League of Legends has announced upcoming update details for the game mode colloquially known as 'A.RAM' or Howling Abyss: Chaos.

The news broke on the 28th via the official League of Legends YouTube channel. The core of the announcement is the phased removal of the existing Augment system, to be replaced by a host of new Augments designed to maximise champion individuality. The developers stated a clear philosophy: to incorporate player feedback, prevent game homogenisation, and deliver unique chaos and fun with every match.

Firstly, the Set Augments introduced last season will gradually disappear starting with patch 26.12. The developers explained, 'Set Augments were originally designed with the intention of providing diverse combinations and unique experiences, but they ended up causing the unintended side effect of cementing the game's meta.'

Indeed, user choices were heavily concentrated on specific Augments like 'Firecracker,' leading to repetitive combat scenarios regardless of champion choice. This situation, where the effect of the Augment overshadowed the champion's inherent appeal, was a major factor in the decision to remove them. However, some popular Augments, such as 'Multi-stack,' will be revived as single Augments, capable of activating immediately without needing to collect multiple Augments.

Alongside the system overhaul, a large number of new Augments will be added. The guiding principle for these new Augments is the realisation of champion fantasy. The goal is to reduce generic Augments that might quickly become tiresome by offering the same effect to all champions, and instead, to directly amplify each champion's unique characteristics.

As part of this, Augments that enhance specific skills will be introduced. For example, if Blitzcrank obtains the new Augment 'Multi-Attack,' his 'Rocket Grab (Q)' projectile will increase from one to five, allowing him to pull in all enemy champions at once.

Quest Augments like 'Iron Will' and 'Urf's Champion' will also diversify. With one of the new Augments, 'Request for Teeth,' enemies drop teeth when dealt significant damage within a short period. Collecting these teeth increases Physical and Magic Penetration.

Finally, the developers offered a candid perspective on balance concerns. The top priority for the Chaos mode is not maintaining precise balance, but creating fresh fun. While preventing unfair situations where victory or defeat is determined solely by a specific build, the aim is to maximise the enjoyment derived from outlandish combinations. To this end, Augments that severely hinder the game experience will be excluded from rotation, and flexible adjustments will be made, such as adding new Augments for underrepresented roles.

The Howling Abyss: Chaos update is scheduled to be applied to Season 2, Act 2, which begins on June 11th, Korean Standard Time.