Who let the dogs out? Naafiri midscope update to buff her in jungle, add “more dogs”

The Hound of a Hundred Bites is getting a little help from LoL devs this week.

This week, developers of League of Legends are unleashing updates, as confirmed by the lead designer, August Browning. Specifically, the character Naafiri will undergo a mid-development refresh, focusing on strengthening its performance in the Rift battleground.

For Naafiri, there’s an enhancement in the count of her canine companions (more colloquially known as “MORE DOGS” from the August patch notes), along with an increase in her efficiency within the jungle environment. Simultaneously, the Hound of a Hundred Bites is seeing a decline in both win-rate and popularity among players.

“More outplay potential”, jungle and solo ability in focus for Naafiri with midscope update

On March 3rd, Riot August has confirmed that character Naafiri will receive a mid-update in its development cycle. These changes may appear on the PBE server as soon as this week. More precise alterations are expected to be revealed in the coming days, but for now, Riot August has disclosed the team’s objectives for the Darkin hound character.

[August proposed] increasing the versatility and showcasing more skill options for her character,” he stated, focusing on enhancing the champion’s efficiency in the jungle and as an individual lane fighter. Notably, a note “MORE DOGS” was included, suggesting that Naafiri’s pack is undoubtedly going to expand.

In July 2023, Naafiri arrived alongside LoL Patch 13.14, initially dominating the game’s hierarchy. However, subsequent adjustments (nerfs) brought her back down to a more balanced level. Gamers have tried out various playstyles for Naafiri, with her being promoted as an effective assassin and typically a mid-laner. Yet, she can also be utilized in the jungle role.

As a gamer, I found that she wasn’t as effective at stealing kills (ganking) compared to other jungle champions on average, and the recent balance changes significantly reduced her damage output. To secure victories, I had to get ahead, but I often struggled when falling behind, which left me with no choice but to focus on the mid lane.

The July update version 14.12 intended to empower Naafiri in the jungle by boosting her allies and enabling Darkin Daggers and bleed effects on large jungle creatures. However, her clear speed remained sluggish compared to other champions, and the modifications did not significantly improve her ability to ambush enemies.

According to statistics from the website u.gg, Naafiri has a victory rate of 51% in the mid lane. However, there isn’t much evidence at this time to support her effectiveness in the jungle or as a solo laner, other than the mid lane.

The specific modifications for Naafiri will be disclosed later this week once the midscope update hits the League of Legends PBE. Following that, there’ll be lots of fine-tuning and adjustments before these updates reach the live game. For now, dive into Naafiri this week and let loose the hounds! The more data we collect, the quicker Riot can implement the changes!

2025-03-04 10:43

Clash Royale: How to claim the 9th Birthday Gift Legendary King’s Chest

Jordan Brand Releases Air Jordan Skyline GORE-TEX Jacket

Activision’s upcoming mobile games have raised eyebrows even before its release with sketchy AI-ads

MAFS Stars Spill the Tea on Retreat Drama