TFT patch 12.5 notes: Jhin & Ahri buffs, Rek'Sai rework

April 2023 · 9 minute read

TFT patch 12.5 has landed and it’s a big one: Riot shipped the first major Neon Nights balance changes following the Set 6.5 launch, targeting Rek’Sai, Jhin, Ahri, and more. We’ve got a complete look at the March update here, including the full patch notes.

Neon Nights has built on what Gizmos & Gadgets introduced in Set 6, and TFT patch 12.5 is here to finetune the wild west of balance in the aftermath.

It’s not the first update since Set 6.5 went live: Silco, Renata Glasc, Sivir, and the Hextech trait have all been nerfed as part of TFT patch 12.4b on February 22. However, this patch includes some bigger changes Riot couldn’t push out within a week.

The big names being targeted? Rek’Sai, Jhin, Ahri, Zeri, Tryndamere, Twitch, Corki ⁠— more than 20 champions have been highlighted, as well as five traits and a slew of Augments. Here’s what we know about TFT patch 12.5.

Jhin is one of more than 20 champions with changes lined up in TFT patch 12.5.

What’s changed in TFT patch 12.5?

Riot gives love to Jhin, Arcanists as they fall off in Neon Nights

It’s like Andy in Toy Story ⁠— as soon as the new Neon Nights champions and traits came along, TFT players looked at units like Jhin and the Arcanist trait and said “I don’t want to play with you anymore.”

Jhin hasn’t been bad by any means, although he was outshone by Sivir and Irelia as premier four-cost carries before TFT patch 12.4b. After the 12.5 patch, he got a “slight” buff, along with common frontline pairing Braum, to help him out.

Arcanists also got some love as the AP comp fell off without Lux. Ahri received an “adjustment to make her easier and more satisfying to play,” which should help both Syndicate players and Arcanist players. Vex was also recently buffed in the b-patch, helping the cause.

Braum is also getting buffs to bring Bodyguards back into the meta.

Rek’Sai rework to tone back powerful three-trait two-cost

TFT players have maybe been having a bit too much fun with some of the new units in Neon Nights though. One of the most glaring examples is Rek’Sai. While she was nerfed in the February 22 update, Riot are keen to push ahead with a rework of the two-cost unit.

Her synergy with Sejuani ⁠— also a three-trait two-cost unit ⁠— has made the duo a powerful early game pairing on every board. She can also transition well as a late-game secondary carry alongside Kha’Zix in Mutant comps, without much counter.

Rek’Sai’s resistance shred and damage has already been hit, but Riot wants to “open up more defensive builds that aren’t hard countered by a flexible three-trait two-cost” with big changes in TFT patch 12.5.

They are doing this by removing her resistance shred and adjusting her scalings, putting extra emphasis on her healing rather than damage. She transforms into more of a drain tank through health rather than resistances as a result.

Corki is one of a few reroll carries getting some love in TFT patch 12.5.

Brand, Corki, Lucian reroll buffs

Some reroll comps have been outperforming others in Neon Nights ⁠— Twitch, Tryndamere, and Malzahar to name them.

Riot are looking at adjusting other reroll carries like Brand, Corki, and Lucian to try and give them a bit more power in the meta. Even Ashe is getting a look in at one and two-star, although those will more than likely help her in a Syndicate comp versus being a reroll carry.

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On the flip side, the aforementioned trio of overachievers will all be nerfed to bring the strategy, and its carries, closer to parity.

Malzahar has dominated the Neon Nights meta so far with Mutant comps making a renaissance.

TFT patch 12.5 is live and you can check out all the notes below, courtesy of Riot Games.

TFT patch 12.5 notes

Champions

1-cost

Brand

Ezreal

Jarvan IV

Nocturne

Twitch

2-cost

Ashe

Corki

Lulu

Rek’Sai

3-cost

Ekko

Gnar

Lucian

Malzahar

Morgana

Senna

Tryndamere

4-cost

Ahri

Alistar

Braum

Draven

Irelia

Jhin

Kha’Zix

Renata

Sivir

Vi

5-cost

Galio

Jinx

Kai’sa

Tahm Kench

Zeri

Traits

Bodyguard

Chemtech

Enchanter

Enforcer

Innovator

Twinshot

Augments

Battle Mage I / II / III

Chemtech Unity

Concussive Blows

Cybernetic Implants III

Disintegrator I / II / III

Dominance

Double Trouble I / II / III

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Electrocharge I / II / III

Four Score

Golden Gifts

Knife’s Edge I / II / III

Luden’s Echo I / II / III

High Five

New Tier 3 (Prismatic) Augment

Second Wind III

Swift Justice

Treasure Trove I / II

Tri Force I / II / III

Woodland Trinket

Items

Bramble Vest

Brink of Dawn (Radiant Edge of Night)

Covalent Spark (Radiant Ionic Spark)

Edge of Night

Mistral (Radiant Zephyr)

Statikk Shiv

Sunfire Cape (Radiant Sunfire Aegis)

The Collector

Zhonya’s Paradox

Systems

Tome of Traits

Breakpoints slightly nerfed.

Other

Double Up

Hyper Roll

Bug fixes

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