League of Legends’ newest champion, Mel Medarda, made her debut on January 23, 2025, to much fanfare. As the second original character from Arcane to join the Rift after her mother, Ambessa, Mel’s solar-themed kit promised unique gameplay opportunities.
However, just one day after her release, she reached a concerning 50.7% win rate, prompting Riot Games to issue a hotfix on January 24, 2025, to rebalance her. Here’s a breakdown of Mel’s initial reception, her overpowered kit, and the changes made in her hotfix.
Why Riot Hotfixed Mel
Players quickly identified Mel’s potential to dominate matches. While her W ability, Rebuttal, raised concerns with its reflective mechanics, the most problematic aspects were her other abilities:
- Radiant Volley (Q): A long-range, high-damage poke ability.
- Golden Eclipse (R): A powerful ultimate that dealt significant damage even without maxing her Overwhelm stacks.
- Searing Brilliance (Passive): Allowed Mel to execute minions efficiently, giving her a massive laning advantage.
These strengths made Mel a top-tier pick for early adopters, with her ban rate skyrocketing to 68.5% in Ranked Solo—making her the most-banned champion in League of Legends.
Details of Mel’s Hotfix
Riot Games introduced significant nerfs to address Mel’s overtuned power. Here are the key changes:
Searing Brilliance (Passive)
- Overwhelm Flat Damage AP Ratio: Reduced from 25% to 10%.
Radiant Volley (Q)
- Base Damage Per Tick: Adjusted from 13/16/19/22/25 to 13/15.5/18/20.5/23.
- Total Damage: Reduced from 78/112/152/198/250 to 78/108.5/144/184.5/230.
Golden Eclipse (R)
- Overwhelm Flat Damage Increase: Reduced from 65/80/95 + 25% AP to 60/70/80 + 10% AP.
- Ultimate Base Damage: Lowered from 125/175/225 + 40% AP to 100/150/200 + 30% AP.
Riot explained the changes were targeted at reducing Mel’s dominance, especially in her level 6–11 power curve, while avoiding excessive nerfs to her playability for casual players.
How Effective Was the Hotfix?
By January 26, Mel’s win rate in Ranked Solo dropped to 49.72%, placing her below mid-tier champions like Leona. While this is closer to Riot’s intended 50% balance point, it remains to be seen whether her nerfs will lead to further tweaks or even a shift in her meta role.
Despite her reduced win rate, Mel remains the most banned champion in League, with 68.5% of games excluding her from play—a stark contrast to Shaco, the second most-banned champion at 28.74%.
The Future of Mel in League of Legends
Mel’s initial dominance has subsided slightly, but her adaptability could lead to further experimentation. Some players suggest Riot might reposition her as a support champion, similar to Seraphine’s trajectory. For now, Mel enthusiasts are eager to explore her capabilities as a mid-lane powerhouse.
Whether her role evolves or stabilizes, one thing is clear: Mel Medarda is already leaving a lasting impression on the Rift, just as she did on Arcane.
Mel Arrives in League of Legends: What to Expect from the New Champion