Matt Leung-Harrison
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League of Legends is "trying to thread the needle" of balance and frustration
League of Legends Game Design Lead Matt 'Phroxzon' Leung-Harrison discussed the challenges of balancing the game while managing player frustration. He explained that while some friction is necessary for variety, Riot Games aims to address extreme outliers and cater to both average players and the professional scene.
Riot believes League of Legends 'mage bot' strats are "healthy diversity" and "need to be viable"
Riot Games has decided against planned Brand buffs for League of Legends patch 26.14 due to concerns about mage bot lane strategies, but maintains that this approach offers healthy diversity. Lead Gameplay Designer Matt 'Phroxzon' Leung-Harrison explained that while frustrating for traditional marksmen, mages in the bot lane provide a necessary strategic option and prevent the game from becoming too formulaic.
League of Legends patch 26.13 is finally dealing with its Senna problem
League of Legends patch 26.13 introduces significant nerfs to the champion Senna, addressing her problematic synergy with items like Doran's Helm and Stattik Shiv, and reducing her soul drop rate. These changes aim to rebalance Senna's effectiveness as both a damage dealer and a support. The patch also includes buffs for Aphelios, Kindred, LeBlanc, and Qiyana, and nerfs for Bard, Brand, Cassiopeia, and Rek'Sai, alongside a buff to the Imperial Mandate item.
The full League of Legends patch 26.10 preview is here, and I fear Naafiri still has that dog in her
Riot Games has previewed League of Legends Patch 26.10, which includes nerfs to Naafiri and Zed, alongside adjustments for Galio, Ambessa, Anivia, Shyvana, and Ashe. The patch also reverts a 2014 change to Lee Sin's Safeguard ability, making it more versatile. Despite some nerfs, Naafiri is expected to remain strong due to item interactions and a light touch on her passive.
The latest League of Legends patch preview tells me what I already knew about those alternative builds
League of Legends Lead Gameplay Designer Matt Leung-Harrison has previewed upcoming patch changes, discussing the viability of alternative character builds. While players are experimenting with off-meta builds like AP Ezreal and AP Irelia, the article suggests these builds are currently too weak and often result in a lower win rate, despite some players finding success with them.
Riot admits it "made mistakes" with League of Legends' ranked season, imposes hard reset at apex levels
Riot Games has acknowledged mistakes in League of Legends' 2026 ranked season configuration, particularly affecting Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger tiers. To address player concerns about inconsistent matchmaking and LP gains, a hard reset will be implemented at Master 0 LP with patch 26.09 on April 29. This reset aims to prioritize ranked ladder integrity, though it will cause short-term matchmaking volatility. Future seasons will see adjustments to LP gain and minimum rank cutoffs.
League of Legends lead Phroxzon says "frustrating" counters like Mel are part of the MOBA's "secret sauce"
League of Legends lead gameplay designer Matt 'Phroxzon' Leung-Harrison discussed the game's design philosophy, particularly regarding challenging champion matchups like Mel. He stated that while some champions can create frustrating experiences, these difficult counter-play situations are a valuable part of the MOBA's 'secret sauce.' Phroxzon also addressed the concept of 'loser's queue,' reiterating that the matchmaking system aims for a 50% win probability for all players before a game begins.
League of Legends patch 26.08 is already in trouble, as Riot reviews controversial Viego buffs
Riot Games is reviewing controversial buffs planned for Viego in League of Legends patch 26.08 after player feedback suggested they were too powerful. Lead gameplay designer Matt 'Phroxzon' Leung-Harrison stated that internal data initially supported the buffs, but external data appears different, prompting a re-evaluation before the patch's release. The article also touches on other balance changes for champions like Mel, Mundo, Hwei, Lillia, Lucian, and Tahm Kench.
League of Legends Patch 26.6 balances rising jungle picks and issues in the mid lane
Riot Games has released League of Legends Patch 26.6, focusing on rebalancing jungle picks and mid lane champions. The patch includes nerfs to Zaahen and Shen in the jungle, buffs for Lissandra and Olaf, and adjustments to items like Sunfire Aegis and Chempunk Chainsword to address itemization frustrations.
