As the League of Legends playoffs unfold and MSI 2025 approaches, Patch 25.11 arrives, bringing significant attention to the top lane. While not as groundbreaking as the previous update, this patch continues the work of Patch 25.10, refining the balance across Rift’s battlegrounds. The spotlight is now on fighters, with several receiving buffs that boost their scaling or enhance synergy with staple bruiser items. This shift suggests a resurgence of drawn-out trades and skillful duels, moving away from the dominance of burst-focused strategies.
AP Junglers Find New Life
The patch also breathes new life into AP junglers, building on the trend started in 25.10. Magic damage dealers, previously less common in the jungle, are seeing increased viability. This adjustment creates more strategic variety, allowing teams to experiment with unconventional picks and surprise opponents with fresh compositions.
Champion Highlights: Aatrox, Diana, Kassadin, and Ryze
Aatrox stands out in this update. Although his passive takes a minor damage reduction, his Q sweet spot damage is increased and his W is now physical instead of magic. According to comments from Riot Games, this change helps Aatrox feel more comfortable with classic fighter items like Black Cleaver, making his build paths more flexible and rewarding for players who favor bruiser setups.
In the jungle, Diana is poised for a comeback. Her increased monster damage accelerates her clear speed, helping her keep up with early-game duelists and remain relevant throughout matches.
Mid lane sees subtle but impactful changes for Kassadin and Ryze. Kassadin gains a touch more armor and his E now deals higher damage, improving his survivability and threat in early skirmishes. However, his ultimate’s AP scaling is slightly reduced to prevent him from dominating games before reaching full power.
Ryze’s W loses some base damage, but his Realm Warp passive now boosts the effects of Overload. This tweak rewards coordinated team play, especially around objectives, making him a stronger asset for teams that can navigate his challenging early game.
Quality-of-Life Improvements and Esports Implications
Alongside these champion adjustments, Patch 25.11 introduces quality-of-life improvements for Samira, Ashe, and Udyr, further smoothing gameplay and making the meta feel more polished. For the esports scene, these changes mean that teams able to adapt swiftly and craft creative draft strategies will have an edge—not just in regional playoffs but potentially at MSI as well.