Riot reveals details for the new LoL deathmatch mode

Feb 21, 2023

Reading time: 2 min

League of Legends is getting a brand new way to play the game in 2023, and here’s what we know about the new LoL deathmatch mode.

Riot Games announced at the start of the year that it was intending to bring a new game mode to League of Legends. On February 21, 2023, the company clarified that this would be a brand-new 2v2v2v2 deathmatch-like mode. It also announced a new mechanic that has never appeared in League of Legends before, stolen from another of Riot Games’ titles. With recent announcements being made clarifying some of the details, here’s everything we know about the deathmatch mode.

New LoL deathmatch mode brings fast-paced gameplay

Riot Games recently posted to Twitter and its own website to talk about the latest way to play League of Legends and why it felt a new spin on the game was necessary. League of Legends has had serious problems with trying to diversify gameplay for modes that aren’t 5v5 typical matches on Summoner’s Rift.

Last week we shared a few updates on the upcoming new 2v2v2v2 game mode that will be arriving sooner than expected.

Here's a rundown of our goals for this mode 👇
🔸Quicker champ vs champ combat
🔸Pushing champ customization beyond the limits
🔸Lessen time spent idling pic.twitter.com/Tcb91D0ikT
— League of Legends // UK, IE & Nordics (@LoLUKN) February 20, 2023

The new mode has had several details clarified by the developer. Four teams of two players each will load into the match before selecting their champions. It’s not yet been announced if this will be more similar to Draft or Blind champion selects. Over the course of the match, players gain levels, items, and Augments, a mechanic stolen from TFT. Augments are upgrades to your champion that give them never-before-available abilities and enhancements. After losing too many rounds of the death match, your team is eliminated.

Augments are meant to provide wacky, unique combat moments for players of the game. Riot Games showed off some examples of the new mechanic during internal playtests. League of Legends Augments included a Sylas who casts Lissandra’s W every five seconds, a 500 auto-attack range Ekko. and a Kai’Sa who detonates on death and can turn herself into a dangerous bomb by ulting into the enemy team.

The mode is going to go to live servers in an experimental state, so fans can give feedback early and often about the state of the mode.