As usual, before a new patch is released, let’s compile a list of the changes players want Riot to implement in the next update. These changes may be feasible, already planned by Riot, but they could also just be distant hopes with no clear timeline for when they will become reality.
1. Nerf Ornn
With an impressive performance in the top lane currently, it’s no surprise that most players are calling for a nerf for this champion before he becomes an unstoppable monster. A pick rate of 17.06% with a win rate of 52.17% are dream numbers that not every top lane champion can achieve.
Nerfs to competitors like Sett and buffs to one of Ornn’s strongest items – the Fire Cloak – have propelled him to the top of the top lane meta. If he’s not nerfed in the next patch, Ornn will undoubtedly become a must-ban or must-pick champion in high Elo matches or professional play due to his unimaginable power after level 12. Perhaps a nerf targeting his early game is a necessary direction to reduce his mid and late game power scaling.
2. Change Jungle Experience
The jungle has seen a lot of changes recently, with only a few viable champions able to adapt to the changes in gold and jungle experience during the Pre-Season. Riot has attempted to expand the jungle champion pool by introducing several Fighters and Assassins, such as Darius, Garen, Zed, Talon, etc., to encourage more players to take the jungle role.
Unfortunately, most of these efforts have not been successful as the majority of these “new” jungle champions have win rates below 40%. The issue with the jungle pool isn’t just due to weaknesses in certain champions but relates to the new jungle mechanics. Less gold and experience don’t encourage junglers to farm more, but rather even less than before. Therefore, junglers with particularly strong gank potential and higher gold advantages are often prioritized, such as Elise, Sejuani, Lee Sin, etc.
Unless jungle camp experience changes, Riot’s other efforts will not truly have the necessary impact on this role.
3. Rework Wukong
Players have been waiting to see a Wukong rework for quite some time, and it seems that this will finally happen in patch 10.5. But the most important thing is that this champion should be reworked with some adjustments, carefully balancing his power; otherwise, he will just end up being another Akali.
According to the latest information about the rework, Wukong’s clone would now be able to mimic the movements of the original when it appears. This seems reminiscent of the old LeBlanc, but at a higher danger level. We still can’t know exactly what the reworked version of Wukong will be like until he officially launches, but this is definitely a change that many are looking forward to.
4. Change Support Items
The top lane has recently been dominated by two buff-support champions, and although both were nerfed in the recent patch 10.4, the underlying cause of this new playstyle remains untouched. Both Soraka and Sona can utilize the Spellthief’s Edge to easily earn gold from melee opponents and complete their core items faster than most other champions in the game.
If the old passive of the Spellthief’s Edge is re-added to this item in patch 10.5, it could prevent long-range Mages from exploiting this item in solo lanes and force them back to their rightful place in the bot lane.
5. Adjust Akali’s Power
There’s no arguing that Akali is currently one of the most difficult champions to balance in League of Legends, possessing a kit with devastating burst damage along with an extremely annoying stealth mechanism. With the gap between professional players and casual players, adjusting and balancing this champion becomes even more challenging.
A comprehensive overhaul of her kit or core items for Akali needs to be implemented before this champion can find her equilibrium. Many professional players support completely removing her from the game, so if the correct steps aren’t taken today, she will simply be boycotted in-game.