TL;DR
- Twisted Treeline officially retires after 10 years with final availability until season end
- Riot offers tiered rewards: icons for 10+ games, emotes for 50+, and exclusive Vilemaw icon for 100+ games
- Community backlash highlights Riot’s perceived neglect of the game mode
- Players can transition to Summoner’s Rift or ARAM with specific adaptation strategies
- This follows similar map retirements like Dominion’s Crystal Scar in 2016
After a decade of service, Twisted Treeline concludes its journey in League of Legends. The iconic 3v3 battlefield remains accessible through the current season’s conclusion before permanent removal from the game client.
While the community anticipated this development, Riot Games has now confirmed the specific timeline. The developers officially disclosed that the game mode will exit the rotation to concentrate resources on more popular formats, particularly the traditional 5v5 Summoner’s Rift experience that dominates player engagement metrics.
Despite its smaller player base, Twisted Treeline cultivated a dedicated community that actively participated in ranked 3v3 competitions. The map consistently received less developer attention compared to Summoner’s Rift or ARAM’s Howling Abyss, making its eventual retirement predictable for industry observers.
Loyal players who invested time in this alternative game mode will receive special recognition through Riot’s reward distribution system.
“We genuinely regret removing such an established game mode from our official lineup, but this strategic shift enables intensified focus on our primary game formats,” Riot stated in their official communication. “Nevertheless, we want to specifically honor those who remained committed Vilemaw enthusiasts and acknowledge all matches played within League’s respected 3v3 mode!”
The seasonal conclusion on November 19 triggers reward distribution to qualified Twisted Treeline participants. Patch 9.23 will allocate commemorative items based on specific gameplay thresholds achieved throughout the map’s ten-year existence.
Participants completing 10+ matches receive an exclusive icon, while those achieving 50+ games unlock an additional emote alongside the icon. The premium recognition tier rewards players with 100+ games played, granting them a limited edition Vilemaw icon combined with both previous reward levels. This iconic representation features the map’s dominant jungle entity, serving as Twisted Treeline’s equivalent to Summoner’s Rift’s Baron Nashor in terms of strategic importance and visual symbolism.
While most League participants remain indifferent about Twisted Treeline’s departure, the affected community has expressed substantial discontent through various channels.
“The mode attracted limited players because it received minimal updates over recent years,” one veteran player explained. “Development teams introduced no compelling features to draw new audiences. Now Riot attributes the mode’s unpopularity to player disinterest when their own decisions actually created this situation.”
Another community member escalated their response by initiating an online petition campaign to preserve Twisted Treeline within League’s available map selections.
This decision continues Riot’s pattern of retiring underutilized maps, following Crystal Scar’s removal in 2016. That battlefield hosted Dominion, an objective-focused game format that faced similar player engagement challenges before its elimination.
For players transitioning from Twisted Treeline, strategic adaptation becomes essential. The faster-paced 3v3 combat requires different approaches than traditional 5v5 gameplay, but several alternative modes offer comparable experiences.
Consider exploring Summoner’s Rift’s strategic depth or ARAM’s chaotic teamfighting. Each provides unique gameplay elements that can help fill the void left by Twisted Treeline’s retirement.
When adjusting to new game modes, focus on mastering fundamental mechanics that transfer across different League formats. Champion positioning, objective control, and team coordination skills developed in Twisted Treeline remain valuable assets in any battlefield scenario.
For comprehensive guidance on navigating League’s evolving landscape, consult our Complete Guide to maximize your gaming experience across all available modes.
Action Checklist
- Verify your Twisted Treeline game count through client history to determine reward eligibility
- Claim exclusive icons and emotes when Patch 9.23 launches
- Explore Summoner’s Rift with our Class Guide to identify champions that suit your 3v3 playstyle
- Experiment with ARAM matches to maintain fast-paced teamfighting skills
- Review Weapons Unlock strategies to optimize your loadout for new game modes
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