In an effort to curb the extreme snowballing and high-octane tempo that has defined the early game for several seasons, Riot Games has deployed a massive, global system change in Patch 16.01: a significant increase to the cooldown timers of all champion Ultimates (R) at levels 6 through 11.

This change is a direct mechanical lever designed to de-escalate the speed of the game, making early kills and objective takes less frequent, and forcing players to think twice before committing their biggest ability.

The System Change: Less Ultimate Uptime

The core philosophy behind the nerf is simple: making the most powerful ability in a champion’s kit a more precious resource.

  • Increased Early Cooldowns: The cooldowns for nearly every Ultimate ability have been increased, particularly at Rank 1 (Level 6) and Rank 2 (Level 11). For many champions, this adds 15 to 30 seconds onto the initial cooldown timer.
  • Impact on Ganking/Roaming: Champions who rely heavily on their Ultimate for ganking, roaming, or securing kills (e.g., Twisted Fate, Nocturne, Shen) are immediately hurt the most. They can no longer use their Ultimate to secure a gank on Bot Lane and have it ready again for the next objective contest minutes later. Commitments are now final.

The change emphasizes that using an Ultimate ability is now a strategic investment with a higher cost, rather than a resource that will be readily available for every minor skirmish.

Strategic Consequences: Slowing the Snowball

The primary effect of this system-wide change is a deliberate slowing of the early-to-mid game transition:

  1. Level 6 Power Spike Nerfed: The infamous Level 6 power spike—the moment many champions gain the ability to solo-kill their lane opponent or execute a perfect gank—is now less frequent. If a champion successfully uses their Ultimate for an early kill, the enemy has a longer window of safety before the Ultimate returns.
  2. Objective Contests: Teams now need to coordinate their Ultimate usage more carefully around the first two Dragons or the Herald. Wasting an Ultimate on a poor fight means the team will be at a massive disadvantage for the next crucial objective push.
  3. Lane Sustain Focus: This shift rewards champions who can win their lane through sustained damage, farming, and minor trades, rather than those who rely solely on a single, powerful Level 6 kill combo.

The overall goal is to reduce the early-game volatility that often led to one team snowballing out of control before the 15-minute mark. Riot is trying to bring back a more balanced, scaling-focused pace to the professional and high-ranked meta.