Riot Games released a major Shyvana update for League of Legends that delivers significant visual improvements alongside gameplay changes that reshape how the dragon-transforming champion fights. The update went live after a PBE testing period and is already drawing attention for what it changed and what it left behind.
The visual side of the update is extensive. Shyvana received new models, animations, and effects across both her human and dragon forms. This part of the update has been well-received by players.
The gameplay changes are more complicated. Riot shifted a large portion of Shyvana’s damage into her Q ability, which now functions as a multi-hit combo. In dragon form, she can activate Q three times, with the final hit dealing true damage and serving as her primary damage source. This creates a backloaded damage pattern where Shyvana needs to complete the full combo to be effective.
Her passive took a major hit. Shyvana previously gained 20% bonus damage against dragons, making her one of the best champions for securing early drakes. That’s gone now. Players have repeatedly called the new passive basically useless in actual games.
Other ability changes include a new shield and movement speed boost on her W, though dragon form W has a missing-health heal that some players find awkward. Her E now stops her movement when cast and no longer passes through minions in certain situations. The ultimate adds a 0.75-second fear effect when Shyvana transforms.
The overall result is a champion who remains heavily dependent on her ultimate transformation. Without dragon form available, Shyvana struggles to stick to targets or survive fights. Multiple players have described her as an “ult delivery system” where she’s barely stronger than a minion when her ultimate is down.
