Riot is completely changing items for LoL preseason 2021

Riot Games has unveiled comprehensive plans for the monumental preseason 2021 item transformation, affecting every champion role with systematic adjustments.

While League of Legends receives regular item updates annually, this preseason marks the most substantial item system overhaul in the game’s decade-long history. The development team is targeting nearly all playstyles with these modifications, including fundamental revisions to core gameplay statistics and effects. As these changes remain in active development, players should anticipate additional refinements approaching the preseason launch.

Ability Haste Mechanics

Riot initiated their preseason announcement by revealing the complete rework of the cooldown reduction mechanic. Starting next season, the familiar cooldown reduction stat will transition to a new system called ability haste. Unlike the current exponential scaling of cooldown reduction, ability haste will accumulate linearly throughout matches.

This fundamental change means ability haste scaling operates differently mathematically, where 10 ability haste precisely equals 10% reduced ability cooldowns, 20 equals approximately 18% reduction, continuing this pattern indefinitely. The stat will feature no maximum cap, enabling players to construct extreme ability haste-focused builds without worrying about hitting diminishing returns after completing just two or three core items.

Healing and Grievous Wounds

Riot is also conducting comprehensive reviews of healing and tenacity systems. Healing effectiveness will see reductions across champion kits, rune selections, and item effects wherever developers identify excessive sustain. Grievous wounds will receive corresponding buffs to feel more impactful against healing-heavy compositions, though its early-game potency might be slightly reduced to maintain balance.

Tenacity Expansion

Tenacity will evolve into a more versatile crowd control counter, now reducing the duration of knock-up effects in addition to its existing benefits. This change makes tenacity a clearer defensive option against various forms of crowd control.

Free Jungle Items

Jungle items have undergone multiple redesigns throughout League’s evolution, and the upcoming preseason continues this tradition of innovation. Riot will convert jungle items into starting equipment that requires no additional gold investment, mirroring the support item overhaul implemented in the previous preseason.

Support System Parallels

This approach eliminates the gold sink previously associated with jungle item upgrades, allowing junglers to accelerate their core build progression. The change addresses longstanding complaints about jungle economic constraints while creating clearer role differentiation.

Marksman and Mage Items Will Receive More Diversity

Primary damage dealers will experience significant itemization changes during the preseason. Both marksmen and mage players can anticipate substantially more viable build paths that break the repetitive item sequences currently dominating both roles.

Marksman Agency Enhancement

Riot aims to provide marksmen with enhanced self-sufficiency options and reduce their current heavy reliance on team protection. This addresses one of the most persistent complaints from ADC players about feeling powerless without proper peel from teammates.

Mage Early Game Options

Mages will gain access to more diverse first-item choices, preventing the current situation where specific items become mandatory regardless of matchups. Riot considers mage late-game itemization currently satisfactory, so players shouldn’t expect major changes to final build components.

Riot Is Looking To Add More Role-Specific Items

Certain champion archetypes appear less frequently in League of Legends due to itemization limitations, particularly AP fighters and assassins. These champions frequently face constrained build options and must utilize items originally designed for different roles. Riot will address this by introducing early-game items specifically tailored to these champions’ stat requirements and play patterns.

AD Fighter Diversity

Riot will also provide increased diversity for AD fighters, eliminating the current binary choice between Black Cleaver or Trinity Force as mandatory first items every game. Fighters should also anticipate expanded defensive item selections becoming available, providing more adaptability against different team compositions.

Tanks and Enchanters Will Have More Adaptable Items

Tanks frequently must fulfill multiple team functions simultaneously. Riot intends to provide tanks with build options that enable them to support their team effectively while maintaining necessary defensive capabilities. These modifications will allow tanks to better customize their item builds according to specific in-game situations and opponent strategies.

Enchanter Item Simplification

Finally, enchanters will receive more viable build alternatives and reduced dependence on active items. Enchanters currently utilize numerous active items, which can become overwhelming to manage during intense late-game teamfights when attention must be divided across multiple priorities.

No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Riot is completely changing items for LoL preseason 2021 League of Legends 2021 preseason brings revolutionary item overhaul with ability haste, healing adjustments, and role-specific builds