Adrenaline Rush nerfed hard?
With the release of patch 2.8.1, Infinity Kingdom introduced a major adjustment to one of the most popular and widely-used Tower of Knowledge skills: Adrenaline Rush.
Previously a go-to skill for utility, supports, and high-ult uptime builds, Adrenaline Rush has now been significantly nerfed, and its impact across multiple Immortal roles is worth breaking down in detail.
Let’s look at:
- What exactly changed
- How big the nerf really is
- Which Immortals are most affected
- Whether this skill is still worth using in the current meta
🧠 Adrenaline Rush – Before & After Patch 2.8.1
Adrenaline Rush (Pre-2.8.1):
Every Normal Attack has a 50% chance of gaining (45 + 15 per level) Energy.
At max level: 150 Energy per proc.
Adrenaline Rush (Post-2.8.1):
Every Normal Attack has a 50% chance of gaining (30 + 10 per level) Energy.
At max level: 100 Energy per proc.
📉 That’s a 33% reduction in energy gain at max level.
⚠️ Why This Is a Big Deal
This change drastically impacts how effective Adrenaline Rush is across the board—especially for slow attack speed Immortals.
- 150 → 100 energy per proc might not sound catastrophic at first glance, but in a game where ultimate timing defines matchups, this has massive ripple effects.
- You now need significantly more procs to maintain the same ultimate uptime.
💀 Biggest Casualties – Who Suffers Most
❌ Slow Attack Speed Immortals
Immortals with fewer normal attacks per fight suffer the most. These include:
- Support Immortals like Charles, Zenobia, or even Tokugawa
- Utility units used to manipulate crowd control, cleanse, or apply buffs/debuffs
💬 Before: You could patch their poor energy regen using Adrenaline Rush.
💬 Now: Their low attack frequency means fewer procs AND less energy per proc, resulting in drastically reduced ult usage.
⚔️ Survivors – Who Can Still Use It
✅ High Attack Speed Immortals
Fast-hitting physical Immortals can still find some use for the skill thanks to sheer volume of hits, even if each proc gives less:
- Hippolyta – Still viable due to attack speed scaling and energy-hungry ultimate
- Alexander (without unique artifact) – Gains moderate benefit with the right build
- Attila (with energy-centric builds) – Can still leverage energy cycling if paired with regen auras or items
💡 Key Takeaway: If the Immortal naturally hits fast, Adrenaline Rush can still offer value, albeit less than before.
💭 Meta Relevance – Is It Still Worth Using?
With the emergence of newer, more efficient energy or DPS-focused skills, Adrenaline Rush is starting to fall behind. The nerf in 2.8.1 only accelerates this shift.
🔻 Previously:
- A must-have skill for many early and mid-game builds
- Especially useful for supports who lacked native regen
🔻 Now:
- Outclassed in many roles by stronger ToK skills
- Only viable in attack-speed-focused compositions or synergy builds and possibly only in synergy with attack speed modifiers.
🎯 Verdict – Current Use Cases
| Immortal Type | Use After Nerf? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Attackers | ✅ Still Viable | Works in synergy with Chase/AR builds |
| Slow Supports | ❌ No Longer Recommended | Too few procs; not enough energy gained |
| Generalists | ⚠️ Situational | Only use if no better energy skill option |
| Mid-game PvE Builds | ✅ Okay Option | Early game players may still find it useful |
Summary – What Patch 2.8.1 Means for Adrenaline Rush
- Adrenaline Rush was nerfed from 150 → 100 energy per proc at max level
- The nerf hits low-speed Immortals hard, making it no longer reliable for supports
- High-speed physical attackers can still make use of it—especially if part of energy-cycle teams
- The skill is becoming more niche, and is best paired with attack speed modifiers or synergistic kits
💬 Final Thought:
Adrenaline Rush has moved from “core pick” to “conditional niche tool.” Use it wisely, and only where it fits naturally into your team’s rhythm.
Would you like a tier list update, visual comparison chart, or an updated build suggestion section for post-2.8.1 energy regen strategies? I’d be happy to help!
Published: 27-03-2025