The patch spans every role, but the jungle expansion is the most structurally significant change in 25.23.
Patch 25.23 introduces a significant shift in the meta with numerous buffs and nerfs across roles, plus the biggest jungle expansion in recent memory. Riot explicitly targeted roughly ten champions that were "completely non-viable" in the jungle role and delivered direct monster damage buffs alongside a substantial Sunfire Aegis improvement. The result reshapes which off-meta picks are now worth first-clearing.
Top lane also saw targeted adjustments this patch, with changes hitting both contested and emerging picks.
The jungle role sees the most dynamic changes this patch, with off-meta champions gaining meaningful relevance for the first time in several patches.
Riot targeted "completely non-viable" junglers directly, pairing champion buffs with the Sunfire Aegis improvement for tank junglers.
This overview covers all off-meta junglers from this buff pass alongside their current tier status.
| Champion | Buff Type | Tier Potential |
|---|---|---|
| Skarner | AD growth, Q cooldown reduction | C Tier |
| Aatrox | Passive and Q monster damage | Unrated |
| Ambessa | Q monster damage | B Tier |
| Jayce | Q bonus monster damage | Not rated |
| Malphite | W bonus monster damage | Promising |
The changes in Patch 25.23 lay the groundwork for new strategies and tier shifts, particularly in the jungle. The window for off-meta picks is now wider than it has been in recent patches.
Despite receiving buffs, some champions still struggle to convert improved numbers into win rate. Malphite's W ability increase raises jungle potential, but until results show a positive shift, C tier reflects the current data. Riven gains additional passive damage after using abilities, adding jungle threat for aggressive early-clear pathing. However, limited data as a jungler and modest win rates keep her unranked for now.
Sion benefits from a buff to his Q damage to monsters. The modest increase, combined with his already reasonable performance in the current matchup spread, earns him a place in B tier as a reliable but unspectacular option.
Fizz receives base armor, increased damage reduction, and extra damage against monsters this patch. Despite these improvements, his ultimate ability cooldown was extended, introducing a notable setback to teamfight timing. Given a subpar current win rate, Fizz remains off the jungle tier list pending further shifts in performance data.
The updated tier list reflects new dynamics from these targeted buffs:
As the meta adapts, champions like Ambessa, Malphite, and Sion enter the tier list while others await confirmation from first-week data.
Jungle mains who want to ride the buffed picks through the ladder can climb with a buffed jungle pick before the off-meta window closes. Players wanting to learn the pathing and execution behind these specific buffs can book a jungle coaching session for a focused VOD review.
| Champion | New Tier |
|---|---|
| Kha'Zix | OP Tier |
| Sion | B Tier |
| Ambessa | B Tier |
| Malphite | C Tier |
| Aatrox, Riven, Fizz, Jayce | Not Rated |
Mid lane adjustments this patch were narrower in scope, focused on top-of-tier rebalancing rather than major role expansion.
In the mid lane, Ahri receives slight W buffs, though her strong current standing negates any tier change. Hwei faces nerfs to QE base damage, moving from S to A tier. Vladimir retains his position despite minor health and armor reductions, while Mel sees functional adjustments from an E root duration nerf that reduces utility without compensation elsewhere.
Kassadin holds S tier on the strength of his favourable matchup spread against the current mid meta — this is a meta position, not a direct patch buff. Fizz's mid-lane presence stays weak due to extended ultimate cooldowns. The next several patches will determine whether the extended cooldown resolves or compounds Fizz's dual-role identity challenge.
The patch brings significant changes to the ADC landscape, contracting the top of the tier list and promoting mid-tier ADCs that now have space to compete.
These changes reshaped the upper tier of the ADC role heading into the final patches of the year.
With Ashe and Jinx dropping out of OP status, Miss Fortune, Tristana, and Zeri share the upper tier with more equal footing. The ADC pool entering Patch 25.24 is the most balanced it has been in several patches — multiple viable choices rather than two dominants and everyone else.
| Champion | Tier | Notable Buff/Nerf |
|---|---|---|
| Jhin | A | Increased AD and W damage |
| Miss Fortune | OP | Buffed Bullet Time AD ratio |
| Tristana | S | Increased AD growth |
| Xayah | A | Buffed passive feather AD ratio |
| Zeri | S | Doubled R movement speed per stack |
| Ashe | S | Reduced Q attack speed |
| Caitlyn | B | Reduced Headshot AD ratio |
| Jinx | S | Reduced R damage and AD ratio |
| Kai'Sa | A | Reduced armor, increased R cooldown |
Support changes this patch were limited — minor adjustments rather than role-wide shifts.
Support roles see minor changes this patch:
Established OP supports like Nami and Milio maintain dominance. These adjustments may shift synergies for specific ADC pairings, but the support tier top is unchanged.
Patch 25.23 sets up a more dynamic jungle meta and a levelled ADC tier list heading into the final patches of the year. The off-meta jungle window is genuine — several of the buffed picks have the kit depth to hold viability beyond the initial data week.
Patch 25.23's headline changes were a mass jungle expansion (targeting roughly ten off-meta junglers for direct buffs) and a Sunfire Aegis monster damage buff from 1.6× to 2×. On the ADC side, Ashe and Jinx dropped from OP to S, while Miss Fortune climbed to OP on R damage buffs.
Confirmed jungle-buffed champions include Aatrox, Ambessa, Cho'Gath, Fizz, Jayce, Malphite, Ornn, Riven, and Sion, all receiving direct monster damage buffs. Tank junglers like Zac, Amumu, Rammus, and Sejuani also benefit from the Sunfire Aegis modifier increase.
Malphite's W received a 200% bonus damage increase to monsters, and Sunfire Aegis (his ideal first item) had its monster damage modifier raised to 2×. He is rated at C tier currently — sufficient for off-meta play, but not yet a default-tier pick.
Both dropped from OP to S tier. Ashe's Q attack speed was reduced from 25–75% to 20–60%, weakening her auto-attack-heavy playstyle. Jinx's R base damage fell by 50 at all ranks, and the bonus AD ratio dropped from 155% to 130%, reducing her late-game team-fight impact.
Zaahen, The Unsundered, is a new champion who debuted in Patch 25.23. Tier placement has been withheld until meta data stabilises in the first two weeks of the patch, a standard approach for new champion releases.
Yes. Miss Fortune's R (Bullet Time) AD ratio per wave rose from 75% to 80%, delivering a meaningful increase to her teamfight damage. This buff pushed her into OP tier ADC — the single largest tier advancement among ADCs in 25.23.
Sion enters the jungle tier list at B tier following a Q damage buff to monsters. His relatively stable win rate and the broader Sunfire Aegis improvement (which benefits his tanky build path) support the B tier placement.
