League of Legends patch 13.2 preview: Zoe buffs, Maokai double nerfs, Grievous Wounds adjustments, and more

With League of Legends' patch 13.2 preview finally out, Riot Games seems to be planning several changes for the official update that's due next week. This time around, there will be a fair number of balance tweaks making their way to the MOBA title, as the developers focus on further balancing the game's competitive meta in the second patch of the season.

Some of the biggest highlights in the game will be upcoming buffs that Zoe, Orianna, and Annie will be receiving soon. Conversely, a few other champions will receive a nerf, starting with Kassadin, Yuumi, Maokai, Ryze, and Lucian. They are expected to have their capabilities toned down by a fair amount.

While addressing the upcoming update, League of Legends' developers stated:

“This patch, we're shaking up a lot of different systems; fighter items, ADC satisfaction adjustments, and adjustments to make Grievous Wounds more impactful as a reactionary purchase. We're making pre-emptive nerfs to champs that will become OP from Crit changes (Kindred, GP)”

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League of Legends patch 13.2 preview

Before moving on to the list of names that are highlighted for changes in the upcoming patch, it’s important to note that all of the information given below is tentative as of this writing. Riot Games will first try these changes out in the League of Legends PBE before officially shipping them out with the actual update that's due next week. As a result, there may be some disparity between what's mentioned here and what makes it through to the final patch.

1) Champion Buffs

• Orianna
• Zoe
• Annie

Ever since season 13 began earlier this month, Annie and Zoe have been struggling quite a bit, with the new changes nerfing their lane capabilities to a fair extent. Fortunately, the developers are looking to correct this problem with League of Legends patch 13.2 and help them have an easier time in various match-ups.

2) Champion nerfs

• Kassadin
• Yuumi
• Maokai
• Gangplank
• Ryze
• Lucian
• Heimerdinger
• Udyr (R Max)
• Kindred
• Nami

The Gangplank and Kindred nerfs are being brought in pre-emptively due to a previously announced set of crit changes that the developers are planning for future updates. They might consider buffing these champions if they feel underwhelming or aren't performing as intended.

Furthermore, Heimerdinger as a support has been incredibly difficult to counter in season 13, but with the arrival of patch 13.2, he will be toned down significantly to help balance the current competitive meta.

As for the current mid-lane meta, Kassadin and Ryze are fairly strong and have been enjoying a high win percentage for some time now. Maokai will be double nerfed as he's currently the most potent jungler in the game and simply nerfing Demonic Embrace won't help balance the champion.

3) Champion Adjustments

• Jax (VFX/SFX)

4) System nerfs

• Demonic Embrace (Melee)

5) System Adjustments

• Chemtech Dragon and Soul
• Fighter Items
• ADC Adjustments
• Tenacity Adjustments (stacks multiplicatively)
• Essence Reaver
• Grievous Wounds

League of Legends patch 13.2 is due next week and is expected to go live sometime on Thursday, January 26, 2023. This will be the second patch of the new season, which will also be one of the bigger balance patches that the game receives this month.