Riot’s January 5, 2024 roadmap laid out plans for League of Legends spanning champions, ranked play, game modes, anti-cheat, cosmetics, Arcane and esports. These were targets and schedules announced for 2024—not a current release calendar or proof that every item arrived as planned.
What Riot announced for champions
The January roadmap included several champion releases and visual updates, with different levels of certainty. Riot described some as targets or plans rather than fixed release dates.
| Champion or work | What Riot said in January 2024 |
|---|---|
| Smolder | The new ADC, introduced as the “Fiery Fledgling.” |
| Mid-range mage | A mid-range mage solo-laner was planned to follow Smolder. |
| Skarner | Preparing for release in the first half of 2024. |
| Arcane character VGU | An Arcane character was planned to receive a visual and gameplay update after Skarner. |
| Shyvana VGU | Aimed at 2025. |
| Ambessa Medarda | Slated to come to League during 2024. |
These are the announcement’s historical windows, not a statement of the champions’ present availability or a later release schedule. Riot’s Season 2024 announcement is the source for the roadmap.
Who was the “baby dragon”?
Smolder was the new dragon-themed ADC Riot called the “Fiery Fledgling.” The phrase “baby dragon” is a reader-friendly description, not the name Riot used in the announcement.
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Ranked, mastery and game modes
Riot said it was changing how Ranked evaluates player skill, with the stated aim of reducing smurfs and lobbies containing players whose ranks were far apart. The announcement also included champion-mastery updates, plus plans for several modes:
- Arena: A return with eight teams of two.
- URF and One-For-All: Planned returns in the first half of 2024.
- Another relaxed mode: In development, with no specific release date given in the announcement.
Those descriptions capture Riot’s stated intentions at the time; the roadmap alone does not confirm when or whether each item shipped.
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Vanguard and anti-cheat plans
Riot identified Vanguard as League’s incoming anti-cheat system. The company said it would support hardware bans and live match termination, with LP refunded to players in affected games. These were capabilities and player protections Riot described in January 2024, not a guarantee that every disrupted match would meet a particular outcome beyond what the announcement stated.
Skins and champion presentation
Riot’s cosmetics and presentation plans included targeted windows, returning themes and items whose timing was not yet settled.
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| Area | January 2024 plan |
|---|---|
| Prestige skins | Rakan, Ezreal, Kindred, Evelynn and Kayle in the first half of 2024. |
| Lee Sin ASU | Targeted for early May 2024. |
| Teemo ASU | Timeline still under evaluation. |
| New themes | Heavenscale and Primal Ambush. |
| Returning themes | Faerie Court, PROJECT and Blood Moon. |
| Older Legendary skins | Unique borders were planned, including for Dragon Trainer Tristana, Brolaf and Corporate Mundo. |
| Additional skins | Rammus and Olaf were also mentioned. |
An ASU is an art and sustainability update; it is distinct from the champion VGU plans listed above. Riot’s announcement did not give a settled Teemo ASU date.
Arcane Season 2 and League
Riot said League would celebrate Arcane Season 2 when the show released in November 2024. That date is now historical: Netflix’s November 26, 2024 guide described Season 2 as streaming and as the series’ second and final season. Netflix says Arcane is based on League of Legends and produced by Fortiche Production in partnership with Riot.
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Arcane is connected to League through its setting and source material, but the roadmap’s promise of an in-game celebration is not itself a description of specific game content. Christian Linke, Arcane co-creator, told Netflix: “ARCANE is just the first of many stories that we want to tell in Runeterra.” Linke also said the story “wraps up with this second season.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Esports dates and format Riot set out
Riot’s January announcement gave specific plans for the 2024 international calendar and regional Worlds slots. Treat these as the schedule and format announced then, not as current esports dates.
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| Subject | Plan announced in January 2024 |
|---|---|
| Worlds slots | LEC, LCK, LPL and LCS to have three slots each; LLA, CBLOL, PCS and VCS unchanged. |
| MSI winner | The winner would secure a Worlds slot for its region. |
| MSI | Scheduled for May 1–19 in Chengdu. |
| Worlds | Scheduled for September 24–November 2, with stages across Berlin and Paris. |
| Hall of Legends | Creation of the LoL Esports Hall of Legends, with an independent voting panel to select the first inductee. |
Company context: Riot’s January refocus
On January 22, 2024, Riot said it was refocusing on fewer, higher-impact projects and prioritizing its core live games, including League. The company said it was eliminating about 530 roles globally, around 11% of Rioters. Riot also said new Riot Forge game development would end after Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story, and described a shift in Legends of Runeterra toward The Path of Champions. This company-level update provides context for Riot’s priorities; it is separate from the League-specific roadmap. See Riot’s January 22 update.
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