In July 2024, Riot Games released patch 5.2 for League of Legends: Wild Rift. Riot promoted it as the "Hexolution", because the update gave Summoner's Rift a Hextech makeover and changed several systems in the middle of the map. This is a dated recap based on Riot's official patch notes for 5.2 and the follow-up 5.2a. Later patches have changed the game again, so check the current notes before you rely on any number below.
Riot published the 5.2 notes on July 17, 2024. Most content went live the next day:
The biggest part of this Wild Rift patch was the reworked Summoner's Rift. Riot listed several new mechanics.
There is one Hexgate in each of the four jungle areas. After 4:30, a team can teleport between the pair of gates on its own half of the map. Each gate then goes on a 40-second cooldown. In practice, this made rotations between lanes faster, so junglers and supports could reach fights sooner.
From 1:10 to 8:00, and only while outer turrets are still standing, Hextech Tool Kits spawn from time to time. Picking one up gives a random single-use Hextech Tool. That added a small early-game objective for players who rotate well.
At the 5-minute mark, either the Hextech Guerrilla Turret or the Hextech Mimic spawns where the Rift Herald used to appear. Teams no longer knew exactly which fight they would be taking, which changed how they planned the first few minutes.
Baron Nashor now spawns at 12 minutes and respawns 3.5 minutes after it is slain. Killing it still gives Hand of Baron, but it also drops a T-Hex Mecha that a player can pilot.
The remaining changes were mostly visual. The Baron pit, nearby terrain and normal monster camps received a Hextech look without changes to their stats.
Patch 5.2 also introduced Hextech ARAM. It keeps the random champions and single lane of normal ARAM, but players pick an Augment at levels 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15. Each match can therefore play out very differently even with the same champion. The mode reached the Howling Abyss on August 9.
Arena received a new season as well. Riot added a Synergy system with Silver, Gold and Prismatic tiers, plus 15 new Augments and new items.
Ranked Season 14 started in this cycle, with Glorious Crown Ziggs as the season skin. The patch also lowered the Champion Score cap in Ranked and raised it in Legendary Ranked.
Several events ran during the patch:
The 5.2a notes adjusted a long list of champions and items. A few examples from that Wild Rift patch:
The direction was clear: Riot cut some damage and speed, as with Talon and Hecarim, while giving others such as Samira and Blade of the Ruined King users a little more power.
Patch notes are the most reliable way to know what changed. When a new Wild Rift patch lands, it helps to read three parts first: new map rules, item changes and the champions you play most. Small numbers, such as a two-second cooldown cut, can change which picks are strong for weeks.
If you are new to the game, our Wild Rift mobile guide covers the basics. For the competitive side of League, see our beginner's guide to LoL esports in the Philippines or browse the e-sports section.
