League of Legends: Feats of Strength Explained
What are Feats of Strength?
Feats of Strength is a new system introduced in the latest League of Legends patch. This system adds a strategic layer to the early game by rewarding teams for achieving specific objectives.
How Does it Work?
To activate Feats of Strength, a team must complete two out of three objectives:
- First Blood: Be the first team to get a kill.
- First Turret: Destroy the first enemy turret.
- Epic Jungle Camps: Defeat three Epic Jungle camps first.
Completing two of these objectives allows the team to upgrade their Tier 2 boots to enhanced versions, known as Triumphant boots.
Upgraded Boots
Here are the upgraded boots and their stats:
Gunmetal Greaves (Berserker’s Greaves Upgrade)
- Cost: 750 gold
- Attack Speed: +10%
- Movement Speed: +5%
- Special Effect: Gain 15% (melee) or 10% (ranged) movement speed for 2 seconds after attacking a champion.
Crimson Lucidity (Ionian Boots of Lucidity Upgrade)
- Cost: 750 gold
- Haste: +10
- Movement Speed: +5%
- Special Effect: Gain 10% (8% for ranged) movement speed for 4 seconds after damaging an enemy with a spell, using a summoner spell, or buffing an ally.
Spellslinger’s Shoes (Sorcerer’s Shoes Upgrade)
- Cost: 750 gold
- Flat Magic Penetration: +3
- Percentage Magic Penetration: +10%
- Movement Speed: +5%
Armored Advance (Plated Steelcaps Upgrade)
- Cost: 750 gold
- Armor: +10
- Movement Speed: +5%
Additional Upgrades
Teams that secure Feats of Strength can further upgrade their boots to Tier 3 by spending gold, provided they have at least two legendary items in their inventory.
Upcoming Changes
Riot Games has announced that the Feats of Strength system will undergo changes. Specifically, First Blood will no longer be a Feat in the near future. Lead Gameplay Designer Matt Leung-Harrison confirmed that this change will be implemented in patch 15.2 or 15.3.
Impact on the Game
The introduction of Feats of Strength has significantly impacted the early game, making the first 15 minutes crucial for winning matches. This has led to a snowball meta where games are often decided early on. To address this, Riot has rolled out emergency hotfixes and is continuously monitoring player feedback to balance the system.
Strategic Depth
Feats of Strength add a new layer of strategy to the early game, encouraging teams to coordinate and prioritize objectives. This system rewards teams for aggressive play and quick execution, making the early game more dynamic and engaging.
Balance and Feedback
Riot’s decision to replace First Blood as a Feat reflects their commitment to balancing the game based on community feedback. This change aims to reduce the snowball effect and make the game more competitive throughout its duration.
Team Coordination
The Feats of Strength system emphasizes the importance of team coordination. Teams must work together to achieve the objectives, which can lead to better communication and teamwork. This can be particularly beneficial for teams looking to improve their early game performance.
Champion Impact
Different champions will benefit differently from the upgraded boots. For example, attack damage carry (ADC) champions will benefit from the Gunmetal Greaves, while ability power carry (APC) champions will find the Spellslinger’s Shoes more useful. This variety ensures that every champion has something to gain from securing Feats of Strength.
Future Adjustments
As the season progresses, Riot will continue to monitor the impact of Feats of Strength and make necessary adjustments. This could include tweaking the objectives, the rewards, or even introducing new Feats to keep the game fresh and balanced.
By understanding and adapting to the Feats of Strength system, players can gain a significant advantage in their matches, making the game more challenging and rewarding.