With every
season comes a new meta and new tips and tricks to learn. Some champions get
buffed and some champions get nerfed, but what about all of the other details?
Riot Games plan to “expand and evolve” League of Legends in an unusual manner.
For starters, Riot Games plan to change up one of the core foundations of
League of Legends: items. Plans for the 2021 preseason show a top to bottom
rework of the item system with attention being given to the fully upgraded item
shop. Current estimates Riot Games provides include 34% of the current items
staying the same, 33% of them being buffed, and 33% new items overall.
Currently,
Riot Games feels satisfied with how items provide power and that misplays
create consequences that can be capitalized on. The main issue it has that must
be addressed is how items feel to you, the player. Intuitiveness is an
important element, especially for new players. 2021 LoL will have faster item
purchases, have complex decisions regarding strategic items, maintain useful
power spikes, all while allowing you to master your champion with some new
exciting items.
Items will
have a unique, but single purpose to them. Items won’t be overlapping in niches
as much in 2021, so build paths can be more engaging and feel less restrictive.
Overall, 2021 will have items that promote a more healthy game by allowing
counterplay and individual weaknesses here and there.
Itemization
is hugely influenced by how the item shop works, as Riot Games believes that
there is huge potential in streamlining how the item shop works. New players
can feel overwhelmed by the current item shop, so a simpler recommendation
system that uses more recent data for recommended items that higher ranked
players use (as to give the newbie a better start as opposed to using outdated
items no longer in the meta).
The new item
shop will still allow players to still choose non-linear options (such as for
counterbuilding based on what the enemy team has). Other than the “recommended
item” section, there will be an “all item” section. As the name implies, this
section will focus on more skilled players and their desires for a simple, yet
effective item shop. Multiple features such as highlighting viable items will
be implemented, as will investing more in data integration (to keep the shops
up-to-date).
The full 2021 preseason gameplay plans
focus
entirely on items and making it more fun and useful to players across League of
Legends. Naturally, there will be buffs and nerfs to be announced, but as of
right now the item experience is the primary focus for the 2021 preseason in
League of Legends. Items will be polished for a more convenient, yet exciting
experience for both new and old players alike. Specific details as to what new
items will be included are not yet revealed, yet there is a promise for more
unique, easy to understand items that can have a niche somewhere in the
metagame. Riot Games is certainly making 2021 an interesting year for League of
Legends, as a better item shop and more polished items can change the meta in a
drastic, albeit a good way.
