TL;DR
- Over 20 champions receiving targeted balance adjustments in ARAM-only changes
- Pyke gets significant 10% damage reduction and 5% damage increase buff
- Presence of Mind rune nerf and bug fixes included in patch
- Changes aim to normalize win rates across entire champion roster
- Patch 9.24 scheduled for December 11 with detailed champion-specific adjustments

Riot Games introduces comprehensive ARAM-specific balance modifications in the upcoming patch 9.24 deployment. These targeted adjustments impact more than twenty champions exclusively within the Howling Abyss environment, representing Riot’s ongoing commitment to maintaining competitive integrity in their popular casual game mode.
Principal game designer Mortdog disclosed through official Twitter channels the detailed reasoning behind these champion-specific modifications. After extensive data analysis and player feedback evaluation, the development team determined specific champions required fine-tuning to restore game mode equilibrium, despite ARAM’s generally healthy current state. Additional changes include nerfs to the Presence of Mind keystone rune alongside various bug resolutions.
Karthus, Pyke, Sion, and more up for buffs in ARAM
Eight champions stand to benefit from ARAM-specific enhancements: Karthus, Kayle, Kennen, Olaf, Pyke, Renekton, Sion, and Zyra. These adjustments address specific performance deficiencies identified through win rate analytics and player impact metrics.
Karthus and Kayle previously suffered from damage output reductions that positioned them below competitive thresholds. Their restored damage profiles should reinstate their viability within the chaotic teamfight dynamics characteristic of ARAM engagements. Zyra receives moderate damage increases, though developers exercised caution by avoiding restoration to her Summoner’s Rift baseline values. The narrow corridor layout of Howling Abyss amplifies Zyra’s zone control capabilities, necessitating conservative adjustment parameters. She additionally gains damage mitigation benefits.
Kennen, Olaf, Renekton, and Sion all benefit from reduced incoming damage modifiers. Pyke emerges as the most significantly impacted champion with a substantial 10% damage reduction buff coupled with 5% increased damage output. These combined changes potentially restore his previous threat level before earlier nerfs diminished his effectiveness.
ARAM nerfs await for Qiyana, Ryze, Kassadin, and many more
Numerous champions face performance reductions to counterbalance previous ARAM-specific advantages. These modifications target champions whose Howling Abyss performance substantially exceeded their Summoner’s Rift baseline metrics.
Damage output reductions affect Camille, Jayce, Jhin, Kassadin, Nocturne, Qiyana, Ryze, Udyr, and Zac. Most recipients previously benefited from damage amplification relative to their standard kit performance, enabling disproportionate game influence beyond intended design parameters. Systematic damage recalibration returns these champions to appropriate power bands.
Increased damage vulnerability adjustments target Camille, Kha’Zix, Nocturne, Qiyana, Udyr, Yorick, and Zac, though their modified values remain below default SR levels. Identical damage intake increases apply to Kassadin, Leona, and Nautilus, though their inherent durability profiles should mitigate the practical impact of these changes.
While these modifications represent significant numerical adjustments, their collective impact on overall game flow should remain moderate. Riot’s primary objective centers on win rate normalization across the complete champion ecosystem, ensuring broader roster viability within the ARAM environment. Strategic diversity increases as previously suboptimal champions enter the viable selection pool.
Mastering champion adjustments requires understanding specific numerical changes and their tactical implications. For comprehensive gameplay mastery, consult our Complete Guide to develop comprehensive ARAM expertise.
The ARAM balance deployment arrives with patch 9.24, scheduled for live server implementation on December 11. Complete champion-specific modification details available through official patch notes documentation.
Action Checklist
- Review specific percentage changes for your main champions and adjust playstyle accordingly
- Experiment with buffed champions in custom games to understand new power spikes
- Adjust rune selections, particularly regarding Presence of Mind modifications
- Analyze team composition synergies considering the new balance landscape
No reproduction without permission:Games Guides Website » Patch 9.24 is coming with a number of ARAM balance updates Complete guide to ARAM balance changes in patch 9.24 with champion strategies and gameplay tips
