Recently released on the live servers, League of Legends’ Swarm mode has proven to be exactly what the game needs. Not only is it incredibly fun, but it also shows that the developers can still innovate within the decade-old game.

Riot Games has introduced the Swarm game mode in League of Legends as part of the Anima Squad 2024 event. This massive summer celebration includes new Anima Squad and Primordian skins, along with the highly anticipated Vampire Survivors Swarm mode. Despite being out for just over 1, or 2 days, players are already enthusiastic about the new mode and its offerings.

Many consider this mode to be some of the highest-quality content Riot has ever released into League of Legends. It’s impressive how the developers have managed to transform the traditional League of Legends experience.

Initially, it might be challenging to adapt to, but it makes complete sense for the mode, which benefits from the precise movement enabled by the new control scheme. This is the first time players can move League champions using keyboard buttons, opening up opportunities for even more innovation.

Each champion has been well-adapted for the game mode, with one ability converted into an auto-firing weapon, leaving a basic ability and an ultimate. Swarm mode is also infinitely replayable, offering a vast array of combinations of champions, abilities, and weapons to choose from as you progress through each stage. You can play solo or with a party of up to four players, providing more freedom of choice than many other modes.

While Swarm is currently a limited-time mode, the League of Legends developers have suggested that its popularity and consistent player engagement could lead Riot to bring it back and possibly make it a permanent feature. Riot has done something similar with Arena, as they work towards making the 2v2 battle mode sustainable for continuous play.

Faker Hall of Legends skins are way too expensive

The basic Hall of Legends pass is available for 1950 RP, which is about $15, and allows players to unlock various skins through the event. However, the most expensive bundles are the priciest cosmetics ever in League of Legends.

This premium pass includes the entire Battle Pass, fully leveled to 100, as well as Chromas for Faker’s previous T1 Worlds skins (Ryze, Syndra, Zed), enhancements for the Ahri skin, a special title, Faker’s signature on the splash arts, a unique “structure finisher” animation, and many other rewards.

Despite the variety of cosmetics for fans of Faker, the cost is steep: 59260 RP, or around $450. There is a cheaper tier that still includes the Immortalized Legend Ahri skin, but even that costs 32430 RP, meaning you would need to spend at least $250 to obtain it. This version of the skin does not include Faker’s signature on the splash art, making it feel incomplete.

Additionally, these cosmetics will only be available during this event, with no plans to add them to the game’s loot pool or bring them back in the future, according to the developers.

Players are strongly against the high prices, calling them a “scam” and saying they are overpriced. Jankos, another professional League of Legends player, also commented that the skins seem “a bit pricey.”

The skins are so expensive that Riot Games plans to introduce limited-time RP bundles that will let players purchase each bundle option fully. These bundles might make it cheaper to buy all the skins at once compared to current prices in the live client.

This situation has led many of fans to question why Riot would place so many cosmetics behind a paywall to represent Faker’s legacy. However, Riot explained the pricing in their FAQ.

“For the more casual fan, we have some of our most generous bundles to date. The Hall of Legends Pass includes multiple skins (including Risen Legend LeBlanc), emotes, and more, while the Risen Legend Collection adds the new Risen Legend Ahri skin for collectors to enjoy,”

Regarding the most expensive bundles, Riot claims the price is justified because the cosmetics are “highly commemorative, with never-before-implemented features.”

Riot Games has started the process to induct a second professional player into the League of Legends Hall of Legends, with voting expected to begin soon. Although the celebrations for Faker’s induction have not officially started yet, Riot is already selecting the experts who will form the next jury panel.

“We are choosing our next 50 panelists for the 2024 Hall of Legends voting process as we speak,” Riot Games said. They added that the formal voting process should commence “soon.”

These panelists will comprise the final group that decides on the Hall of Legends inductees, after regional experts propose a list of 20 players for them to consider.

However, this statement does not necessarily mean that Riot already has a list of nominees. Instead, it confirms that Riot has begun the process of selecting the panel that will ultimately decide the next inductee. This decision has already sparked conversations throughout the League of Legends esports community.

While Faker being the first inductee was expected, choosing the second pro to enter the Hall of Legends might not be as straightforward, with fans advocating for their favorite players.

Faker was chosen for his unmatched achievements and influence, fulfilling the criteria for this honorable recognition perfectly. His accomplishments include 4 World Championship titles, 10 LCK trophies, and significant contributions both on and off the Rift.

As the community gears up to celebrate Faker’s induction with a special in-game event, speculation about the next inductee is already widespread.

Fans are discussing potential candidates across social media, but the official announcement likely won’t be made until a year from now, as Riot plans to induct one player into the Hall of Legends each year. The third inductee will then be revealed in 2026.

This annual process ensures that the Hall of Legends will continue to honor the extraordinary contributions of League of Legends professionals to the esports scene. It preserves their legacies and inspires future generations of fans and new talents.

LoL devs responded to Vanguard “bricking” players PC

Vanguard, which was originally featured in Riot’s Valorant launch, operates at the kernel level and has faced criticism in the past for its extensive access to users’ systems, leading some to label it as spyware.

Despite previous controversy, Riot proceeded to implement Vanguard into League of Legends with the release of patch 14.9 on May 1. Since then, numerous players have taken to social media platforms like Reddit to report that the anti-cheat software is “bricking” their computers or disrupting their internal functions.

Notably, prominent League content creator Nick ‘LS’ De Cesare shared his experience of the anti-cheat system allegedly rendering two of his PCs unusable and cautioned players to approach the update with caution.

However, Riot’s senior anti-cheat analyst, Matt ‘K30’ Paoletti, took to Reddit to refute claims that the technical issues stem from Vanguard’s implementation.

“An issue like this wouldn’t be related to Vanguard. If you haven’t restarted your computer in a while, it could related to an issue with your CMOS battery, since that’s what powers the start-up chain,”

In a comprehensive statement on Reddit, K30 also clarified that Riot has not confirmed the software’s role in causing PCs to malfunction.

“Since 14.9 went live, fewer than 0.03% of players have reported issues with Vanguard. In most cases, these are common error codes such as VAN codes 128, 152, 1067, -81, 9001, or 68 that are easily solved through player support or troubleshooting, and account for the vast majority of issues we are seeing,”

Furthermore, he announced the company’s intention to release a detailed report on the rollout of Vanguard in the near future, offering transparency regarding its impact on players’ systems.

The League of Legends community has long been puzzled by one aspect of the game’s ranked system: how it handles new players dipping their toes into ranked matches for the first time.

Many have criticized the system for often placing new players in higher skill tiers than they actually belong after their initial placement matches. However, a recent update in Patch 14.8 aims to address this issue, promising a more accurate placement for newcomers on the ranked ladder.

According to Matt “Riot Phroxzon” Leung-Harrison, League’s lead gameplay designer, who shared the update on social media, the changes in this patch are designed to ensure that all players, regardless of their prior gaming experience, are seeded more accurately into the ladder.

Previously, players who played in modes like ARAM and Bot matches weren’t being correctly placed, but these adjustments seek to rectify that.

Internally, Riot aims to position the average player around Silver IV upon completing their first set of placement matches. However, this rank may vary based on the player’s experience in normal games. This means that new players will now find themselves matched against opponents more aligned with their skill level, rather than being thrust into matches with more seasoned players. So, if you were hoping to skyrocket to high Gold after acing your placement games, you might need to adjust your expectations.

Moreover, these changes could impact smurf accounts, making their climb through the ranks longer and more challenging. Leung-Harrison notes that due to limitations in adjusting visual ranks easily, new players will initially experience negative LP gains as they transition to more appropriate skill brackets. These LP gains may seem imbalanced at first, with losses resulting in greater LP deductions than wins, but the system aims to balance out over time.

This adjustment is just one of many steps Riot is taking to refine the climbing experience. Earlier adjustments, such as making demotions more impactful and reducing starting LP at a new rank, hint at a trend towards making climbing more challenging.

It’s likely that Riot will continue to tweak the ranked system throughout the remainder of the 2024 season, aiming to create a more balanced and rewarding experience for all players.

Over the years, issues such as game-breaking and the prevalence of “smurf” accounts have plagued the rank system. Riot Games has not been immune to criticisms as its adjustments and tweaks to the ranking mode have introduced new challenges.

A recent addition to the ranking system, the introduction of Emerald, has sparked controversy and left players grappling with unexpected consequences. This development has given rise to problems, with players expressing their dissatisfaction and concern.

The community’s sentiments were further echoed by a gamer who shared their experiences that resonated with many others facing similar issues.

According to the Reddit post, the author said:

“A few weeks ago I got one of my friends into league and they just hit level 30 so we play quite a bit of ranked flex as a 2-3 stack. One thing we noticed tho is that even though this is our friend’s first time touching league, they got placed gold 1 as thats the current “average rank”.”

The emergence of Emerald has led to speculation that it might have skewed the tiers, making Gold and lower tiers seem overly basic.

Some argue that this shift could potentially misclassify players, as those with a certain level of skills might find themselves placed in the Gold tier, leading to a perceived dilution of the placement.

However, a more optimistic perspective posits that Riot Games may have implemented these changes to alleviate the notorious “elo hell” experienced by new players. By making lower ranks more accessible, Riot may aim to shield newcomers from toxic environments, fostering a positive initial experience.

This strategy could also serve to incentivize players to actively engage with the game, as the Gold and higher tiers promise encounters with skilled and behavioral players.

Despite the community’s concerns and discussions, Riot Games has yet to make any official statements addressing the perceived discrepancies in the ranking system. The situation has left many players questioning the accuracy of their assigned tiers relative to their skill levels, creating a sense of uncertainty within the community.

For new League players, stepping onto the Summoner’s Rift for the first time can be a mix of excitement and intimidation. Traditionally, the concern of mastering jungle gameplay right from the start was alleviated by the fact that the Smite spell, essential for jungling, only unlocked at Summoner level 9. However, this is about to change, as Riot is testing the alteration on the League PBE, with plans for it to go live soon.

Riot changes Smite unlock

The pivotal shift in this change is that Smite will now be accessible when a player reaches Summoner level 3, a stark contrast to the previous requirement. This change is not only significant but also long overdue, as players have been advocating for a modification like this for nearly a decade.

The primary objective behind this adjustment is to empower new League players to delve into the world of jungle gameplay sooner. The jungle role can be perceived as challenging by many newcomers, especially if they’ve received discouraging feedback from other players regarding the complexities of jungling for beginners.

Nonetheless, some players are eager to immerse themselves in the jungle with understanding timers, Smite mechanics, jungle pathing, etc. For these players, the Smite changes are poised to be incredibly advantageous.

However, there is a potential concern related to the expedited access to Smite. This change could inadvertently allow experienced players with alternate accounts, often referred to as ‘smurfs,’ to access Smite earlier, potentially leading to new players facing off against more seasoned junglers more frequently than before.

It’s worth noting that this change is not expected to have a substantial impact on lower-ranked players, as accounts still need to reach level 30 before they can engage in ranked League games. The primary intent of this adjustment is to promote accessibility to the jungle role for newcomers and provide a smoother learning curve.

Assassins to have less “one-shot” potential in the future

Balancing Assassins in League has always been a challenge. The devs often walk a tightrope, leaving players either frustrated with the perception of not dealing enough damage to swiftly eliminate targets or, conversely, feeling victimized by the rapid death caused by them.

The ongoing Season 13 has witnessed a series of sweeping changes to Assassin items, reflecting Riot’s continuous effort to fine-tune their mechanics. Prowler’s Claw underwent a comprehensive rework, Duskblade faced multiple nerfs, and Shojin received noteworthy buffs.

These adjustments collectively signal a gradual shift away from the traditionally high damage potential of the champion’s class, with a focus on redefining their role and playstyle.

In the midst of these changes, Phroxzon responded to the mounting criticism, suggesting that perhaps Assassins might find a more balanced identity by having less one-shot capability.

“We’ve been trying to move certain classes away from damage and into other outputs (eg. Assassins using Haste instead of damage to make them more about repeatability and less about one-shotting).” 

This, however, did not sit well with a considerable faction of the player community. Many argue that such a shift might inadvertently incentivize building bruiser items, potentially diluting the core identity of the class, which is built around the fast elimination of targets.

The community is now grappling with uncertainty about how League’s persistent efforts to remove one-shot capabilities will unfold over time. Striking a delicate balance that caters to the desires of Assassin players without unduly affecting other roles, is undoubtedly a formidable challenge for the devs.

“Sorry but i feel like the repeatability on assassins just ruins the entire class and IDEA of the class in the first place. An assassin goes in, gets a kill, gets out. There is INSANE AMOUNTS of ways to outplay this concept, especially in these new seasons. IDK why u change that”

“I really do not think you guys go in the right direction for assassins. Not one person wants to play/play against bruiser talon / bruiser zed / bruiser qiyana. This literally already exists with the current zed build / old qiyana first strike resolve build/ old bruiser talon hp stacking build.”

As the game heads into Season 14, the trajectory of Assassin items and their impact on gameplay will be closely monitored. The delicate dance of maintaining excitement for players while ensuring fair and enjoyable gameplay experiences for others will likely continue to be a focal point of discussion within the League of Legends community.

Riot recently introduced significant changes to the ping system, aiming to address the misuse of communication tools for negative purposes. The key modification was limiting team-based pings, such as teammate spawn timers, simple portrait pings, or item cooldowns, to be visible only to the player activating them.

LoL players find new ways to remain ‘toxic’

Previously, players could mock underperforming teammates by spamming the “Champion – Alive” ping, flooding the chat with reminders of their mistakes. Now, players are adapting and finding new ways to express their dissatisfaction with their peers.

Even professional players are exploring innovative methods to criticize their teammates. While Riot’s intention was likely to eliminate negative uses of these pings, it’s important to note that they were also commonly used for positive reinforcement, such as praising teammates for significant plays.

“You can no longer ping for example “Lee Sin-Alive” anymore in league for your team mates to see but league players have now just began to write “Lee Sin-Alive” in chat instead and copy paste it 5 times to get the point across they will always find a way”

However, the current situation indicates that the changes may have inadvertently removed the positive aspects while preserving the toxicity. The attempt to curb player flaming appears to have made the problem worse. It seems that if a player wants to be toxic, they will find alternative ways, even if they can’t use pings directly from the scoreboard.

In conclusion, it seems like Riot’s removal of the allied ping system hasn’t effectively addressed toxicity, as players continue to find ways to express negative sentiments towards their teammates.

League of Legends boasts a vast roster of different kind of skins, each with its distinct identity and set of abilities that sets them apart. Despite this diversity, there has been an ongoing push from the community for more representation of various body types on the Rift.

Prestige La Ilusión Renata Glasc changes

The recent controversy centers around modifications made to Renata Glasc’s skin splash art from the new La Ilusión skin line before its release. The adjustments involve flattening her stomach and widening her hips, prompting players to accuse Riot of altering her proportions in a manner that aligns with the ongoing discourse on “fatphobic” character designs.

Given the extensive champion pool in League of Legends, it takes time for each champion to receive their fair share of skins.

Riot, in its effort to cater to diverse player preferences, manages a massive skins team that often collaborates with external studios for splash art creation. As a result, final versions of art are occasionally subject to edits before release.

The revised version of Renata Glasc’s Prestige La Ilusión skin art has stirred strong reactions among fans. Expressing sadness, some players are dismayed by the changes that involve flattening her stomach, widening her hips, and slimming down her legs.

While the alterations may seem subtle at first glance, keen observers note significant shifts in the color palette alongside the adjustments to her figure. This has led many to assert that the final version of the splash art is perceived as inferior to the original, sparking a considerable amount of disappointment within the community.