LoL Patch 13.15 Notes: Smite and Pet Changes, 2v2v2v2 Balance Changes

LoL patch 13.15 includes the first balance changes for the new 2v2v2v2 game mode.

Giving players another break from the massive patches of Season 2023, patch 13.15 is light on the system changes and more focused on the individual champion adjustments. Although since professional leagues are getting into their playoff stages that will be played on previous patches, even the champion changes are on the lighter side—so the main bulk of 13.15 is about the Arena game mode.

But before we get into the champions and the new game mode, there are two important adjustments. First, the duo queue restriction for players above Masters MMR is once again in place since the Split 2 of Season 2023 officially started.

Then there is the Smite changes to the Summoner Spell’s interaction with the champion pets. Starting with patch 13.15, Smite will now only deal 20-160 (based on level) damage to non-lane minions—mainly pets like Tibbers and Daisy—instead of the previous 600-1200. This is to make sure junglers don’t have an inherent advantage while playing agaisnt these pets since an upgraded Smite makes it very easy to kill the pets. To balance the Smite changes pets are also adjusted, most of them are losing some part of their health pools in favor of increased resistances and health regeneration.

Contents

1 Long-awaited pro play nerfs
2 Arena game mode changes
3 When does LoL patch 13.15 go live?

Long-awaited pro play nerfs

Pro play fans have been complaining about the stale meta for a while now. And despite there having been a lot of patches since the season started, the newest ones still had some obnoxiously powerful champions. Leading this list has to be Kai’Sa—a two-role flex champion that has one of the best poke potentials in the game while also being able to dive the enemy backline and assassinate carries.

Thankfully, Kai’Sa is getting some well-deserved nerfs in LoL patch 13.15, more focused on her all-in damage while building AP. Although the changes don’t seem significant enough to kick her out of the meta or make her any worse in solo queue. After Kai’Sa there are nerfs to the newest holy trio of the jungle in pro games: Ivern, Sejuani and Maokai. All these utility champions have been dominating the meta since the meta junglers aren’t the most viable and Riot is finally taking a look at them.

Besides these not many changes doesn’t look like they affect pro play, especially with the leagues ending soon and Worlds still ways away, but buffed champions like Camille, Caitlyn and Yone can be good to keep an eye out for players looking to climb in Split 2.

Arena game mode changes

This is the first balance patch since the League’s newest game mode went live, so it’s normal to see a big list of changes coming with patch 13.15. Starting with five new Soul Fighters added to the Arena—champions on the map that can attack or CC both teams.

Evelynn: Grants all players camouflage.
Gwen: Occasionally protects the lowest health player with her W, Hallowed Mist.
Jhin: Casts his ultimate, Curtain Call, which will alternate shots between each player.
Shaco: Continuously places his Jack-in-the-Boxes around the Arena.
Viego: The first player to die will instead become Viego for a period of time.

When does LoL patch 13.15 go live?

LoL patch 13.15 will go live on August 1. The first region that the patch will drop is the Oceania servers at 10 AM AEDT. The rest of the servers will follow suit in the morning hours of their respective regions. Here are the timings for most servers: