After the launch of the 2025 League of Legends season, Riot Games’ lead designer, Phroxzon, shared some early-ranked data observations with the community. In a recent post on X, Phroxzon offered insights into the changes observed between the last patch of Season 14 and the latest update, emphasizing that, despite the introduction of new mechanics like Feats of Strength and the powerful Atakhan, the win rates for several key metrics have remained relatively stable.
“Looking at the major objectives, such as Inner Turrets, Dragon, Rift Herald, etc., they are nearly identical to the previous patch,” Phroxzon shared. “Objective win rates are closely tied to how far ahead a team is, whether through kills, farming, or simply playing better, so it’s important to interpret these numbers with that context.”
Snowballing: A Consistent Trend Despite Changes
Riot has noted that snowballing hasn’t become significantly more impactful compared to previous seasons. In an effort to combat this, the development team implemented several preventative measures in the new season, such as early home guards, an expanded XP range, and the removal of gold rewards for First Blood, First Turret, and other early objectives. These changes were made to reduce the risk of games spiraling out of control too quickly.
However, Phroxzon acknowledged that the perception of snowballing may feel more pronounced due to the introduction of Feats of Strength. This new mechanic places added importance on early-game objectives, making players feel more mentally affected by a team’s advantage early on in the match. Despite this, Phroxzon assured players that the Tier 3 boots would not be nerfed, as the cost of 750 gold is not deemed excessive for their value.
Changes to First Blood in the 2025 LoL Season
While the new season’s data has generally been positive, Phroxzon acknowledged that some adjustments, particularly those surrounding the First Blood Feat, have introduced unnecessary friction. As a result, Riot has decided to change this feature in the upcoming Patch 25.S1.2 or Patch 25.S1.3.
“We recognize that we made a mistake here,” Phroxzon admitted. “This change should have been implemented before the season’s release, and we take full responsibility for that. We wanted to fix it sooner, but timing didn’t allow for it.”
Moving Forward
Phroxzon’s message highlights that, while early season data is encouraging, Riot remains committed to refining the game as it progresses. Despite player concerns about snowballing and First Blood’s impact, the developer continues to gather feedback and make adjustments to improve the experience for everyone. As the season evolves, more tweaks may come, but for now, Riot is focusing on fine-tuning the mechanics to ensure a more balanced and enjoyable gameplay environment.
