Riot is finally nerfing Seraphine and Udyr in patch 11.5

Season 11’s fifth major League of Legends update approaches rapidly, with gameplay design director Mark “Scuffy” Yetter delivering comprehensive preliminary details.

This upcoming game update represents another substantial balance iteration, strategically designed to reduce the dominance of top-tier champions while introducing fresh strategic options. The current competitive environment has seen overwhelming Seraphine presence across mid and bot lane positions, prompting significant ability adjustments. Udyr joins the nerf list following his sustained jungle supremacy, while Rell faces tuning after her explosive entry into the support meta.

Conversely, development teams are implementing targeted Samira enhancements after determining her previous nerfs were excessively severe.

11.5 Patch preview with the full changes. Not 100% final but we’re getting close.

Samira (a bit overnerfed) and Qiyana added to the buff list as well. pic.twitter.com/RJjQsNTW1e

— Mark Yetter (@MarkYetter) February 23, 2021

Strategic insight: Professional players should prepare for meta shifts by testing alternative champions during PBE availability. Common mistake: Underestimating how small numerical changes can dramatically alter champion viability in high-level play.

Seraphine and Udyr receive big nerfs in LoL patch 11.5

Riot’s decision to modify both Seraphine and Udyr aligns with predictable balance patterns. These champions have demonstrated overwhelming presence across professional competitions and ranked ladder environments throughout recent updates. Seraphine particularly presents matchup difficulties due to her multi-lane flexibility, creating terrifying draft flexibility and near-permanent ban status in numerous competitive leagues.

Seraphine Ability Adjustments

• P – Stage Presence, ally notes deal 100 >> 25% damage
• P – Stage Presence, note decay after the first removed
• P – Stage Presence, note damage 4-16 >> 4/8/14/24
• R – Encore, cooldown 160-120 >> 180-120 seconds

Game design analysis: These modifications strategically target Seraphine’s Stage Presence mechanics, which proved exceptionally powerful in duo lane configurations where she consistently benefits from ally proximity. Development teams also increase her ultimate ability’s early game cooldown while preserving scaling potential through late-game functionality.

Theoretical assessment suggests these adjustments should create strategic space for alternative champion selections, though Seraphine likely maintains situational viability.

Advanced player tip: Adapt your playstyle by focusing on ability sequencing rather than passive reliance. Optimization strategy: Maximize her remaining strength through precise ultimate timing and team fight positioning.

Udyr Stat Modifications

• Health per level 99 >> 92
• R – Phoenix Stance, total aura damage 50-275 >> 40-240

Udyr has maintained consistent jungle priority throughout Season 11’s competitive landscape, necessitating these balance interventions. Current metagame patterns favor Phoenix Stance maximization for explosive damage output and unprecedented jungle camp clearance velocities.

Strategic rationale: Targeting Phoenix Stance’s damage profile creates healthier jungle equilibrium, allowing alternative picks to compete effectively. Post-adjustment projections indicate Udyr retains playability through maintained movement capabilities and early game pressure application.

Professional insight: Jungle pathing adjustments become crucial—consider prioritizing gank opportunities over farm efficiency. Common mistake: Attempting to maintain previous clear speeds without adjusting ability rotation patterns.

Rell gets toned down in LoL patch 11.5

• Base armor 35 >> 32
• W – Ferromancy, cooldown 11 >> 13 seconds (for both W cooldowns)

Following her December release, Rell rapidly ascended to competitive meta relevance. Global professional competitors consistently deploy Rell in support roles due to her exceptional durability and engagement capability. Executing crowd control combinations with Rell frequently determines team fight outcomes and secures victory conditions.

Development team monitoring identified Rell’s performance metrics since launch, determining appropriate tuning timing. These modifications target Rell’s foundational armor values to reduce early level survivability while extending cooldown durations across both Ferromancy ability variations.

Strategic assessment: These adjustments may reduce Rell’s supremacy among durable supports while maintaining situational effectiveness.

Advanced gameplay tip: Position more cautiously during early laning phases and prioritize ability timing precision. Optimization strategy: Coordinate engagement patterns with jungle gank timing to maximize effectiveness despite cooldown increases.

Samira gets a bit of her power back on LoL patch 11.5

• Attack damage per level 2.3 >> 3
• Q – Flair, damage ratio 80-110% >> 80-120% total attack damage

Despite extensive nerfs targeting popular champions, development teams implement Samira enhancements following substantial adjustments in update 11.4. According to Scruffy’s assessment, Samira experienced excessive nerfing previously, warranting compensatory modifications.

Community impact: These changes should satisfy Samira enthusiasts, though the buff magnitude falls considerably short of restoring her former power level. Instead, these adjustments aim to establish functional viability baseline.

Statistical context: During patch 11.4, Samira’s victory percentage plummeted to 45.36% in Platinum tier and above—clearly below Riot’s acceptable performance thresholds.

Professional adaptation: Master revised combo sequences and capitalize on improved scaling. Common mistake: Overestimating buff impact and playing overly aggressively during early game phases.

When is LoL patch 11.5 being released?

Following Riot Games’ established update calendar, version 11.5 reaches production servers on March 3. Before live deployment, all modifications remain accessible for evaluation within the Public Beta Environment framework.

Strategic preparation: Utilize the remaining testing period to familiarize yourself with altered champion dynamics. Time investment: Allocate 2-3 hours in PBE to test affected champions and develop counter-strategies.

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