Riot Targets Master Yi With Big Changes and Nerfs

After having a considerably higher win rate using his Duskblade of Drakthar build since the start of Season 11, Riot Games have revealed the list of adjustments coming to Master Yi in an effort to dissuade players from abusing his build.

One-shot master Yi builds were dominating lower tiers of play ever since the Wuju assassin gained a new passive thanks to the reworks in Season 11.

‘Alpha Strike’ to receive numerous balance changes

Riot Designer ‘Captain Gameplay’ revealed that Alpha Strike, Master Yi’s main spell will be the main focus of balance changes, and the adjustments would cause the spell to scale with lesser bonus Attack damage. Changing the spell would prevent players from in-game.

Alpha Strike (Q Ability)

• Damage: 25/60/95/130/165 (+90 percent AD), reduced by 75% for subsequent hits on the same targets changed to 30/60/90/120/150 (+65 percent AD), reduced by 75% for subsequent hits on the same target
• Crits deal: 60% (+bonus critical damage percent) extra damage reduced to 50% (bonus critical damage percent) extra damage
• Will now apply on-hit effects (on-hits from subsequent hits are also reduced)
• CD refund will now scale down with ability haste (so it doesn’t synergize with it)

Wuju Style (E ability)

• Duration will not decrease during Meditate (W) changed to Duration will not decrease during Alpha Strike (Q) or Meditate (W)
• The ability can now be casted during Alpha Strike (Q)

Highlander (R)

• Duration does not decrease during Meditate (W) changed to duration does not decrease during Alpha Strike (Q) or Meditate (W)
• Can now also be casted during Alpha Strike (Q)

However, for Kraken/On Hit builds, the developer revealed that they will pull a bit of power somewhere’ to keep Wuju’s favorite assassin in a neutral state. The set of adjustments for Master Yi are tentatively expected to launch with the game’s next patch, 12.5, scheduled for a March 2 release.

Riot, however, made it apparent that it is currently monitoring the state of the assassin on PBE, and it remains to be seen whether the new changes will make it to the final slate in its entirety. League fans can experience these changes on PBE (Public Beta Environment) right now.