League of Legends patch 13.7 notes: Nerfs to Zeri, buffs to Azir ahead of MSI

Complete guide to LoL Patch 13.7 with champion adjustments, strategic insights, and competitive timing analysis

Patch 13.7 Overview and Release Schedule

League of Legends Patch 13.7 introduces strategic balance modifications designed to refine the competitive landscape ahead of the Mid-Season Invitational. This update focuses on fine-tuning champion performance rather than implementing sweeping meta changes.

Patch 13.7 delivers precision adjustments to several key champions, with particular attention to Zeri’s dominance in professional play and Azir’s post-rework performance optimization.

With the Mid-Season Invitational approaching rapidly, Riot Games is implementing measured balance changes to stabilize the competitive environment. These adjustments aim to reduce Zeri’s overwhelming late-game presence while bolstering Azir’s early lane phase following his recent mid-scope update.

This comprehensive guide provides detailed analysis of all balance changes, strategic implications, and practical adaptation strategies for competitive players.

League of Legends Patch 13.7 launches globally on April 5, 2023, following Riot’s established deployment schedule. The update begins rolling out on Oceanic servers at 10 AM AEDT, with regional servers receiving the patch throughout the day based on their time zones.

Players should anticipate the following deployment timeline across major regions:

Expect approximately 2-4 hours of server maintenance during the deployment window, with matchmaking queues disabled approximately three hours before the update begins. Plan your gaming sessions accordingly to avoid interruption.

Champion Balance Changes and Meta Impact

Zeri continues her reign as one of League’s most dominant ADC picks since her introduction. The lightning-themed Zaunite marksman excels at repositioning, kiting opponents, and unleashing devastating teamfight damage. Her consistent presence in professional competition prompted Riot to moderate her scaling potential before the Mid-Season Invitational tournament.

Azir maintains significant relevance in professional League matches despite recent adjustments. Following his mid-scope update, developers identified areas where the Shuriman emperor felt underwhelming. These changes strengthen his early-game presence while reducing his long-range poke capability to maintain balanced gameplay patterns.

  • Base armor increased: 44 ⇒ 47
  • Base HP increased: 670 ⇒ 685
  • Cooldown increased: 12/11/10/9/8 ⇒ 12/11.5/11/10.5/10 seconds
  • Base shield reduced: 60/100/140/180/220 (+40% AP) ⇒ 60/95/130/165/200 (+40% AP)
  • Base armor increased: 19 ⇒ 22
  • Attack speed growth per level increased: 5% ⇒ 6%
  • Passive: Shurima’s Legacy

  • Turret duration increased: 30 seconds ⇒ 45 seconds
  • Summon range increased: 500 ⇒ 700
  • Mana cost increased: 65/70/75/80/85 ⇒ 70/80/90/100/110
  • Stab range reduced: 370 ⇒ 325
  • Mana cost: 40 flat ⇒ 40/35/30/25/20
  • Damage per rank increased: 50-90 ⇒ 50-118
  • Total damage increased: 50-200 ⇒ 50-210
  • [NEW] Recommended Skill Order: The game will now recommend maxing W first.

  • Critical Strike damage increased: 20% ⇒ 30%
  • Cooldown reduced: 120/90/60 ⇒ 100/80/60
  • AD growth per level: 3.5 ⇒ 3.75
  • Passive: Oathsworn Bond

  • Oathsworn Ceremony Duration: 12 seconds ⇒ 8 seconds (Note: This begins when Kalista activates her Black Speak.)
  • [NEW] Ride Together, Channel Together: Kalista is now forced to channel on the Black Spear while her Oathsworn is reviving
  • Sinister Steel Dagger Magic Damage: 68−240 (based on level) (+ 60% bonus AD) (+65/75/85/95% (levels 1/6/11/16) AP) ⇒ 68−240 (based on level) (+ 60% bonus AD) (+70/80/90/100% (levels 1/6/11/16) AP)
  • Physical Damage per Dagger: 18% (+30% per 100% bonus AS) bonus AD ⇒ 16% (+50% per 100% bonus AS) bonus AD
  • Isolation Range: 425 ⇒ 375
  • Evolved Slow: 60% ⇒ 40%
  • Evolved Slow Against Isolated Targets: 90% ⇒ 75%
  • Buff Duration: 10 seconds ⇒ 12 seconds
  • Base Attack Damage: 68 ⇒ 66
  • Passive: Berserker Rage

  • Attack Speed: 60-100% (based on level) ⇒ 50-100% (based on level)
  • Physical Damage: 70/120/170/220/270 (+100% bonus AD) ⇒ 65/115/165/215/265 (+100% bonus AD)
  • W: Defensive Ball Curl

  • Bonus Armor: 35 (+40/55/70/85/100% total armor) ⇒ 35 (+40/50/60/70/80% total armor)
  • Passive: Fury of the North

  • Damage Cap against Epic Monsters: 300 ⇒ 250
  • Cooldown: 18/16.5/15/13.5/12 seconds ⇒ 19/17.5/16/14.5/13 seconds
  • Cooldown: 120/100/80 seconds ⇒ 130/110/90 seconds
  • Cooldown Refunded On Hit: 3 seconds ⇒ 2 seconds
  • AP Ratio: 60% at all ranks ⇒ 45/50/55/60/65%
  • AP Ratio: 100% at all ranks ⇒ 70/80/90/100/110%
  • Sneaky Stuns: Veigar can no longer hide his E VFX from enemies by placing it inside certain walls.
  • AP Ratio: 75% at all ranks ⇒ 65/70/75%
  • Minimum Physical Damage: 55/80/105/130/155 (+70% bonus AD) ⇒ 45/70/95/120/145 (+80% bonus AD)
  • Maximum Physical Damage: 110/160/210/260/310 (+140% bonus AD) ⇒ 90/140/190/240/290 (+160% bonus AD)
  • Physical Damage: 10/30/50/70/90 (+110% AD) (+90% AP) ⇒ 5/20/35/50/65 (+120% AD) (+100% AP)
  • Attack Damage: 68 ⇒ 66
  • Cooldown: 22/19.5/17/14.5/12 seconds ⇒ 22/20/18/16/14 seconds
  • Bonus Attack Speed: 40/45/50/55/60% ⇒ 35/40/45/50/55%
  • Passive: Way of the Wanderer

  • Shield Amount: 100/105/110/115/120/130/140/150/160/170/180/200/220/250/290/350/410/475 ⇒ 100/105/110/115/125/135/145/160/175/195/220/250/275/325/375/425/500/575
  • Damage Increase per Stack: 25% of E’s base damage ⇒ 15-25% of E’s total damage (scales linearly, levels 1-18)
  • Maximum Stack Amount: 2 ⇒ 4
  • Health Growth: 115 ⇒ 100
  • Passive: Living Battery

  • Shield Absorption: 60% of damage dealt ⇒ 45% of damage dealt
  • Magic Damage: 175/275/375 (+100% bonus AD) (+110% AP) ⇒ 175/275/375 (+85% bonus AD) (+110% AP)
  • Item System and Gameplay Mechanics

  • Shields Can’t Save You Now: Items that apply Grievous Wounds on damage dealt to the target will now apply it even if the damage you dealt was completely nullified by a shield. Grievous Wounds will still not apply to Invulnerable targets or targets who blocked the spell with a spell shield.
  • Item Recipe: Pickaxe + Chain Vest + Pickaxe + 750 gold ⇒ Pickaxe + Chain Vest + Caulfield’s Warhammer + 525 gold
  • Attack Damage: 65 ⇒ 55
  • Ability Haste: 0 ⇒ 15
  • Combine Cost: 350 gold ⇒ 550 gold
  • Total Cost: 1100 gold ⇒ 1300 gold
  • Combine Cost: 650 gold ⇒ 450 gold
  • Combine Cost: 415 gold ⇒ 215 gold
  • Karthus: Passive Duration: 7 seconds ⇒ 5 seconds
  • Sion: Passive Form Lifesteal: 100% ⇒ 50%
  • Veigar: E Cooldown: 20/18.5/17/15.5/14 seconds ⇒ 23/21.5/20/18.5/17 seconds
  • Global Pings (Displayed regardless of ping location)

    Proximity Pings (Displayed if pinged within 3000 units of your champion. Approximately the same range as a Caitlyn or Lux ultimate ability)

    The item system receives significant adjustments in Patch 13.7, with Sterak’s Gage undergoing substantial recipe and stat changes. The new build path incorporates Caulfield’s Warhammer instead of a second Pickaxe, reducing raw attack damage while adding valuable Ability Haste. This modification better aligns the item with bruiser champions who benefit from both stats.

    Grievous Wounds application now functions through shields, addressing a longstanding inconsistency in anti-heal mechanics. This change ensures that champions relying on shield-heavy compositions cannot completely negate healing reduction effects, creating more counterplay options in sustained teamfight scenarios.

    Professional Play Implications

  • Weekend 1 Registration Begins: April 3 @ 11:00 AM (Local Time)
  • Weekend 1 Tournament Dates: April 8 and 9 (~4-7 PM Local, varies by region)
  • TR1 – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm local time
  • SG2 – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm local time
  • Patch 13.7 serves as a crucial competitive tuning update preceding the Mid-Season Invitational. The targeted champion adjustments specifically address professional play balance concerns, particularly Zeri’s overwhelming presence in coordinated team environments.

    Tournament organizers have scheduled the first competitive weekend for April 8-9, with registration opening on April 3. Regional timing varies between approximately 4-7 PM local time, with specific slots allocated for different server groups. Teams should prepare for these balance changes during their MSI preparation scrimmage blocks.

    The meta heading into MSI appears to be shifting toward more balanced champion diversity, with these changes reducing the priority of certain dominant picks while opening up strategic alternatives. Expect professional teams to experiment heavily with the adjusted champions during the initial adaptation period.

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