Updated on October 30, 12:32 p.m. (GMT+8): Added new announcements.
Fearless Draft has been put in place in various challengers leagues like in South Korea’s LCK CL and China’s LDL.
Of course, we’ve also seen it used casually in fun modes and offseason tournaments.
This is why 2025 is a true game-changer. For the first time, Tier-1 League of Legends esports tournaments will officially adopt the format.
Specifically, the new third international LoL esports tournament happening in March 2025, will see “a version of Fearless Draft” implemented, Riot Games stated. The LCK Cup, the first LCK tournament of the year that takes place in January and February, also adopts the format.
What is Fearless Draft?
The League of Legends Development League (LDL) is a tier below China’s League of Legends Pro League (LPL). Since Week 5 of LDL Summer 2022, they’ve adopted this pick and ban format which we wrote about here.
In game one, the standard draft plays out. Nothing is changed.
In game two, any champions utilized in the first game are prohibited from selection by the same team — but the opposing team retains the option to pick them.
Should the series extend to a third game, all champions featured in the first two games will be collectively unavailable, with the same exception applying.
Riot Games stated that “a version” of this will be seen at the new international tournament in March 2025, so expect some changes to the rules.
Why implement Fearless Draft? Who does it benefit?
LoL Esports is witnessing a groundbreaking development with the introduction of a new draft format, marking the first significant change at the highest level of competition in quite some time.
The introduction of the Fearless draft mode introduces diversity in team compositions, compelling each team to select different champions in every game, thus enhancing viewer interest. In other words, LoL Esports fans won’t be seeing the same meta champions appear in every game repeatedly.
This shift also necessitates teams to adopt more strategic approaches. By the third game, a total of 15 champions are entirely off-limits.
While the draft mode may be fresher in a PC game like League of Legends, it’s a familiar concept in mobile gaming.
Arena of Valor, another title under Tencent’s umbrella, has employed a similar Fearless Draft mode known as the “Global Ban Pick rule” since 2019, aimed at enhancing competitive dynamics within the professional scene.
The rule comes into effect during best-of-seven matches when the series extends to the sixth game. However, in the seventh game, the rule is lifted, allowing all heroes to be eligible for selection.
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