Riot wants to shift power on Lucian from mid to bot on patch 11.17

League of Legends patch 11.17 introduces transformative adjustments specifically targeting Lucian’s lane positioning within the competitive meta. Riot Games has identified an opportunity to recalibrate the champion’s power distribution between solo and duo lanes.

Historically, Lucian maintained consistent presence in mid lane rotations despite being designed as a marksman. This paradox created imbalance where the Purifier operated more effectively without traditional support partnerships. Lead designer Jeevun Sidhu confirms these modifications aim to enhance Lucian’s synergy with allied champions while diminishing his autonomous laning capabilities.

11.17 has Lucian changes (coming to PBE). The goal is to shift power from Mid Lucian to Bot.

Base Stats
Base AD :: 64 >>> 62

Lightslinger (P)
(New) – Ally buffs empower Lucian’s next 2 (stacks to 4) basic attacks to deal an additional 14 (+10% tAD) magic damage

(1/2)

— Jeevun Sidhu (@JeevunSidhu) August 10, 2021

The rework philosophy centers around creating meaningful trade-offs: Lucian sacrifices independent lane strength for amplified performance when coordinating with teammates. This strategic pivot addresses long-standing balance concerns while preserving the champion’s core identity as a mobile skirmisher.

Comprehensive Ability Reshaping

The most revolutionary adjustment introduces ally-dependent empowerment mechanics that fundamentally alter Lucian’s optimal positioning. Rather than functioning as an isolated duelist, he now thrives in proximity to supporting allies.

Lightslinger (Passive) undergoes complete reimagining: ally-applied buffs now enhance Lucian’s subsequent two basic attacks, dealing bonus magic damage scaling with total attack power. This effect accumulates up to four stacks, creating windows of explosive trading potential.

Ardent Blaze (W) receives substantial quality-of-life improvements with reduced mana expenditure. More significantly, allies triggering the marked target now grant Lucian Vigilance movement speed bonuses, transforming the ability into a coordination tool rather than pure damage source.

The Culling (R) experiences numerical recalibration with shot quantity standardized at 22 across all ranks. Compensation arrives through critical strike integration—each projectile now carries 25% critical chance, potentially multiplying ultimate damage output despite reduced base damage values.

Base statistical adjustments include attack damage reduction from 64 to 62, partially offsetting the power budget allocated to new cooperative mechanics.

These systematic changes fundamentally reorient Lucian’s competitive viability. Mid lane practitioners face significant early game disadvantages without access to consistent ally buffs, particularly during crucial level 2-3 power spikes.

Bot lane configurations unlock unprecedented synergy potential, especially with enchantress supports like Lulu or Nami who provide frequent buff applications. The revamped W creates dynamic engage/disengage patterns that reward precise timing between Lucian and his partner.

Team composition considerations now prioritize champions with accessible buff mechanics. Understanding ability activation sequences becomes critical—properly chaining ally abilities into empowered passive stacks separates average from exceptional Lucian performances.

While situational mid lane picks remain theoretically possible, the opportunity cost of forfeiting empowered abilities creates substantial disadvantage. For comprehensive team strategy insights, consult our Class Selection Guide for optimal champion pairing strategies.

The ultimate adjustments demand revised teamfight positioning—critical-strike enhanced shots reward aggressive forward positioning during The Culling, contrasting with previous kiting-focused usage patterns.

Mastering the reworked Lucian requires fundamental adjustments to laning approach. Prioritize coordination with your support for maximum passive uptime—each ally ability represents potential damage amplification.

Early game strategy shifts toward calculated aggression windows following support ability usage. Avoid the common mistake of overextending without available passive stacks, as the base AD reduction makes extended trades less favorable.

Itemization considerations now favor critical strike components to leverage ultimate enhancements. However, balance offensive investments with necessary survivability—proper positioning remains crucial despite added damage potential.

Advanced optimization involves tracking enemy cooldowns to identify vulnerable periods where Lucian’s enhanced trading dominates. For detailed equipment guidance, reference our Weapons Unlock resource for optimal build paths.

Communication becomes the differentiating factor—successful Lucian players will actively coordinate with supports to time ability sequences for maximum passive utilization.

These comprehensive changes enter testing on the Public Beta Environment starting August 10, with full implementation scheduled for live servers on August 25 alongside patch 11.17 deployment. For broader strategic context, explore our Complete Guide to competitive gameplay fundamentals.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Riot wants to shift power on Lucian from mid to bot on patch 11.17 Lucian's major League of Legends rework shifts power from mid to bot lane with ally-dependent abilities