Do you hear that rumble, as if the storm itself is splitting the sky? It’s Smulder— the new champion dragon, who’s about to break into League of Legends.
They called him the Fire Bird. He was born in Kamavor, a once majestic kingdom where the dynasty of imperial dragons lived. But the real meaning of his story is not only in the blood of his ancestors. One day, Smulder met a man named Marinus. He gave him a name, taught him to walk, talk, and even laugh. Their friendship became something more than a mentor-student bond: the power of the dragon was intertwined with the warmth of the human soul.
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The release date of Smolder in League of Legends
Smolder is the first in the game “truly a dragon”. Not a star in human form like Aurelion Sol, and not a half-breed like Shivana. Namely, the dragon, as fans of the League have imagined it for many years. As Riot’s screenwriter Kristina Athanasoski explained, this is its special feature.
If you are already impatiently waiting for the moment to try out the new champion, remember the date: Smolder will be released in patch 14.3, which is scheduled for release on Wednesday, February 7 (Pacific time).
A small caveat: Riot is still refining the visual image of the hero. The first reviews were mixed, and the team decided to adjust the design. Theoretically, this may delay the release slightly, but only for the sake of making Smolder look like a real dragon should look like.
And if you can’t stand it anymore, good news! Since January 10, Smulder has been available on PBE. Anyone can try out his abilities and feel what it means to control a fiery monster.
For the first time, the hero was told back on January 5 — in a light and ironic video, where Smulder himself acted as a narrator. The video turned out to be funny, but at the same time it made it clear that the character has a soul and its own story connected with Kamavor and the world of Runeterra.
Patch 14.2 and new events
Meanwhile, another major update is already starting in League of Legends. Patch 14.2 adds the long-awaited Soul Fighters event. Riot clearly wanted the players to have a vibrant adventure, and it looks like they succeeded. 
The main highlight is the new Arena mode. Imagine dynamic matches where every minute keeps you in suspense. A meta-element with strategic decisions has also been attached to this mode, so you have to play not only with your hands, but also with your head.
And that’s not all: a new champion, Naafiri, enters the arena. She promises to shake up the usual meta-balance and bring chaos to the Rift.
Ready to dive into Soul Fighters? This is a chance to experience new emotions with friends, test yourself and get a lot of memories.
In addition, patch 14.2 launches Ranked Split 2. It is important to remember:
- After resetting the preseason, you have the opportunity to start over and try to take new heights.;
- keep an eye on the start date of the ranking, so as not to miss important updates.
And, of course, nowhere without balanced edits. The toplane should gain more influence in the late stage, the power of the early ganks will be slightly taken away from the foresters, and the mobility of some champions will be cut off in the bot. Both Zaira, Zerat, and Lissandra have been updated.
Champion Updates
Riot continues to adjust the balance. This time, Cassiopeia got the attention. Her E skill turned out to be too powerful, and the developers lowered the damage coefficient from 0.6 to 0.45, and the treatment at the fifth level from 0.16 to 0.12.
Kai’Sa also lost some of the damage. Her passive now causes half as much damage, and on the fifth stack, the damage has been reduced from 15% to 10% of the target’s missing health.
Kog’mao has changed the bonus damage from W: now it is calculated differently, which will change its leitpotential. Kindred has reduced the damage from W in strikes — you’ll have to adjust to the new style.
Changes in statistics
The general parameters of the game are also changing. For example, players with an emerald rank and above will receive not 25 LP per match, but about 20. This is done to make moving up the ladder feel more honest. 
The matchmaking system for beginners has also become smarter. Now she determines the level of newcomers more precisely, so that the start is softer for them.
Some buffs have also changed. Riot removed the “True Damage Emblem” bonus to keep items and strategies balanced.
Below is a table with the main changes:
| Subject/champion | Was | Became |
| Cassiopeia W (treatment) | 0.17 | 0.11 |
| Kai’sa (passive damage, 5th stack) | 20% of target’s missing health | 9% of target’s missing health |
| Kog’mao (bonus magic damage from E) | 4%-4.59% of max. health | 1.19%-3.4% of max health |
| Kindred Q (hit damage) | 26%-34% + 15 AD | 9%-19% + 18 AP |
| LP Gain (emerald+) | 24 per game | ≈19 per game |
| True Damage Emblem | Net Damage Bonus | Removed |
All these changes are a step towards making the game feel fair and diverse. Riot clearly continues to listen to the community, which means that the League will continue to develop.
