Some much-needed League of Legends jungle changes will be implemented as part of the 2023 MOBA Pre-Season Update. The highlight are three new pets that players can roam the jungle with, each with a brand new buff. Oh, and did we mention they evolve? These are basically Pokemon, but more violent.
Dubbed "avatars", these adorable little critters are part of Riot's initiative to make the jungle a little less scary. As any League player knows, diving into the world between lanes is quite a tricky process as it works in a completely different way and your laners will most likely burn you for… well, anything and everything.
“We're making some pretty major changes to the jungle,” says senior product manager Patrick Noonan. “This year, there is a special focus on ensuring that players who do not currently play jungle have a new and exciting experience.”
The intricate web of jungle-specific items has been trimmed down a bit and replaced with these adorable animal companions. Each one grants different buffs and levels up with treats (delicious, isn't it?) given out for killing enemy champions and killing monsters.
For those worried that they won't be able to stock up on enough snacks for their new friend, you'll also stock up on treats over time to keep up.
But yes, important things; what avatars. They don't have specific names yet (although Noonan told our sister site, Unloading that the fox was internally called "Foxy McCloudFox"), but here's what to expect.
- Cat: Aggressive variant - Provides slow and additional damage.
- Fox: Mobility Option - Increases Speed and Utility
- Salamander: Defensive Variant - Increases Shield and Fortitude
Players can also use the new jungle path recommendation system, where Riot's AI will tell you the best path based on the performance of higher-level players.
Camps will also have a shorter leash range to prevent some junglers from pushing ahead simply based on their gear, and a new "patience bar" is being added so you can see how far you can get from a camp before the vicious wilderness will overtake you. gets bored and decides to go home.
It goes without saying that these changes are among the biggest we have ever seen. As someone who has a slightly guilty obsession with Evelynn, I've always wanted to play jungle, but I've always been afraid of the responsibility that comes with it. The recommended path system is a godsend for new junglers like me and these new pets really make me want to try this Coven Evelyn skin - after all who not Want your Pokemon style companion?
We'll have to settle for League of Legends patch 12.18 changes for now, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited about preseason. What's not fun is checking how much you've spent on League of Legends is just a pain.
