Patch 2.5.0: Nerfs to Twisted Fate, Burblefish, Temple, Moon Weapons + Lab of Legends Update & Much More!

Twisted Fate

LEVEL UP: I’ve seen you draw 8+ cards → I’ve seen you draw 9+ cards

Twisted Fate’s quest can be completed in extremely short windows of time. Considering his Level 2 is usually completely game-winning, we feel the need to increase the quest requirement slightly to broaden windows for interaction before he levels up. This is especially important for us to keep an eye on given both current and potential future content that involves card draw.

Fiora

BASE STATS: 3|3 → 3|2

Fiora has a long history of going between breaking thresholds one week and then being totally fine the next given certain metagame shifts. Recently, it’s been doing more of the former given Golden Aegis and Shurima’s regional weaknesses against her. By reducing her health, we’re giving decks with less interaction more ability to power through, and introducing much more risk and disruptability for Fiora’s alternate win condition.

Jarvan IV

BASE STATS: 5|3 → 6|4

Jarvan IV has been the least-played champion of Empires of the Ascended. We’d like to give him a straightforward buff to his base stats to make him more of a threat on the board.

Shyvana

CHANGE: Added Fury. BASE STATS: 4|4 → 3|4

Shyvana originally did not have Fury given her thematics. However, the lack of Fury has caused enough gameplay issues in her usability for us to retroactively reconsider her design.

Lulu

BASE STATS: 2|3 → 3|3

Lulu has been among the least-played Champions since her launch. We’re looking to reinforce some of Ionia’s aggressive capabilities in this patch, and we’re giving a small buff to Lulu to allow her the ability to attack profitably in more games.

Pick a Card

COST: 3 → 2. CHANGE: Place a card from hand into your deck to draw 3 at the next Round Start. Give them Fleeting. → Place a card from hand into your deck to draw 2 at the next Round Start. Give them Fleeting.

Pick a Card’s draw power was both allowing significant lethal setups while also creating explosive card draw to Turbo level twisted fate on Round 5. We’re streamlining the effect to reduce the ceiling of this card.

Wiggly Burblefish

BASE STATS: 3|1 → 2|1

Wiggly Burblefish can both efficiently and reliably cost 0 mana. This is an exciting build-around and payoff, so we’re leaving this capability but flatly reducing its power to reduce the payoff and lethality of Fizz’s friend, especially when copied.

Dreg Dredgers

BASE STATS: 1|1 → 2|1

We’re reverting this previous change to give Deep decks a bit more early game.

The Dreadway

COST: 9 → 8. BASE STATS: 4|8 → 4|6

Changing The Dreadway has two purposes. First off, we want to prevent the Concurrent Timelines + Ledros into Dreadway from occurring, regardless of the decks power level. Variance has its places, but this particular combo is too decisive in gameplay considering it’s erratic nature.

Secondly, this change gives us an opportunity to adjust Dreadway for more decks to be able to use it and Gangplank more effectively.

Shadow Assassin

BASE STATS: 1|2 → 2|1

We want to provide better options to use Ionia as a core part of any given strategy. Given the current power level and availability of new regional tools, we want to make an adjustment that we were a bit hesitant about when we originally changed Shadow Assassin.

Fae Guide

BASE STATS: 3|3 → 3|4

Fae Guide looked like they could use some slightly better stats to help them be a bit more reliable in combat, and provide more realistic appeal to Ionia decks looking to capitalize on the effect.

Legion Rearguard

BASE STATS: 3|1 → 3|2

We’re reverting a previous change to Legion Rearguard that unfortunately had left him strictly worse than other cards over time. We’re making this change to support Noxus’s aggressive regional identity.

Sea Scarab

BASE STATS: 1|2 → 2|3

Like with Dreg Dredgers, we think Deep’s early game could use a boost. We wanted to respond to feedback by both making it less detrimental when generated, reinvigorating Deep strategies.

Esteemed Hierophant

CHANGE: When I’m summoned, advance your Buried Sun Disc 2 rounds. → When I’m summoned, advance your Buried Sun Disc 3 rounds.

Sun Disc decks are generally reliant on leveling up 2 Ascended champions to restore The Sun Disc. We want to give the Hierophant a minor adjustment allowing him to be a more meaningful inclusion in Shurima Decks revolving around the Sun Disc, allowing alternate paths to its countdown in some situations.

Callous Bonecrusher

BASE STATS: 6|3 → 6|4

Callous Bonecrusher’s stat profile is too off for serious consideration. We’re making this change to help in Expeditions, and potentially see more niche Normal game experimentation.

The Veiled Temple

CHANGE: Each round, the first time you play 2 other cards, refill 2 mana and grant your strongest ally +1|+1 → Each round, the first time you play 2 other cards, refill 2 mana and grant your strongest ally +1|+0

While we have liked to see some of our newer landmarks having legitimate competitive power, The Veiled Temple can snowball games in multiple directions. We’re removing the health buff from its trigger to allow players to attack or otherwise remove buffed units.

Moon Weapons

COST: 2 → 3

Our initial goal for Moon Weapons was to be slightly better than collectible cards of the same cost, similar to Celestials. However, the ability to Phase and recreate weapons was too easily achievable. We’re moving Aphelios’ weapons to 3 cost to lower their efficiency and slow down his payoffs.

Gifts from Beyond

COST: 2 → 1

We want to retain the current total cost of Gifts From Beyond considering it’s not creating Moon Weapons freely like Aphelios.