Mel & Zed Jungle Buffs Shake Up LoL Meta Before Patch 16.4
Riot Games Tweaks Jungle Viability in Surprise Hotfix
League of Legends' jungle meta received unexpected adjustments today as Riot deployed pre-patch 16.4 hotfixes targeting Mel and Zed. These changes could significantly impact competitive play and LoL Predictions ahead of major tournaments.
Jungle Power Adjustments
Mel Buffs:
- Health per Level: 93 ⇒ 99
- Passive Damage: 8-25 + 3% AP ⇒ 8-30 + 4% AP
- W Shield: 60% AP ⇒ 70% AP
- E Root Damage: 60% AP ⇒ 70% AP
Zed Jungle Specialization:
- Passive Monster Damage: 0.5x ⇒ 0.75x
- Max Damage vs Epic Monsters: 100 ⇒ 175
Lead Designer Matt "Phroxzon" Leung-Harrison clarified on social media: "We've hotfixed changes for Mel and Zed jungle. We're seeing larger nerf impacts in Elite play, but we'll let it ride before reassessing."
Competitive & Betting Implications
These buffs could create interesting dynamics for upcoming matches:
- Mel's increased survivability makes her more viable as a flex pick between mid and jungle
- Zed's monster damage boost creates new early objective control potential
- Elite play win rates may fluctuate more than average ranks
Esports bettors should monitor how teams like Cloud9 and FlyQuest adapt to these changes in tonight's LCS matches. The adjustments could particularly impact dragon/baron fight calculations.
ARAM Mayhem Tweaks
The hotfix also balanced several ARAM Mayhem augments:
- Poro Blaster: Limited to 1 player per team
- Devil On Your Shoulder: Health drain reduced 7.5% ⇒ 5%
- Speed Demon: Movement bonus reduced 350 ⇒ 200
- Critical bug fixes for infinite ability triggers
What's Next
Patch 16.4 arrives February 19 (delayed from usual Wednesday schedule). These hotfix changes serve as a testing ground for potential larger adjustments. Stay updated with our AI Predictions for evolving meta analyses.
Check the Prediction Leaderboard to see how top analysts are adjusting their forecasts following these unexpected changes.