Riot kills Pantheon support, nerfs new champion Samira again

As the 2020 World Championship unfolds in Shanghai, Riot Games continues its commitment to maintaining game balance and freshness. Lead gameplay designer Mark “Scuffy” Yetter has unveiled the upcoming patch 10.21 adjustments that will significantly impact ranked play during Season 10’s crucial final stretch.

10.21 Patch Preview with changes. Not 100% locked down but almost finalized. pic.twitter.com/5GkNJE36jW

— Mark Yetter (@MarkYetter) October 6, 2020

This update won’t influence the ongoing World Championship matches but carries substantial weight for players grinding ranked queues during Season 10’s concluding weeks. The patch targets several dominant junglers alongside the recently released Samira, while providing much-needed attention to underperforming champions.

Newest LoL Champion Samira Receives Targeted Nerfs

• E – Wild Rush, Cooldown 15-11 >> 20-12 seconds
• E – Wild Rush, Attack speed 30-50% >> 20-40%

Samira’s introduction to the game has been marked by significant balance challenges, requiring an emergency hotfix merely 24 hours after her debut due to excessive damage output from Inferno Trigger (R). While the initial hotfix provided temporary relief, player mastery progression has revealed continued overpowered performance characteristics.

Riot’s solution focuses on moderating her Wild Rush capability. Both the ability’s cooldown duration and associated attack speed bonuses receive substantial reductions, though the spell retains its core utility for tactical repositioning during engagements.

The champion currently maintains an extraordinary solo queue ban rate approaching 75%, an unprecedented figure even for newly released characters. These adjustments aim to establish healthier balance parameters, increasing accessibility for players seeking to experience her gameplay.

Strategic Insight: Samira players should now prioritize ability sequencing more carefully and consider building additional attack speed items to compensate for the nerfed steroid effect.

Pantheon Support Role Receives Targeted Adjustments

• Q – Comet Spear, Damage 75-215 (+100% bAD) >> 70-190 (+115% bAD)
• Q – Comet Spear, Mortal Will bonus damage scaling 100 >> 115% bAD

Pantheon has experienced significant play rate growth in the support position across both ranked and professional environments. Traditionally recognized as a solo lane specialist in mid or top positions, the champion has progressively transitioned toward an aggressive support playstyle.

Riot’s design approach targets Pantheon’s early game dominance by reducing Comet Spear’s base damage values. This foundational damage component creates his intimidating support presence during laning phase, as conventional support and marksman champions struggle to match his damage output in initial levels.

Compensation comes through enhanced scaling coefficients on his Q ability, potentially redirecting his optimal positioning toward traditional solo lanes moving forward.

Common Mistake Alert: Many players will attempt to maintain the same aggressive support playstyle without adjusting their engagement patterns, leading to suboptimal performance.

Trundle and Corki Receive Strategic Buffs

Trundle

• P – King’s Tribute, Healing 2/3/4/5/6% at lvl 1/5/9/12/15 >> 2-7% smooth scaling by level
• W – Frozen Domain, Cooldown 15 >> 15-11 seconds

Trundle’s jungle presence has diminished considerably within the current aggressive meta environment. Dominant picks including Nidalee, Hecarim, and Graves have established control, prompting Riot to enhance alternative champion viability.

The Ice Troll King receives substantial passive healing enhancements, improving his jungle clearance sustainability and potential lane viability. Additionally, Frozen Domain’s cooldown receives scaling reduction as matches progress, enhancing his late-game skirmishing capabilities.

While these improvements may not immediately elevate Trundle to top-tier selection status despite concurrent meta jungler nerfs, they represent meaningful progress toward improved balance.

Optimization Tip: Trundle players should now prioritize early jungle invades against weaker clearing champions, leveraging his enhanced sustainability to establish early game advantages.

Corki

• Q – Phosphorus Bomb, Bonus AD ratio 50% >> 70%

Corki receives substantial Phosphorus Bomb scaling enhancement. The 40% bonus AD ratio increase dramatically improves his Q’s damage scaling with attack damage items, potentially restoring his viability in both mid and bot lane positions.

This significant buff transforms Corki’s mid-to-late game damage potential, making him a more compelling pick against tankier team compositions.

Strategic Build Recommendation: Players should prioritize AD-heavy builds with items like Essence Reaver and Infinity Edge to maximize the enhanced scaling benefits.

These champion adjustments collectively reshape the competitive landscape during Season 10’s final phase. Samira’s reduced mobility and attack speed steroid should decrease her ban rate while maintaining her core identity. Pantheon’s adjustments encourage role diversification while maintaining his combat effectiveness in appropriate contexts.

Trundle’s enhanced sustainability provides counterplay options against aggressive jungle invaders, while Corki’s improved scaling offers renewed relevance in damage-oriented compositions.

The patch is scheduled for deployment to live servers on Wednesday, October 14.

No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Riot kills Pantheon support, nerfs new champion Samira again League of Legends patch 10.21 brings crucial champion adjustments affecting Samira, Pantheon, Trundle, and Corki gameplay