League of Legends Season 3 Brings Big Changes and Fresh Challenges

League of Legends is gearing up for an exciting new chapter as Season 3 officially kicks off with Patch 25.17. This season ties together the stories from past arcs like Spirit Blossom Beyond and Welcome to Noxus, with champions such as LeBlanc, Yunara, Atakhan, and Xin Zhao taking the spotlight. On top of that, all eyes are on the upcoming 2025 World Championship, which returns to China to celebrate Worlds’ 15th anniversary. Matches start in Beijing on October 14, and the Finals will be held in Chengdu on November 9.

Fans can also look forward to the release of this year’s Worlds Anthem on October 10, a tradition that has become a highlight of every season.

Gameplay and Champion Updates

One of the biggest highlights is the long-awaited visual update for Xin Zhao. His gameplay won’t change, but his look and skins are getting a modern refresh. Old favorites like Commando and Imperial Xin Zhao are being upgraded, and a brand-new Epic skin is also on the way.

To make things smoother for players, Riot is adding quality-of-life features such as jungle camp timers and better death recap details for summoner spells. These small improvements are designed to help players make smarter decisions during matches.

Another exciting return is Doom Bots, the popular PvE mode where players take on challenging AI enemies. The updated version introduces new difficulty levels, bosses, and in-game challenges called “Trials of Doom,” which will roll out patch by patch.

New Controls, Better Player Experience

In an interesting experiment, League will start testing WASD controls as an optional way to move champions. While point-and-click remains the default, this new scheme is meant to make the game more approachable for new players. Riot confirmed they will monitor both styles to ensure competitive balance.

On the player behavior side, Riot is tightening its stance against smurfing, boosting, hitchhiking, and account sharing starting with Patch 25.18. Thanks to improved detection tools and player reports, accounts breaking the rules will face consequences, while alternate accounts used fairly should remain safe. Riot is also expanding tests for their new matchmaking system, True Skill 2, to create faster and more accurate placements.

Skins, Cosmetics, and Rewards

For the cosmetics collectors, new Prestige Skins for Sylas and Mel will appear in the Mythic Shop, while Jarvan IV and Zoe will each receive theirs through the Act 1 and Act 2 passes. The 2024 Worlds Winners skins, celebrating T1’s victory, are set to drop in September.

Machine Herald Viktor is another big highlight, arriving in Patch 25.19. Players who already have Viktor at Mastery Level 5 or higher as of August 4 will get this skin completely free. Riot is also bringing back some older emotes and icons through the Mythic Shop for those who may have missed them.

With so many changes in motion, Season 3 is shaping up to be one of the most eventful updates League of Legends has seen in years. Whether you’re chasing skins, testing new controls, or diving into Doom Bots, there’s something fresh waiting for every player.