[Update] 1/17 PBE Update: Tentative Balance Changes for Gragas, Kassadin, Riven, and Xerath

Hexakill Announcement

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 "X has slain X for a hexa kill!" 

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 "HEXAKILL!" 

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 "X has ended X's killing spree for a hexa kill! (Bounty: X)"

Education AIR Client Animation

[Update] Regarding the Riven Changes

Riven's base regeneration is now 2.5 from 5.5

Riven's Valor is now 90/120/150/180/210 from 70/100/130/160/190

"You're very upset here - so let's talk through the change a little bit. 

By lowering a champions initial hp/5 by 4 - she effectively loses 24 48 health per minute. This is clearly a huge hit to her laning phase, especially early. 

Her shield has been increased by 10 points and her shield has a 10 second cooldown. With Rank 1 shield, assuming you can use it fully 3 times a minute - any further uses of this simply nets you upside - assuming you block damage that is actually significant enough to pierce the shield. 

Riven's durability is meant to be virtual - it's as strong as her opponent's mistakes and as good as her timing in using it. 

The intent here is to make Riven more like Riven - a character who avoids damage entirely though good play - not regenerate it like every other bruiser in the game. Going the opposite direction (HP/5 + nerfed shield value) - simply makes Riven closer to every other Bruiser in terms of playstyle in lane. 

What further changes could further push this goal? 

EDIT: I realize that anyone following this post has now realized that I have made a math error by a factor of 2 or so. This is why you don't work on GP/10 and HP/5 at the same time. :("

"You're absolutely correct that no one can avoid every ounce of ranged harass you get thrown at. 

However, if you simply block 3 full attacks with this shield - you come out ahead in terms of health. You are healthier than before - so long as you can mitigate the full damage.
I would assume this a nerf to your Riven play. Is the fact 3 shields impractical to pull off in lane? 

Does the value need to be closer to 2 shield attacks? Is it the fact that you're going to waste the extra shield value a vast majority of the time? I'm all for readjusting the numbers if you feel like the current crossover point is impractical - but I'd need to understand the essential disconnect on regeneration and what the equivalent conversion value to shield is."

"Awesome - 3 full shields is completely impractical with the new duration. That's great feedback to hear - it means that we're missing the mark on what is practical in reality. 

Is there a value between her current regeneration and shield value that seems practical? 3 full shields is impractical - but how does 2 full shields sound? 

EDIT: Sweet - Okay, I'll raise her base HP/5 to 2.5 and try for 15 shield - that'll be 1 and 1/2 shields. When you get a chance with those updates, let me know how that feels!
Thanks for the feedback!"

"They'll be on PBE for at least 2 weeks so hopefully we can make further adjustments if it feels impractical in game. If you get opportunity to - try playing with it on PBE. 

Also - reading this - I seriously messed up my math in the initial post. Ergh. I fail - This is why you don't do math at 4 a.m."

"Update: 

Riven's base regeneration is now 2.5 from 5.5 

Riven's Valor is now 90/120/150/180/210 from 70/100/130/160/190 

Effectively, this means that she regenerates 36 less health per minute - but has a 20 point stronger shield - so two full shields will recoup the effect rather than the FIVE previously because I critically failed at math. 

Again, thanks for the feedback - hopefully we can get this pattern to a good spot."

Balance Changes

• Barrel Roll ( Q ) AP ratio down to .8 from .9
• Explosive Cask ( R ) AP ratio down to .9 from 1
• Explosive Cask (R) damage lowered to 150/300/450 from 200/325/450

[ Reminder: Kassadin's W was reworked and he received heavy balance changes in earlier PBE patches. ]

• Force Pulse ( E  ) damage increased to  115/150/185/220 from 110/140/170/200

•  [ Context: This is a buff to a nerf from the 1/15 update. Still lower than the live value of 80/130/180/230/280]

• Rift Walk ( R ) cooldown lowered to 7/5/3 from 7/5.5/4

• [ Context: Buff to previous PBE change from the 1/15 update , lower than live value of 7/6/5 ]

• Base health regen per second lowered to .2 from 1.1 ( 1 hp5 from 5.5 hp5 ) 

• [ XYPHEROUS HAS CONFIRMED THERE WAS AN ERROR AND THE VALUE WAS REDUCED TOO MUCH. He commented it going up to 2.5 base HP5 from 5.5 HP5 - see above for more info]

• Valor ( E ) shield amount increased to 80/110/140/170/200 from 70/100/130/160/190

[ Remember, Xerath was reworked in the 1/15 PBE patch. See this post for more info and intial numbers, which these will be relative to. ]

• Locus of Destruction ( W ) slow for enemies in center of the blast increased to 60/65/70/75/80 from 40/45/50/55/60.
• Locus of Destruction ( W ) now lists slow duration at 2.5 seconds.
• Ascension ( R ) base damage lowered to 130/170/210 from 140/190/240
• Ascension ( R ) duration increased to 10 seconds from 6 seconds. 
• Ascension ( R ) extra damage to single champion hit lowered to 50% from 75%

• Butcher lowered to 15% bonus damage from 20% bonus damage

• Health increased to 400 from 350

• Attack damage increased to 35 from 30

• Butcher lowered to 20% bonus damage from 30% bonus damage.

• 1/15 PBE Update - Skarner and Xerath reworks return to the PBE
• 1/16 PBE Update - New Audio Engine, Kass + Ashe Changes