5 things to know about League of Legends patch 9.8

Patch 9.8 is here and it’s designed around the Mid-Season Invitational. Just like all international competition patches, this one isn’t too big on changes and instead focuses on a few minor buffs and nerfs.

A couple of champions like Renekton and Sejuani will enjoy the upgrades they got this time around, but they aren’t too significant. Meanwhile, Zed got a slight nerf, but hopefully he’ll still stick around on the fringes of the meta.

On the more major side, this patch got quite a few ARAM changes as Riot continues to actively balance the mode. That being said, we’re saying goodbye to Butcher’s Bridge this time around, so you’ll have to check out the new balance changes on the Howling Abyss.

Finally, the World Championship skins have arrived with Camille, Fiora, Irelia, Kai’Sa, Leblanc, and Rakan all getting new Invictus Gaming themed looks.

For a look at all the changes coming to League of Legends with patch 9.8, you can check out the full patch notes here.

Riot Games

Renekton got a buff

It’s been a very long time since everyone’s favorite crocodile god has been in vogue, but it seems that Riot is aiming to change that. This patch Renekton is getting a bit of a buff with some increases to his base stats, including health, attack speed growth, and armor growth. He’s also getting a buff to his Q that will help him stay alive during fights a little bit more effectively. It doesn’t seem like this will be quite enough to bring him back to the power he had a few seasons ago, but at least it’s a start.

ARAM should end a little faster now

Over the last few patches, Riot has started giving ARAM a few balance passes alongside Summoner’s Rift. That’s true again with patch 9.8. But while plenty of champions are getting changes this time around the biggest change is coming to minions. After 15 minutes minion waves will now spawn slightly faster and will walk faster. Riot hopes the change will help games end a little earlier, since some ARAMs can drag out. To help really push games along, champions will also deal more damage to structures after 15 minutes as well.

Riot Games

Cinderhulk is getting stronger (for real this time)

Riot has been trying to make tank junglers happen for the last couple of patches and it hasn’t given up yet. Cinderhulk is getting another buff, or the same buff technically. In patch 9.7 Riot tried to increase Cinderhulk’s bonus magic damage to minions and monsters, but instead it only changed the tooltip. Now the real change should be in the game, which should help tank junglers out a little bit.

Coup De Grace will do more damage to low health targets now

Coup De Grace has slid in and out of favor a few times since the new runes were added, but with this change Riot is clearing up the rune’s identity a bit. The rune no longer grants adaptive force after a takedown, and instead simply deals eight percent bonus damage to champions below 40 percent of their maximum health.

Riot Games

Invictus Gaming’s champion skins are here

Patch 9.8 has a whole mess of exciting skins including Galaxy Slayer Zed and the Prestige Edition of K/DA Evelynn. But the skins that matter the most are those of the 2018 World Champions, Invictus Gaming. Just like previous years, the players got to provide a hand in developing each of these skins which give them a unique personal flair that only a couple of teams have ever been lucky enough to receive.