Teamfight Tactics patch 9.15b nerfs Karthus, Kayle, Pyke

Riot Games has deployed Teamfight Tactics patch 9.15b with targeted balance adjustments designed to expand viable team compositions and reduce reliance on dominant strategies. This mid-patch update specifically addresses several overpowered champions that were defining the competitive landscape.

The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly regarding the adjustments to Karthus and Kayle, two premium units that frequently determined match outcomes. Meanwhile, the substantial buff to Runaan’s Hurricane creates new itemization pathways that could reshape carry champion priorities. Understanding these changes is crucial for maintaining competitive advantage in ranked play.

Karthus undergoes comprehensive adjustments that impact both his damage output and targeting capabilities. His ability damage drops from 400/700/1000 to 350/600/850 across all star levels, representing a 12.5-15% reduction. More significantly, his targeting range shrinks dramatically – at level 2 he can no longer hit all nine enemy units, limited to seven targets instead. His level 3 ultimate now affects only nine units rather than thirteen, severely limiting his late-game teamfight dominance.

These changes force players to reconsider Karthus positioning and itemization. He now functions more as a focused damage dealer rather than an area-clearing powerhouse. Advanced players should note that positioning him to maximize value against key backline targets becomes essential rather than relying on his previous blanket coverage.

Kayle’s adjustment targets her mana pool, increasing the cost to activate her ability by 25 mana. This nerf significantly reduces how frequently she can provide immunity to allies, particularly affecting compositions that relied on her to protect key carries. Players must now build additional mana items or incorporate crowd control protection to ensure her ultimate activates at critical moments.

Pyke joins the nerf list with reduced stun duration on his ability, diminishing his crowd control value in the late game. Meanwhile, Rengar’s attack speed bonus from his ability receives a reduction, though he remains viable in assassin compositions with proper item support.

On the buff side, Elise, Veigar, and Twisted Fate receive modest damage increases. Twisted Fate additionally gains health, improving his survivability in early and mid-game compositions. These changes make budget sorcerer and pirate synergies more competitive during the transition to late-game setups.

Defensive items face significant adjustments that impact survival strategies. Guardian Angel’s revive health drops from 1,000 to 800, making it less reliable for protecting carries through burst damage. Players should reconsider when to build this item and potentially prioritize alternative defensive options like Phantom Dancer or Dragon’s Claw depending on the threat composition.

Morellonomicon also receives a damage reduction, though it remains effective against healing-heavy compositions. The nerf to these staple items creates opportunities for previously underutilized options to enter the meta.

The most dramatic item change comes to Runaan’s Hurricane, whose bonus damage skyrockets from 25% to 75%. This transforms the item from a niche choice to a potentially core component for attack-speed based carries. Since Spatula is required for construction, players must now weigh Runaan’s against other Spatula items like Frozen Mallet or Youmuu’s Ghostblade.

Additional offensive items receiving minor buffs include Guinsoo’s Rageblade, Phantom Dancer, and Sword of the Divine. These cumulative changes encourage experimentation with carry champions who benefit from multiple projectile effects or attack speed scaling.

Two critical bug fixes address longstanding issues affecting champion reliability. Blitzcrank’s ability targeting has been corrected to properly prioritize units based on positioning rather than random selection. This improvement makes Blitzcrank a more consistent tech choice against specific backline threats.

Statikk Shiv’s damage calculation has been adjusted to prevent unintended behavior when hitting fewer than four targets. This ensures the item performs consistently across various combat scenarios.

With Karthus and Kayle receiving substantial nerfs, players should explore alternative late-game carries. Champions like Draven, Ashe, or even newly buffed options may fill the power vacuum. Consider pairing Runaan’s Hurricane with champions who have on-hit effects or benefit from additional attack targets.

Common mistakes post-patch include overvaluing previously dominant champions without adjusting itemization or positioning. Avoid forcing Karthus compositions without proper frontline and consider that his reduced targeting requires more thoughtful placement against key enemy units.

For advanced optimization, experiment with Runaan’s Hurricane on champions like Varus or Vayne who can leverage the massive damage increase effectively. The item particularly shines in ranger compositions or when combined with attack speed items. For comprehensive team building strategies, consult our Class Selection Guide to understand synergy priorities.

Positioning adjustments become crucial with the Guardian Angel nerf. Carries revived with only 800 health are much more vulnerable to follow-up damage, requiring either additional protection or repositioning after revival.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Teamfight Tactics patch 9.15b nerfs Karthus, Kayle, Pyke TFT Patch 9.15b rebalances Karthus, Kayle, and Pyke while buffing Runaan's Hurricane to diversify competitive strategies