As usual, Matt Leung-Harrison took to X to reveal the upcoming patch notes for LoL 25.10. You can check out our article about them here. Seems like League of Legends will be going through some important changes aimed Ability Power items. This will surely change the meta, forcing different mage builds. Here's a breakdown of the changes coming to AP items and what they mean for the state of the game.
Table of Contents
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Cryptbloom
One of the most important porant changes in the upcoming patch is the so called repositioning of Cryptbloom. Previously this mage item was overshadowed by other penetration items but now it will turn into the Ability Haste counterpart to Void Staff. Quite an interesting change. While it trades off some of Void’s raw magic penetration and burst potential, it gains a smoother build path and a focus on faster ability cooldowns. This means Cryptbloom will be a great option for mages who rely on frequent spell rotations rather than all-in attacks.
However, in Leung-Harrison's post it is mentioned that the team is still fine-tuning Cryptbloom’s numbers, suggesting the item's place in the meta isn’t fully locked yet.
Hextech Rocketbelt
Yup, the good old Rocketbelt, loved by AP assassins like Diana and Katarina, is seeing some small changes. Its health stat is being reduced from 350 to 300, making it a more attractive choice for champions that prioritize mobility and burst over tankiness. Rocketbelt is in a low-durability, high-impact engage tool situation.
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Stormsurge
Another classic is getting tweaked in the upcoming LoL 25.10 patch. Stormsurge seems to be struggling to find its right spot in the meta, especially when compared to the already well-established Shadowflame. Riot is making this item a cheaper, more snowball-oriented pick. So, yes, the price is probably going down.
The item now emphasizes mobility and tempo, thanks to its move speed boost on takedown, at the cost of raw burst potential. This makes it a strategic 2nd item choice for mages who need to close out games quickly rather than build for long-term damage.
Liandry’s Anguish
League of Legends will face some changes in the HP-centric AP item meta. We all know that most of the recent patches have been favoring bulky mage builds, however, Patch 25.10 will introduce adjustments that aim to reduce the dominance of high-health AP options. Well, we'll see how this turns out.
According to the patch preview, LoL players can expect a direct nerf to Liandry’s Anguish. Riot is monitoring how these shifts affect champion diversity and item choices, hinting that the age of tanky mages may be coming to an end. Personally, this doesn't sound bad.
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Explaining The Upcoming Changes
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Mages have more situational flexibility. Players can now make clearer build choices based on playstyle (burst, haste, mobility, or snowballing potential).
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Squishier AP champions get a boost: Rocketbelt and Stormsurge give assassins and glass-cannon mages better builds.
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The HP AP item dominance might be over: Riot promises nerfs to items like Liandry’s which will supposedly make high-health mage builds way less usefull.
Final Thoughts
Patch 25.10 is introducing AP item adjustments. They're made in the name of diversity and strategic decision-making when it comes to builds. LoL is moving away from a one-size-fits-all builds toward more thoughtful, champion-specific options.
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