5 things to know about Patch 8.5

It’s time for another “small” League patch. While low on balance changes, 8.5 is practically popping with content additions. A new champion, some post-rework fixes, the possible return of a few old favorites that had gone out of style, a new open party feature and, of course new skins. All these things and more are coming to your League client!

Also coming to your client is a load of new data. By that we mean, this patch is actually huge from a file standpoint. The reason behind it has mostly to do with Riot working on some behind the scenes improvements and additions related to the game’s audio engine. File size aside, everything should be operating as expected with 8.5. So get out there and tear up the Rift with the Daughter of Kassadin the Void!

For the complete list of Patch 8.5 features, check out out our change list, here.

1. Kai’Sa, Daughter of the Void, is our newest AD Carry

It’s our first new champion of the year! Kai’Sa comes from the void, like many of our apostrophe’d characters. But unlike the Cho’Gaths and Kog’Maws of the world, Kai’Sa is a native of Runeterra. She has returned from the Void to confront the world outside and possibly the father that lost her in another dimension.

Kai’Sa is an AD Carry in a different Vayne (haha, good one Ryan). She has a quadra-stack, percent of health proc, similar to Vayne’s silver bolts. She can also turn invisible to reposition. But Kai’Sa also holds her own as an attack speed monster, capable using comparatively low damage autos extremely quickly.

2. Rengar and Swain are getting some post-rework changes

This year, Swain got his much needed rework. And Rengar got his much needed reversion. Anyway, both of them have been faring a little strangely since the changes, so Riot has done some evaluating.

Rengar’s Ferocity will now last a full eight seconds, rather than falling off after six and the vision granted from his ultimate will last a little longer. Rengar can also use his Q or W mid Bola Strike, making the champion a little more forgiving to play. As for his numbers, which needed a bit of help after 8.4, Rengar’s Q now also some additional damage and scales a bit better.

Swain is also getting a few much needed buffs. Death’s Hand, Swain’s Q, will cooldown faster at early levels. Swain’s W, Vision of Empire, also has an increased radius, meaning you may actually be able to hit someone with the ability now. Meanwhile Nevermove, his E, also has an increased radius that should better match up with the ability’s visual.

Riot Games

3. Open parties for all

No one likes keeping track of five separate invites, and scrolling through your friends list to find exactly the right people can be a huge pain. Thankfully, Riot understands and by the end of Patch 8.5 this whole process will be a lot easier thanks to the new open party system.

Open parties are just about what they sound like, if you choose to have an open party, friends — or friends of friends depending on your settings — will have the option to simply join you in your lobby before you hop into a game.

4. Banner of Command’s reign of terror has ended

Banner of Command had a good run, but just like all it’s others, it was short lived. While pro play, and some high ELO games, were dominated by the item’s interaction with Baron minions during 8.4, Patch 8.5 should be a different story as the damage buff from the item no longer stacks with the Hand of Baron buff, meaning no more super strength minions sieging the enemy base.

5. Illaoi finally has a new skin

It’s been a little over two years since Illaoi’s release, and that means it’s been a little over two years since Illaoi got a new skin. To help remedy this, Riot did something a little out of the ordinary, allowing fans to vote on which skin they wanted the Kraken Priestess to receive next. The winner of that vote eventually became Resistance Illaoi and now it’s finally being released.

Alongside this new Illaoi skin, Patch 8.5 will also include Bullet Angel Kai’Sa along with Chromas for both skins and Battlecast Prime Cho’Gath.