League of Legends Patch Notes show the introduction of new Daarkin Champion Zaahen, as well as the reintroduction of the Winter Map and other balance updates heading into a busy end of year post Pro Play. The reintroduction of a Viktor skin more fitting of his original lore is a personal favourite, along with many thematic skins becoming available in this time for all the cosmetic lovers.
Arena and ARAM Mayhem also get some love with Patch Changes, and Riot is clearly making an effort to make the non-Summoner’s Rift gamemodes more frequent and a bigger emphasis this year with the content that has been circulating seasonally.
New Champion: Zaahen
A physical Bruiser, Zaahen fits the mold of overloaded and ridiculous overpowered Champions on recent launch. Those keeping up with the story will know how Xin Zhao basically got absorbed by Zaahen and it can be seen with his abilities using a glaive with knockups and Crowd Control, along with Daarkin traits that are somewhat resembling fellow Top Laner Aatrox.
The contentious thing about Zaahen is that he needs to be kited or his passive stacks allow him to self revive, but he has a lot of CC in his abilities and a pull that will make fighting him outside his terms much more difficult. Gap closers can be reacted to with movement but a pull and knock ups are more about getting hit with something and being doomed to fight on Zaahen’s terms. Also, he obviously has in built sustain… because… obviously.
His Passive is the most overloaded part of his kit in that he gains bonus AD while in combat, and at Max stacks, he resurrects himself. This makes him a good tower diver and drastically dangerous to all in. With CC and some bulkiness, he also does well in skirmishes and teamfights, and his Ultimate being AOE is a great engage tool if needed.
Overall, he can choose to short trade on his own terms but ressurects himself in all in scenarios which makes him one of the best laners, and has enough CC that he has utility even when behind. It is miserable playing against him, especially as most melee Champion.
Patch Note Changes
In terms of Champions, ADC and Jungle are getting quite the shake up, while Top Lane has a new bully in town with Zaahen being added to the roster. The Rune Page got a major update over the two Patches in November and will change a lot of the choices of Rune and Shards around the fringes, although it probably won’t affect the majority of players.
Champion Buffs
The buffed Champions include:
- Aatrox
- Ahri
- Ambessa
- Aurelion Sol
- Blitzcrank
- Cho’gath
- Jayce
- Jhin
- Malphite
- Miss Fortune
- Ornn
- Riven
- Sion
- Skarner
- Swain
- Tristana
- Volibear
- Xayah
- Yone
- Zeri
The Aurelion Sol buffs could be quite massive as movement speed is generally the strongest stat in the game, and his ability to dodge increasing should make him more manageable. The Q buff feels more placebo as he does no damage early and he already killed squishies instantly late. Also, buffing Blitzcrank is always a dangerous thing as when that Champion is OP, it makes bot game one of the most frustrating lanes to play.
A crisis averted. A legacy earned. A sacrifice that will never be forgotten 🍂 Season 3: Trials of Twilight concludes, as the next story is about to begin… pic.twitter.com/zSeCvnJEI8
— League of Legends (@LeagueOfLegends) November 19, 2025
25.23 Buffs
The 25.23 Patch shows ADC’s like MF, Jhin and Tristana also buffed to shakeup the marksman meta, while others such as Malphite and Cho have their Monster Modifiers tweaked.
This makes the meme of top lane champions becoming better junglers than native junglers more and more true with every patch that drops. Outside the marksman and monster modifiers, the additional buffs, especially like those to Volibear, seem excessive and quite frustrating.
Rune powerups and oppressive Mid Laners getting bonked in 25.22.
Champion Nerfs
The nerfed Champions include:
- Akshan
- Ashe
- Caitlyn
- Hwei
- Jinx
- Kai’sa
- Leblanc
- Rek’sai
- Talon
- Vladimir
As a midlaner, it just made me snort a little to see Akshan, Leblanc and Talon in the nerf list of 25.22, with my inner monologue snidely thinking it was completely deserved. Akshan and Leblanc are the pillars of early game oppression where they’re the ultimate AD and AP Midlaners that can apply pressure and just win trades in an almost unfair fashion early.
Talon just does Talon stuff like leaping over walls or 100-0’ing any squishy with his Ult and it is honestly hard to not feel frustrated by these highly snowball dependent champions as they have kits designed to do so even against the safest laning philosophies.
Season's greetings from a snowbound wonderland. Winter Wonder Zeri, Winter Wonder Milio, Reindeer Smolder, and Prestige Winterblessed Mel arrive in the shop in Patch 25.24 pic.twitter.com/fEOyH8iTsF
— League of Legends (@LeagueOfLegends) November 18, 2025
25.23 Nerfs
Patch 25.23 saw a lot of ADC nerfs, particularly the ones popular in both Pro and solo queue such as Ashe, Caitlyn, Jinx and Kai’sa being brought down a peg to probably even out and attempt to change the meta in bot.
The thing is, these Champions are good because of a mixture of their range, passives and abilities, and even if they tune the numbers around the Champions, unless they turn them completely useless, the idea of their kits make them more useful and omnipresent rather than the numbers they always adjust around these champions.
25.23 focuses on Jungle and ADC changes.
Adjusted Champions
The adjusted Champions include:
- Dr. Mundo
- Fizz
- Mel
- Skarner
- Volibear
The adjustments to Skarner and Voli should be net buffs. Skarner was probably not popular because he pretty much did zero damage despite being virtually unkillable with a few items. Long uptime and no damage is unsatisfying despite being a tank, so it probably incentivises a larger player base.
Voli has some numbers tweaks but it’s doubtful that Voli had a problem sticking to his opponents especially with his tendency to build Cosmic Drive so it should probably also land as a net buff.
25.23 Adjustments
The Mundo and Fizz are generally nothing burgers but Fizz is probably deceptively good as a mid laner now, and even if he loses lane, he still has the option of abandoning lane and ganking another to catch up in the toxic way most assassins have the option to do when they lose lane. Hint Riot, this is why Assassins should always be on the weak end of the scale.
The Mel changes should make the community happy as her root is much weaker, especially as it levels, although you’ll probably see every assassin and Mage player under the Sun still complaining.
hello again old friend pic.twitter.com/FXwVLT3dwd
— League of Legends (@LeagueOfLegends) November 19, 2025
Item and Rune Reworks
The item and rune reworks include:
- Phase Rush
- Biscuit Delivery
- Cash Back
- Guardian
- Hail of Blades
- Legend: Bloodline
- Movement and Tenacity Shard
- Nimbus Cloak
- Sunfire Aegis
- Triple Tonic
In terms of Biscuits being nerfed, it makes sense as everyone was running it and now the alternative option of Cashback is being buffed to even out the scales. The other Runes such as the nerf to Phase Rush or buffs to Guardian seem to be pushing in the right direction.
Hail of Blades didn’t need a buff but got one, and Triple Tonic also seems an alternative option that can be usable.
Sunfire gaining Monster Damage will help Tank Junglers who build armour, making it a viable first item if they so choose.
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