheese1/24/2018, 9:15:12 PM1 votes

Hey team,

Can one of you guys feed your *** off on Volibear and Hecarim then proceed to rant to the balance team about how weak they are (they really are weak though).