Patch 6.9 Summary of Minor Mage Updates

As a continuation to the major mage updates in patch 6.9, let's check out the rest of the mage updates as well. I promise this isn't one of those clickbait type articles where you have to jump through 10 pages just to see everything (I find those super obnoxious too). This is just to push through content as I finish, and also to keep the page manageably short for the majority of us with short attention spans.

Again, if I don't mention the spell, the changes weren't particularly interesting and probably just a slight numbers tweak.

Introduction

As a continuation to the major mage updates in patch 6.9, let's check out the rest of the mage updates as well. I promise this isn't one of those clickbait type articles where you have to jump through 10 pages just to see everything (I find those super obnoxious too). This is just to push through content as I finish, and also to keep the page manageably short for the majority of us with short attention spans.

Again, if I don't mention the spell, the changes weren't particularly interesting and probably just a slight numbers tweak.

Be sure to check out our freshly updated Patch 6.9 item change analysis as well!

"Minor" Mage Updates

Anivia

This one almost definitely looks like a nerf. I guess if you can hold an enemy in place for over 3 seconds it's a buff, but her main draw was definitely always her burst damage.

Q (Flash Frost): Stun duration increases with skill ups, and slow amount scales with R - Glacial Storm rank.

E (Frostbite): Moves much faster and the range is increased slightly, but overall should make it harder to E -> R combo

R (Glacial Storm): Increased cast range and 3 second expanding radiu to pre-change size. No longer slows attack speed, but damage and slows are increased by 50% at maximum size.

Annie

The changes on Annie's Tibbers are fairly interesting. He essentially gets Sion's passive if one of three things happen (listed below). The fact that Pyromania is also a bit more visible is a nerf to her, but a slight buff to players who are new to Annie.

Passive: Pyromania stacks are now displayed under Annie's health bar (similar to Jhin's bullets)

W (Incinerate): Range increased

E (Molten Shield): Gives percentage based damage reduction (16 to 40%) for 2.5 seconds. No longer gives resistances.

R (Summon: Tibbers): Tibbers can be commanded a little better, and can regenerate 6% of his max health every second once out of combat for at least 5 seconds. He also has a new enrage mechanic. Enraging allows him to gain 275% attack speed (he now has AP ratios on auto attacks) and 100% movespeed. The following allows him to enrage for 3 seconds:

1. Being summoned
2. Casting Pyromania (her passive) on a target
3. If Annie dies, Tibbers regains 50% of his missing health and targets Annie's killer or if he's too far, the lowest health champion instead.

Fiddlesticks

Overall I think it's definitely a buff to Fiddlesticks. His ultimate can now easily be smart casted, and won't accidently walk you out of the bush if you cast further than max range. His passive is also perfectly synced to the channel time, which allows him to be much more effective post-ulting before he needs Zhonya's. His drain bonus on Dark Wind is interesting, but I'm not sure how much impact it will really have. Personally I really like the Fiddlesticks buffs, but am definitely looking forward to banning him every game.

Passive: If Fiddlesticks doesn't move for 1.5 seconds, he gets bonus movespeed (25~40% based on level). His ultimate has a 1.5 second cast time.

Q (Terrify): Range is reduced

W (Drain): Cooldown begins at end of drain's channel and cooldown reduced. Overall buff if he's not doing full 5 second drains, and a buff regardless to his first two skill levels.

E (Dark Wind): More bounces (7) and prioritizes drained targets.

R (Crowstorm): Now casts at maximum range if cast out of range

Kennen

Kennen basically got the Gangplank treatment when it comes to his ultimate, and it now deals damage most consistently. However, the damage comes out slower and strikes all the targets in the area. Overall it seems like a buff to his level 6, but his rest of his abilities were all nerfed, so his early game will definitely suffer.

R (Slicing Maelstrom): Can now hit the same target more than three times per cast, but will not apply more than three passive mark of the storm stacks. The tick rate is also reduced, but now it hits every target in the area including minions and monsters.

Swain

The Swain reworks really didn't change him much, but he does feel a little more "updated" with the changes on his Q. His E also makes him much more consistent as it does a solid 20% at all ranks. Players may start maxing his Q rather than his E.

Passive: Higher mana regen on killing units.

Q (Decrepify): Swain's bird will fly to an AOE area and deals damage + slows for four seconds. If the target leaves or is killed, it now changes targets.

E (Torment): Deals less base damage, but AP ratio and damage amplification increased drastically.

R (Ravenous Flock): Reduced mana cost, increased number of ravens flying, decreased healing against minions,

Syndra

The changes on Syndra are actually really cool. She now has more sphere positioning power, which allows her to really maximize her potential stun power on her E (Scatter the Weak). It is strange how she'll need to max her Q and W to maximize the power on her E though. I love the range indicator on her W, which used to leave me missing many a time...

Passive: Dark Sphere bonus changed from damage to extra spheres, Force of will allows her to grab two extra spheres.

Q (Dark Sphere): AP Ratio increased slightly

W (Force of Will): Now shows maximum throw radius indicator

Veigar

The new changes on Veigar are insanely good if you're planning on being a lot more than a late game farming champ. It really allows him to scale up much harder mid-game, even if the enemy champion builds magic resist and denies him kills and farm. I'd expect to see a lot more of him soon, but he may need to build more mana items with his modified passive.

Passive: Gives him 1 AP every time he hits an enemy champion with an ability

Q (Baleful Strike): No longer grants AP on champion takedowns. Cost reduced

R (Primordial Burst): Now deals damage based on enemy's missing health

Viktor

Viktor's burst damage was reduced and his overall damage over time was increased. It seems like they intended for this to be a buff, but it does feel more like a nerf.

Q (Siphon Power): Lower early cooldown, higher damage, larger scaling base shield., lower empowered attack damage.

E (Death Ray): Reduced damage, increased laser speed, increased detonation delay.

R (Chaos Storm): Shorter duration, lower initial damage, higher damage over time with lower tick rate, higher overall damage.

Xerath 

Slight changes on his Q and E, but the major change is that he gets a zoom out when he ults like Jhin and more shots as he levels up. I'm a fan of this change.

R (Rite of the Arcane): Increased range, more shots as you level up, zooms out to give you better view of battlefield.

Ziggs

Holy beezes that's a big buff. His tower sieging abilities are now insanely good, and can instantly destroy turrets at 35% of their health or lower. However, that would mean maxing his Satchel Charge, which would be a bit strange. The ability to one shot turrets from 25% at level 1 is still really good though. Meanwhile, check out this potential tower sieging build guide just for fun!

Passive: Higher damage, more cooldown reduction on use

W (Satchel Charge) - OP: Can now be used on turrets to instantly destroy them if they're under 25~35% of their maximum health (scales with skill points)

R (Mega Inferno Bomb): No longer deals double damage to minions

Conclusions

Kind of a mixed bag of changes here, with a few that seem more like nerfs, despite Riot's official description of shifting power around. The major noteworthy ones here are Veigar and Ziggs, especially Ziggs' new W (Satchel Charge) ability, that one's BIG.

What do you think about these changes? Comment below!