League of Legends for Windows

Free multiplayer online battle arena

Riot Games launched League of Legends as a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game in 2009. It contains elements of fantasy and strategy, whereby you preload a champion for the upcoming player-vs-player (PvP) conflict. It has gained such popularity over the years that it’s one of the top competitive titles in e-sports.

Immersive online battle experience

While the MOBA title has champion-centered lore without a detailed storyline, League of Legends is incredibly immersive with its gameplay aspects. With its headquarters in Los Angeles, California, Riot Games created a phenomenon that took the world by storm. It was one of the first games with a heavy focus on tactics and fantasy mechanics, where you could challenge friends and opponents alike.

The gameplay consists of players facing off in two teams against each other in an online arena. Each team has a squad of units to use in an attempt to destroy the opponent’s base of operations, also known as the Nexus. They’ll continue to throw enemies at you and your champ, as you go through the Sentinal towers and minions.

Of course, you’ll need to select among your champions before you enter the battle. You’ll decide which one you need based on various stats, with each of the champs having different abilities and items. Obtaining new warriors and filling up your vast library of heroes is one of the most exciting elements of the fantasy MOBA game.

From time to time, Riot Games updates League of Legends with other modes to keep players interested. One of the latest additions is Teamfight Tactics (TFT), where opponents challenge each other on a chess-like board. There are various terms for winning a match and obtaining loot and it serves as a refreshing break from the arena.

Is League of Legends really free?

While the official site advertises League of Legends as free, there are aspects to it where you can spend real money. Two currencies in the game, namely, Influence Points (IP) and Riot Points (RP), exist. You can earn both without using any real funds and obtain any items with these in-game currencies. However, real cash can help you claim abilities, skins, and unique items faster.

While these microtransactions will give you an edge over other players, League of Legends remains free-to-play. You receive IP during battles, which you can use to claim items like runes to boost special skills. You can buy RP with funds you earn from your conquests and then purchase champion skins and other items.

Why is League of Legends so popular?

Although Riot Games is based in the US, it hosts servers worldwide with different languages available. It has grown in fame so much that it’s one of the top-featured titles in esports competitions. Many players have even indicated that League of Legends is the best MOBA of all time, outranking other games in the genre.

Why is it more popular than similar games like DOTA 2? One of the chief benefits is that it gets regular news and updates. Gamers noticed that they received a new patch every 17 days on average, revealing how much effort Riot Games puts into balancing LoL gameplay mechanics. The publisher also issues new champions now and again with unique abilities.

While most of the focus has been on the PC version of the game, it’s extending to smartphones and tablets with the mobile app League of Legends: Wild Rift. It has the same elements as the Windows version, bringing the fantasy MOBA title to the palm of your hand. If you’re a fanatic, you’ll want to look at Wild Rift.

Its accessibility, competitive gameplay, variety, community, and regular updates have contributed to its popularity and longevity as a leading e-sports game. With a loyal player base and an active community, the game continues to attract new players and remains a significant force in the esports industry.

The only daunting aspect is that many new gamers to the title, or newbies, find it difficult to play at first. Some players don’t have the patience to sit through a 50-minute battle session with the hopes that they might survive. For those who endure extreme losses in the initial wave of matches, the rewards and experience will definitely be worth the persistence.

Comparison with similar games

If there’s any game that’s regularly compared to League of Legends, it’s DOTA 2. It has the same fantasy MOBA structure with the option to preload champions. When it comes to superiority, LoL wins hands down with its regular updates and easier gameplay for newbies.

Another comparative game is Fortnite. It has MOBA aspects but predominantly features Battle Royale mechanics. Gamers drop into an arena from a plane, running away from an enclosing shroud in third-person view while eliminating opponents until they’re the last shooter or team alive.

Finally, World of Warcraft is an online fantasy game that falls more into the realm of MMORPG than MOBA. Unlike LoL, you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription to have access to your account. You create an avatar or character to play in this immense world, where you can challenge in-game opponents or other online players.

How to install League of Legends

After you download the free LoL client installer, you’ll need to launch it and follow the installation wizard prompts. It’ll ask you to accept the terms and conditions before asking you where you’d like to save the files. Once you’re done installing the client, the platform will open up while downloading the latest patches and updates.

You can also look for and download LoL Javascript wrappers. These wrappers help you to call specific functions to the game to make some gameplay easier.

What’s new in Teamfight Tactics patch 13.10?

As per the game’s patch 13.10 update, there have been some major changes both gameplay and appearance-wise in Teamfight Tactics. One of these is the debut of the Mecha Prime Zero Arena, a new out-of-this-world battleground that takes every match to outer space. Aside from that, the new content delivery system Treasure Realms is also introduced — this replaces the old Egg system, aiming to provide a smoother and more rewarding experience for players.

Patch 13.12 highlights

The game’s patch 13.12 update rolls in with a slew of fresh reworks and new rewards. Some champions’ abilities got modifications to balance them out during Pro play, and these are:

• Ashe
• Gangplank
• Gragas
• K'Sante
• Kai'Sa
• Kha'Zix
• Kog'Maw
• Lucian
• Lulu
• Milio
• Nasus
• Orianna
• Rell
• Rumble
• Ryze
• Sivir
• Yuumi
• Zeri

A handful of items got improvements too and these are:

• Ardent Censer
• Bloodthirster
• Galeforce
• Immortal Shieldbow
• Imperial Mandate
• Moonstone Renewer
• Phantom Dancer
• Rapid Firecannon
• Statikk Shiv

Besides that, the Overheal rune was reworked as well, upping its maximum health ratio effect. There are new items in the Mythic Shop, too. Plus, the brand new skin theme Shan Hai Scrolls — as well as the skins’ chromas — is finally rolling out for champions Bard, Kog’Maw, Lilia, Kench, and Leona. Game and skin bugs have been squashed, too, ensuring smoother gameplay from here on out.

An intense battle arena experience

League of Legends is by far and large one of the most popular MOBA games at the moment. It’s free to play, and you’ll receive several champions and items as you fight against online opponents in blood-stained and fantasy-fueled matches. When it comes to difficulty, it may be hard to learn at first, but you’ll get the hang of it once you’ve been battle-hardened.