General Changes: Patch 14.18 focuses on balancing high-skill and pro play ahead of Worlds, while ensuring casual players don’t experience drastic negative impacts. The Ready Check Penalties aim to reduce dodge abuse, while League Transfer Restrictions add more account security. Clash Rewards compensation highlights Riot’s focus on maintaining fairness. Meta Shift: This patch amplifies the dominance of assassins and scaling mages, particularly champions with strong pick potential. Ahri's buff to Charm increases her assassination potential, making her a solid choice for mid-lane, especially against isolated targets. Jax and Jayce received buffs to enhance their late-game durability and utility, indicating a stronger presence for bruisers and split-pushers. In contrast, champions like Azir, Rumble, and Corki were nerfed, targeting their overwhelming pro presence. Expect the nerfs to Corki’s Q and R to decrease his early poke power, leading to more diverse mid-lane picks. Rising Champions: - Ahri will see more play due to her enhanced damage output, making her stronger in burst-heavy compositions. - Jax, with his improved late-game stats, will be a more viable scaling option, especially for teams looking to dominate skirmishes. - Jayce's buffs to utility should raise his viability in poke compositions, particularly in top and mid-lane matchups. - Jinx and Hwei buffs should encourage more late-game ADC choices, while Aurora’s mobility nerf may see her drop in priority. Falling Champions: - Rumble and Azir will drop due to nerfs focused on their laning and teamfight dominance, creating space for other control mages and top-lane champions. - Corki will likely see less play as his early-game poke has been weakened, making him more vulnerable in lane and in skirmishes. Meta Direction: With AP burst items being refined and ADC durability items being scaled back, expect shorter, high-burst fights rather than extended skirmishes. Assassins, burst mages, and aggressive scaling champions are poised to rise, with tanks and control mages falling back slightly. Teams will likely prioritize picks and early objectives, focusing on mobility and high-burst damage compositions. This patch encourages a more fast-paced, assassin-oriented meta, where teams with stronger pick and skirmish potential will have the upper hand.