LoL patch 25.05 notes: Lane swap punishment, Hextech Chests, Arena overhaul & more
League of Legends patch 25.05 is making some very controversial lane swap changes, something that has players concerned. However, there are several champion changes and a fresh take on the Arena mode coming along with this landmark patch.
Lane swapping, while somewhat present in normal LoL matches, was primarily a pro play issue. It allowed bot laners to skip the lane phase almost entirely and funnel gold toward the ADC for either team with very little risk.
This practice has made lane matchups much less important in League of Legends pro matches, prompting changes from the balance team to try and bring laning back. However, the way in which they’ve changed it has sparked some controversy. Not nearly at the level ofHextech Chests being removed, but up there.
Patch 25.04had a broader scope, but 25.05 is aimed mostly at high level/pro play. Aside from those Hextech Chest changes, that is.
Here are the full details behind lane swap changes, as well as every other detail you can expect to come with League of Legends patch 25.05.
LoL patch 25.05 notes
Lane Swap Punishment
In this patch, more than one non-jungler champion being in mid or top lane will drastically buff turrets. Here’s what that debuff does as well as the AoE in which it applies:
Ignore image, just got a more correct onepic.twitter.com/LjoyaZRK9s
These changes have the possible side effect of drastically changing normal matches with the removal of standard damage reduction on towers, as well as there being a chance pros wait to lane swap until the duration of the tower debuffs have run out to take advantage of reduced tower durability.
League of Legends patch 25.16 notes aim to make LoL less balanced
LoL patch 25.15 notes deliver a huge list of champion nerfs
League of Legends patch 25.14 notes: Kled rework & Yunara’s abilities explained
There are also concerns players will use this mechanic to grief matches. Phroxzon, LoL’s lead gameplay designer, has already claimed that players who abuse this system on purpose will be punished.
Hextech Chests return
After weeks of controversy, LoL’s devs haveconfirmed Hextech Chests are coming backin some capacity. They won’t be as easy to earn as before and won’t provide quite as many opportunities to earn free loot, but they’ll be a part of the Battle Pass system instead.
Additionally, there are some changes toBlue Essence comingthat’ll make it much easier to earn champions for new players, partially addressing the problems with earning champions that came with so many rapid changes to the way players earn things in LoL.
And, while it’s not in this patch, Riot has confirmed the Blue Essence Emporium and Your Shop will be coming back soon, 25.06 for Your Shop and 25.07 for the Emporium.
Drop rates for chests haven’t changed, and they’ll be taking the place of the free skin on the Battle Pass. Up to 10 chests will be earnable on each Battle Pass.
Atakhan Spawn Influence
Ruinous Atakhan rarely spawns, so changes are being made to the system to lower the kill requirement for this iteration of the boss to spawn, as well as detection on kills between tower lines being implemented to better influence which side of the map he spawns on.
Arena returns!
Arena is coming back to League of Legends with a whole bunch of bells and whistles, including a progression system that’ll reward the mode’s most dedicated players. Details on that will be located below the Summoner’s Rift patch notes.
Champion Changes
E: Lacerate
Base Stats:
R: Enchanted Crystal Arrow
E: The Weirding
R: Between Worlds
Q: Rupture
W: Feral Scream
E: Vorpal Spikes
Q: Neurotoxin (Human Form)
Q; Venomous Bite (Spider Form)
Passive: Dauntless Instinct
W: Path Maker
Passive:Iron Ambassador
Q: High Note
Q: Shattered Earth
E: Ixtal’s Impact
R: Eulogy of the Isles
Staff of Flowing Water
Yun Tal Wildarrows
Axiom Arcanist
Sixth Sense
Unflinching
Full Arena changes
A Fame system is being added that rewards players for not only grinding matches, but for good performance within games. Here’s a rundown of how to earn Fame:
Leveling up fame will add Augments to your pool and actually change the game amongst other rewards.
Two new features have also been added in champ select that allow you to spice up your arena experience.
As if all that wasn’t enough, the Arena maps will also look much different from before, and the mode will feature a Guests of Honor that drastically change the gameplay experience. Here’s what every guest of honor does:
