Riot Games has made significant updates to League of Legends with patch 25.05, addressing community feedback and introducing notable changes to core game mechanics. These updates aim to improve player satisfaction while discouraging certain strategies that have been controversial in competitive play.

In response to player demand, Riot Games has brought back hex-tech chests as part of the new battle pass system. Here's what players can expect:

  • 10 hex-tech chests and keys will be available: 8 in the free tier of the battle pass, and 2 through honor rewards (up to 60 per year).
  • The number of chests obtainable via honor and the battle pass matches the quantity previously awarded through champion mastery.
  • Starting with patch 25.06, an additional 2 hex-tech chests will be added as honor rewards.

Additionally, the free-tier skin reward in the battle pass will now be replaced with hex-tech chests. To further ease progression, the amount of blue essence required to purchase all champions has been reduced by 50% , making it easier for players to expand their roster.

To combat the controversial tactic of lane swapping (lane swap ), Riot has implemented a new system designed to penalize teams that employ this strategy excessively. This feature was tested on a specialized server before being rolled out in patch 25.05. 

The system detects lane swaps under the following conditions:

  • Two enemy champions without jungle items are present on the top or mid lane (or near these lanes) between 1:30 and 3:30 into the game.
  • If a team has no junglers, the rule does not apply.
  • Teams with two or more junglers will still be subject to the detection criteria.

Champions affected by the lane-swap detection will receive notifications via messages and visual signals. A corresponding icon will appear above their heads, and they will receive text-based alerts about the effect.

When lane swapping is detected, the following penalties and adjustments take effect:

  • Turrets on the defending side deal 95% less damage to attackers, and the "Fortification" buff no longer reduces incoming damage unless lane swapping is detected.
  • Defending turrets deal 1000% increased damage to minions.
  • Gold and experience from minion kills by turrets and minions on the defending side are transferred to the nearest allied champion on the same lane.
  • Champions flagged for lane swapping receive 50% less gold and experience from minion kills. This penalty persists for a short duration after leaving the lane (20 seconds for top lane, 6 seconds for mid lane).

For top lane specifically:

  • Defending turrets deal 1000% increased damage directly to enemy champions.
  • Champions on the defending side take 50% reduced damage while standing near their own turret.

These changes reflect Riot's commitment to balancing gameplay and addressing player concerns. While some players welcome the return of hex-tech chests and reduced costs for champions, others may find the anti-lane swap measures too harsh. Nevertheless, these updates aim to create a more dynamic and fair meta, encouraging traditional laning phases and rewarding strategic play.

Main image: riot.com

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