New champion Kai’Sa, Illaoi’s first skin, and super-buffed Olaf coming in Patch 8.5

March 2022 · 5 minute read

League of Legends Patch 8.5 arrives next week, and although it isn’t nearly as large and impactful as Patch 8.4, it’s nothing to scoff at.

Highlights of the patch include the brand new champion Kai’Sa, a unique marksman that can build AD, attack speed, or AP to evolve her abilities and playstyle. Illaoi is also receiving a skin for the first time since her release in 2015, and Olaf might be getting a buff just large enough to make him not terrible. That’s all on top of the usual balance changes to fix up problematic champions (looking at you, Tristana).

Take a look at everything you can expect from League’s Patch 8.5 on March 7 with our master list of changes pulled straight from the official patch notes.

Kai’Sa

Kai’Sa is an all-or-nothing marksman that was forced to use skin from a creature in the Void to survive her time spent there, resulting in a human-Voidling hybrid. By building AD, attack speed, or AP, her abilities change to support different playstyles. She’ll be most at home as a mid laner or traditional ADC, but she has potential as a jungler.

Abilities

Passive: Second Skin

Caustic Wounds:

“Kai’Sa’s basic attacks mark enemies with Plasma, dealing increasing bonus magic damage. After a few successive attacks, the Plasma ruptures for a burst of damage based on the target’s missing health. Nearby allies’ immobilizing effects add stacks of Plasma.”

Living Weapon:

“Kai’Sa’s symbiote-suit adapts to her chosen attack style, evolving her abilities based on permanent stats gained from shop items and experience level.”

Q: Icathian Rain

“Kai’Sa releases a swarm of missiles evenly distributed among nearby enemies, with additional hits on the same target dealing slightly reduced damage. Nearby allies’ immobilizing effects add stacks of Plasma.”

Living Weapon:

“With enough bonus Attack Damage, Icathian Rain fires significantly more missiles.”

W: Void Seeker

“Kai’Sa fires off a beam of Void energy, revealing the first enemy hit, dealing magic damage, and applying stacks of Plasma.”

Living Weapon:

“With enough bonus Ability Power, Void Seeker deals more damage and partially refunds the cooldown on champion hit.”

E: Supercharger

“Kai’Sa charges up, briefly increasing her movement speed but losing the ability to attack. After charging up, Kai’Sa whips out the big guns to increase her attack speed for a few seconds. Basic attacks reduce Supercharger’s cooldown.”

Living Weapon:

“With enough bonus Attack Speed, Supercharger briefly grants true invisibility while charging up.”

R: Killer Instinct

“Kai’Sa dashes at extremely high speed with long range to a location near an enemy champion marked with Plasma and briefly gains a damage-absorbing shield.”

Skin

Bullet Angel Kai’Sa – 1350 RP

Login Theme

Voice

Items

Banner of Command

Shurelya’s Reverie (Returning item, delayed until after 8.5)

Locket of the Iron Solari (Delayed until after 8.5)

Cinderhulk

Warmog’s Armor

Hextech GLP-800

Champions

Buffs

Jhin

Nocturne

Olaf

Rengar

Shyvana

Swain

Twitch

Zoe

Nerfs

Azir

Galio

Ryze

Skarner

Volibear

Tweaks

Tristana

Runes

Precision/Domination

Aftershock

Press the Attack

Conqueror (Delayed until after 8.5)

Fleet Footwork

Skins

Resistance Illaoi – 1350 RP

Miscellaneous

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