Another new League of Legends champion, Briar, has been causing chaos on Summoner’s Rift since her release. Despite Riot Games’ attempts to balance her, she remains a powerful force in the jungle.
Briar joined the champion roster in September with Patch 13.18 and quickly became the center of attention. Her unique playstyle sets her apart from other champions, leading to multiple adjustments by Riot. However, even after the recent nerfs in Patch 13.22, Briar’s presence in the jungle remains unmatched.
The latest patch aimed to reduce the damage of Briar’s Q and R abilities, specifically targeting her lethality build. While this build has decreased in popularity, Briar’s fighter-focused build with Stridebreaker continues to thrive, boasting a 53% win rate in high Elo matches according to data from OP.GG, U.GG, and champion.gg.
One of Briar’s standout mechanics is her ability to enter a “berserk” state by activating her W ability. This grants her increased attack speed and movement speed towards her target, making it difficult for enemies to escape. Previously, this state could only be achieved through Renata Glasc’s ultimate ability, which caused affected enemies to attack their nearby allies.
Combined with Briar’s passive, which rewards her with significant life steal for continuously attacking opponents, the berserk state ensures that Briar secures kills or forces enemies to retreat. The only effective counter is hard crowd control, but Briar can cleanse herself of the berserk state by using her E ability, making it challenging to stop her bloodthirsty rampage.
Riot is expected to provide a first look at the changes coming in Patch 13.23, scheduled for release on November 21. The patch preview will reveal the champions, items, and systems that will be addressed. Given Briar’s continued dominance, it is possible that she will once again be at the top of the nerf list.
Source: DOTESPORTS
