Riot Games has
released a dev blog announcing the return of Arena Mode, which it considers to be its second Act. Arena Mode will be available starting March 5, 2025, across multiple regions and will stay live until Patch 15.9 on April 30. This time, Arena mode is themed around Noxus, offering a fresh and immersive experience for players. With revamped maps, a new progression system, and added mechanics for strategic depth, this update aims to provide a more engaging experience for both casual and competitive players.
Map Updates
A brand-new map, Reckoner Arena, is joining the lineup. This battlefield features destructible pillars that collapse when they take enough damage, dealing area damage and changing the terrain mid-game, creating new tactical opportunities.
Reckoner Arena, the new map. Credit: Riot Games.
To address past frustrations, Riot has also brought some modifications to the Koi Pond map. They introduced "The Ring," a new walkable perimeter connecting the ponds, allowing for more strategic movement and eliminating unfair situations where players could be trapped. Additionally, Blast Cones have been removed to prevent frustrating interactions with certain champions.
The Koi Pond map has been added a ring on its outer perimeter so player won't get stuck anymore. Credit: Riot Games.
Guests of Honor
Another significant update is the introduction of the Guests of Honor system, replacing Cameos. Famous Noxian champions will appear during event rounds, and players will vote on which Guest of Honor will introduce a new rule for the rest of the game. These rules will add an extra layer of unpredictability. Here are a few examples given by Riot:
- Darius - Noxian Might: Every team loses 50 Health, heal 5 health when a team is eliminated.
- Vladimir - Universal Donor: All players gain a bonus matching augment.
- Mordekaiser - Die Alone: One player from each team starts combat in the death realm.
We are told there will be fourteen featured on release while eight more will be added progressively during the two next months.
Progression System
Riot has completely reworked progression in Arena with the introduction of the Arena Fame system, designed to give players a more engaging and rewarding experience. Fame will be the new primary measure of progress, earned based on placement in each game. However, it’s not just about winning—players can accelerate their Fame gains by completing unique missions tailored to individual champions, encouraging skill development and variety in gameplay. As players climb through Fame milestones, they will unlock exclusive rewards such as new augments like Overflow and Transmute: Chaos, as well as Matchup Intro upgrades, which enhance the visual flair of pre-fight introductions.
Interface from the new Fame system introduced in Act 2. Credit: Riot Games.
This approach keeps matches fresh, pushing players to adapt and refine their strategies instead of relying on raw power boosts. Additional improvements include Champion Mastery progression, tie-in missions with the battle pass, and the removal of the outdated Gladiator points system.
An example of what "Matchup Intro Upgrades" looks like in-game. Credit: Riot Games.
Champion Select Enhancements
Champion Select has been enhanced with two new mechanics to encourage experimentation:
- Crowd Favorites: highlights five champions during selection, rewarding players who choose them with a bonus Stat Anvil.
- Bravery Mode: For those willing to take an even bigger risk, Bravery Mode assigns a completely random champion, rewarding the player with extra Fame, a Stat Anvil, and two rerolls.
Arena mode returns on March 5, 2025, and will be available until April 30. The servers go live at 16:00 UTC for EU, 18:00 UTC for CN, and 19:00 UTC for NA and KR.
Header Photo Credit: Riot Games
