Unveiling the future of League of Legends

Riot·Mar 24, 2015·2 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 HighwindMar 30, 20151040 votes

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

The OrangegrubMar 30, 20151803 votes

Like if you would like to see the real URF come back one day...

ZigarothMar 30, 201552 votes

You do realize Urf day (April fools day) is on wednesday right?

PtarlorrMar 30, 201578 votes

No thanks. I really don't want that year's worth of spam to pay off.

CryonicityMar 30, 201589 votes

URF comes back cuz Warwick killed him so he is with Kalista and Thresh now

NipahMar 30, 2015628 votes

r maybe they will be like APRIL FOOLS HERES THE REAL URF

MakeemMar 30, 2015334 votes

I hope so. If not then gg

Kindred L4marMar 31, 2015998 votes

‘Twas but a year ago today That Riot stole our hearts away

With boundless mana and spells galore Riot made our hearts quite sore: When they took away our favorite gamemode And replaced it with a rather “lame” mode

All of us found ceaseless fun In locking down Teemo with an endless stun Or kiting our enemies with the uncatchable Fizz Jumping and leaping with the abilities that are his

The invincible Kayle, with heals upon heals Or the sad Amumu, with his rapid-fire feels Ezereal, Shaco, Leblanc, and J4 Uncatchable, invisible, untouchable, and more

There was something about it that never got old A passionate fervor that could not be controlled Was it undying Tryndamere, the Barbarian King? Or one-hitting Baron with Maokai’s saplings?

Was it Freljord Anivia, with her permanent wall? With Nidalee chasing me, I found it hard to recall Urgot, I assure you, was really quite fun My enemies fled by the time I was done

But truly, I believe, we found our great fun Not in dashes or heals or inexorable stuns But in the rich happiness we each had inside The zealous ardor we found so hard to hide

Dear Riot, you must have struck a chord A viral sensation that cannot be cured It started as an April Fool And fast became an April Jewel

You’ve listened to our desperate pleas With shattered Caps Locks, broken keys We cry and whine and scream and pout This beast inside must be let out!

I know you’ve heard it all before But I’ll say it anyway, once more I speak for all, and that’s a fact When I say: Rito, please,

Bring URF back?

TSM PinguMar 31, 201553 votes

@killoteen I've never logged in to this before but I did just to upvote that

AsianOtakuGuyMar 31, 2015307 votes

A fellow poet He's stolen the floor His poem made me Want URF even more

How I wish I Could turn back the time Go back one year To League at its prime

I do so hope That this is a troll I want URF back With all of my soul

It was too fun 'Twas a joke done right! Everyone played Morning, day, and night!

No games were bad Everyone had fun! Not one report When the game was done

None were raging No toxics at all We were all too Caught up in the thrall

Powerful champs Went undefeated So of course those Guys were deleted

With the new buff All champs were OP It was really Quite a sight to see

Please understand Our pain, hate, and envy We're addicted, And in a frenzy!

Will URF come back? I really do hope! All this waiting... Oh~! I cannot cope!

If NURF appears I'd say RITO PLS! Yanking our chains You are such a tease

Now I think that You all get the gist How we love URF That it has been missed

Before I leave I want to thank you For all of the Hard work that you do ^^

Runic LegendsMar 30, 201571 votes

This is being released tomorrow, while the real urf will more than likely be revived on Wednesday/Thursday.

Tryhard MittensMar 30, 2015754 votes

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

DjakeUnchainedMar 30, 2015205 votes

10/10

Made me blow air out of my nose

TwitchyteenMar 30, 2015415 votes

Sounds like a NURF to me...

Sniff this unitMar 30, 2015115 votes

your telling me...where is the 35% resistance against dinosaurs...its gg right from the start

TapsMar 30, 201569 votes

DINO GNAR PICK OR BAN

MoviMar 30, 2015348 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

KrynikMar 30, 2015275 votes

So basically it turns League into Dota?

AzhcristokosMar 30, 2015226 votes

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

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

AllHypeNoHeartMar 30, 2015183 votes

I really hope it's an April Fool's joke... I really do.

Final Raid BossMar 30, 201588 votes

part of me thinks rito is serious about this nurf mode.. rito pls.

Ninfreak95Mar 30, 2015209 votes

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

Jeddy017Mar 30, 2015267 votes

Nasus It's stacking time!!

SheogowrathMar 30, 2015119 votes

Except the cooldown on your q will be brutal, and you'll be too slow to last hit properly.

Jeddy017Mar 30, 2015103 votes

.......oh.

BubbalubagusMar 30, 2015195 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 ChildMar 30, 2015124 votes

you had 1 fucking job rito

The Jedi MasterMar 30, 201597 votes

Props to Riot for using the word Indubitably

pikachumaster990Mar 30, 201591 votes

this is truly a dark day for humanatee

DantanimoMar 30, 201585 votes

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

VeravoxMar 30, 201579 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...

ThryaleMar 30, 201568 votes

heh, heheheh. You weren't here back in 2010, were you? Back then the average base movespeed of champs was 305. You'd be lucky to see anythign higher than 315

king druuMar 30, 201553 votes

You also had every single champion in solo lanes starting with boots and pots.

XatomXplosionXMar 30, 201572 votes

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

AllHypeNoHeartMar 30, 201541 votes

NURF is gonna be boring. Better nerf someone. RIP Irelia, 2015. item 3070 Irelia

oDrewMar 30, 201568 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.

YosenkyMar 30, 201562 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 OdynsonMar 30, 201560 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 GeeMar 30, 201553 votes

GREAT!!! :(

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

BrandakeranMar 30, 201549 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