Hello Champions!
Time flies - it’s already the end of January, which means it’s time for the first balance patch of the year! As always, we’ve got a healthy mix of Hero and item changes, alongside a few small features you may enjoy (and find handy during matches).
This patch includes:
Minimap improvements
Social Screen improvements
New skins
Bug fixes
Let’s dive in!
Minimap Improvements
There are a few minimap improvements that are finally ready and will be implemented in V1.11.2. These two changes are tremendously helpful, giving you plenty of new information at a quick glance.
First, we’re implementing one of the biggest requests when it comes to the minimap: a recall indicator. When a player is recalling, their character icon on the minimap will flash to let you know, so you can act accordingly.
[img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/34481624/c0326526a8dfe051baaab45fa1ce82e89980ef87.gif"][/img]
Second, we’ve added numeric jungle camp respawn timers, allowing better planning for junglers and the entire team - you can now time your Fangtooth attack down to the second.
[img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/34481624/65c8059994b23faf5f9b5e4e2acb1a78ec0569ad.gif"][/img]
We’re looking forward to hearing what you think, Champions, and we hope you’ll notice an improvement in your matches.
Social Screen Improvements
We’ve also implemented a few neat changes to the social screen and friends list. While in the main menu, you’ll be able to see more information about players on your Friends List, including:
How long their current match has been running
Whether they’re in queue (and for which mode)
Whether they’re in a party (and if that party is full)
[img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/34481624/007435d44d9ee0964ff274262fcfda177a324466.gif"][/img]
All of this makes it easier to find the best party to join and take advantage of that Party XP bonus!
AFK and Punishment Changes
In this patch, we’re making some tweaks to how we handle players going AFK.
First, we’re expanding the early match-ending functionality to ARAM and Nitro when an AFK player is detected near the start of a match. This functionality is already in place for Standard and Ranked.
We’re also increasing the severity of penalties for going AFK, dodging Ranked Draft, and declining to accept a Ranked match.
We won’t be sharing the exact thresholds or trigger conditions to prevent abuse, but we want to ensure the best possible player experience - so players who choose to ruin it will receive increasingly stern bans.
Store News
God-King Rampage \[Epic]
Bow before the true king. [i](This skin features updated voiceover)[/i]
[img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/34481624/1727261a4040a4c0c4c9df86a264b913beb11c24.jpg"][/img]
Stewardess Muriel \[Epic]
Please remember to fasten your seatbelts… or else.
[img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/34481624/eaaed9b3f5d3faf5de98f71ae85687e55c0a018a.jpg"][/img]
Apocalyptic Narbash \[Epic]
Deliver a steady rhythm of drums across the wastelands. (This skin features updated voiceover)
[img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/34481624/e3c47b1933f26e887b6156665c926cb0ccadebbc.jpg"][/img]
Bundles:
God-King Rampage Bundle
God-King Rampage \[Skin]
Volcano God-King Rampage \[Skin Variant]
Tundra God-King Rampage \[Skin Variant]
Forest God-King Rampage \[Skin Variant]
Mountain God-King Rampage \[Skin Variant]
Let’s Go \[Spray]
God-King Rampage \[Banner]
God-King Rampage \[Icon]
Rampage \[Hero]
Stewardess Muriel Bundle
Stewardess Muriel \[Skin]
Onyx Stewardess Muriel \[Skin Variant]
Ruby Stewardess Muriel \[Skin Variant]
Amethyst Stewardess Muriel \[Skin Variant]
Emerald Stewardess Muriel \[Skin Variant]
Hmph \[Overhead Emote]
Stewardess Muriel \[Banner]
Stewardess Muriel \[Icon]
Muriel \[Hero]
Cosmetic name changes
Some Sprays and Overhead Emotes have been renamed:
Boris Spray "Let's go!" is now "Flex"
Boris Ice Spray "Huh?" is now "What?"
Yin's OHE "Wow" is now "Yin wow"
Orby OHE "Cry" is now "Sob"
To read more about major rebalancing of game mechanic, Heroes and items, as well as bug fixes, please head [url="https://playp.red/4anByTu"]here[/url].
