Fizz/TF and Aphelios finally nerfed: Legends of Runeterra Patch 2.5.0 notes and changes

Mar 30, 2021

Legends of Runeterra Patch 2.5.0 brings much-anticipated balance changes to the meta, looking to finally put an end to the most oppressive decks on the ladder. The patch affects almost 20 cards, but LoR players would likely be delighted to see the Fizz/Twisted Fate, Aphelios Temple, and Fiora/Shen Midrange decks getting some well overdue power correction.

Twisted Fate, Wiggly Burblefish nerfed

Twisted Fate

Level Up Requirement (Twisted Fate Level 1): I’ve seen you draw 8+ cards → I’ve seen you draw 9+ cards.

Wiggly Burblefish

Base Stats: 3|1 → 2|1

Pick a Card / Twisted Fate’s Pick a Card

Cost: 3 → 2

Change: Place a card from hand into your deck to draw 3 at the next Round Start. Give them Fleeting. → Place a card from hand into your deck to draw 2 at the next Round Start. Give them Fleeting.

These three balance changes are aimed to stop the hegemony of the Fizz/TF Burn. The deck has been the meta king for months now, topping the ladder and winning tournaments left and right. The change to TF makes its leveling up harder, while Wiggly Burblefish is now 33% weaker on the attack, shaving off a lot of burn power from the deck.

On the other hand, while Pick a Card is cheaper now, it filters your deck for 2 cards instead of 3, which really hinders the drawing power of Fizz/TF. Even if the deck remains strong and potent, it will be nowhere near the power levels of today.

Fiora nerfed

Fiora (Level 1 & Level 2)

Base Stats (Level 1): 3|3 → 3|2.

Base Stats (Level 2): 4|4 → 4|3.

Fiora is also taking a hit, but it's on her survivability. Both levels of Fiora will have 1 less health, making her easier to kill and therefore harder to get to her game-winning four-kill trigger.

Like Fizz/TF, Fiora has also been a staple for a long time, practically never leaving the metagame. Fiora/Shen has remained the best midrange deck in the meta, as it relies on Barrier effects to protect Fiora, as she combat-trades to a game-win. With 2 health on level 1, Fiora is now an easy target to Mystic Shots, Avalanche, and 2-mana Thermogenic Beams, so it's that much harder to survive the early turns.

A sample Fiora/Shen Midrange deck looks like this at the moment:

Aphelios, Veiled Temple nerfed

The Veiled Temple

Change: Each round, the first time you play 2 other cards, refill 2 mana and grant your strongest ally +1|+1 → Each round, the first time you play 2 other cards, refill 2 mana and grant your strongest ally +1|+0

Aphelios weapons

Calibrum, Severum, Gravitum, Infernum Cost: 2 → 3

Patch 2.5.0 takes away the health-buffing power of The Veiled Temple, which was a core asset to various Aphelios decks. Only getting +1|+0 bonuses to your allies will make a huge difference. Both Zoe/Aphelios Invoke and Aphelios/TF Temple run this card and this change will have a similar effect to The Grand Plaza nerf in Patch 2.1.0 — it will most likely remove Veiled Temple from the metagame and force Aphelios players to look for an alternative.

Furthermore, all Aphelios weapons now cost 3 mana up from 2, which is a massive tempo loss for the hero.