TL;DR
- URF received its first balance micropatch targeting champions with excessive win rates
- Cassiopeia, Fiora, Katarina, and Kalista received damage and healing reductions
- Pyke and Rammus gained significant buffs to improve their URF viability
- Dark Harvest rune adjustments address its overwhelming power in the game mode
- Additional micropatches expected throughout URF’s availability period
Ultra Rapid Fire mode continues to dominate as League of Legends’ most exhilarating temporary game mode, combining frantic action with unlimited ability usage. Recognizing the need for competitive integrity even in casual formats, Riot Games deployed targeted balance adjustments to prevent specific champions from overwhelming the battlefield.
The beloved limited-time mode returned to live servers recently, bringing its signature high-octane gameplay. Riot’s technical game designer Geoff Marsi announced via social media that URF received its inaugural balance update on October 30. This strategic micropatch, as described by Marsi, enhanced Pyke and Rammus while simultaneously toning down several overpowered selections.
While URF emphasizes chaotic enjoyment and spell spamming, maintaining relative champion balance ensures no single pick consistently dominates Summoner’s Rift matches.
Cassiopeia, Fiora, Katarina, and more up for nerfs
To address Cassiopeia’s oppressive lane presence and sustain capabilities, developers implemented reductions to both her damage output and healing mechanics. Fiora encountered similar adjustments targeting her dueling potency, while Kalista received focused damage decreases. Katarina’s changes represent a dual approach – she now inflicts less damage while becoming more vulnerable to incoming attacks.
Dark Harvest stands as the sole rune modified in this URF-specific update. The development team lowered both the base damage and attack damage scaling that Dark Harvest provides when selected within this accelerated game mode.
Pyke and Rammus receive an URF buff
Pyke and Rammus emerged as the primary beneficiaries of this balance iteration. Despite Rammus’s inherent tankiness, he now sustains increased damage intake but compensates with enhanced damage dealing capacity, making his map mobility more impactful and introducing this entertaining champion to URF matches more frequently. Pyke had similarly fallen behind contemporary selections, prompting the micropatch to grant him both damage amplification and improved healing recovery.
Numerous community members questioned the absence of adjustments to perennial URF favorites like Fizz, Zed, or Shaco. Marsi clarified that these champions’ performance metrics don’t reach concerning thresholds warranting immediate intervention. Players should anticipate additional minor balance passes similar to this initial update throughout the game mode’s active duration.
Action Checklist
- Reassess your champion pool considering the nerfs to Cassiopeia, Fiora, Katarina, and Kalista
- Experiment with buffed champions Pyke and Rammus to discover new strategic opportunities
- Adjust rune selections away from Dark Harvest due to its reduced effectiveness
- Monitor community discussions and developer updates for future balance changes
- Develop counter-strategies against champions that remain unadjusted but frequently selected
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » URF patch brings first round of balance changes to the game mode URF balance changes target overpowered champions while buffing underperformers for fair gameplay