LoL Patch 20.05 – Full Notes, Champion Changes, and More

Patch 20.05 might not be the biggest in terms of size, but it definitely deserves attention thanks to some interesting additions. In this update, the developers focused on balance tuning, improving the overall gameplay experience, and introducing a few fresh elements to make matches even more dynamic.

Today, we’ll take a closer look at everything Riot has prepared for us: champion changes, item updates, and of course, the new game mode. So, let’s dive into our patch overview!

Brawl: New LoL Mode is already in the game

The new fast-paced mode, Brawl, lets you enjoy pure combat without worrying about strategy or macro gameplay. I’ve covered the mode in more detail in my blog Brawl – New LoL Game Mode, but here’s a quick overview of what to expect.

Essentially, Riot Games gave us a mix of ARAM and Deathmatch. Your main goal is to destroy the enemy’s portal. To do that, you need to kill enemy champions and escort your minions to the opposing portal. It’s simple — but really fun. According to Riot, matches are designed to last around 10 minutes.

So what does that mean for us? First, it’s a great way to shake up your usual gameplay routine. Second, it’s perfect for warming up before ranked games. And third — it’s just straight-up fun, with non-stop action and zero pressure.

LP Changes on SEA Servers

In Patch 20.05, the developers addressed an important issue affecting the SEA servers. After the server merge earlier this year, many players found it harder to climb the ranked ladder. While the merge itself was successful and achieved its intended goals, the servers originally differed in terms of player population, skill distribution, and other factors. As a result, the ranked system started behaving inconsistently for some regions.

Riot analyzed a full season of data and tried to rebalance things, but they ended up going a bit too far — LP gains became too low. In Patch 20.05, they’ve rolled back some of those changes, and now, for example, players on the Singapore server should notice more reasonable LP gains.

Patch 20.05 Champions Changes

The champion changes this patch were mostly minor. Poor Lulu keeps getting nerfed every patch in an attempt to bring her more in line, but Riot just keeps chipping away at her. Hopefully, it doesn’t lead to the champion becoming completely unplayable.

As you might have noticed, champions weren’t heavily touched in this patch. Overall, it’s the kind of light adjustment you’d expect from a mid-cycle patch — a few stat tweaks here and there, some slight buffs and nerfs. I don’t think any of it will have a major impact on the game.

Patch 20.05 Item Changes

In Patch 20.05, the developers made major adjustments to AP itemization. In short — weaker items were buffed, overperformers were toned down, and several items were reshaped to better suit different types of champions.

For example, Seraph’s Embrace is now much more valuable for mana-hungry champions who benefit from a reliable shield — like Cassiopeia or Kassadin. Horizon Focus has become more universal and now fits any mage who values ability power and haste. If any of its former users fall behind because of these changes, Riot mentioned they’ll consider buffing them in the next patch.

Hextech Rocketbelt is now leaning more toward aggressive playstyles — making it a better choice for assassins like Evelynn or Ekko. Cryptbloom has been adjusted to be a more direct competitor to Void Staff, and in general, burst damage items now build faster, giving assassins earlier power spikes.

These changes are definitely more interesting and impactful compared to the champion adjustments.

Patch 20.05 Mythic Shop Content Update

In Patch 20.05, the developers updated the Mythic Shop by adding a large number of icons that were previously only available through chroma bundles. With this change, the daily rotation now includes a total of 457 possible items, meaning the shop will refresh more frequently and feel much more dynamic.

Each of these icons is now available for 5 Mythic Essence, making them fairly accessible — great news for collectors. Riot also mentioned that they’ll be monitoring player feedback on this update and will continue to tweak and expand the shop as needed.

Our Thoughts on LoL Patch 25.05

Patch 20.05 might not be the biggest, but it’s definitely packed with meaningful and well-targeted changes. The developers focused on fine-tuning the balance: key champion adjustments, a full AP itemization pass, and a fresh update to the Mythic Shop. What stands out the most is their clear push toward build diversity and overall player experience — from ranked tweaks to item economy and cosmetic accessibility.

And of course, for me personally, the highlight of the patch is the launch of the new Brawl mode. I really hope it delivers and resonates with players, because its success could determine whether Riot continues adding similar types of content in the future.

All in all, the patch feels exactly how a mid-season update should be — stabilizing, refreshing, and laying the groundwork for the next major release.