TFT 11.5 update: Strategic shifts for Elderwood-Mages and Samira playstyle adjustments
Patch Overview and Meta Impact
The TFT 11.5 update brings targeted adjustments rather than sweeping changes, focusing on refining the current meta after the dramatic Set 4.75 overhaul.
This incremental approach allows players to adapt gradually, with Riot Games carefully monitoring the impact of previous changes. The patch primarily addresses champion balance and item effectiveness, with particular attention to underperforming comps and overpowered synergies.
Strategic Tip: With the meta stabilizing, now is the ideal time to refine your positioning strategies and scout opponents more frequently to counter their compositions.
Elderwood-Mages Resurgence
After falling out of favor in Set 4.5, Elderwood-Mage compositions receive significant boosts with enhanced capabilities for both Lulu and Veigar. These changes position them as viable counters to the still-dominant Aurelion Sol strategies.
Veigar’s Dark Blossom now deals substantially more damage at all tiers (450/600/900 ⇒ 500/650/1000), while Lulu benefits from reduced mana costs (80/150 ⇒ 75/140), allowing more frequent spellcasting. The Trap Claw item adjustment specifically targets Aurelion Sol’s dominance, providing teams with additional counterplay options.
Common Mistake: Avoid overcommitting to 3-star Veigar – the buffs make 2-star versions sufficiently powerful for most comps, allowing better resource allocation.
Read More: TFT b-patch 11.4 nerfs Olaf, buffs Nasus & Nidalee
Samira’s New Playstyle
Samira undergoes a fundamental rework that shifts her power curve, making her more accessible early game while reducing her late-game dominance. Her Inferno Trigger now combines flat physical damage (15/25/40) with reduced Attack Damage scaling (50/60/80% ⇒ 30/40/60%).
This change allows Samira to function effectively with fewer items, particularly reducing her dependence on Deathblade. However, fully equipped versions will deal less damage than before, requiring players to adjust their late-game carry strategies.
Optimization Tip: Consider pairing Samira with attack speed items rather than pure damage to maximize her new flat damage component.
Read More: TFT patch 11.4 notes
Complete Patch Notes
Below are the comprehensive TFT 11.5 patch notes from Riot Games, including all champion adjustments, item changes, and quality-of-life improvements:
Pale Cascade Shield Amount: 175/250/350 ⇒ 200/300/450
Wither damage: 350/550/750 ⇒ 350/550/850
Striking Steel Attack Damage Ratio: 180/185/190% ⇒ 190/200/210%
Eye of the Storm Shield Amount: 250/300/400 ⇒ 250/275/350
Mana: 80/150 ⇒ 75/140
Five Point Strike Damage: 175/250/400 ⇒ 200/275/450
On the Hunt Bonus Attack Damage: 100/200/400 ⇒ 100/200/350
Dark Blossom Damage: 450/600/900 ⇒ 500/650/1000
with Mage trait activated now casts his 2nd cast 0.1 seconds later
Removed the Magic Resist Shred from her tooltip
Firecracker Stun Duration: 2.5/3/6 ⇒ 2/2.5/8 seconds
Inferno Trigger now deals base physical damage in addition to a percentage of her Attack Damage
Inferno Trigger Damage: 0/0/0 ⇒ 15/25/40
Inferno Trigger Attack Damage % scaling: 50/60/80% ⇒ 30/40/60%
Unforgotten Mana Cost: 20 ⇒ 10
Starting Stacks: 4 ⇒ 3
Burn damage increased from 25% to 30%.
Burn cadence lowered from 2.5 seconds to 2 seconds.
Burn damage lowered from 25% to 20%.
Missile now travels significantly faster.
Shield Amount: 150/200/275 ⇒ 150/200/250
Armor: 100/250/500/1000 ⇒ 100/250/500/800
Magic Resist: 20/40/70/100 ⇒ 10/25/50/80
Debuffs of the same type no longer stack together.
In events where multiple debuffs of the same type occur on the same unit, the strongest will become the priority debuff for its duration.
Level 7 Roll Odds: : 0/40/55/5/0% ⇒ 0/40/58/2/0%
Disabled the SELL hotkey on PC in Round 1. No more selling your only unit by accident and losing to minions, even though they’re people too, so there’s really no shame in doing so.
Excluded Target Dummy from army interfaces both in game and at the end game screen.
The shop is now properly disabled during carousel rounds, preventing accidental buys when your Little Legends is hopping in and out of portals.
Jarvan IV now correctly casts his spell when re-casting on the same target with mage cap
When multiple copies of Kalista are on the board, they will no longer fail to execute a target if the Kalista that landed the first spear dies
Fixed a bug where Galio would sometimes not land on the largest cluster. This sometimes happened when a target was pulled by Aatrox. Galio would determine that the target would be pulled into a large cluster and choose to land on that target, but if Aatrox’s animation wasn’t finished he would pick the target’s starting position as his landing spot and not land on the large cluster
Fixed a bug where Tryndamere’s Spinning Slash damage could benefit from the basic attack damage bonus
Fixed a bug where Runaan’s Hurricane was consuming a stack of Tryndamere’s Spinning Slash attack damage bonus to deal bonus damage
Fixed a bug where, when a player surrendered with a champion holding a trait item, the champion could be re-acquired from the shop or carousel and still have all their items on them
Choncc will now, once again, Belly Bop.
We are aware of a bug, reported as error #11141, with the player Bertasaurus and are working on a balance change for the competitive scene
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » TFT patch 11.5 notes: Lulu & Veigar buffs, Samira changes, more TFT 11.5 update: Strategic shifts for Elderwood-Mages and Samira playstyle adjustments
