What are Eternals - League of Legends?
In the ever-evolving world of online gaming, League of Legends (LoL) stands as one of the most popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games. Developed and published by Riot Games, League of Legends has captivated millions of players worldwide, offering engaging gameplay, strategic depth, and a vast roster of champions.
To enhance the gaming experience and give players a sense of accomplishment, Riot Games introduced a unique feature known as "Eternals." In this article, we will explore the concept of Eternals, their purpose, and how they have become an integral part of the League of Legends experience.
What are Eternals?
Eternals are a cosmetic feature introduced by Riot Games in League of Legends. They are designed to track and celebrate a player's in-game achievements, capturing significant moments and milestones during matches. Essentially, Eternals act as a personalized achievement system that allows players to showcase their accomplishments and progress on individual champions.
When players activate Eternals for a specific champion, they gain access to unique in-game challenges known as "Milestones." These Milestones represent various objectives that players can complete while playing the selected champion. Each Milestone revolves around specific actions, such as dealing a certain amount of damage, scoring kills, securing assists, or successfully executing champion abilities. As players complete these Milestones, they unlock cosmetic upgrades for their Eternals, enhancing the visual representation of their achievements.
The Purpose of Eternals
The introduction of Eternals in League of Legends serves several significant purposes, all geared toward enriching the gaming experience for players.
- Personalized Achievement Tracking: Eternals provide players with an avenue to keep track of their progress and accomplishments on individual champions. This personalized touch allows players to see how they have improved over time and helps them set goals to enhance their performance.
- Showcasing Skill and Dedication: By unlocking cosmetic upgrades tied to their achievements, players can showcase their dedication and skill with specific champions. Flaunting rare and difficult-to-obtain Eternals can be a source of pride for many players, acting as a testament to their prowess on the battlefield.
- Immersive and Motivating Gameplay: Eternals offer an additional layer of motivation for players, encouraging them to strive for excellence in each match. Pursuing Milestones adds an extra challenge to games, making them even more immersive and enjoyable.
Types of Eternals
There are two main types of Eternals available in League of Legends:
Champion Eternals
Champion Eternals are specific to individual champions. When a player activates Eternals for a champion, they gain access to that champion's unique set of Milestones. Each champion's Milestones are tailored to highlight their strengths, playstyle, and abilities.
For instance, Milestones for a mage champion might focus on the total damage dealt with their spells, while Milestones for an assassin champion might revolve around the number of enemy champions eliminated in quick succession.
Series Eternals
Series Eternals are broader and are not tied to any specific champion. Instead, they are universal and apply to all champions in the game. These Milestones often track more general accomplishments, such as the total number of games played, the overall number of kills secured, or the total amount of damage dealt across all champions.
Unlocking and Upgrading Eternals
To unlock Eternals for a specific champion, players can purchase them individually or invest in a Champion Series Pass. The Champion Series Pass grants access to all Eternals for a particular champion released during a specific period. Additionally, Eternals can be obtained through various in-game events, special promotions, or through the League of Legends in-game store.
Once Eternals are unlocked, players can begin pursuing the associated Milestones during matches. As they achieve these milestones, they accumulate points to upgrade their Eternals. Upgrades typically come in the form of milestones passed or tiers reached, and they unlock unique visual effects or animations, which are displayed in-game when certain achievements are accomplished.
Community Response and Criticisms
Upon its initial release, Eternals received a mix of reactions from the League of Legends community. Some players welcomed the addition of Eternals as a fun and satisfying way to track their achievements and showcase their prowess. It added an extra layer of depth to their favorite champions and encouraged them to try new strategies and improve their gameplay.
However, others criticized Eternals as being purely cosmetic and claimed that Riot Games focused too much on monetizing the feature. Concerns were raised about the cost of unlocking Eternals and the lack of substantial in-game rewards tied to their achievements. Additionally, some players argued that Eternals shifted the focus away from core gameplay elements, diverting resources from balancing champions and addressing existing issues.
Conclusion
Eternals in League of Legends are a unique and innovative addition to the game, offering players a way to track and celebrate their in-game achievements. By introducing this personalized achievement system, Riot Games has given players a chance to showcase their dedication and skills with their favorite champions.
While not without criticism, Eternals have undoubtedly added another layer of depth and motivation to the League of Legends experience, encouraging players to continuously strive for greatness on the Summoner's Rift. As the game evolves, it will be fascinating to see how Riot Games further refines and expands upon the concept of Eternals, further enriching the gameplay for League of Legends enthusiasts worldwide.