TFT patch 12.5 is coming, and it’s a big one: Riot are shipping the first major Neon Nights balance changes following the Set 6.5 launch, targeting Rek’Sai, Jhin, Ahri, and more. We’ve got a full preview of the March update here, including the early patch notes.
Neon Nights has built on what Gizmos & Gadgets introduced in Set 6, and TFT patch 12.5 is here to finetune the wild west of balance in the aftermath.
It’s not the first update since Set 6.5 went live: Silco, Renata Glasc, Sivir, and the Hextech trait have all been nerfed as part of TFT patch 12.4b on February 22. However, it’s going to include some bigger changes Riot couldn’t push out within a week.
The big names being targeted? Rek’Sai, Jhin, Ahri, Zeri, Tryndamere, Twitch, Corki — more than 20 champions have been highlighted, as well as five traits and a slew of Augments. Here’s what we know about TFT patch 12.5.
Rek’Sai is a big target of Riot’s in TFT patch 12.5.
When is TFT patch 12.5?
TFT patch 12.5 is expected to roll out on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, right on time. Servers usually shut down at around 5am local time (depending on location), and open back up at 8am.
Oceania is the first region to get the patch, with notes typically dropping as the update starts in Australia. Then, the global rollout begins across the next 24 hours.
Fair warning: this patch will be live for longer than usual. With Riot taking a break in March, the next update won’t release for another four weeks on March 30, so expect some micro-patches between now and then.
Jhin is one of more than 20 champions with changes lined up in TFT patch 12.5.
What’s coming in TFT patch 12.5?
Riot gives love to Jhin, Arcanists as they fall off in Neon Nights
It’s like Andy in Toy Story — as soon as the new Neon Nights champions and traits came along, TFT players looked at units like Jhin and the Arcanist trait and said “I don’t want to play with you anymore”.
Jhin hasn’t been bad by any means, although he was outshone by Sivir and Irelia as premier four-cost carries before TFT patch 12.4b. Now, he’ll be getting a “slight” buff, along with common frontline pairing Braum, to help him out.
- Read More: TFT Gizmos & Gadgets Pass II details
Arcanists will also be getting some love as the AP comp fell off without Lux. Ahri is getting an “adjustment to make her easier and more satisfying to play”, which should help both Syndicate players and Arcanist players. Vex was also recently buffed in the b-patch, helping the cause.
Braum is also getting buffs to bring Bodyguards back into the meta.
Rek’Sai rework to tone back powerful three-trait two-cost
TFT players have maybe been having a bit too much fun with some of the new units in Neon Nights though. One of the most glaring examples is Rek’Sai. While she was nerfed in the February 22 update, Riot are keen to push ahead with a rework of the two-cost unit.
Her synergy with Sejuani — also a three-trait two-cost unit — has made the duo a powerful early game pairing on every board. She can also transition well as a late-game secondary carry alongside Kha’Zix in Mutant comps, without much counter.
Rek’Sai’s resistance shred and damage has already been hit, but Riot wants to “open up more defensive builds that aren’t hard countered by a flexible three-trait two-cost” with big changes in TFT patch 12.5.
They are doing this by removing her resistance shred and adjusting her scalings, putting extra emphasis on her healing rather than damage. She transforms into more of a drain tank through health rather than resistances as a result.
Corki is one of a few reroll carries getting some love in TFT patch 12.5.
Brand, Corki, Lucian reroll buffs
Some reroll comps have been outperforming others in Neon Nights — Twitch, Tryndamere, and Malzahar to name them.
Riot are looking at adjusting other reroll carries like Brand, Corki, and Lucian to try and give them a bit more power in the meta. Even Ashe is getting a look in at one and two-star, although those will more than likely help her in a Syndicate comp versus being a reroll carry.
- Read More: The best TFT Set 6.5 comps
On the flip side, the aforementioned trio of overachievers will all be nerfed to bring the strategy, and its carries, closer to parity.
Malzahar has dominated the Neon Nights meta so far with Mutant comps making a renaissance.
TFT patch 12.5 is set to go live on March 2. You can find the full list of changes below, which are currently in testing on the PBE (h/t Surrender@20).
TFT patch 12.5 notes
Champions
1-cost
Brand
- Spell damage: 120/160/210 ⇒ 135/175/235
- Bonus spell damage (Ablaze): 150/225/300 ⇒ 165/225/300
Jarvan IV
- Attack speed: 0.65 ⇒ 0.6
- Mana: 60/100 ⇒ 50/100
Nocturne
- Stun duration: 2/2.5/3.5 seconds ⇒ 2/2.5/3 seconds
- Bonus spell damage: 200/300/400 ⇒ 190/300/450
- Nocturne’s spell now correctly scales with AP
Twitch
- Spell AD scaling: 125/135/150% ⇒ 125/130/140%
- Spell base damage: 25/50/75 ⇒ 30/50/70
2-cost
Ashe
- Spell arrows: 6/7/8 ⇒ 8/8/8
- Spell range: Her range ⇒ Her range + 1 unit
Corki
- Spell damage: 200/260/333 ⇒ 220/275/350
Lulu
- Spell bonus health: 325/350/375 ⇒ 350/370/390
Rek’Sai
- Armor and magic resist: 40 ⇒ 45
- Spell damage no longer scales with AP
- Spell heal: 150/250/400 ⇒ 150/200/350
- Spell heal now scales with AP
- Resist steal removed
- [NEW] If Rek’Sai has already bit her target, she heals for 250/350/500 Health instead (scaling with AP)
3-cost
Ekko
- Mana: 80/120 ⇒ 60/120
Gnar
- Increased the range of Mega Gnar’s Boulder
Lucian
- Health: 650 ⇒ 700
- Armor and magic resist: 25 ⇒ 30
- Spell damage: 175/275/300 ⇒ 185/295/315
Malzahar
- Spell damage: 625/875/1050 ⇒ 600/825/950
Morgana
- Spell shield: 425/550/750 ⇒ 500/600/700
Tryndamere
- Spell base spin damage: 60/90/150 ⇒ 50/75/100
4-cost
Ahri
- Mana: 0/50 ⇒ 30/50
- Angle between orbs: 20 degrees ⇒ 10 degrees
Alistar
- Spell damage: 200/350/1200 ⇒ 150/250/1000
Braum
- Stun duration: 1.75/2.25/8 seconds ⇒ 2/2.75/8 seconds
Draven
- Range: 3 ⇒ 4
- Now has innate 25% Armor ignore
- VIP Armor ignore bonus: 50% ⇒ 25%
Jhin
- Spell AD scaling: 150/200/300% ⇒ 175/200/300%
Kha’Zix
- Ability renamed to Void Assault
Vi
- Spell damage: 150/225/450 ⇒ 125/200/450
- Third cast damage: 300/400/900 ⇒ 250/350/900
5-cost
Galio
- Spell max HP scaling: 5% ⇒ 6%
Tahm Kench
- Damage on CC immune targets: 33% ⇒ 50%
Traits
Bodyguard
- Starting shield: 150/350/700/1200 ⇒ 200/400/800/2000
Chemtech
- Damage reduction: 20% ⇒ 15%
Enchanter
- Magic resistance: 20/35/50/75 ⇒ 25/45/70/100
- Heal and shield power: 25/40/60/100% ⇒ 25/45/70/100%
Enforcer
- Stun duration: 4 seconds ⇒ 3 seconds
Innovator
- Innovator 7 Crit Chance: 75% ⇒ You will always Crit if you are able (not against Bramble)
- Innovator 7 Spell Crit damage increase: 10% ⇒ 25%
- Innovator 7 Lightning Damage: 500 ⇒ 600
Twinshot
- Bonus AD: 10/25/40/60 ⇒ 10/25/45/80
Augments
Battle Mage I / II / III
- Bonus AP: 30/45/60 ⇒ 25/35/50
- Can’t be offered if you are playing 2+ Snipers
Chemtech Unity
- Tier: Tier 1 (Silver) ⇒ Tier 2 (Gold)
Concussive Blows
- Tier: Tier 1 (Silver) ⇒ Tier 2 (Gold)
- Cooldown: 7 seconds ⇒ 6 seconds
Cybernetic Implants III
- Health: 450 ⇒ 350
Disintegrator I / II / III
- Bonus damage: 2/3/4% ⇒ 1.5/2.5/4%
Dominance
- Can only appear if you are on a 2+ Win Streak
Double Trouble I / II / III
- Bonus stats: 40/50/65 ⇒ 35/45/60
Electrocharge I / II / III
- Damage: 90/135/180 ⇒ 60/100/160
Four Score
- Four cost champions given: 3 ⇒ 4
Golden Gifts
- Can only appear at Stage 3-3
Knife’s Edge I / II / III
- Can’t be offered if you are playing
- 2+ Arcanists
- 2+ Scholars
- 2+ Snipers
- 2+ Enchanters
Luden’s Echo I / II / III
- Spell damage: 135/200/275 ⇒ 100/150/200
High Five
New Tier 3 (Prismatic) Augment
- Gain five random 5-cost champions
- Can only appear at Stage 4-6
Second Wind III
- Removed
Swift Justice
- Renamed to True Justice
Tiny Titans
- Health granted: 35 ⇒ 40
Treasure Trove I / II
- Treasure Trove I / II can only appear at Stage 1-4
- Treasure Trove III unchanged from 1-4 and 3-3
Tri Force I / II / III
- Can only appear if you have 2+ three-cost champions in play
Woodland Trinket
- Clone Health: 250 ⇒ 300
Items
Bramble Vest
- Crit damage reduction: 100% ⇒ 75%
- Reflect damage: 60/80/120 ⇒ 75/100/150
Brink of Dawn (Radiant Edge of Night)
- Health threshold: 25% ⇒ 30%
Covalent Spark (Radiant Ionic Spark)
- Max mana as damage: 300% ⇒ 275%
Edge of Night
- Health threshold: 50% ⇒ 60%
Mistral (Radiant Zephyr)
- Banish duration: 10 seconds ⇒ 8 seconds
Statikk Shiv
- Damage: 70 ⇒ 60
Sunfire Cape (Radiant Sunfire Aegis)
- Burn over 30 seconds: 120% max health ⇒ 90% max health
The Collector
- Gold drop chance: 50% ⇒ 60%
Zhonya’s Paradox
- AP: 45 ⇒ 50
- Armor and magic resist: 35 ⇒ 50
- Invulnerability duration: 2.5 seconds ⇒ 3 seconds
Systems
Tome of Traits
Breakpoints slightly nerfed.
- 0-5 traits on board: 0 tailored Emblems
- 6-7 traits on board: 1 tailored Emblem
- 8-9 traits on board: 2 tailored Emblems
- 10-11 traits on board: 3 tailored Emblems
- 12+ traits on board: 4 tailored Emblems
Other
Double Up
- Team chat is here! Chat now defaults to partner only; use /all to send messages to the whole lobby.
Hyper Roll
- Fixed an issue where players would sometimes get fewer than the intended minimum number of components from PvE rounds.
Bug fixes
- Stacking the Tri Force II and III augments will now grant the proper amount of Mana
- Recombobulator now spawns its Magnetic Removers in the top left corner like other augments that grant loot
- Archangel’s Embrace II has been renamed to Archangel’s Embrace since there is only one tier
- Radiant Banshee’s Claw’s tooltip now specifies that it blocks up to 600 Ability damage, similar to normal Banshee’s Claw
- Fixed a bug where Tahm Kench would still “consume” and deal damage over time to units affected by Silco’s Unstable Concoction without actually consuming and disabling them
- Enforcer no longer detains units with Radiant Quicksilver or units affected by Radiant Zephyr
- Warwick with Mutant Emblem no longer deals more damage than intended
- Fixed an issue where Yordle Mana costs would not always update immediately as players switched between Yordle 3 and Yordle 6
- Tahm Kench no longer stuns and deals damage to enemies who escaped his stomach with Edge of Night
- Fixed an issue where Cho’Gath’s Colossus Health bonus would not activate the first time the Cho’Gath is placed onto the board.
- Silco will no longer cast Unstable Concotion on a target that’s in Tahm Kench’s stomach
- Luden’s Echo will no longer deal 0 damage the first time a unit is put on the board
- Hextech, Debonair, or Striker trait augments can no longer be offered after picking Built Different
- Innovator Soul will now properly appear in the game
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