Riot Games is currently in the process of testing a fresh system within League of Legends, drawing inspiration from their other MOBA title, Wild Rift.
In the recent release of early patch notes for League of Legends patch 14.10, players have been intrigued by a particular change: the reintroduction of the item Zephyr through a boots upgrade. This update allows players to acquire the item upon reaching level 15, provided they have already constructed Berserker’s Graves.
Boots have traditionally been a fundamental item in League, serving to increase movement speed for all players, followed by the option to upgrade to items like Berserker’s Graves for additional speed and stats.
However, their utility typically wanes in the later stages of extended matches, prompting players to often sell their upgraded boots in favor of more late-game items. This Zephyr upgrade test mirrors a system seen in Wild Rift, where players can opt for a third upgrade to their base boots, gaining a new active effect similar to items such as Protobelt or Zhonya’s Hourglass.
While the implementation in League differs slightly, the influence from Wild Rift is evident. The mobile game’s boot upgrade system injects dynamism into gameplay, elevating the significance of boot selection beyond mere stat boosts, which often pale in comparison to other item categories.
Although Wild Rift may not yet rival the popularity of Riot’s flagship titles, its innovative approaches to existing MOBA systems continue to resonate with the League of Legends development team.
Should players positively respond to this new item addition, developers appear poised to extend the upgrade option to other boot offerings, potentially streamlining item choices further.
The anticipated debut of the new boot upgrade system is set to commence with Zephyr as patch 14.10 rolls out on May 15.