TL;DR
- Amumu, Jarvan IV, and Irelia receive targeted nerfs following Worlds 2021 performances
- Hecarim, Udyr, and Elise get jungle-focused buffs to improve clear sustainability
- Smite healing reduction and jungle camp adjustments impact early game pathing
- Six new Bewitching skins debut including Prestige Morgana variant
- Imperial Mandate receives minor damage adjustments alongside bug fixes

While the League of Legends World Championship 2021 continues to showcase elite competitive play, the live servers advance with patch 11.20 introducing significant balance adjustments. This update arrives at a crucial moment when professional strategies begin influencing ranked gameplay patterns.
Riot Games has published comprehensive patch notes detailing targeted changes aimed at stabilizing the current meta landscape. Following substantial quality-of-life improvements in previous updates, several dominant champions now face calibrated reductions to restore competitive equilibrium. Understanding these modifications helps players adapt their strategies effectively.
Champion Nerfs: Reining in Top Performers
Amumu experiences strategic adjustments following his emergence as a viable support option. The sorrowful mummy’s Bandage Toss ability now carries increased mana costs and reduced damage output, specifically targeting his lane dominance. His recent acquisition of a second charge on this engagement tool had propelled him into professional play, with Amumu support making appearances at Worlds 2021. Players should note that these changes primarily affect his early game pressure rather than completely removing his utility.
Jarvan IV’s passive shield and Taliyah’s Stone Weaver damage against jungle monsters undergo measured reductions. Both champions had benefited from earlier buffs that elevated their priority in player selections. Additional nerfs target Singed and Irelia in solo lane positions, where both have demonstrated exceptional performance metrics. These modifications represent calculated responses to their current dominance rather than comprehensive reworks.
The damage output reductions for Irelia and Singed address their overwhelming presence in isolated matchups. None of these adjustments fundamentally alter champion identities but rather fine-tune their power curves. A common mistake players make is overreacting to nerfs by abandoning champions entirely—instead, focus on adapting playstyles to accommodate the changes. Smite receives a healing reduction while Gromp and Krugs lose base attack damage to maintain jungle clear balance.
Champion Buffs: Jungle Focus and Power Farming
Four champions receive enhancements in this update, with Darius, Elise, Hecarim, and Udyr all gaining improvements. Notably, three of these beneficiaries occupy jungle roles, indicating Riot’s intention to compensate for the Smite adjustments. Udyr’s Phoenix Stance reverts to its previous state when Turbo Chemtank dominated the competitive landscape. Meanwhile, Elise obtains baseline defensive statistic upgrades to improve her durability during engagements.
Hecarim’s modifications stand out as particularly impactful for jungle efficiency. His W cooldown now scales to a consistent 18 seconds across all ability levels, while the healing cap against non-champion targets increases substantially. These changes significantly boost his sustainability during farming phases, crucial for power-farming jungle strategies. Advanced players can optimize these buffs by timing their W usage during multi-camp clears for maximum efficiency.
Darius receives comparable treatment with his Crippling Strike cooldown fixed at five seconds regardless of rank. This consistency improvement allows for more reliable trading patterns and jungle clear sequencing. Imperial Mandate obtains minor damage enhancements alongside comprehensive bug resolutions addressing various gameplay inconsistencies.
Bewitching Skins Collection: Halloween Themed Cosmetics

The seasonal Halloween cosmetic lineup arrives featuring bewitching transformations for six champions. Poppy, Syndra, Nami, Yuumi, and Fiora all receive spooky thematic updates within this visual collection. Bewitching Morgana additionally obtains a prestige edition continuing the tradition of golden-hued premium variants.
These limited-time offerings represent Riot’s ongoing commitment to regular content updates despite the year’s conclusion approaching. The cosmetic department maintains its consistent delivery schedule for League’s flagship multiplayer title, ensuring visual diversity remains available throughout seasonal transitions. Players seeking complete cosmetic collections should prioritize these time-limited acquisitions before their removal from the shop rotation.
Even as competitive focus remains on Worlds 2021, the live game environment continues evolving with both balance changes and aesthetic enhancements.
Action Checklist
- Adjust Amumu support playstyle to accommodate higher mana costs and reduced early damage
- Practice Udyr’s Phoenix Stance clear patterns to maximize the revert benefits
- Evaluate Imperial Mandate changes with compatible champion combinations
- Acquire desired Bewitching skins before seasonal rotation concludes
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