Nasus, the Curator of the Sands, has long been a staple pick for League of Legends top laners seeking a scaling champion with monstrous late-game potential. However, recent seasons have seen Nasus struggle to keep pace with the meta, outshined by more versatile fighters boasting both disruptive tools and high damage output. In response, Riot Games is poised to inject a dose of power into the Ascended warrior with Patch 14.7, aiming to restore his terrifying late-game dominance.
Nasus’s Current Struggle
Nasus’s core gameplay loop centers around his Q ability, Siphoning Strike, which permanently empowers his basic attacks after killing an enemy unit. This mechanic encourages a patient farming playstyle in the early game, with the promise of immense damage scaling as the game progresses. Sadly, Season 14’s meta has proven unkind to Nasus. Top lane brawlers with strong early game presence and impactful crowd control abilities have crowded out the slower scaling Nasus. He lacks the tools to consistently pressure opponents in the lane or contribute meaningfully to skirmishes outside of his immediate vicinity.
Riot’s Buff Philosophy
To remedy Nasus’s underwhelming performance, Riot Games is focusing on amplifying his core strengths – immense sustain and overwhelming late-game damage. Patch 14.7 will supercharge his iconic Siphoning Strike and bolster his innate lifesteal from his passive, Soul Eater. This will enhance Nasus’s in-lane resilience and allow him to scale into an unkillable juggernaut as the game unfolds.
Riot Phroxzon offered insight into the philosophy behind the buffs: “We want to reinforce the fantasy of Nasus as an unkillable late-game monster with unparalleled sustain.” The goal is to encourage Nasus players to embrace a hyper-scaling playstyle, weathering the early storm to emerge as an unstoppable force in the late game.
Statistical Insight
Data from analytics website U.GG paints a clear picture of Nasus’s current plight. His pick rate hovers at a mediocre level, but his win rate has dipped to a concerning 49%. While not abysmal, he simply can’t compete with the likes of Maokai, Zac, or Trundle, who bring a potent mix of early-game aggression, tankiness, and disruptive crowd control to the table.
Looking Ahead
League of Legends Patch 14.7 is slated for an April 3rd release. These Nasus changes have the potential to catapult him back into relevance and make him a truly fearsome choice for those who relish turning into an unstoppable raid boss with the patience to farm their way to victory.
In Conclusion
Will these changes prove sufficient to dethrone the kings of the top lane? Only time will tell. However, Riot’s commitment to revitalizing Nasus is clear. Players who adore his scaling-focused playstyle should be thrilled by the prospect of his return as a force to be reckoned with in ranked play.
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