The 2024 League of Legends season has ushered in a shift in gameplay dynamics, with the introduction of support items drastically changing strategies
However, amidst the excitement, an emerging playstyle has surfaced, indicating that there might be some fine-tuning required in the ongoing balancing act of the game.
As the second week of Patch 14.1 unfolds, players are witnessing a surge in double support item meta, reshaping strategies around enchanters and rendering them seemingly impervious while elevating their impact in team compositions.
World Atlas, a singular support item crafted through Riot Games’ changes of the existing support item system. This item is similar to its predecessors, allowing players to gain gold by charges to damage enemy champions, structures, or execute low-health minions.
The gold through World Atlas presents players with a crucial decision point, offering a selection of upgrades ranging from the nimble Trailblazer, providing a speed boost, to the damage amplifier, Bloodsong.
This innovative approach not only enables support players to optimize their primary item slots but also allows for the continued placement of multiple wards.
However, the changes upon support items has given rise to an unforeseen consequence—the items into roles beyond support. The frustration among various pro players and streamers is palpable, with Tyler1 asserting the “broken” nature of a double-support bot lane featuring champions like Seraphine/Sona or Sona/Soraka in his recent stream.
The resilience and sustain offered by this duo prove challenging to counter without resorting to hard engage or crowd control. Moreover, the item endows them with the ability to place nearly 10 wards, presenting a challenge for opponents.
Despite the potential benefits, the prospect of mid laners and top laners adopting the World Atlas and prioritizing roaming and ganking is not without its drawbacks. While this strategy might mitigate the gold penalty, it comes at the cost of conceding dominance in the laning phase.
At present, the impact of this strategy appears to be most pronounced in the bot lane meta, raising questions about its long-term implications. The uncertainty lingers as to whether Riot Games will acknowledge this playstyle as problematic, as they have done in the past.