Riot Games has unveiled upcoming changes to Kai’Sa in the Public Beta Environment (PBE) for League of Legends, aiming to enhance her Ability Power (AP) build in the 14.17 patch.
As one of the most versatile champions in both ranked and professional play, Kai’Sa is set to experience a significant shift in how she is played, particularly in her AP-centric builds.
Kai’Sa’s Evolving Role in League of Legends
Since her release, Kai’Sa has been a hybrid champion, capable of building both Attack Damage (AD) and Ability Power. This versatility has made her a popular choice across various levels of play. However, the upcoming changes in patch 14.17 may tilt the balance in favor of her AP build, providing new opportunities for players to explore different strategies.
Changes to Kai’Sa in Patch 14.17
The changes introduced in the PBE focus on Kai’Sa’s W ability, Void Seeker, which is a crucial component of her AP build. Here’s a breakdown of the changes:
- Void Seeker (W) Evolution: The ability will now pierce through enemies, allowing it to hit multiple targets, as opposed to the current version that stops at the first enemy hit.
- Trade-off Adjustment: To balance this buff, Void Seeker will no longer reduce its cooldown upon hitting an enemy, preventing players from exploiting its passive plasma mark activation solely with the W ability.
- AP Scaling and Evolution Requirement: The scaling of Void Seeker with Ability Power remains intact, and the requirement of 100 AP to evolve the ability ensures that players still need to invest in AP items to unlock its full potential.
Implications for Kai’Sa’s Gameplay
These changes could redefine how Kai’Sa is built and played, especially in competitive environments. The ability to pierce through multiple enemies with Void Seeker offers significant poke potential and could lead to new team fight dynamics. However, the loss of cooldown reduction might require players to rethink their strategy, particularly in timing their engages and pokes.
Balancing the New AP Build
One of the key questions following these changes is whether Kai’Sa’s new AP build will be stronger or weaker than her current hybrid playstyle. Traditionally, Kai’Sa’s hybrid build has combined Guinsoo’s Rageblade with Nashor’s Tooth, offering a mix of AP and AD that capitalizes on her on-hit effects.
The upcoming changes could make the AP build more viable, but it remains to be seen how it will compare to the hybrid build in terms of overall effectiveness.
What This Means for the Meta
The potential buff to Kai’Sa’s AP build could have far-reaching implications for the League of Legends meta. If the changes make her AP build more dominant, we could see a shift in her itemization and playstyle, with players opting for items like Luden’s Echo, Zhonya’s Hourglass, and Rabadon’s Deathcap over the traditional AD items.
This change could also impact Kai’Sa’s positioning in drafts, with teams potentially prioritizing her more highly in certain compositions.
When Will These Changes Go Live?
While the changes are currently available in the PBE, there is no guarantee they will make it to the live servers without further tweaks. Riot Games typically monitors the impact of such changes in the PBE and may adjust them based on player feedback and performance data before the official release of patch 14.17. Players should keep an eye on the pre-patch notes for the final details.
Key Takeaways
- AP Build Buff: Kai’Sa’s Void Seeker ability will now pierce through enemies, potentially boosting her AP build’s viability.
- Gameplay Adjustments: The removal of cooldown reduction on hitting enemies with Void Seeker will require players to adapt their playstyle.
- Meta Implications: If the changes go live, Kai’Sa could see a resurgence in her AP build, potentially influencing the overall game meta.
Final Recommendations
For players looking to maximize Kai’Sa’s potential in patch 14.17, experimenting with the new AP build in the PBE is essential. Understanding the nuances of the piercing Void Seeker and its impact on team fights will be key to mastering this new iteration of the champion.
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