The Chemtech Drake Returns to League

On January 24th 2022, Riot made the startling decision to remove the Chemtech Drake from League after months of community backlash. It's been dormant ever since, but has returned in a much healthier state for Preseason 2023.

Buffs

When slain, the Chemtech Drake now grants 5% tenacity and 5% heal/shield power. The tenacity will benefit any front line tank (like Dr. Mundo or Alistar), helping them effectively absorb even more CC, but the heal/shield power is a little more niche.

Interestingly, the individual buffs may benefit enchanters the most. Not only will their heals/shields be augmented, but they may be able to survive hard CC into burst damage combos. Enchanters' vulnerability has always been their biggest weakness, so the Chemtech Drake buffs can mitigate this to help them become unstoppable healing machines.

Chemtech Soul

Teams that claim the Chemtech Soul will gain 10% damage reduction and 10% more damage while below 50% health. This will produce high-risk but high-reward plays as you deal more damage the lower health you get, alongside more durability.

Squishy carries that dip below 50% health but have the sustain to survive through it will benefit the most from this Soul, such as Tryndamere and ADCs that build Immortal Shieldbow. Additionally, champions like Vladimir and Dr. Mundo that use health to cast their abilities can benefit often from the damage increase.

Chemtech Rift

Instead of creating the infamous stealth zones, the new Chemtech Rift mutates the various jungle plants:

• Honeyfruits no longer slow champions that consume them and grants a small shield along with the usual heal
• Blast Cones move champions twice as far
• Scryer's Bloom reveals a small area around the plant, along with the standard cone of vision. Allies gain movement speed toward that cone, and any enemy wards revealed are reduced to 1 health

Not only are these plants mutated, but more plants are spawned throughout the Rift such as in bases and the jungle.

The changes to Honeyfruit means picking them up can be game changing during a close fight, as they no longer slow and grant a small shield. If you fall behind, it's now a little easier to establish vision with the mutated Scryer's Bloom; there are more scattered throughout the map and they sweep a larger radius.

Summary

The new Chemtech Drake feels like a far cry from its itertation from earlier in the year. It feels balanced and equal to the impact of the other drakes, offering chances for unique outplays with the mutated jungle plants and damage buff when low health.