League of Legends changes forever with WASD movement
League of Legends, launched in 2009, has been one of the main forces behind the global popularity of the MOBA genre. With more than a decade of history, Riot Games’ title has remained fresh thanks to constant updates, new champions, and balance adjustments. However, none of those changes compare to the most recent one: the introduction of WASD movement, now available on the Public Beta Environment (PBE).
A Historic Shift: From Mouse to Keyboard
Until now, LoL players have always controlled their champions’ movement by clicking with the mouse. With the arrival of the WASD system, Riot is offering an alternative more familiar to players who come from other genres, such as shooters or classic PC RPGs.
This represents nothing less than a revolution in gameplay, as it changes the way champions interact with their surroundings and how players perform both basic attacks and abilities. The left and right mouse buttons, which for years formed the core of the experience, now give way to a more traditional setup for many PC gamers.
The Impact on “Kiting”
One of the most controversial aspects is kiting, the technique that allows players to attack and move at the same time in order to maintain distance from enemies. Traditionally, this skill required hours of practice and precise mouse control.
With WASD, several players have shown that this process becomes much easier: as long as you’re within attack range, you can execute auto-attacks while dodging or retreating. This has sparked concerns that complex skills in competitive play are now being oversimplified for less experienced players.
Community Reactions
The community is clearly divided:
- In favor: players who believe the change will attract new users and make the game more accessible.
- Against: veterans who argue that it trivializes gameplay and reduces the strategic value of high-level mechanics like kiting and positioning.
Clips from the PBE are already circulating online, showing ADCs pulling off flashy plays with surprising ease. For many, this demonstrates that LoL could become a more accessible title but also less demanding in terms of its core mechanics.
Current Limitations and Future Adjustments
At the moment, WASD movement does not work the same way across all champions. Some show limitations with their basic abilities or ultimates. Riot has clarified that the feature is still experimental and will be evaluated based on community feedback before making its way into the live servers.
What is certain is that this change —whether permanent or temporary— marks a turning point in the history of League of Legends, once again proving the game’s ability to reinvent itself.
