LoL Patch 25.23 Breakdown: Zaahen Release, Winter Rift Return & All Major Changes

Riot has dropped the first major update after Worlds 2025, and Patch 25.23 is packed with fresh content. From the comeback of Winter Rift to the release of Zaahen and multiple balance changes, here’s everything you need to know.

Winter Rift Returns in Patch 25.23

We are happy to announce that the Winter Rift is finally back in League of Legends. All Winter Legacy skins will be turned on, and you can purchase them as soon as the patch goes live. These skins will be available until the Winter Rift goes away, which will be early next year. 

Speaking of skins, Riot also added new winter-themed options, but they will become available in Patch 25.24. 

Zaahen Release in League of Legends Patch 25.23

The latest League of Legends champion Zaahen, is finally in the game. Although players will be able to access him, his Eternals will be deployed for patch 25.24. We’ll most likely have a separate article about him and his abilities very soon, so make sure to follow us.

Arcane Anniversary Event – Rewards, Skins & How to Unlock Them

November 2025 marks one year since Arcane’s finale, so the team behind it decided to give fans what they want. There will be tons of behind-the-scenes content, new merch, and other surprises. For LoL, fans will have access to the Arcane skins from S1 and S2, as well as a new mini rewards track that will have 8 Arcane-themed rewards.

Users wishing to participate must play 4 games in the LoL Patch 25.23. Here are the rewards:

• Jinx Butterfly Icon
• 500 Battle Pass XP
• Salad Cat Jinx Emote
• Robot Mask Icon
• Yelling Caitlyn/Vi Emote
• Guitar Heimerdinger Emote
• “Arcane Anomaly” Title

Account Penalties Now Linked Across All Riot Games

The League of Legends Patch 25.23 will link specific account penalties, such as disruptive gameplay and inappropriate text. This was a much-awaited change, and we are sure that many people in the community will be happy about it. 

Patch 25.23 Champion Buffs and Nerfs

Alongside everything so far, the LoL 25.23 patch also comes with several champion changes. You can read all of the changes here, but here are just a couple that we believe are more important:

• Ahri – Her “W-Fox-Fire” now deals 40% subsequent hit damage and does slightly more maximum single-target hit damage.
• Ashe – Her “Q” provides less AS than before
• Caitlyn – Headshot now deals slightly less champion and non-champion damage.

ARAM Mayhem Updates in Patch 25.23

The latest LoL patch also comes with different ARAM Mayhem changes. There are changes to the early game augments, and players won’t be able to get a back-to-back silver augments in the first and second rounds of choices. There are also a few other important changes, so we recommend rechecking the full update.

Arena Mode Updates Following Zaahen’s Release

Zaahen’s release prompted Riot Games to make adjustments to the Arena. For example, there are changes to the Undying Guard augment, as well as several bugfixes. The escAPADe will finally convert bonus Ability Power from Riftmaker’s passive.

New Skins in Patch 25.23

As always, the new LoL update will also bring new skins. Here’s what we’ll find:

• Rain Shepard Tristana
• Rain Shepard Gwen
• Immortal Journey Zaahen

Alongside the skins, you will also get the chroma.

Final Thoughts on Patch 25.23

Patch 25.23 sets the stage for the final stretch of League of Legends in 2025, bringing fresh content, balance updates, and a new champion to explore. As always, the meta will continue to shift over the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for follow-up adjustments in Patch 25.24. Until then, jump in, try out the new changes, and enjoy the Winter Rift.