Riot Games Reportedly Removing Free Honor Capsules and Orbs

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From the outset in 2009, League of Legends has consistently adhered to a free-to-play philosophy, which played a significant role in its rapid expansion of players then and continues to attract more gamers even today.

In League of Legends, players previously didn’t only delight in the game itself without cost, as they could receive complimentary Hextech chests, key fragments, champion capsules, and other perks upon achieving specific goals or leveling up their account. However, this has largely shifted since 2025 and the start of LoL’s fifteenth season, with another setback being announced today regarding free rewards from the honor system.

Riot Games May Remove Free Honor Capsules And Orbs

Today, it was disclosed by a trusted League of Legends leak source on X that Riot Games is considering eliminating all complimentary capsules and orb rewards from the honor system and focusing instead on boosting Battle Pass XP for those with high honor rates.

For those not familiar with non-League settings, the honor system is a method used to evaluate a player’s overall conduct during games by assessing the frequency of their teammates’ positive experiences while playing alongside them. After each League of Legends game, players are given the opportunity to distribute honors, ranging from one to four, among the other nine participants, including opponents as well.

Over time, the concept of honor has undergone multiple transformations, eventually dividing into several ranks that are visible on your account’s profile. Currently, there are six honor ranks, ranging from zero to five, with every player starting at honor level two. Each rank has three specific milestones that must be achieved before a promotion. The lowest ranks, zero and one, can only be obtained through negative or unfavorable in-game actions; the former is called “Dishonorable”. However, the challenge today lies in the rewards for levels three to five.

In League of Legends, when a player achieves level three honor, they are rewarded with a unique capsule, tailored to celebrate their accomplishment within the honor system. From this stage onward, each new milestone earned provides players with an honor orb that is exclusive to this rank. Advancing to fourth or fifth-tier honor not only grants another capsule but also offers additional rewards. These capsules and orbs may include a free champion, skin, ward skin, or emote in the form of shards, which can be used to unlock these items at a significantly reduced cost compared to their regular store price.

As a gamer, I must say, it’s fantastic that Riot seems to be working on a system to encourage good gameplay from its player community, especially since League of Legends (LoL) players are notoriously known for their toxicity in the gaming world. However, if the leaks are true, and I emphasize this point because it’s important to clarify, none of these potential freebies like domestic bonuses and champions have been officially confirmed by Riot Games yet. So, let’s wait and see!

Even though there’s an extra reward in the League of Legends (LoL) Battle Pass, most of these rewards can only be obtained after purchasing the Battle Pass initially. This means that the number of free items for League players has significantly decreased compared to what it was a year ago.

How The Honor Rewards Changes Could Impact The League of Legends Community

From a superficial perspective, it appears as though yet another prominent video game company is attempting to boost their earnings, a scenario familiar to many gamers. The rise of battle passes in multiplayer games, following Fortnite’s widespread success, seems almost unavoidable. However, given my understanding of the League community and the link between this modification and the honor system, it raises concerns about the game’s future trajectory.

Although a significant number of League gamers disregard the honor system and constantly criticize their teammates, it’s important to note that a substantial portion of players prioritize being supportive teammates during gameplay. It’s likely that these players have been motivated by the honor rewards.

Transforming the honor system into something more akin to a leveled-up Battle Pass, offering bragging rights rather than promoting positive gameplay, might tempt many players to forego good conduct in their games since they have less reason to behave well. However, being excessively negative in games could lead to chat restrictions or even bans. Nevertheless, removing the clear and free incentive for good behavior will still negatively impact the overall gaming environment.

These recent adjustments, such as eliminating free Hextech chests and key fragments earlier this year, along with the introduction of Mel as the 170th champion, have significantly impacted the charitable aspect that League of Legends once had. Nowadays, it’s challenging for newcomers to obtain new champions without purchasing them directly from the store or through a battle pass. The introduction of these changes has led to increased profit margins for Riot, but many players express strong disapproval towards these updates. The modifications in honor rewards are only likely to intensify this dissatisfaction among the player base.

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2025-02-20 00:40