Like here is a rundown of how every patch goes:
Buff/Nerf like 8 champions. Nerf maybe 1 item. Nerf/Change Warlord's Bloodlust Fix some bugs Release the skins
There are hardly ever any item changes/buffs/nerfs. Even if they are small changes, I think Riot should balance items more often.
Masala Chai6 votesBecause then it would affect a lot of other champions, and not their specific target audience.
Example: Very theoretical example, not true but could work, replace champions and items to cycle.
Let's say 
is completely abusing Lich Bane, you have two options; nerf the item or the champion. But if you nerf the item then here's what happens.
Who else builds Lich Bane? That's right, 
and the occasional 
. Now if those 4 or 5 are sporting sub 50% winrates, and use Lich Bane as a crutch. Then they will be indirectly nerfed and they will eventually need to be rebuffed. (And knowing Riot, they will take their merry time) Just like how right now, Udyr is making things quite miserable for Elise and Diana JG due to the RE nerfs that were practically specifically targeted toward him. Moreso for Elise because she's very reliant on Runic Echoes RN. Neither of those will recieve buffs however, because Elise is still very pops in competetive, and most Dianas go solo lane anyway.
Ragnar423 votesIn order to properly balance, you need at least 1 constant. I think the weapons/items/armors are considered the constant and the champions are what are fluid.
Nekusen2 votesits easier to pinpoint problems with single champions that with items used by several champions.
The Voids Call1 votesthe irony is that those problem proliferate more or less depending on the meta. Aatrox is a good example of a champion who, when the game is in a "sit top for 20 minutes" meta, then he is insanely powerful. Outside of that he's sub-par in every respect.
Targeted champion nerfs only work for the current meta and do nothing to change it, while item nerfs are sweeping fixes which affect the meta as whole. I don't think that we should be looking to change the meta every 2 weeks, but by nerfing champions, you simply set them up to fail when the meta inevitably shifts and they aren't compensated for their nerfs that happened months ago.
Arakadia1 votes^^^^^^^^^^^
DarkLarvitar1 votesits the items and masteries that make people op
Br4ndon1 votesAt least they finally stopped bards biweekly buffs.
Packun Flower1 votesDay 672
+
still a major problem.
also still stupidly strong.
Send help.
Kotex1 votesDIdn't they nerf quite a few items recently? I think it was Guinsoo and some other things?
