League of Legends isn’t a new game by any stretch of the imagination, but with the new pre-season underway, it definitely has a new feel to it that players have been wanting for a long time. Officially, League of Legends was released on Oct. 27, 2009, and with each new pre-season, there are massive changes to the game. With the introduction of the new rune system, removal of the level cap, and the changes to Influence points (now blue essence), this pre-season has to be the biggest update yet.

Out With The Old

Before, runes and masteries were for separating systems that were often too clunky and difficult to figure out for people new to the game. Riot decided to merge them into one system with a variety of options to choose from and have many different play styles depending on what type of player you are. Now their five-separate path to use: precision, domination, sorcery, resolve, and inspiration. Each of which contains a choice of one of three keystones (being the most powerful) and then a choice of three more “less powerful” runes. Depending on what champion or playstyle, we can now choose one primary and secondary path (although there are fewer options in the secondary path) to create a more unique way to play.

A couple of other significant changes, although not as big, are the removed level cap in the game and influence points are now called blue essence. When you reach level thirty you will now receive and unlock capsules each time you level up. Capsules contain champion shards and blue essence, and if you hit a special milestone, you’ll earn special rewards such as gemstones and rare emotes. Lastly,  we receive blue essence as our form of in-game currency. The new blue essence will work in all the same places as IP and BE worked before, including loot and champion store. Everything in the store will still cost the same as it did in the old IP based system.

Quick notes:

  • Simple to learn

  • Free

  • Very Diverse

  • Easy to Balance

– Not fully accessible from level 1

Final Thoughts

After everything, I welcome all these changes and feel like it was exactly what the game needed to make it feels fresh again. There is very little to complain about and it leaves me craving for more, wanting experiment all the new ways to play the champions I love.