Rift Herald refuse to complete its charge for DWG KIA at MSI 2021

A critical Rift Herald malfunction during the DWG KIA versus PSG Talon match at the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational forced tournament officials to implement an emergency Chronobreak procedure during the critical rumble stage. This rare technical failure demonstrated how game-breaking bugs can impact professional competition at the highest levels.

On day four of the MSI 2021 rumble stage, DWG KIA’s mid laner Heo “ShowMaker” Su encountered this unusual bug when attempting to deploy the captured objective in the central lane. Under normal circumstances, the summoned creature would initiate its signature charge attack against defensive structures, providing valuable turret plating gold rewards. However, this instance resulted in the Herald freezing mid-animation, creating extensive gameplay disruption that required official intervention.

The severity of this technical issue warranted Riot Games’ implementation of their Chronobreak protocol. This specialized system allows tournament administrators to rewind match states by predetermined time intervals, enabling competitors to replay critical moments without the interference of game defects. Following the reset, ShowMaker successfully executed the summoning sequence, achieving the intended structural damage outcome.

Although this particular malfunction hadn’t previously surfaced in professional tournament broadcasts, the underlying technical problem has existed within the game’s codebase for multiple patches. The Rift Herald has demonstrated consistent pathfinding and animation issues when deployed excessively close to its intended target structures. Technical analysis indicates the bug triggers specifically when summoning occurs approximately 300 units from defensive turrets.

The technical explanation suggests the bug originates from conflicting distance calculations within the charge mechanics. The Herald attempts to initiate its charging sequence from the identical distance where the animation would typically conclude, creating contradictory programming instructions that ultimately terminate the attack sequence prematurely.

Game developers typically prioritize fixing defects that manifest during major international competitions. The public exposure of this longstanding issue during MSI 2021 increased the likelihood of dedicated developer attention and permanent resolution. Despite the extended competitive pause and technical complications, DWG KIA maintained their competitive dominance, securing a decisive victory over PSG Talon.

DWG KIA’s impressive 7-1 record positioned them favorably with only one remaining day in the rumble stage. This performance guaranteed their advancement to the semifinal round while establishing them as frontrunners to finish atop their competitive group.

The #MSI2021 Rumble Stage Standings after Day 4! pic.twitter.com/UGpM8hvEu4

— LoL Esports (@lolesports) May 17, 2021

What is Rift Herald?

The Rift Herald represents a crucial neutral map objective exclusive to Summoner’s Rift. This powerful melee combatant possesses substantial health reserves and emerges initially at the eight-minute mark. Teams can secure this entity twice per match, with automatic despawn occurring at 20 minutes to accommodate Baron Nashor’s appearance. Upon defeat, the Herald drops the Eye of the Herald item, accessible to any teammate of the slaying squad for subsequent utilization.

How do I summon Rift Herald?

Players carrying the Eye of the Herald gain access to a specialized summoning ability activated through their trinket key binding. This unique item temporarily replaces standard trinket functionality while active, automatically consuming itself upon successful activation. Once summoned, the autonomous entity immediately pathfinds toward the closest hostile structure within its detection range.

Optimal deployment requires careful positioning approximately 500-600 units from target turrets—significantly beyond the problematic 300-unit threshold. This positioning strategy maximizes charge effectiveness while completely avoiding the known bug trigger conditions. Professional players consistently utilize this safe distance approach to ensure reliable objective value extraction.

Common summoning errors include panic deployment under tower pressure, improper lane assignment, and failure to coordinate with teammates for follow-up plays. Advanced strategies involve timing Herald usage with minion wave arrivals to maximize structural damage potential and create sustained lane pressure.

To consistently avoid the Rift Herald malfunction, implement these proven prevention strategies. First, always maintain summoning positions at least 400 units from target structures—this provides a safety buffer beyond the documented 300-unit danger zone. Second, coordinate with your jungler for backup objective control if Herald deployment becomes compromised.

Third, consider alternative strategic applications if positioning becomes constrained. Sometimes deploying Herald in a different lane or saving it for a more opportune moment provides greater overall value than risking bug-induced failure.

Understanding these Complete Guide principles helps optimize your overall game strategy. The timing parallels concepts found in our Weapons Unlock strategies where timing and positioning determine success. Additionally, these coordination techniques align with advanced Class Guide methodologies for team-based objective execution.

Advanced players should also master wave management techniques to complement Herald deployments. Creating slow-push scenarios before summoning can dramatically increase the structural damage achieved and potentially secure multiple turret eliminations from a single activation.

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