Riot Games reveals how new LoL champions are created

League of Legends enthusiasts recently gained unprecedented access to Riot Games’ champion development methodology through an official post by lead gameplay designer Mark “Scuffy” Yetter, revealing the systematic approach behind creating new characters for the massive multiplayer arena.

This structured framework revolves around four critical evaluation criteria that must be satisfied during each champion’s conceptualization phase. However, serious questions emerge about whether this methodology remains sustainable as the roster expands beyond 150 distinct playable characters.

Gameplay thoughts for today:
-Our “gameplay discovery” process for new champs
-Clash build-a-team features

Check it outhttps://t.co/kwj2smXJDy

— Mark Yetter (@MarkYetter) September 4, 2020

The comprehensive discovery phase spans eight weeks, dedicated to establishing fundamental gameplay mechanics and overall design direction for each new champion. This structured model was specifically developed to determine high-level strategic direction during the earliest stages of character development. To accomplish this ambitious goal, Riot’s design team rigorously applies the following four foundational questions to every proposed champion concept.

• Does your direction open a door to new gameplay spaces?
• Is your theme resonant with the intended playerbase?
• Does your gameplay hook deliver on the theme?
• Does your gameplay direction have room to be satisfying and healthy?

These four interrogatives guarantee that Riot progresses only with champions offering genuine uniqueness to the game while introducing innovative gameplay elements. The development team additionally ensures all new champion themes align with established player expectations and fantasy archetypes.

Have Riot failed the process with Yuumi and others?

Scuffy emphasizes that successful champions must feature playstyles that encourage repeated engagement and mastery. This represents a crucial component of the fourth evaluation criterion, though numerous existing champions fail to achieve this fundamental objective.

Despite Riot’s track record of designing inventive champions over the years, several recent additions have received mixed community reception. Yuumi stands as the most prominent example of a champion whose design doesn’t consistently motivate players to return for additional sessions.

The magical feline features an exceptionally distinctive playstyle, potentially crossing the threshold into excessive uniqueness. Many competitive players express frustration with Yuumi’s inherent difficulty to target effectively, particularly during balance patches where her sustain capabilities became overwhelmingly powerful. When strategically paired with specific late-game hyper-carries, Yuumi transforms into an nearly insurmountable victory condition. Community dissatisfaction has escalated to the point where some vocal players advocate for her complete removal from the game, despite Riot’s firm stance against such drastic measures.

More recently, the player community has criticized Riot for developing champions exhibiting excessive similarity to existing characters. The newest addition Yone possesses ability kits strikingly reminiscent of his brother Yasuo, while their thematic elements share considerable overlap. Although narrative explanations justify their mechanical parallels, this design approach fundamentally contradicts the first key principle of creating champions that introduce novel gameplay dimensions.

This creates a fundamental tension between cohesive storytelling and innovative gameplay design. Players expecting fresh mechanical experiences encounter familiar patterns that may diminish long-term engagement potential. The tension between established champion identities and the demand for continuous innovation presents one of Riot’s most significant ongoing design challenges.

As League of Legends continues its expansion, the champion discovery process faces increasing pressure to maintain originality while satisfying diverse player preferences. The escalating roster size creates natural design constraints that challenge the team’s ability to consistently deliver truly unique gameplay experiences.

Successful future champion designs will need to balance several competing priorities: introducing mechanical novelty, maintaining thematic resonance, ensuring competitive balance, and preserving gameplay clarity. This multidimensional challenge requires sophisticated design thinking and rigorous testing protocols.

For players seeking to understand these design principles in practice, our Class Guide explores similar character design challenges in other gaming contexts.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Riot Games reveals how new LoL champions are created Analyzing Riot's champion design framework and where recent releases like Yuumi and Yone may have missed the mark