Winter Riot: When League of Legends Made Me Shed a Tear

Back to Winter Wonderland

Ah, League of Legends, my old friend. You’ve made me weep more times than I’d like to admit! From crushing heartbreaks like Silco’s untimely demise in Arcane to the gut-wrenching feeling of plummeting in ranked matches, I’ve seen it all with you. Sure, I have my gripes about you (looking at you, skin prices!), yet I can’t shake my love for this game. And then it hits me—like the warmth of a well-placed holiday sweater—Winter Rift is back thanks to patch 25.23!

Champions and Poro Parties

Okay, stop right there! Crying over a video game might sound a tad dramatic, but hear me out. This year hasn’t been easy, especially with all the skin drama and that infamous rotating battle pass that left me feeling frosty. While I appreciated the surprise return of Butcher’s Bridge, it just didn’t rekindle the good old days quite like I hoped. Remember when they ‘killed’ Gangplank? Genius move by Riot—made history, folks!

So, let’s talk about Winter Rift. It feels like a warm, cozy hug! The last time we saw this magical map was during the 2017 Snowdown Showdown. It’s back with a flourish, featuring a rotating toy train of poros (squeaky cuties!), not to mention a delightful layer of snow! All the monster buddies, from Shelly with her cute reindeer antlers to Atakhan looking all Santa-kissed, are here to spark joy!

But the real star? Baron’s festive makeover! For the past few years, I’ve been mourning over his missing Santa hat. It was an outrage! But guess what? The hat is back—sitting proudly on his primary head. And let’s not forget the adorable green earmuffs for his smaller heads and the matching scarf. My heart is warm from this sight!

Let’s not skip over the music! This year’s Winter Rift jingle is a slower tune, setting the mood perfectly. I hopped into practice mode, and as I whizzed through time while weeping over cheerful poros, it created an enchanting atmosphere. Just lovely! Sure, it might get drowned out by Fizz yelling about feeding time, but for a moment, it adds a sprinkle of magic.

Now, while the map is a dazzling reskin, let’s be real: those mana potions aren’t turning into eggnog anytime soon. Winter skins are on the way, but let’s face it, none of them quite measure up to classics like Regifted Amumu or Nutcrako. All we’ve got coming are beauties like Winter Wonder Milio and Zeri, and while they are stunning, they lack the quirky fun of Riot’s mid-2010s vibe.

Oh, and let’s not forget the juicy details in the patch notes! There’s a brand-new champion and an Arcane anniversary event to cheer about! But your boy Winter Rift totally steals the show. It’s good to have you back, my frosty friend!