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League of Legends Patch 25.13: Arena Returns and ARAM Gets New Maps

League of Legends patch 25.13

League of Legends just dropped Patch 25.13, and it’s one of the most exciting updates of the year. Riot Games didn’t just make a few balance changes — they brought back Arena mode, added two brand-new ARAM maps, and gave solid buffs to champions like Kindred, Irelia, and Gangplank. If you’ve been waiting for something fresh, this patch delivers.

Arena Mode is Back and Staying for a While

League of Legends arena mode
All images in this post were taken from the official League of Legends Patch 25.13 Notes by Riot Games.

That’s right — Arena is finally back, and it’s not just for a limited-time event this time. Riot confirmed it’ll be around for at least a full year, giving players a consistent way to jump into 2v2v2v2 brawls. It uses the Grand Reckoning map from the original version and doesn’t bring any wild changes yet, but expect more updates in future patches.

If you missed Arena the first time, now’s your chance to dive in. Fast-paced fights, unique augments, and chaotic fun — it’s all back.

ARAM Just Got a Massive Upgrade

League of Legends ARAM

Riot added two new ARAM maps to the rotation: Koeshin’s Crossing and the fan-favorite Butcher’s Bridge. That means you won’t always be stuck on Howling Abyss. Each map has its own look, vibe, and even interactive elements like Bloom Portals and power-up flowers.

They also updated champion select for ARAM. Instead of random rerolls, you now choose between 2–3 champion cards. If you don’t pick one, it goes to a shared bench that your teammates can grab. It’s a small change, but it gives you more control.

Champion Changes You Should Know About

This patch also brought targeted buffs and nerfs, especially for pro play leading into MSI 2025. But casual players will notice the difference too. Here are the standout changes:

League of Legends Champion: Briar

Briar

Briar had a couple of important fixes this patch. Her W no longer gets canceled while she’s chasing, which makes her attacks feel smoother. Plus, the delay on her E was shortened from 0.25 to 0.15 seconds, so now it lands quicker and feels way more responsive.

League of Legends Champion: Fiddlesticks

Fiddlesticks

Fiddlesticks got a solid buff to his W. Riot increased the AP ratio from 40% to 45%, which might not sound like much, but it helps him clear faster and deal more damage in those team fights where he drains the entire enemy team.

League of Legends Champion: Gangplank

Gangplank

Gangplank players should be happy. His Q now costs less mana, especially at higher ranks, and his ultimate cooldown is shorter across all levels. That means more barrels and more cannon fire throughout the game.

League of Legends Champion: Irelia

Irelia

Irelia feels smoother now, especially early on. Riot increased her passive attack speed at low levels, going from 7.5% per stack to 10%, and also bumped up the max attack speed cap from 30% to 40% at level 1. They also fixed a bug where her attack speed didn’t update properly when leveling up.

League of Legends Champion: kindred

Kindred

Kindred got a great quality-of-life buff. Her ultimate cooldown was reduced from 180 to 160 seconds at level 1, and from 150 to 140 at level 2. That means more clutch saves and a higher impact in team fights, especially in coordinated play.

League of Legends Champion: Nidalee

Nidalee

Nidalee got a buff that makes her spears hit even harder from long range. Riot increased the damage cap on her Q’s max-range bonus from 200% to 225%. If you land those big spears, they’ll definitely hurt more now.

League of Legends Champion: Rammus

Rammus

Rammus was falling off a bit, so Riot helped him out. His base HP growth went up from 94 to 100, and his W now grants more armor and magic resist the higher you level it. This brings back some of his tanky power that got lost after his rework.

League of Legends Champion: Ryze

Ryze

Ryze got nerfed to take some power out of his early game. Riot increased the mana cost of his W from 40 to 50 at level 1 and lowered its base damage by 10 across all ranks. It’s a small tweak, but enough to slow down his early pressure.

League of Legends Champion: Twisted Fate

Twisted Fate

Twisted Fate also got hit with a nerf. His ultimate cooldown is now longer — it went from 160 seconds to 170 at rank 1, and scales up slower as well. This gives opponents more breathing room before he shows up across the map again.

League of Legends Champion: Vi

Vi

Vi took a light nerf as well. Her passive shield used to block 14% of her max HP, but now it only blocks 12%. It’s a small change, but it reduces how tanky she feels during early skirmishes and jungle duels.

League of Legends Champion: Yorick

Yorick

Yorick lost a bit of his early-game strength. Riot dropped his base armor from 39 to 36, which makes him more vulnerable in lane. It’s not a huge nerf, but it gives aggressive laners a better shot at punishing him early.

Spirit Blossom Skins and Battle Pass Upgrades

Patch 25.13 also kicks off Spirit Blossom: Act 2. Expect stunning new skins for Akali, Karma, Nidalee, Morgana, and more — including Prestige Spirit Blossom Zed:

The event pass also got better: Riot added longer mission timers, easier XP catch-up, and even removed Mastery Sets to give you more freedom.

Why This Patch Matters

This update does more than just shift the meta — it brings life back into the game. Whether you’re a casual ARAM player or someone grinding ranked, Patch 25.13 offers fresh modes, better rewards, and more variety across the board.

Final Thoughts

If you haven’t logged in yet, now’s a great time. Arena is live. ARAM feels new again. Champions feel better balanced. And Spirit Blossom skins are some of the best Riot’s dropped this year.

Ready to jump in? Try out Arena, test the new ARAM maps, and see which champ changes work in your favor.

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