MOBA LoL will get a new pick and ban system in ranked that allows teams to ban five champions instead of three.
Riot’s lead champion designer Andrei “Meddler” Van Roon recently announced that summoners will soon be able to ban more champions in ranked games. In normal games, the old pick and ban system will remain in place for now.
However, changes are also expected here in the future. Riot aims to create more diversity in the champion pool with the introduction of the new system. More bans provide summoners with more options for various champion picks.
LoL: New Pick and Ban System – Here’s How It Works
The biggest change in the new system will be that each team will now have five bans instead of three. This will change the pick/ban phase overall and it will go through four steps in the future.
- Ban Phase 1: The first ban phase will go just like in the old system. Both teams have three bans available, and each team may alternate banning one champion.
- Pick Phase 1: In the first pick phase, each team can choose three champs, starting with the blue team. Blue selects one champ first, then the red team chooses two champs. Blue team follows with two champs, and the red team finishes the first pick phase with the last pick. A total of six champions have now been chosen.
- Ban Phase 2: In this phase, each team is given two additional bans. Each team alternates picking one champ that they do not want to see in the Rift. The red team starts the ban phase.
- Pick Phase 2: In the last phase, a total of four champions will be chosen again. The red team starts with one champ. Blue may then choose two champions, and red gets the last champ.
Players will only have 30 seconds to choose or ban a champion with the new system. Currently, players have 60 seconds to think.
League of Legends has more than tripled its champion pool since the game’s launch. LoL started with 40 champions and has welcomed Camille as number 134. The number of champions to be banned, however, has remained the same.
Will some champs no longer appear in ranked games in the future?
Each individual summoner will have the opportunity to ban a champion in the future. Some may be pleased with this news as one can always throw out their counter. Or a champ that simply annoys them. The new system could also ensure that some champions may not be seen in ranked games in the future.
Champions like Yasuo already have a high ban rate and could completely disappear from the screen with more banning options – at least in ranked games. Even though the pick and ban times are reduced to 30 seconds, the new system will lead to a longer pick and ban phase.
What do you think of the new pick and ban system? Blessing or curse? With the new teaser for the Warwick update, Riot has at least already done a good job.
