LoL Patch 14.1: Release date, what to expect, and more

LoL Patch 14.1: Release date, what to expect, and more

Time Stamp: January 2, 2024 11:43 AM

As we cross into 2024, the fourteenth season of League of Legends awaits us at our doorstep. The upcoming patch 14.1 will mark the start of this new season, breathing fresh life into Riot Games’ popular MOBA with a host of gameplay changes.

Table of Contents

This first update of the year is a hefty one, as it will implement all the changes introduced by Riot Games during Preseason 2024 into live servers. Here’s a comprehensive guide detailing everything you need to know about the inaugural patch of Season 14.

LoL Patch 14.1 release date

League of Legends patch 14.1 is scheduled for release on January 10, 2024, coinciding with the start of the first split of the ranked season. This is going to be the first patch of 2024, bringing forth a multitude of changes, including a new ranked split structure, a revamped item system, a redesigned Void-themed map, and more.

All major changes coming in Patch 14.1

Here are the main changes that Riot developers have experimented with in the League of Legends Preseason 2024 and will go live in Season 14.

Item system overhaul

As mentioned earlier this year in the “Preseason & Ranked Changes | Dev Update“, it was announced that Mythic items are set to be removed from the game.

In an effort to diversify builds, Riot Games introduced the Mythic items system in 2021. However, this addition to the item hierarchy had an unintended consequence: it streamlined builds and subsequently stifled creativity.

A image of the shopkeeper in League of Legends.

click to enlarge
+ 4

Credit: Riot Games

Riot devs acknowledge that the Mythic item system does not align with their desired direction for League. The current state of the game could greatly benefit from this item overhaul, potentially introducing a much-needed sense of build diversity to the game.

This sweeping item overhaul was spearheaded by Riot Games’ aim to demystify the item system and shift power from items back to the champions themselves, granting players greater flexibility in their build paths.

We have compiled all removed and new items, as well as all reworked items in our LoL Season 14 guides here, so be sure to check them out:

Terrain and map changes

Riot developers have unveiled plans to make substantial adjustments to the terrain of Summoner’s Rift in Season 14. This is particularly exciting news considering that the map has not undergone any significant changes since it was redrawn in 2014, aside from the addition of Elemental Drakes.

For Season 14, Riot plans to revamp the entire jungle, paving new jungle paths that allow for more security when moving between lanes. At the same time, these adjustments provide solo laners with increased agency and protection from potential ganks by enemy junglers.

An image of bot lane map changes in the League of Legends 2024 Gameplay Preview blog post.

click to enlarge
+ 4

Credit: Riot Games

These map changes aim to introduce more symmetry to Summoner’s Rift, placing both the red and blue sides on equal footing. Some of these map changes include:

  • New jungle and gank paths
  • Three Baron pit formations
  • Midlane brushes pushed further back
  • A wide wall positioned directly across major objectives
  • and more

Here is a comprehensive guide on “All LoL Season 14 Map Changes” for your reference!

Map objectives changes

The Void’s influence is expanding across the Rift, and League of Legends Season 14 is set to unleash a wave of transformations in the jungle.

The menacing Baron Nashor and beloved Rift Herald (Shelly) are getting a massive rework. In Season 14, Baron will take one of three forms when he emerges, each form provides the same classic buff, but alters how he fights and determines the shape of his pit:

  • Hunting Baron
    • Attacks: blasts all nearby enemies with lightning from above
    • Baron pit: no changes
  • Territorial Baron: creates a wall in front of the pit
    • Attacks: pulls champions near him with his handy new hands
    • Baron pit: creates a wall in front of the pit
  • All-Seeing Baron
    • Attacks: opens a Void Rift that creates a “damage over time” zone within the new tunnel pit.
    • Baron pit: closes off the front and opens up both sides, creating a tunnel

These new forms introduce diversity in how Baron fights unfold from game to game.

A screenshot of the new Territorial Baron in League of Legends Season 14.

click to enlarge
+ 4

Credit: Riot Games

Territorial Baron

Players can now also ride Shelly into battle! Upon crushing the Eye of the Herald, Rift Herald will spawn as usual, and any allied champions can right-click the Herald and jump onto it, allowing the rider to steer Shelly (similar to Sion’s ultimate).

On top of that, the Baron Pit has new residents in Season 14: Voidgrubs and Voidmites. If you manage to take down some Voidgrubs, your entire team will gain the permanent buff, Hunger of the Void. This buff grants bonus damage over time to structures, making it a valuable asset in sieging enemy turrets and inhibitors.

Ranked system changes: 3-ranked split structure

In an effort to improve the ranked experience and speed up the ranked climb, Riot Games plans to introduce a three-split ranked structure in 2024: January, May, and September 2024. This means that, from Season 14 onward, there will be three ranked resets per year, instead of just one.

League of Legends Victorious Sejuani splash art.

click to enlarge
+ 4

Credit: Riot Games

Victorious Sejuani splash art

Riot Games has acknowledged that the current year-long ranked structure can feel like a real grind, with a long gap until a fresh climb. They also recognise that there is a down period at the end of the year where a lot of players want to play ranked but can’t.

The new three-split ranked structure is designed to address these issues. With three ranked resets per year, players will have more opportunities to climb the ladder and earn ranked rewards. Additionally, the shorter split lengths should make each split more impactful and exciting.

What else to expect in Patch 14.1

In addition to the sweeping gameplay changes mentioned above, players can also anticipate the usual Champion buffs and nerfs, along with bug fixes and other adjustments.

Excitingly, Riot Games will kick off 2024, the Year of the Dragon, with a set of new Dragonmancer skins. It was revealed that the following champions: Kassadin, Fiora, Vayne, and Rakan are set to receive a Dragonmancer skin, with Rakan also obtaining a Prestige Edition of his skin.

That was everything you need to know about the upcoming LoL Patch 14.1. Stay tuned as we will update this article when the full patch notes are released!

Wild Rift Baron Lane Tier List (4.4C) | How To Target Champions Only | S14 Rift Herald Rework Divides Community | S14 Changes to Bot Lane | Best Hwei Ability Combos | All S14 Major Item Reworks

Time Stamp:

More from Realsport