League of Legends esports features a diverse competitive landscape, from local leagues to global tournaments. This year, the Fearless Draft format was introduced, enhancing match excitement by preventing teams from reselecting champions already played in earlier games. This change encourages a broader champion pool and greater player versatility. The format, which gained popularity after the First Stand tournament, will be implemented throughout the season, including major events like MSI and Worlds, despite some fan concerns.
League of Legends Esports: A Thriving Competitive Landscape
The world of League of Legends esports encompasses a variety of formats, from minor leagues to international competitions, including beloved national scenes like the LFL. This vibrant ecosystem continually adapts to enhance viewer engagement and ensure a dynamic competitive environment. At the start of the year, organizers introduced an exciting new twist to the competition format, which has now been embraced across various leagues and will continue throughout the season.
Introducing the Fearless Draft
This year, League of Legends esports officials unveiled the innovative Fearless Draft, a format initially intended for the first half of the professional calendar and the recently concluded First Stand tournament, where Hanwha Life Esports triumphed over Karmine Corp. The popularity of this format has prompted Riot Games to extend the Fearless Draft for the remainder of the season across all global regions, including its implementation in major international events like MSI and Worlds.
So, how does the Fearless Draft function? This unique ‘game mode’ made its debut during the Summer Split 2022 of the LDL, the second division of the LPL. Although the format appeared sporadically in the past, it has now officially become a standard feature of the competitive scene.
For those unfamiliar with the mechanics of the Fearless Draft, here’s a breakdown of how it works in Best of 3 (Bo3) or Best of 5 (Bo5) matches:
- In the first game, the draft follows the usual procedure: both teams ban three champions each, select three champions, then ban two additional champions before picking the final two.
- In subsequent games, teams are prohibited from choosing any champion that has already been played, encouraging a broader selection of picks.
The primary objective of this format is to enhance the excitement of matches by promoting a wider variety of champions throughout the competition. This structure encourages teams to move away from a rigid meta and compels players to demonstrate versatility by mastering an array of characters. Adaptability becomes crucial as teams navigate this format. While the Fearless Draft introduces diversity to the games, some fans have expressed reservations, feeling that it may force professional players to utilize champions they wouldn’t typically choose. Regardless, Riot Games has made its decision, and the Fearless Draft will be a staple until the conclusion of the competitive season, excluding Best of 1 matches, of course.
In addition to these developments, Steam is celebrating the arrival of spring with exciting discounts on some of the most acclaimed games of the past decade, making it the perfect opportunity for gamers to dive into hours of entertainment!