Wild Rift Patch 3.5 – Darkin to Dawn! New Champions, gameplay updates, and more

November 19, 2022

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League of Legends Wild Rift officially released its latest Patch 3.5 update entitled Darkin to Dawn last November 17, 2022. This patch comes with many new changes and highlights, so let’s look at what’s in store.

First, we have three new champions – Kayn, Aatrox, and Lillia. The first two are extremely powerful and will undoubtedly change the meta, while Lillia, the new four-legged champion, is sure to be a fan favorite. Watch them make their debut in this patch.

The Wild Rift Patch 3.5 update will improve the jungling experience, runes, and item change. There’s also a new game mode and a major event called the Spirit Blossom, where completing missions will allow you to summon a random spirit. A unique feature called Gallery Skin will also be introduced, where you can display your favorite Skin Sets in your Display Case on your profile.

New champions

Aatrox, Kayn, and Lillia, arrive in the Rift for this latest update. Which among them are you most excited to use as your main?

Aatrox, The Darkin Blade

Aatrox. Image credit: Riot Games

Aatrox brings oblivion to Baron lane. Once honored defenders of Shurima against the Void and now an ancient being imprisoned in his sword, Aatrox feasts on the souls of mortals to grow ever more powerful. Aatrox is a true force of devastation.

Kayn, The Shadow Reaper

Kayn. Image credit: Riot Games

Kayn wields an ancient Darkin weapon named Rhaast and constantly battles it for control. Kayn can transform to Darkin form, which will heal him for the damage he deals to champions, or Assasin form, which allows him to burst down enemies before they can blink.

Lillia, The Bashful Bloom

Lillia. Image credit: Riot Games

Lillia emerges from a peaceful forest far away into the jungle of Wild Rift. Lillia is a shy, fawn spirit who collects and protects human dreams. She can deal massive AoE damage and is super fast. Lillia’s abilities apply to Dream dust, which will deal max health damage over time.

Gameplay Updates

Jungle changes

Buff Sharing Mechanic – Unnecessary tensions about who should get the blue and red buffs will already be resolved in Patch 3.5. After a few minutes of game time, killing the Brambleback or Sentinel will drop a temporary buff that other players can pick up by walking up to the buff circle. Since buffs have been doubled in each team, the evolved versions of the blue and red buff will be removed.
Conservation – When players jungle, they will gain Conservation stacks over time, and killing a giant monster will cash in the stacks for gold.
Smite – Challenging Smite (or Red Smite) is removed. The Smite Upgrade functions are also changed. Starting this patch, Smite will upgrade based on the times it’s been used. Additionally, base Smite and upgraded Smite will deal a fixed amount of damage to monsters instead of scaling based on your champion level.
Jungle Monsters – The general stats and behavior of Jungle Monsters will be adjusted, making the clear time faster to let players jungle easier in the early game.
Rift Herald – Her summoning and charge speeds will be increased so that the value gained from defeating her will be more consistent.

Items and runes

Horizon Focus: Horizon Focus is an excellent pick for mages who want to snipe opponents with a spell. Skill shots that hit a champion from a distance will apply stacks to your enemy, and Hitting crowd control abilities will grant additional stacks.
Lord Dominik’s Regards: Lord Dominik’s Regards is the newest attack damage item. This is the best item for mages and assassins who likes to snowball their way through team fights. With its passive, adrenaline, after you’re out of combat with other champions for a few seconds, your first attack against a champ will have increased Attack Speed.
Phase Rush: Phase Rush is the best rune for mages who wants to run and cast fast. The players will gain a burst of movement speed and Ability haste if they hit a champion with three separate attacks or abilities. Their current cooldowns will also be reduced.
Sudden Impact: Sudden impact is the replacement for Champion Rune. The players will gain an adaptive penetration when they exit stealth or use dash, blink or teleport to deal damage to the enemy champion.

One For All Game Mode

The players will vote for a champion to play, and they’ll all play the selected champion. Ties are broken by random selection.

Quality of life

This new feature in Patch 3.5 will address disruptive behavior in the games.

Another penalty will be added for players who leave matches.
The remake will automatically trigger so the players will get the vote.
A new “Avoid list” feature will also be added in this patch. The players can add someone from the game to their avoid list in the post-game lobby. It will prevent them from being matched on the same team again until the next resets at the start of each week.
There is also a new way to view the skins. The players can simultaneously view multiple skins for the same champion and skin line.
If the players complete an entire Skin Set, they will earn an exclusive title and a special effect in champion select to show it off.

Wild Pass

Super Villain Jhin: The players can have the chance to claim the Super Villain Jhin ascended skin upon reaching level 50 and after completing the Wild Pass Missions and making it to Wild Pass Emporium.

Events

Spirit Blossom: In this event, the players will tend to a little town in the spirit world, where completing missions will let them summon a random spirit.

Festive little Snowball fight: The players will test their aim and collect rewards fit for a poro.