Every year after the jumping split, League of Legends developer Riot uses the break before the summer split of their LCS league for a comprehensive rebalancing. Changes that would unfairly distort the competition in the middle of the LCS season will be implemented during this time. This gives the teams enough time to adjust to the changed conditions and adjust their tactics accordingly.

League of Legends - The New Rift Herald the Wrecking Ball

This year, for example, Riot takes on the Cleft Herald. The Rift Herald became Developed with the aim of creating a second important object for fighting to develop early in the game. Previously there was in the first 20 minutes until the appearance of Baron Nashor, only that Kite in the southern half of the map. Accordingly, the focus was almost exclusively there and the botlane decided a lot about the outcome of the match.

Unfortunately, the Rift Herald did not offer enough incentive to achieve this goal. The buff that the teams could get from the dragon for all their members was simply stronger and helped a lot more in game-changing team fights.

Because of this, the idea of the buff given by the Rift Herald is completely abolished, instead he drops an item that Eye of the Herald. If you use this item, you summon the herald again, only this time he fights for your own team. In the nearest lane, he begins to fight his way towards the enemy base. He fights normally against opposing champions, but with buildings the herald demonstrates his ability to charge, which causes massive damage. Since the Herald's damage is linked to his life points, you should really use every chance to damage him, otherwise you will soon be left without a basis.

The tank revision

After last year's major shooter overhaul, Riot is now taking care of the tanks.

Particular attention is paid to Sejuani, Maokai and Zac. These 3 champions lacked individuality somewhat, their main ability to attack and thus trigger a fight is very similar. So the problem arose: Why choose Sejuani and Zac when Maokai can do the same thing and otherwise simply has better skills for the laning phase?

Sejuani

Previously completely defined as “Ultimate ignite and nothing else contribute” for team fights, it now makes a permanent contribution. Sejuani will passively emit an aura that puts Frost on all enemies and allows allies to stack up Frost. In contrast to Braum, Sejunai doesn't have to land the first blow, so it's a bit more flexible. With maximum stacks of frost, she can stun her opponent with permafrost. If it attacks a frozen target, it crushes it and inflicts massive damage on it. Your ultimate around the explosion will create an ice zone that slows enemies and allows their allies to build up frost stacks.

Maokai - Stop tree dying in League of Legends

Despite its popularity over the last year, it lacks specialty and a little variety in play style. Attack, activate Ulitmate and run after a target

spamming all skills, this should be a thing of the past.

His offspring will do more damage if they are thrown into a bush, and should therefore do more of the role of guard and improve Maokai's skills as a jungler.

But the biggest change will be experienced Ultimate: Nature's Grasp will summon a root wall as wide as the lane, which slowly wanders forward. Each root loops around the first enemy champion it touches and roots them firmly.

This gives Maokai a huge opportunity to influence team fights, it is better to think twice in which position you fight him.

Zac

His elastic sling ensures a stylish entry into the fight, unfortunately Zac's remaining skills lack this finesse. That's why Riot changes his stretching stroke. From now on, the first hit will make Zac's hands sticky and as soon as he sticks to a second object with the second hit, he will fling both of them into each other.

The Ultimate, like the Elastic Slingshot, will be given the opportunity to "charge", Zac waits at least 1 second before he triggers it, he drags all enemies on him across the target area.

Furthermore, Riot adjusts many items in League of Legends and ensures an equality between magic resistance and armor options. For example, Guardian Angel should get better stats and thus become a sensible alternative for shooters.

You can find the detailed explanations in Riots Intro to Midseason Blog entry.