The third split of League of Legends’ 2024 season brings significant updates, including the much-anticipated return of the rune Lethal Tempo and key adjustments to Biscuit Delivery in Patch 14.19. Riot Games is gearing up to reintroduce and tweak the rune system, setting the stage for exciting meta shifts in the upcoming patch.
Lethal Tempo Returns in Patch 14.19
Patch 14.19 marks the beginning of the third split, and with it comes several gameplay changes. One of the most notable adjustments is the return of Lethal Tempo, a rune that was controversially removed in Patch 14.10 due to its overwhelming dominance.
At the time, it was prioritized by many champions, disrupting game balance and pushing Riot to take it out of the rune pool. However, after extensive changes to attack speed items, Riot has decided to bring Lethal Tempo back—this time with a reworked version that maintains its original essence but mitigates the previous problems.
The design team elaborated that the main issue with the old Lethal Tempo was its ability to allow players to bypass the need for attack speed items. With this new version, Riot aims to strike a balance between power and counterplay, ensuring it remains a viable but not overly oppressive option for champions.
Changes to Biscuit Delivery
In addition to the return of Lethal Tempo, Biscuit Delivery is also receiving a major update in Patch 14.19. The rune previously provided champions with free mana, giving them an easy way to sustain in the laning phase. This often led to scenarios where champions could endlessly poke and farm without worrying about resource management.
Riot’s planned changes will reduce Biscuit Delivery’s ability to provide free mana but will leave its health restoration intact. This change aims to make the rune less oppressive while still allowing for some degree of lane sustain.
New Lethal Tempo Rune Description
The reworked Lethal Tempo is designed to provide champions with a scalable attack speed bonus and adaptable damage:
- New Lethal Tempo: “Attacking an enemy champion grants (5% melee | 4% ranged) attack speed for 6 seconds, stacking up to 6 times. At full stacks, attacks also deal (9-30 melee | 6-24 ranged) bonus adaptive damage, which increases by 1% for every 1% bonus attack speed.”
This version encourages aggressive play while ensuring players still need to invest in attack speed items to unlock its full potential.
Key Takeaways from Patch 14.19
- Lethal Tempo Returns: After being removed in Patch 14.10, Lethal Tempo makes a comeback with a new rework focused on balanced attack speed scaling and adaptable damage.
- Biscuit Delivery Nerfs: Mana regeneration from Biscuit Delivery will be toned down, addressing its impact on resource management in the laning phase.
- Third Split Begins: Patch 14.19 signals the start of the third competitive split of the season, likely bringing meta shifts influenced by these rune changes.
Conclusion
Patch 14.19 brings exciting updates that will surely shake up League of Legends gameplay, particularly with the return of the controversial Lethal Tempo rune. As the third split of the season begins, players will need to adapt to the changes and find new strategies to take advantage of the updated runes.
LPL’s Stricter Salary Cap Sparks Concerns in the LoL Community