Introduction to League of Legends Game Modes
We have all heard of League of Legends and know of its impact on the competitive scene, but what makes the game so fun to play aside from that (especially for newcomers)? You’ve guessed it, it’s different game modes!
Of course, we have the Standard game modes that are always available to play, and the Featured game modes that go through the rotating game mode queue (meaning they occur periodically and are available to play for a limited amount of time). Most of the modes that we’re going to mention here take place on the battleground famously known as Summoner’s Rift, and others on the Howling Abyss. So, let’s get into it!
Standard Game Modes
The standard game modes are always available to play in League of Legends. These modes include the classic 5v5 match, as well as 3v3 and ARAM (All Random All Mid) modes. These game modes offer a classic experience to players and are always available to play.
Featured Game Modes
Apart from the standard game modes, League of Legends also features a rotating game mode queue, which includes game modes that are only available to play for a limited amount of time. These game modes offer a unique experience and add an element of variety to the game.
The Different Variants of Draft Mode in League of Legends
League of Legends offers various game modes to cater to different players’ preferences. One of the modes available in the game is the Draft Mode, which is split into three separate modes: Draft Pick, Ranked (Solo/Duo), and Ranked Flex.
Draft Pick
Draft Pick is the base mode of the Draft Mode in League of Legends. In this mode, players are required to select a primary and secondary role before queuing up for a match. During champion selection, players also have the opportunity to Ban and Pick champions.
Ranked Flex
Ranked Flex is a game mode in League of Legends that allows players to enter the competitive field with either a party of three or a full premade team of five players. This mode does not affect a player’s rating in Solo/Duo and is great for teams who wish to practice and participate in the Clash Tournaments.
Ranked (Solo/Duo)
Ranked (Solo/Duo) is a mode in League of Legends that adds a bit of a challenge to the game. In this mode, players can queue up either by themselves or with just one other premade. The mode ranks players based on their Wins and Losses, and they either gain or lose League Points (LP), which are necessary for rank progression.
Randomized Game Modes in League of Legends
Blind Pick
Blind Pick is a mode in League of Legends that does not require players to select a role before queuing up. Additionally, there is no Ban and Pick phase in this mode. What makes Blind Pick fun to play is the fact that it allows for mirror matchups, where the same champions can occur in both teams.
ARAM (All Random All Mid)
ARAM is a game mode in League of Legends where all players are assigned a random champion during champion selection. Players have the option to reroll (up to two times) and trade their champion with another player on their team. This mode features a single lane, the Howling Abyss, for players to battle on and reduced cooldown and respawn times, as well as unique items not found in Summoner’s Rift.
Featured Game Modes in League of Legends
Legend of the Poro King
The Legend of the Poro King is a featured game mode in League of Legends that takes place on the Howling Abyss. Like the ARAM mode, it also offers reduced cooldowns and unique items. In this mode, players get to fight with and against the Poro King, who fights alongside both the player’s team and the enemy team once summoned.
- Each player is given a little Poro to toss at their enemies (in the form of a summoner spell, with the ability to recast after cooldown).
- The first team to land 10 successful hits on enemy champions gets to summon the almighty Poro King to fight alongside them!
- After a team summons the Poro King, you and your allies are able to give him treats that make him excited and do cool stunts, such as breathing fire!
Ultra-Rapid Fire (URF) Mode in League of Legends
League of Legends is a game that offers a variety of game modes, and one of the most exciting and fast-paced modes is the Ultra-Rapid Fire (URF) mode. This mode is ideal for players who want to get into a quick match and experience new and crazy plays.
Features of URF Mode
There are several reasons why URF mode is one of the most beloved game modes in League of Legends. Some of these features include:
- Approximately 75% cooldown reduction on all abilities and summoner spells
- Decreased healing at the beginning of the game that increases over time
- A cannon in spawn that allows players to launch themselves into the map and quickly get back into the game
- Full gold value of nearby minions dying, whether the player kills it or not
- Increased XP gain and increased level cap (from 18 to 30)
URF vs. ARURF
URF mode allows players to pick their own champion, while ARURF (All Random Ultra-Rapid Fire) assigns random champions to players, similar to ARAM. Both modes offer a unique and exciting experience for players to enjoy.
If you want to get into a quick but exciting match with your buddies and be able to make crazy plays you’ve never been able to do before, then the Ultra-Rapid-Fire mode is just for you!
Nexus Blitz Fun and Exciting Game Mode
If you’ve played League for more than 5 years, you probably remember the Nexus Blitz. Which is a 5v5 game mode that is set on a unique map called Temple of Lily and Lotus. It is designed to be a fast-paced and exciting game mode that offers players a lot of interesting content to enjoy. The game mode was first introduced to us in July 2018 (alpha testing) and surprised us with a temporary comeback again in 2019 due to the overwhelmingly positive feedback from its player base. Nexus Blitz was brought back another time in 2020 and it’s only a matter of time until we are invited into the Temple again.
Gameplay
In Nexus Blitz, players have only two roles to choose from – Lane and Jungle. The map is split into two lanes, and the teams are divided into 2 junglers and 3 laners. This mode is designed to be much shorter than other game modes, but it is packed with a lot of exciting content.
Mini Events
One of the most exciting features of Nexus Blitz is the Mini Events. These events are randomly triggered during the game and offer the winning team rewards such as buffs, effects, and even a battle sled that the entire team can drive around the map!
One for All Mirror Mode
One of the fun RIOT’s patches is One for All Mirror Mode which is a limited time game mode in League of Legends. This mode takes place on the Howling Abyss map and features 5v5 matches where both teams play the same champion. This iteration of One for All is based on combined nominations of both teams, with a vote tracker showing the nominated champions.
Champ Select
The champion selection process is determined by the combined nominations of both teams. If one champion achieves a strict majority, they are chosen. If not, the choice is based on a weighted random from all the nominated champions. This means that if there is a tie between several champions. The likelihood of each champion being selected is proportional to the number of votes they received.
Unlocking the Icon and Battle Boost
By playing at least one game in this mode, players will permanently unlock the One for All icon. Additionally, players can purchase a Battle Boost for their team during champion select for 150 RP. This will temporarily unlock all of the chosen champion’s currently available skins for both the player and their allies. As well as providing everyone on the team with a one-game 100 IP boost.
Ultimate Spellbook in League of Legends
Ultimate Spellbook is a featured game mode in League of Legends. The game is played on Summoner’s Rift and players can choose between 1 of 4 random ultimates to replace one of their summoner spells.
Features of Ultimate Spellbook
1. Ultimate Spell Selection UI
- Players will queue up in a blind pick style champion select.
- All players have a Placeholder Ult-ernate Summoner Spell that cannot be swapped out with another summoner spell. Junglers instead have a Placeholder and Attack-Smite.
- Players will be given 30 seconds to choose from a pool of 4 ultimates at the start of the match.
- The selected ultimate will replace the Placeholder Ult-ernate Summoner Spell for the rest of the game.
- Players can still rank up their own champion’s ultimate.
- All Ult-ernate Summoner Spells do not have resource costs and have an initial cooldown of 130 seconds, increased to 210 if you have Attack-Smite.
2. Bonuses and Starting Conditions
- Players have 70 summoner spell haste, bonus health, Tenacity, and bonus movement speed out-of-combat.
- You start at level 3 and with 950 Gold.
- Passive experience and gold are increased, and players share minion gold with teammates in lane.
- Slaying epic monsters grants a buff that deals magic damage against turrets.
- Turret Platings fall off at 9:00 and Rift Herald spawns at 6:00.
- Unsealed Spellbook is disabled in this mode.
Attack-Smite
- Junglers have “Placeholder and Attack-Smite” instead of Placeholder Ult-ernate Summoner Spell in champion select.
- Attack-Smite is replaced by the Ult-ernate Summoner Spell that they select, granting a buff that is also called Attack-Smite.
- Attack-Smite causes basic attacks against certain targets to deal bonus true damage.
- Only affects the targets within the user’s respective side of the jungle.
- Ivern will not be able to use it to bypass Friend of the Forest’s grove maturation timer.
League of Legends One for All-timate Spellbook
Star Guardians, mages with 99% cooldown reduction, yeap that is the One for All-timate Spellbook. A game mode in League of Legends that features a unique twist on the classic gameplay. In this mode, there is a chance for all players to have the same Ult-ernate Summoner Spell. This creates an exciting new experience for players and challenges them to adapt to new situations.
Modified Ult-ernate Summoner Spells
In each match, there is a chance for all players’ pools of ultimates to contain the same ultimate in all four selections. Meaning all champions on both teams will have the same Ult-ernate Summoner Spell. The chosen ultimates also have 35 bonus ability haste and scale with 80% of their regular ratios.
In this mode, the ultimate selection is unique per player on the same team. With each player receiving a pool of ultimates that are different from their teammates’ pools. However, these restrictions do not apply in One for All-timate Spellbook. Additionally, the leftmost ultimate is weighted depending on the champion’s class, to avoid sub-optimal choices.
AP and AD Scalings
- Ultimates that scale with AP but not AD, now also scale with AD.
- The scalings for these ultimates have been modified to 2.414% bonus AD per 1% AP.
- Similarly, Ultimates that scale with AD but not AP, now also scale with AP.
- The scalings for these ultimates have been modified to 0.6% AP per 1% total AD and 0.4% AP per 1% bonus AD.
Health and AP/AD Scalings
- Ultimates that scale with health but not AP nor AD, now also scale with AD and AP.
- These ultimates now scale with 13.158125% bonus AD and 8.198125% AP per 1% bonus health.
No Scalings
- Ultimates that do not scale with anything will continue to scale with nothing in this game mode.
FAQs League of Legends Game Modes in 2023
What is Draft Pick mode in League of Legends?
Draft Pick is a standard mode in League of Legends where players select their primary and secondary roles before queuing up for a match. It also allows a Ban and Pick phase during champion selection.
What is Blind Pick mode in League of Legends?
Blind Pick is a standard mode in League of Legends that doesn’t require players to select a role before queuing up, and doesn’t have a Ban and Pick phase. This mode allows mirror matchups (same champions occurring in both teams).
What is Nexus Blitz mode in League of Legends?
Nexus Blitz is a featured mode in League of Legends that is set on a unique map called Temple of Lily and Lotus. It only features two roles, Lane and Jungle, and is designed to last a lot shorter than other modes. Nexus Blitz also contains Mini Events that grant the winning team rewards such as buffs, effects, and a cool battle sled.
What is URF (Ultra-Rapid Fire) mode in League of Legends?
URF (Ultra-Rapid Fire) is a featured mode in League of Legends that allows players to make crazy plays with approximately 75% cooldown reduction on all abilities and summoner spells, decreased healing, and other exciting features. Players can pick their own champion or have them assigned randomly like in ARURF (All Random Ultra-Rapid Fire).
What is Legend of the Poro King mode in League of Legends?
Legend of the Poro King is a featured mode in League of Legends that is set on the Howling Abyss and features the Poro King, who fights alongside your own and the enemy’s team once summoned.
What is ARAM (All Random All Mid) mode in League of Legends?
ARAM is a mode in League of Legends where all players are assigned one random champion in the champion selection, with the ability to reroll and trade their champion with another player in their team. This mode features a single lane to battle on and takes place on the Howling Abyss.
The difference between Ranked (Solo/Duo) and Ranked Flex mode?
Ranked (Solo/Duo) mode allows players to queue up by themselves or with just one other premade. It grades players based on their Wins and Losses and assigns them a rank with League Points (LP) that are necessary for rank progression. Ranked Flex, on the other hand, is a game mode where people can enter the competitive field with either a party of three or a full premade team of five players. It does not affect players’ ratings in Solo/Duo.
What are the different game modes available in League of Legends?
League of Legends offers a variety of game modes, including Standard modes such as Draft Pick, Ranked (Solo/Duo), and Ranked Flex, as well as featured modes like Legend of the Poro King, URF (Ultra-Rapid Fire), and Nexus Blitz.
