The ARAM game mode in League of Legends is getting reworked over the next two patches.
ARAM is an alternative game mode in League of Legends that has exploded in popularity in the past few years. The game mode is wildly popular amongst casual players and others who just want to take a backseat and enjoy the game.
What is unique about ARAM is the randomness of it all. While that makes playing a makeshift team composition fun, it also makes ARAM games frustrating. The disparity in team comps is par for the course for the game mode. As such, people like to spam ARAM games and move on from bad games fairly quickly.
Thus, in order to improve the player experience, Riot has already taken steps to address that. The surrender system in ARAM was a welcome change; there is more to come. Hence, Riot has recently published an official article detailing changes coming to the ARAM game mode in Patch 12.22 and 12.23.
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ARAM Rework for Preseason 2023
Despite the rework to ARAM coming this year, the rework is labeled for 2023 because it is part of the preseason changes coming to League of Legends. The changes to ARAM are being done on multiple fronts. It ranges from roster-wide changes to character-specific adjustments to a new map. The official article has more about their reasoning and all that’s coming. Let’s start talking about all those and more.
Champion Adjustments
Since ARAM has had its fair share of balance woes, Riot is taking the changes from a different perspective. The idea behind it is to improve player experience for games in the future. The changes are divided into roster-wide and specific champion adjustments.
Roster-Wide Changes
Long-range champions have been a bane of the game mode, while lifesteal/omnivamp has been an issue in terms of sustaining in games. Thus, some changes are on the horizon in Patch 12.23.
- Omnivamp and Lifesteal against minions will be reduced by 50%.
- Damage reduction modifier for long-range abilities will be further reduced to 15-30% depending on the range of 1000 – 2000. It was previously a flat 15% reduction, and the new and old modifiers do not affect Ultimate Damage.
- Bonus Magic Resist for Melee Champions will be increased from 10 to 15.
Specific Champion Adjustments
A lot of the time in ARAM games, certain types of champions struggle. So in order to fix that, Riot will be rolling out changes to certain categories of champions along with the Roster-Wide changes listed above. This is intended to balance ARAM as much as possible.
- Energy Regeneration: Assassins have been struggling for the most part in ARAM. Particularly Energy based champions, as their purpose in ARAMs wasn’t up to par. With the constant fighting in ARAM games, Riot is buffing them up.
- The following Champions will gain a 20% bonus Energy Regen on ARAM: Akali, Kennen, Lee Sin, and Zed.
- Tenacity: This is intended to give some squishy champions more tenacity so a single-cc kill can be stopped.
- The following champions will gain 20% Tenacity on ARAM: Akali, Ekko, Elise, Evelynn, Fizz, Kassadin, Katarina, Kayn, Kha’Zix, LeBlanc, Pyke, Qiyana, Rek’Sai, Rengar, Talon, and Zed.
- Ability Haste: Ashe has been a plague in ARAMs while spamming her arrows when building Imperial Mandate. Thus, the spamming ability of the champion is being targeted.
- Ashe will receive -20 Ability Haste in ARAM.
Howling Abyss (ARAM Map) Changes
The Howling Abyss is getting spruced up to make the mode faster. The entire game mode is fights, fights, and more fights. Thus, the entire map is getting some additions to make games faster.
Hexgates
ARAM is getting Hexgates. The Hexgates will function like what we see in Summoner’s Rift, as they teleport teams from one point to another. Here are the exact specifics we know.
- Hexgates will appear at the start of the game.
- The teleport nodes are initially linked from the Nexus to the outer turret.
- If the outer turret falls, the links change from the outer turret to the inhibitor turret.
- Players can use enemy Hexgates.
Falling Towers
Coming soon with be Tower debris that will act as new terrain. This opens up unique playstyles over the course of the game.
- Any tower that is destroyed falls and creates debris. Debris act as walls/blockades.
- The falling direction for towers in each game is random. However, all towers fall in the same direction for that one game.
More Brushes
Another brush on the right side of the bridge will be added alongside the two existing brushes in Howling Abyss. This will open up for more Brush Gameplay and make a certain kitty very happy.
Quality of Life Changes
Lastly, we have the quality of life changes being implemented. From now on, Battle Boosts will be locked out in the last seconds of the draft phase. This is so that players can utilize the Battle Boosts properly. Also, Battle Boost purchasers will be visible in the lobby.
Champion Select will also show champions that will net a Hextech Chest for players. Riot hopes it will incentivize players to try something new.
