Comprehensive guide to LoL patch 15.2 featuring new champion Mel Medarda, Atakhan adjustments, and Blue Essence improvements
Patch Overview and Key Changes
League of Legends patch 2025.S1.2 introduces substantial modifications to Noxus map mechanics while bringing significant champion adjustments and the highly anticipated arrival of Mel Medarda.
The 2025 competitive season launches with rapid developer responses to emerging balance concerns, with patch 15.2 specifically designed to recalibrate several overpowered elements introduced in the new season. This update focuses on refining the Noxus map dynamics while integrating Mel Medarda from the Arcane universe.
Mel Medarda represents a natural addition to League’s champion roster, continuing her mother’s legacy while introducing unique mechanics that reflect her strategic genius from the Arcane series. Her arrival marks the first major champion release of season 2025.
Scheduled for deployment on January 23, Riot Games has finalized the comprehensive changes players will encounter, featuring numerous impactful adjustments across multiple game systems.
This complete analysis covers every significant modification in LoL patch 2025.S1.2 (also identified as patch 15.2).
Atakhan Balance Adjustments
Atakhan receives comprehensive modifications affecting form appearance frequency, accompanied by reward reductions for both forms. Riot’s design team explained their analytical approach:
“Following extensive player data collection and preliminary professional play observations, we’re implementing adjustments to Atakhan’s Form determination mechanics, alongside moderate Bloody Roses nerfs.
“Average skill bracket players will encounter Voracious Atakhan more frequently, while competitive environments may experience increased Ruinous appearances; both form rewards receive reductions, with Voracious experiencing substantially heavier nerfs.”
The technical implementation details include:
Threshold in Normal/Ranked Games: Reduced by around 20%
Threshold in Swiftplay Games: Reduced by around 20%
Points per Champion Kill: Reduced by a major amount
Points from Champion Damage: Unchanged
Points Increase when Alone: 1.85x Melee | 1.65x Ranged = Unchanged
Swiftplay Points Increase when Alone: 1.85x Melee & 1.65x Ranged > 2x Melee & 1.75x Ranged
Gold granted for triggering the Withdraw effect: 100 Gold > 200 Gold
Adaptive Force Per Rose: Formula decays slightly faster (Subsequent petals are worth the minimum at 34 rather than 39 stacks)
Strategic Insight: These changes encourage more aggressive early game positioning in solo lanes, particularly for melee champions who benefit from the increased isolation multipliers in Swiftplay mode. The gold increase for Withdraw triggers makes disengagement tactics more economically viable.
Blue Essence Economy Overhaul
Riot addressed widespread community feedback regarding Blue Essence distribution with substantial Battle Pass enhancements in this update.
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Increasing the total Blue Essence from Milestones from 4750 to 9000 (starting with Act 2)
Adding a one-time compatible mission for 4250 BE to make up for the difference in Act 1. (Live with this patch, until the end of this Act)
Increasing Blue Essence from repeatable milestones from 50 to 750 BE. (Live with this patch)
Players focused on champion acquisition who have completed previous Battle Pass iterations will now earn fifteen times more currency through the updated system.
While these improvements alleviate Blue Essence distribution concerns, they don’t compensate for the removal of complimentary Hextech Chests. This continues the ongoing community discussion about universal champion accessibility.
Pro Tip: Focus on completing repeatable milestones during double XP events to maximize your Blue Essence acquisition. The 15x multiplier makes these milestones significantly more valuable for building your champion collection.
New Champion: Mel Medarda
Mel Medarda makes her League debut this patch! Consult our comprehensive ability guide for detailed mechanics. Early gameplay footage suggests she’ll establish a powerful presence in the meta.
Passive: Serpentine Grace
Triumphant Move Speed per level: Decreased from 6 to 5
Default Serpentine Grace Move Speed unchanged
Movement speed increased: 30% > 30-50%
Unempowered AP Ratio: (+65% AP) > (+75% AP)
Empowered AP Ratio: (+156% AP)⇒(+180% AP)
Minimum Damage: 10/25/40/55/70 (+40% Total AD) > 10/20/30/40/50 (+40% Total AD)
Maximum Damage: 30/75/120/165/210 (+120% Total AD) > 30/60/90/120/150 (+120% Total AD)
Damage: 80/125/170/215/260 (+80% AP) > 70/110/150/190/230 (+80% AP)
Damage: 125/250/375 (+70% AP) > 125/200/275 (+70% AP)
Gameplay Analysis: Mel’s kit emphasizes mobility and scaling damage potential. The increased AP ratios reward building heavy ability power items, while the movement speed adjustments enhance her positioning flexibility in team fights. Her skill ceiling appears substantial, with empowered ability usage separating average from exceptional players.
Champion Balance Changes
Passive: The Darkin Scythe
Shadow Assassin Bonus Magic Damage: 15-45% (based on level) > 25-45% (based on level)
Voidling damage now updates when Malzahar levels up
Updated tooltip to show total Voidling attack damage
AD growth per level: 2.5 > 2.8
On-hit True Damage: 20/25/30/35/40 (+30% Bonus AD) > 20/25/30/35/40 (+35% Bonus AD)
Q: Super Scorcher Breath
Damage scales up to Critical Strike Multiplier based on Critical Strike Chance, allowingSmolder’s Q to benefit from Infinity Edge.
Damage: 80/130/180/230/280 (+Passive) > 75/120/165/210/255 (+Passive)
Empowered Attack Bonus Damage: 20/45/70/95/120 (+100% AD) (+60% AP) > 20/45/70/95/120 (+100% AD) (+50% AP)
Damage per tick: 65/105/145 (+45% AP) > 65/105/145 (+35% AP)
Passive: Feline Friendship
Heal: 25-110 (based on level) (+15% AP) > 25-110 (based on level) (+25% AP)
Cooldown: 20-10(based on level) (by level 11) > 20-8 (based on level) (by level 13)
Damage: 75/100/125 (+20% AP) > 75/125/175 (+25% AP)
Max Damage over 5 waves: 75-250 (+40% AP) > 75-350 (+50% AP)
Sona
- Passive Max Stack Ability Haste: 60 > 30
- Q Cooldown: 8 > 10
- W Cooldown: 10 > 13
- W Heal: 30/45/60/75/90 (+30%AP) > 45/60/70/80/90 (+20% AP)
- W Shield: 25/45/65/85/105 (+25% AP) > 65/75/85/95/105 (+20% AP)
- Removed Damage, Damage Taken, Heal, Shield, and Ability Haste nerfs
Sett
- W Max Health Storage: 50% > 40%
- Q Bonus Speed: 30% > 35%
- Removed Damage, Damage Taken, Heal, and Shield Nerfs
Karma
- RQ Bonus Magic Damage: 40/100/160/220 (+30% AP) > 40/90/140/190
Kai’Sa
Soraka
Balance Impact: Sona’s significant cooldown increases reduce her spam potential in lane, while Sett’s adjustments make his trading patterns more predictable. Karma’s late-game damage sees notable reduction, potentially shifting her from primary damage source to utility focus. The Soraka ability haste addition significantly boosts her healing output in extended fights.
Item and System Updates
Total Gold Cost: 3000 Gold > 3100 Gold
Armor Penetration: 35% > 40%
Total Gold Cost: 3200 Gold > 3300 Gold
Armor Penetration: 30% > 35%
Attack Damage: 50 > 55
Attack Speed: 25% > 35%
Total Gold Cost: 2900 Gold > 3000 Gold
Trinket Haste for each Memento: 4 (2 for Summoner Haste) > 6 (3 for Summoner Haste)
Yellow Trinket Duration: 30-120s (based on average champion level) > 45-150s (based on average champion level)
Cooldown: 300s Melee / 360s Ranged > 275s Melee / 350s Ranged
Bonus Gold Generation Mechanics
We’re modifying how additional gold from champion abilities interacts with comeback mechanics and bounty calculations. These gold sources now:
Are increased by your own rubberbanding.
Do not contribute to enemy rubberbanding.
Do not count when calculating your own rubberbanding.
List of abilities affected:
Q Damage: 60/100/140/180/220 > 60/95/130/165/200
Slow: 26/32/38/44/50% > 26/30/34/38/42%
Armor Growth: 4.7 > 4.2
W Damage: 5-64.5 (based on level) (+12/14/16/18/20) (+20% Bonus AP) > 5-64.5 (based on level) (+12/14/16/18/20) (+15% Bonus AP)
R Damage: 125/200/275 (+80% AP) > 125/200/275 (+60% AP)
Attack Speed Growth: 3%⇒2.4%
E Damage: 50/90/130/170/210 (+50% Bonus AD) > 50/90/130/170/210 (+70% Bonus AD)
Health Growth: 104 > 110
Attack Damage Growth: 3 > 3.5
Q Damage over 2 seconds: 40/60/80/100/120 (+85% AP) > 40/60/80/100/120 (+75% AP)
Attack Speed Growth: 2% > 2.5%
R Damage: 200/350/450 (+50% AP) > 200/300/400 (+45%)
Attack Speed Growth: 2.9%⇒2.2%
Armor Growth: 5 > 4.5
Q Damage: 25/70/115/160/205 (+70% Total AD) > 25/65/105/145/185 (+70% Total AD)
E 8 hit Damage Amp: 20% > 15%
Passive Damage: 15-75 (based on level) (+20% AP) > 15-75 (based on level) (+15% AP)
Itemization Strategy: The armor penetration increases on core items make them more attractive against tank-heavy compositions, while the trinket duration extensions provide substantial vision control advantages for coordinated teams.
ARURF Mode Returns
ARURF makes its seasonal return! This iteration utilizes the Noxus map with all current seasonal modifications and systems, incorporating specific adjustments to accommodate URF’s accelerated gameplay pace.
EUW, EUN, RU, TR and ME1: 8am PT, January 23rd, 2025
ALL other Riot regions (OCE, JP, NA, LAN, LAS, BR, KR, VN, TW, PH, TH, SG): 12pm PT time, January 23rd, 2025
URF Strategy: The Noxus map mechanics create unique opportunities for rapid objective control. Focus on champions with strong early game presence and mobility to capitalize on the accelerated gold and experience gains. The reduced cooldowns make skillshot-dependent champions particularly potent in this mode.
Mythic Shop Rotation
New Additions to Mythic Shop:
Prestige Mythmaker Cassiopeia
Prestige MythmakerSivir
Prestige Porcelain Lissandra
Prestige Heavenscale Ezreal
Prestige Ocean Song Seraphine
Prestige Mecha Kingdom Garen
Firecracker Vayne Prestige Edition
Crystalis Motus Leona
Porcelain Lissandra (Golden Tiger)
Heavenscale Ezreal (Lustrous)
Mythmaker Sivir (Gilded)
Firecracker Vayne (Golden Tiger)
Crystalis Motus Leona (Reclaimed)
Mythmaker Galio (Gilded)
Mythmaker Garen (Gilded)
Mythmaker Irelia (Gilded)
Mythmaker Zyra (Gilded)
Heavenscale Wealth Icon
Heavenscale Prosperity Icon
Mecha Kingdoms 2020 Icon
Lunar Revel 2022 Icon
Heavenscale Focus Icon
Mecha Kingdoms 2020 Ward
Lunar Revel 2023 Ward
Leaving the Mythic shop:
Kabooooom! Nexus Finisher
Prestige Soul Fighter Pyke
Prestige Heartsteel Yone
Prestige True DamageYasuo
Ashen Conqueror Pantheon
Mysterious Arcane Ward
Winterblessed Diana (Wreathguard) Chroma + Icon
Winterblessed Shaco (Wreathguard) Chroma + Icon
Winterblessed Swain (Wreathguard) Chroma + Icon
Winterblessed Warwick (Wreathguard) Chroma + Icon
Winterblessed Zilean (Wreathguard) Chroma + Icon
Winterblessed Zoe (Wreathguard) Chroma + Icon
Arcane Heimerdinger Icon
Winterblessed 2023 Mythic Essence Icon
Lunar Revel 2024 Mythic Essence Icon
High Noon 2024 Mythic Essence Icon
MSI Empyrean 2024 Mythic Essence Icon
Anima Squad 2024 Mythic Essence Icon
Worlds 2024 Mythic Essence Icon
Collection Strategy: The Prestige Mythmaker skins represent some of the most visually distinctive cosmetics added recently. Prioritize acquiring limited-time Prestige editions before they rotate out, as their rarity typically increases significantly between shop appearances.
Bug Fixes and Quality Improvements
Fixed an issue where Prestige Masque of the Black Rose Katarina was not granting the Prestige Border Icon. Players that have already earned this reward on the Battle Pass will be automatically granted the Border Icon.
Fixed an issue that allowed extra bonus gold from the Cash Back rune in Swiftplay.
Fixed an issue where a drake would sometimes be targetable or attackable during their spawn in animation in Swiftplay.
Fixed an issue that caused 0g bounties to display in Swiftplay.
Fixed an issue where Baron would spawn slightly out of place. Dashes that previously worked on Baron from over the wall like Diana’s E should once again work as expected.
Fixed an issue where various champions’ channels were not cancelled when entering Atakhan’s: False Life revive state. We haven’t fixed all the interactions like this just yet but we’re working through reproducing them and fixing them as we can.
Fixed an issue that caused Naafiri’s or Yorick’s pets to remain at their location before a teleport.
Fixed an issue that caused Ornn’s Passive to cancel Teleport.
Fixed an issue that caused various champions’ abilities to not decrease the cooldowns on their R while using Axiom Arcanist.
Fixed an issue where using Teleport with Zilean would cause increased passive cast time.
Fixed an issue where when using Unsealed Spellbook if Teleport duration was longer than 5 seconds, your summoner spell wouldn’t swap back.
Fixed an issue that allowed the use of summoner spells while in the Atakhan revive state.
Fixed an issue that caused Dr. Mundo and Zilean to not gain additional healing when using Axiom Arcanist.
Fixed an issue that caused Karma’s RQ combo to not trigger Axiom Arcanist.
Fixed an issue that caused Ivern’s passive to have an increased cast time when using Teleport.
Fixed an issue that caused Hextech Drake’s auto attacks to be invisible.
Fixed an issue that caused Sion to sometimes not receive the Homeguard buff.
Fixed an issue that caused Tower Ranges to be slightly off. Try to outrange the tower now, Caitlyn.
Fixed an issue that caused Bloodletter’s Curse to not apply to multiple target dummies at once.
Fixed an issue that caused the client to crash after disconnecting.
Fixed an issue that allowed players to buy upgraded boots despite not completing all feats.
Fixed an issue that caused Rek’Sai’s model to become invisible if she dies during her R channel with Atakahn’s Revive.
Fixed an issue that caused Forever Forward Boots to lose empowered Recall.
Fixed an issue that caused Crimson Lucidity-Ionian Insight’s passive to not grant the correct amount of Summoner Spell Haste.
Fixed an issue where Annie’s Q would go on cooldown when killing a target with a different ability.
Fixed an issue where the Blood Rose minimap icon would sometimes linger permanently.
Fixed an issue where the Feat banner icons sometimes displayed with a lower resolution.
Fixed an issue where pinging Feats would not have SFX.
Fixed an issue where if Teleporting to a unit and it dies the Teleport would be lost.
Fixed an issue where Drake announcements would display twice.
Fixed an issue where duplicate items would display in a Collection.
Fixed an issue where Ambessa’s Passive would ignore Dodge or Blind.
Fixed an issue where the Magic Resist from Rumble’s E would not increase by 50% in Danger Zone.
Fixed an issue that caused Zoe’s W to display the old summoner spell icons.
Fixed an issue that caused the Feat announcement icon to display when an enemy team progresses a Feat.
Fixed an issue that caused Scorch or Lethal Tempo to deal unintended extra damage.
Fixed an issue that caused some Debug text to appear in Teleport’s tooltip.
Fixed an issue that caused Malzahar’s E to not grant Bloodletter’s Curse stacks.
Fixed an issue where Atakhan’s UI elements would sometimes be out of bounds of the UI in spectator view.
Fixed an issue where Atakhan’s Objective Timer would not display in spectator view.
Fixed an issue where Aurora’s Battle Bunny skin’s E VFX would not match the hitbox.
Fixed an issue that caused Atakhan’s scoreboard to not be aligned.
Fixed an issue that caused pets to not trigger Shojin or Malignance consistently.
Quality Note: These fixes address numerous gameplay inconsistencies that affected champion performance and visual clarity. The resolution of teleport-related issues particularly benefits strategic play and objective control.
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » LoL patch 2025.S1.2 patch notes: Mel Medarda added, Atakhan & Blue Essence changes, Kayn buffs & more Comprehensive guide to LoL patch 15.2 featuring new champion Mel Medarda, Atakhan adjustments, and Blue Essence improvements
