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Unveiling the future of League of Legends

Riot·3/24/2015, 9:08:21 PM·2 votes·213,151 views

Almost one year ago, we debuted a new way to play League of Legends in a silly, fun game mode that turned competitive balance on its head in celebration of the yearly troll-fest known as April Fools. While we were ultimately kidding, many of our designers saw the opportunity to work on a true evolution of League gameplay inspired by URF. After reviewing player feedback and hammering out brass tacks, we felt confident we created the most refined gameplay experience League has inspired yet, all in time to iterate in preparation of the next competitive season.

What we’re calling New Ultra Rapid Fire raises the stakes by delivering a slow, sophisticated, and stoic strategic showcase that tests teams’ abilities in new and dynamic ways while not restricting the highest tier of play to those with sub-millisecond response times.

Normally, a League match is a fast-paced slugfest that ranges from top to bottom lane and across Summoner’s Rift. We want to broaden the pool of high-level talent to include expert tacticians previously excluded by something so trivial as the necessity of hyper-twitch reflexes.

There’s a lot to talk about, but with the entirely accidental leaks of some New Ultra Rapid Fire assets, we thought it’d be better to just show you. Tomorrow, we’ll release the proverbial kraken known as New Ultra Rapid Fire to live servers.

Here’s a preview of some of the gameplay refinements coming tomorrow night (10 PM PDT on March 31st) when New Ultra Rapid Fire debuts:

+100% mana and energy cost on all abilities
+200% cooldown inflation on abilities, items and summoner spells
+225 movement speed reduction
+200% delay between basic attacks
Critical strikes deal 50% of base AD
Units critically strike on 150% of attacks

Will the upper limit of the potential for human competition skyrocket with the introduction of New Ultra Rapid Fire? Can you rise to the resulting challenge? Can a mere man defeat a manatee? When it comes to League of Legends, that last answer is indubitably yes, but no matter. The gauntlet is thrown. Hoist it at thine own risk.

2,242 Comments

Yoku Highwind3/30/2015, 5:08:47 PM1040 votes

Ultra Rapid Fire my computer into a wall is what this will make me do.

Tryhard Mittens3/30/2015, 6:37:04 PM754 votes

That awkward moment when someone says Dragon in 3 minutes, and you aren't sure if you can make it in time.

Twitchyteen3/30/2015, 5:12:53 PM415 votes

Sounds like a NURF to me...

Movi3/30/2015, 5:54:47 PM348 votes

Hey Rito for an April Fools joke can you say that you're going to add some servers on the East Coast, but actually don't, but then actually do? Thanks.

Sincerely, Everyone on the East Coast

Krynik3/30/2015, 5:48:15 PM275 votes

So basically it turns League into Dota?

Azhcristokos3/30/2015, 5:10:17 PM226 votes

Or you could just bring back the actual, fun URF.

Edit: Omg April Fool's I almost forgot, haha.

Ninfreak953/30/2015, 5:13:31 PM209 votes

I dont think the world is ready for 2 hour long games of league...

Bubbalubagus3/30/2015, 5:49:21 PM195 votes

You can TELL that riot waited ALL YEAR to make this Nurf = Nerf pun. Like one day after URF was made, one guy said, "hey, can't we change this to Nurf?" and they have been itching to do it ever since. I love how riot just smacks us with an ironic and satirical cock in the face after we beg for URF and they give us NURF. Just a real beautifully hilarious middle finger to the community. Keep doing you Riot.

Ekko Child3/30/2015, 5:56:26 PM124 votes

you had 1 fucking job rito

The Jedi Master3/30/2015, 5:19:54 PM97 votes

Props to Riot for using the word Indubitably

pikachumaster9903/30/2015, 7:40:27 PM91 votes

this is truly a dark day for humanatee

Dantanimo3/30/2015, 5:48:37 PM85 votes

this happened because people kept asking for urf mode to come back. This is on you.

Veravox3/30/2015, 5:12:10 PM79 votes

yeah.... nobody wants to play League of Legends at a slower pace. its bad enough having base movement speed and 350. if your going to slow the game down make the map smaller...

XatomXplosionX3/30/2015, 5:11:30 PM72 votes

Shoots self, cuts wrists, gouges out eyes, and burns self in hell. Better nerf Irelia.

oDrew3/30/2015, 6:34:02 PM68 votes

Units critically strike on 150% of attacks.

Units critically strike on 150% of attacks.

Units critically strike on 150% of attacks.

But yeah this is TOTALLY a 100% serious, not-a-joke game mode.

Yosenky3/30/2015, 8:05:43 PM62 votes

So if they say tomorrow night, yet tomorrow is not yet March 32, SO MAYBE, just maybe... Riot is screwing with us, and URF will be back in all of its original GLORY. Like this if you want the REAL URF.

Vali Odynson3/30/2015, 5:26:37 PM60 votes

is this an april fools joke, or is the joke that it is real since we all think its fake.........damn riot with their mind games

Ur Grandma Gee3/30/2015, 5:31:48 PM53 votes

GREAT!!! :(

Now we'll feel how the crab moves on Summoner's Rift. item 3070

Brandakeran3/30/2015, 7:24:08 PM49 votes

That feeling when you aced the entire team 50 mins in with 70 sec death timers, and your whole team screams "PUSH FOR THE WIN".......70 seconds later, your team was aced at the enemy inhibitor, and the cycle repeats

Oussa3/30/2015, 5:08:48 PM48 votes

Don't you dare do this to us, Riot, don't you dare....

TigerManRawrXD3/30/2015, 6:16:44 PM44 votes

Thousands of league of legends clients we deleted on this very day item 3070 Amumu

TheUnseenHASAGI3/30/2015, 8:00:26 PM44 votes

If this is real I'm installing Dota 2

ActuallyArrow3/30/2015, 5:19:33 PM42 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWaLxFIVX1s

TigBottom3/30/2015, 8:05:11 PM33 votes

is nobody going to call them out on calling is New Ultra RAPID Fire.... how is this "rapid"?

FindingBemo3/30/2015, 6:06:08 PM31 votes

THINK HOW MUCH Kassadin 'S ULT COULD COST O.O

PatentlyWillton3/30/2015, 5:31:24 PM30 votes

Welcome to the League of Auto Attacks.

Skye Veran3/30/2015, 5:27:04 PM30 votes

Can you even imagine how long it would take to get to lane with -225 movespeed?

Evanescent Angel3/30/2015, 5:27:41 PM4 votes

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