The developers confirmed that Xin Zhao will receive a full visual update in patch 25.17, releasing later this month. His base model, animations, and skins are getting a complete refresh while keeping his gameplay intact. All vaulted legacy skins return for patches 25.17 and 25.18, allowing players to grab them for a limited time.
Commando and Imperial Xin Zhao skins are also receiving upgrades, raising their RP price from 520 to 750, though players can still buy them at the lower rate until the update goes live. Additionally, Xin Zhao is getting a new Epic-tier skin during Act I.
Other skin updates include Prestige Sylas and Prestige Mel arriving in the Mythic Shop, while Jarvan IV and Zoe will get Prestige skins via the Battle Pass in Acts 1 and 2. Riot also announced that the long-awaited Exalted Viego skin has been delayed to next year for further improvements.
WASD Controls and Accessibility Features
For the first time in League history, Riot is introducing WASD movement controls. Aimed at new and returning players, this optional scheme seeks to make controls more intuitive while keeping the traditional click-to-move available.
WASD controls will arrive on the PBE first for extended testing, later expanding to unranked queues, and finally to ranked once balance checks are complete. Riot is monitoring potential advantages for kiting and chasing at higher attack speeds to ensure fair play across ranks.
Several quality-of-life changes accompany WASD:
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Custom keybinding options for full control over inputs
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A new Dynamic Locked Camera for smoother tracking during fights
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Improved camera flexibility to enhance gameplay flow
These features launch exclusively alongside WASD for testing before rolling out to all players.
Doom Bots Return With Trials of Doom (League of Legends)
Doom Bots return in patch 25.17 with major upgrades. Players team up against a stronger, more chaotic Veigar boss and redesigned bots with enhanced abilities. New difficulty settings, missions, and curses increase replay value, including quirky tweaks like Blitzcrank bots hooking minions aside to land attacks.
The developers also introduced Trials of Doom, unique challenges added each patch. Examples include stacking curses over time and granting bots Veigar’s passive. While Riot hasn’t confirmed other older modes returning, they’re open to revisiting them in the future based on player demand.
Smurfing Crackdown, Matchmaking, and League of Legends Worlds 2025
Starting in patch 25.18, Riot will enforce stricter penalties against boosting and hitchhiking accounts. Using Vanguard detection systems, Riot can now accurately identify shared or purchased accounts and penalize both the booster and boostee. Appeals remain available for legitimate secondary accounts.
Additionally, Riot is testing TrueSkill 2, a matchmaking system designed to place players accurately within five games, making ranking faster and more consistent. Initial testing started in North America, later expanding to Korea, and Riot plans to release more updates in October.
For competitive fans, Worlds 2025 officially kicks off with the anthem release on October 10, followed by matches starting October 14 in Beijing. The finals take place in Chengdu on November 9.
These upcoming changes signal one of the biggest shifts in League’s development cycle in recent years. Riot is aiming to make the game more approachable for new players while improving long-term balance for veterans. With WASD testing, updated visuals, and returning modes, the next few patches set the stage for a more polished experience across all skill levels.
