Buzz
Perhaps Riot Games needs to make more drastic changes to LoL to make the meta at MSI 2022 more exciting.
Just a few days ago, Riot Phlox, a member of the LoL gameplay design team, posted the most notable changes for patch 12.6 on Twitter. Perhaps the biggest change in this update for LoL is the removal of the Greedy Hunter rune, replaced with the Treasure Hunter rune. This new rune essentially provides a gold increase upon defeating enemy champions (up to 5 stacks). Additionally, the reduction in lifesteal on certain items is also noteworthy.
However, upon closer examination of the changes in patch 12.6, experts evaluate it as a rather meaningless update with no impact on tournament or solo queue meta. For instance, in a recent livestream by former C9 coach - LS, he even stated that in the upcoming 4 patches (including the official update for MSI 2022), they won't make any difference.
LS: 'Do you all think that the updates in 12.6 will affect the solo queue or tournament meta? The answer is no, there's nothing changed here and the meta remains the same. And then we have another 4 meaningless patches to prepare for MSI 2022. I really can't stand this, what on earth is happening with LoL?'
People need to understand that the learning process and practice of LoL gamers isn't just about which champion gets heavily buffed, and then people will play or overlook nerfed characters. Gamers tend to revert to champions they've played before when meta champions get nerfed. For example, if Aphelios and Jinx aren't as strong anymore, players will go back to Caitlyn, Miss Fortune, Kai'Sa... the champions from the most recent meta.
Looking at this patch, champions are only buffed slightly, power reductions are similarly mild. Observing the item changes, most notably a 2% lifesteal reduction. So, what motivation do players have to learn other champions and change the meta? Everything will become as dull as it was a month ago. Please, roll out a significant update before MSI 2 months ahead to shake things up,'.
Indeed, looking back at the updates of LoL since the beginning of season 12 until now, most of them are minor changes, with no truly major patch. Perhaps the biggest change Riot made in season 12 was removing the Dragon Slayer Keystone because it received too much criticism and didn't bring balance to the gameplay. Additionally, Riot's changes usually stop at giving champion A a slight health increase per level or reducing 5-10 damage per level on skill B.
Clearly, during the past spring season, both players directly engaging in LoL and the audience themselves became bored with matches where champions repeatedly appeared. A prime example is in the Marksman position, where Aphelios and Jinx constantly face off against each other. Maintaining a stable meta is good, but if Riot continues this for too long, LoL will become relatively dull, both in playing and watching tournaments.
