A loophole in the latest League of Legends patch has led to an increase in toxic behavior in ARAM games. Players are frustrated as the toxicity from ranked games spills over into the Howling Abyss, leaving them questioning why they are being targeted.
In Patch 13.19, Riot introduced ranked restrictions to penalize players who dodge queues or troll ranked games. If a player is restricted from playing ranked, they must complete five games in a low-stakes game mode such as Blind Pick, Draft Pick, or ARAM. However, the problem lies in the fact that players only need to play these games, not win them. This has resulted in trolls intentionally ruining ARAM matches just to fulfill their requirement and return to solo queue.
The implementation of this new rule has caused an uproar among players, who are now urging Riot to take action.
“It was obvious that people would try to lose as quickly as possible when they made it five games instead of requiring three wins,” one Reddit user commented. “In seasons 2-3, you had to win normal games to be able to queue for ranked again as a punishment. They already had a solution for this issue over a decade ago and abandoned it!” another player added.
Prior to Patch 13.19, ARAM lobbies were considered a safe space, mostly free from toxicity. While occasional disruptive players were encountered, the overall experience in ARAM was separate from the toxic environment often associated with ranked Summoner’s Rift games. Unfortunately, with the recent patch, the toxicity has seeped into the beloved bridge.
As an avid ARAM player myself, I never thought Riot could negatively impact the Summoner’s Rift system to the extent that it would affect the enjoyment of ARAM. Now, the game mode has become nearly unplayable unless I have a full team of five, as trolls are rushing through five quick games to return to ranked matches.
Riot has yet to address this issue, but given the community’s strong opposition to the new system, it is likely that changes or reversions will be made in the next patch. The player base has been vocal about their concerns, and considering the popularity of ARAM, which is largely due to its distinction from Summoner’s Rift, Riot must seriously consider making adjustments to support the Howling Abyss community.
Source: DOTESPORTS
