The question of how patches affect champion win rates is central to understanding League of Legends. Every two weeks, Riot Games releases updates that shift the balance of power, introducing buffs, nerfs, and item adjustments. These patches don’t just tweak numbers—they completely redefine the meta, forcing players to adapt strategies, builds, and champion pools.
In this article, we’ll break down how patches influence win rates, why some champions thrive after updates while others fall, and how you can stay ahead of the curve to climb ranked faster.
Understanding Win Rates in League of Legends
A champion’s win rate represents the percentage of games won by players using that champion. For example, a 52% win rate means the champion wins slightly more than half the time across all matches tracked.
- Stable win rate: Between 49–51% (balanced).
- Strong champion: 52–54%.
- Overpowered: 55%+.
- Weak: Below 48%.
Win rates are dynamic, and patches are one of the biggest drivers of change.
Why Patches Affect Champion Win Rates
1. Buffs and Nerfs
- Buffs: Increasing base stats, ability damage, or cooldown efficiency boosts performance.
- Nerfs: Reducing numbers makes a champion less reliable in certain situations.
- Even small percentage changes can shift win rates dramatically.
2. Item Adjustments
- Champions reliant on specific items see major swings when those items are patched.
- Example: ADCs rising after crit item buffs, tanks dropping after armor changes.
3. Rune Updates
- Keystone runes like Conqueror, Electrocute, or First Strike alter win rates across multiple champions simultaneously.
4. Meta Shifts
- When the meta favors early aggression, late-game scaling champs may suffer.
- Role priority also changes—junglers can surge or plummet based on patch jungle XP changes.
Case Studies: Patches and Their Impact
Example 1: Patch Buff to a Forgotten Champion
When Riot buffs underplayed champions, their win rates can surge overnight.
- Case: Aatrox in past seasons jumped from a 46% win rate to over 52% after base stat buffs.
Example 2: Nerf to Overperformers
- Champions dominating pro play often get nerfed.
- Case: Aphelios or Zeri nerfs dropped their win rates by 5–7% in solo queue.
Example 3: Item Changes Affecting Many
- When Grievous Wounds items were adjusted, healing champions like Soraka or Aatrox saw big swings in win rates.
Patches and Role-Specific Win Rate Changes
Top Lane
- Tanks rise when defensive items get buffs.
- Split-pushers drop when teleport cooldowns are increased.
Jungle
- Clear speed changes or XP adjustments can turn weak junglers into meta picks.
- Champions like Udyr or Hecarim have surged after jungle-focused updates.
Mid Lane
- Mage buffs increase waveclear dominance.
- Assassin nerfs reduce kill pressure, leading to longer games.
Bot Lane
- Item changes to crit or lifesteal heavily affect ADC win rates.
- Support nerfs (like enchanters) can also lower ADC effectiveness.
Support
- Enchanters rise after healing buffs, tanks spike with engage item improvements.
- Even systemic gold changes influence support win rates significantly.
The Pro Play Effect
Professional play influences how patches affect win rates:
- Champions strong in pro meta see increased popularity in solo queue.
- Nerfs aimed at pro champions sometimes lower win rates unfairly in casual play.
- Example: Azir and Ryze often nerfed due to pro dominance despite low solo queue win rates.
How to Adapt After a Patch
- Read the Notes: Study Riot’s patch notes thoroughly.
- Check Win Rate Sites: Use platforms like OP.GG, U.GG, or Lolalytics.
- Experiment Early: Try champions that got buffs before everyone adapts.
- Adjust Builds: Item changes are often more impactful than champion nerfs.
- Watch Pro Play: Early pro games after patches reveal strong strategies.
Common Misconceptions About Win Rates
- High win rate ≠ OP: A champion can be strong but hard to play.
- Low win rate ≠ weak: Sometimes champions have high skill ceilings (like Azir or Yasuo).
- Immediate drops may recover: Players need time to relearn nerfed champions.
FAQs
Q: How quickly do win rates change after a patch?
A: Usually within the first 2–3 days as millions of games update the data.
Q: Can a champion be balanced but unpopular?
A: Yes—many champions hover at 50% win rate but aren’t frequently played.
Q: Why does Riot patch so often?
A: Regular patches keep the game fresh and competitive, preventing one meta from dominating too long.
Conclusion
The story of how patches affect champion win rates is one of constant change and adaptation. Buffs, nerfs, item tweaks, and rune updates all shape which champions rise and which fall. For players, the key to climbing is staying informed, adapting quickly, and learning to exploit patch-driven meta shifts.
In League of Legends, the only constant is change—and the best players are those who adapt fastest.
