Summary: In 2021, League of Legends players have witnessed a series of champion reworks which offered both visual and gameplay upgrades. These include the Dr. Mundo reimagining, as well as the updates on Tahm Kench, Riven, and more. This article explores the reasons behind Riot Games’ rework decisions and what impact they had on the player base.
1. Game balance improvements
Riot Games is known for its commitment to continually improve League of Legends game balance. However, some champions have inherent qualities that can be challenging to balance and are overpowered if they exceed a certain threshold. Over the years, Riot developers have used champion reworks as an opportunity to address these issues by modifying their abilities, attributes and playstyles.
For instance, when Riven was initially released in 2011, she faced a series of complaints from players due to her high mobility, damage output and shield that made her challenging to counter. In 2021, however, Riot announced a much-anticipated rework that aimed to address these issues by bringing her more in line with the current meta. The update gave Riven more potential to make more skilled and calculated plays without breaking the game balance.
After these updates, it’s common to see some champions become more viable in competitive play, thus increasing the diversity of champions used in pro-games, which is beneficial to all parties involved.
2. Player experience improvements
Riot recognizes the importance of player satisfaction and wants to create a sense of fulfillment and joy playing League of Legends. When a player feels helpless or frustrated because of an unbalanced champion, it negatively affects their experience and enjoyment of the game. This is where reworks come in to help alleviate these issues.
In-game visuals, animations and sound effects are also taken into account in champion reworks. For example, in the Dr. Mundo rework, Riot made it more visually and audibly satisfying for players when he lands his cleavers.
Similarly, the reworked Tahm Kench includes substantial visual upgrades that reflect his lore and backstory. These include his devouring capabilities, which are now more visually appealing and enjoyable for players to use.
3. Keeping up with modern gaming trends
As technology improves and gameplay paradigms change, players experience increased expectations around game mechanics and features. To stay relevant, League of Legends updates regularly through various methods, including the release of new champions, skins, and reworks of outdated champions.
For example, a champion like Shyvana, which was released in 2011, may no longer match the current League of Legends standards concerning visual quality and gameplay mechanics. A rework would bring it in line with newer champions, making it sustainable and appealing for years to come.
Beyond visual and gameplay issues, technological updates can create enormous discomfort for players. Some champions’ abilities may require updated coding languages or a complete reformation of their abilities. This is part of the reason that even the strongest champions require reworks periodically.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the recent string of League of Legends reworks stems from Riot Games’ dedication to player satisfaction, as well as its desire to keep the game balanced and up to date with the modern gaming landscape. These efforts not only help maintain the game’s attractiveness towards current players but also attract new ones. While some criticize these reworks, they remain essential to the successful long-term success of League of Legends and show Riot’s commitment to the community’s needs and wants.
