[Updated] 8/28 PBE Update: Ascension ready for testing, GoftS Kha'Zix and Galactic Azir skins up for testing, and more

[UPDATE: A second patch has hit! Ascension has been fixed and is now ready for testing! I've also added updated shots of the Cassiopeia skins that received update in today's patch.]

The PBE has been updated, including Guardian of the Sands Kha'Zix and Galactic Azir both fixed up and now available for testing,  a brief preview of Ascension that was snagged before it was disabled due to bugs, and more!

Continue reading for more information, including a full preview of the new Kha'Zix skin!

Warning: PBE content is tentative and iterative - what you see may not reflect what eventually gets pushed to the live platforms! Manage your expectations accordingly!

[Updated] Ascension Now  Available for Testing!

After a second patch to fix all those nasty bugs, Ascension, our next featured gameplay mode, is now up for PBE Testing!

Before we get into checking out the mode, here's L4T3NCY with more information on how it works:

"The sands of Shurima sweep across the Crystal Scar… bringing with them our next Featured Game Mode: Ascension 

This time we’re bending the rules quite a bit for one of our most competitive game modes yet, so bear with us as we get into it! 

-- Ascension is a 5v5 brawling skirmish played on the Crystal Scar. 

-- The sands have restricted movement on the Crystal Scar to just the center of the map. You’ll need to use the new ‘Golden Transcendence’ trinket to teleport to a battle platform and enter the fray. 

-- Victory is points based. The first team to earn 200 points wins! 

-- Points can be earned by killing enemy players (1 point), capturing Relics of Shurima (3 points) or killing an Ascended (5 points). 

-- At the sandstorm’s center in the middle of the map is an Ancient Ascendant, Xerath. Defeating him grants Ascension to whomever strikes the killing blow. Ascension gives you awe-inspiring power and double points for every kill you get! This power comes at a price though... all healing effects on the Ascended are dramatically reduced, so burn fast and burn bright! 

Known issues: 

Some announcement VO sounds are missing. We’ll have these in shortly. o^_^o
Air-client background and loading screen art is still WIP. 

We’ll be making Ascension available soon™ on PBE, and as always, we want to hear your feedback or if you guys find any bugs. Let us know which champions feel strong, what strategies work best for you and of course.. who is the strongest Ascended!? 

EDIT: Ascension is now live! Here comes the sandstorm. 

EDIT #2: Sorry guys, false start. It appears there's some PBE related bugs we're going to need to fix before switching it back on ASAP. :/ 

EDIT #3: Ascension is live again on PBE! You can't stop the sandstorm."

[ The most noticible change to The Crystal Scar is a violent sandstorm now envelops the map! ]

[ I hope you really like sand becuse it is everywhere ]

[ In the middle of the map stands Ancient Ascendant Xerath, one of the main objectives ]

[ To get into the fight, you must use an Ascension only trinket to teleport in! ]

[ Ancient Ascendant Xerath awaiting challengers ]

[ Similar to doom bots, AA Xerath fragments his abilities! ]

[ After slaying AA Xerath ( or players who have ascended ), you ASCEND! ]

[ You also get a ridiculous buff! ]

[ As mentioned above, you gain points by slaying the ASCENDED ]

[ Relics have also been changed and now grant points towards victory! ]

Gameplay Video

Cassiopeia MTU Update

After their debut yesterday, Cassiopeia's updated skins have received a few changes! Each of the three skins received slight color changes and Desperada Cassiopeia now has more details on her hat!

Desperada Cassiopeia

[ Here is a rough comparison between the live, 8/27 PBE, and the current PBE versions of the skin. Ignore the size difference as that is due to the camera angle ]

Siren Cassiopeia

[ Here is a rough comparison between the live, 8/27 PBE, and the current PBE versions of the skin. Ignore the size difference as that is due to the camera angle ]

Mythic Cassiopeia

[ Here is a rough comparison between the live, 8/27 PBE, and the current PBE versions of the skin. Ignore the size difference as that is due to the camera angle ]

Guardian of the Sands Kha'Zix

Missing files from yesterday's deploy for Kha'Zix's new skin have made it in, the bugs have been squashed, and now Guardian of the Sands Kha'Zix is ready for testing!.

Guardian of the Sands Kha'Zix

975 RP

[ Passive ] 

[ Isolation indicator if enemy Kha'Zix has you isolated ]

[ Self Isolation Indicator ] 

[Q]

[W]

[E]

 [ R stealth ]

 [ Evolved Q ]

[ W Evolution ]

[ E Evolution ]

[ R Evolution ]

Here's an up to date video preview

Galactic Azir Available for testing

While his assets have been on the PBE for a while, Galactic Azir has also been fixed and is now up for testing at the confirmed price point of 975 RP!

Now that he's available, here's a preview of Galactic Azir's unique passive tower:

Additionally, here's Nurse Flan with a feedback thread on Galactic Azir!

"The galaxy will know of Shurima's might! 

Galactic Azir has set his sights on spreading Shurima's influence to space! For this conquest he suited up to survive in zero gravity, and he's taking some of his best galactic soldiers with him 

Check out his equipment!

• Super-dense blue alloy space armor!
• Specially trained galactic dust soldiers for his abilities!
• Fancy new galactic tower design for his Passive!
• Teleportation beam and rings for his recall!
• Lots of galactic space SFX on his abilities!

As players who get the first look at this in-progress skin, it would be wonderful to hear your thoughts and feelings on the space bird! The feedback and bugs you leave here will help us get a better idea of things we may still have to take a look at. :] 

See you on the Rift! (caw caw)"

Be sure to check out our earlier PBE coverage for a better look at our new space bird friend!

Balance Changes

Remember: The PBE is a testing grounds for new, tentative, and sometimes radical changes. The changes you see below may be lacking context or other accompanying changes that didn't make it in - don't freak out! These are NOT official notes.

Champions

Cassiopeia

• Miasma (W) - Slows by 25/30/35/40/45% up from 15/22,5/30/37,5/45%

• [Reminder: Cassiopeia is currently undergoing a gameplay update. You can read about it in Riot's statement from yesterday, or catch up on the changes first introduced with yesterday's PBE update.]

Azir

• Base Movement Speed increased to 335 from 330
• Shurima's Legacy ( Passive ) - Will of the Emperor changed to 1.5% attack speed for every 1% CDR, down from 2%.

• Conquering Sands (Q) - Slow increased to 25% up from 20%
• Arize! (W) - New *Additional* Effect: Azir can expend a soldier to damage an enemy turret by summoning it on top of the turret. This deals X (+0,7 * AP) magic damage to the turret.

• [Context: See this post's first bullet point for more on this change. It replaces his ability to attack the turrets with W's soldiers ]

• Arise ( W ) now also lists "If multiple soldiers strike the same target,each soldier after the first deals 25%"

• Emperor's Divide (R) - AP scaling increased to 0.6 from 0.5

Miss out on previous updates from this PBE cycle? Check out THIS PAGE for a comprehensive list of the new content in this PBE cycle or catch up with the links below!

• 8/27 PBE Update: Guardian of the Sands Kha'Zix, Akali Splash, Cassiopeia TU & Gameplay Update
• 8/26 PBE Update: Azir, Renekton Model & Texture update, Ascension Assets, New Kha'Zix Skin Placeholder

Reminder: The Summoner's Rift update is currently on the PBE for testing!

[Click here for a better look!]