Riot is releasing the first update for Swarm on July 31, along with League of Legends Patch 14.15. This update focuses on performance improvements, bug fixes, and buffs to underperforming champions and builds, with an emphasis on enhancements over nerfs.
Riot has emphasized its focus on buffs rather than nerfs for this Swarm patch, saying it’s “deliberately avoiding nerfs,” with exceptions made for features, mechanics, or characters that are affecting server or client performance —or are “way out of line.” This approach aims to improve the overall gameplay experience and bring underperforming elements up to par. Let’s take a closer look at all the buffs and the few nerfs coming to Swarm with Patch 14.15.
Changes to bosses
The biggest changes coming to Swarm are adjustments to bosses and their enraged mode. Previously, bosses would invisibly enrage after five minutes, causing instant player deaths. After this patch, however, enraged bosses will visibly glow red, dealing 20 percent increased damage for 30 seconds before unleashing a player-killing nova.
This new enrage system will make the mechanics more transparent and give players a clearer understanding of when to act quickly to avoid the devastating final attack. Be careful on the Beachhead map, though, as the enrage timer for Aatrox will reset when he transitions to his second phase.
Additionally, Aatrox will be adjusted to ensure his flying swords can reach all areas during phase two, preventing players from exploiting safe spots like the lower left side of the Beachhead map. Briar’s damage output will be increased across the board, making her boss fight more challenging, while Rek’Sai’s shotgun-like missile attack is being removed and her missile hitbox will be adjusted to match the visuals.
In short:
- Bosses will visibly enrage and glow red after five minutes.
- Enraged bosses will deal 20 percent more damage for 30 seconds.
- Bosses will unleash a nova to kill all players after the enrage period.
- Aatrox’s enraged timer will reset when transitioning to his second phase.
- Aatrox’s flying swords will be able to reach all areas in phase two.
- Briar’s overall damage output will be increased.
- Rek’Sai’s missile hitbox will be adjusted and shotgun removed.
Buffs and nerfs to champions
Several champions will receive significant buffs to improve their performance, enhancing their utility and survivability and making them more viable choices in Swarm—except for Yasuo, who’s being nerfed.
Briar’s Savage Slice will retain its bleed application after death, and her Fish Frenzy damage reduction will be doubled when below 50 percent health. Aurora’s E will detonate hex marks on cast and she’ll gain untargetability during R casts. Illaoi’s tentacle length and size will scale with area size, making her abilities more impactful.
Yasuo’s Wandering Storms tornado zones will scale with duration and area size, but his base area size and duration have been reduced. Seraphine will be able to properly multicast her abilities and Jinx’s passive move speed will no longer be multiplicative, preventing her from losing control. Leona’s cooldowns will also be reduced, and her armor ratio and sunlight damage will be significantly increased.
To sum up:
- Briar will retain bleed application after death and her damage reduction will be increased.
- Increase in damage reduction from 25 to 50 percent when below 50 percent health.
- Aurora’s E will detonate hex marks and she’ll be untargetable during R casts jumps.
- Illaoi’s tentacle length and size will scale with area size.
- Yasuo’s tornado zones are being reduced in base area size and duration.
- Decrease in base area size from 250 to 200 and in duration from four to 2.5.
- Seraphine will multicast properly.
- Jinx’s move speed will no longer be multiplicative.
- Leona’s cooldowns will be reduced, armor ratio increased, and sunlight damage improved.
- Cooldown reduced to 2.75/2.5/2.25/2/1.75/1.5 seconds.
- Armor Ratio: Increased from 2.0 to 3.0.
- Sunlight Damage increased from 75 to 300.
Weapon and augment changes
Swarm’s first patch will also buff a few weapons and augments. The Searing Shortbow will no longer stop dealing damage on death. The Gatling Bunny Guns’ damage will be increased and their evolve damage amplified against stunned enemies. Yuumi bot will go through the most changes as her cooldown and duration adjustments will allow multiple bots to spawn simultaneously, and T.I.B.B.E.R.S damage will be increased with a reduced cooldown.
The UwU Blaster’s damage will be slightly reduced at its highest level to balance its performance, making sure the weapon remains powerful but not overwhelmingly so.
Augments will also be buffed, starting with Glass Cannon and Immobile Immolation, which will grant players greater damage potential and survivability. Glass Cannon’s damage increase will be multiplicative. Bullet-Mania’s damage reduction will be slightly lowered. Immobile Immolation will no longer stack or deal self-damage while dead or in a cinematic and will reset the counter to zero upon death.
Cross Country’s damage, HP, and area per stack will also be slightly reduced, and Ramming Runner’s damage increase per movement speed percentage halved. These nerfs will ensure these augments remain balanced and don’t provide excessive advantages.
In short:
- Searing Shortbow, Gatling Bunny Guns, and T.I.B.B.E.R.S will be buffed.
- Increased T.I.B.B.E.R.S damage from 100-400 to 100-500.
- Increased Gatling Bunny Guns damage from 16/36/56/76/96/96 to 15/35/55/75/95/115.
- Removed Searing Shortbow’s damage stopping upon champions’ death.
- UwU Blaster’s high-level damage will be slightly reduced.
- Decreased damage from 45/50/55/60/65/70 to 45/50/55/60/65/65.
- Yuumi bot will be able to spawn multiple bots, with adjusted cooldown and duration.
- Cooldown increased from 10/10/9/9/8/8 to 20/20/18/18/16/16 seconds.
- Duration decreased from 12/14/14/16/16/16 to 10/12/12/14/14/14 seconds.
- Glass Cannon’s damage increase will be multiplicative.
- Bullet-Mania’s damage reduction slightly lowered.
- Immobile Immolation won’t stack or deal self-damage under certain conditions.
- Cross Country and Ramming Runner augments will be nerfed to balance their effects.
- Decreased Cross Country damage/HP/Area per stack from four to three percent.
- Decreased Ramming Runner’s damage increase per movement speed percentage from one to 0.5.
