2025 brought some innovations for League of Legends. Riot also tried something new in e-sports. One experimented with a new format for the pick and BAN phase, which was not well received by everyone. But now it has been decided that the format will remain in the future.
What format is it about? Usually the pick and ban phase consists of several steps:
In the past, this liked to ensure that you usually didn’t see a big champion variation, because the best picks were always banned or selected. The so -called Fearless Draft changed this format.
What is the Fearless Draft? Basically, the structure runs the same way, but with the difference that every champion can only be played once in a best-of-3 or best-of-5 match. As a result, there is more variation for the spectators, but also difficulties for the players who have to learn more champions.
Now you have commented on lolesports.com about the future of the format and is probably satisfied with it. It is announced that the format is even used at the most important tournament of the year.
The format is not popular with everyone
What happens to the Fearless Draft in 2025? For a long time it was unclear how the Fearless Draft continues, but now Riot has commented on it. They say that after positive feedback from the teams and fans, they decided that the format will remain in the 2025 season.
You want to leave the format in the regional leagues until the end of the competitive season. Global events should also follow. It is even announced that the Fearless Draft is used for best-of-3 and best-of-5 of this year’s Worlds. The Swiss stage remains a best-of-1.
Not everyone was satisfied with the Fearless Draft. While European professionals have spoken out for the Fearless Draft in the past, there has also been a lot of criticism from the audience since the implementation at the beginning of the year.
While some spectators praised the new draft format as the best change in e-sports, some criticized the effects of innovation:
What does the Fearless draft well? The champion variance is the big argument for this. The Worlds 2024 have shown that the meta ensures that you always see the same champions. Through the Fearless Draft, teams have to rethink and react spontaneously. This is not basically better or worse than before, but it changes the direction in which you have to develop strategies.
The Fearless Draft can ensure that champions are played that you would otherwise not see in the professional sector. The controversial champion Teemo could even appear on the big stage: professional in Lol thinks of playing the impossible champ to surprise the stars from Asia