Key changes for MSI 2022 patch and how they impact the meta

With the 2022 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) approaching, Riot has announced potential changes for the upcoming patch 12.8!

How will they impact the event meta and who stands to gain the most?

AP Champions receive substantial buffs in the MSI 2022 Patch

Following the release of the 12.7 patch to the live servers, the balance team has set their eyes on the following updates. Patch 12.8 will be the official version of the game that pros will play when they head over to Korea. (MSI will take place in Busan)

As usual, Riot Phlox has already released a preview of the potential buffs and nerfs to the champions. Contrary to what happened during the first few months, Riot has brought in major changes with the hopes of shaking up a meta that has been stale.

The first thing worth mentioning is the buffs to some of the mage champions, both in the jungle role as well as the mid lane. Zoe, Kassadin, Xerath, Vel’koz, Sylas and Fiddlesticks have received substantial buffs that should push them up in priority. Out of all these champions, the main ones that we should be looking at from a competitive perspective are Zoe and Fiddlesticks.

Zoe has gone missing from the meta following last year’s nerfs to the champion. While some pros did play her, she wasn’t super popular. Considering that both her Q and ultimate are spells she likes to cast very often, the mana cost buffs will surely help her poke more during every moment of the game.

Fiddlesticks received a buff that might bring him in Pick/Ban status. The healing from champions is increased at max rank (from 50% to 70% of damage dealt), making him a big threat in the mid-game teamfights. The Scarecrow also has one of the fastest clears among all junglers: keep an eye out on him.

Yordles might rise in pick rate at MSI 2022

Aside from the AP Champions, we have two yordles getting some love from Riot. Tristana received a small buff with her AD growth, which will still be almost 8 AD at lvl 18. I don’t think she will be super contested, but she can for sure be a good situational pick, especially if she can be flexed between mid and bot lane.

Poppy, on the other hand, received huge buffs in her disruption kit, as both her W and Ultimate have been buffed. In the current meta of League of Legends, there are a lot of champions with a lot of mobility and dashes: Poppy counters ’em all. Just like Tristana, she can also be flexed between top and jungle: in Korea, we have seen her show up a lot more in the latter role. With that being said, I don’t expect her to be played a lot, but she will get some bans as teams love to get rid of certain champions that might make their game plan or team composition worse to execute.

We might see new ADCs… finally

Other big things from this patch are the nerfs to Xayah and Jinx. The first has been the best performing ADC thanks to her Lethality build and enormous bursts, while Jinx has been a strong pick since the end of season 11. I don’t think the nerfs will push them out of the meta, but it should be just enough to allow other ADCs to have some space. Having said that, it will be interesting to see whether teams will try to innovate their drafts with other ADCs or stick to comfort. One thing is certain: the teams who will master the new strongest marksmen will have an edge in the first round in groups stage.

In conclusion, these are the most important changes in the upcoming LoL patch 12.8, which is scheduled to hit the live servers on Wednesday, April 27. The Mid-Season Invitational is set to start on May 10, so teams will not have much time to prepare for the first international tournament of the year.