The lineup of modes in League of Legends doesn’t change as often as some esports games, but LoL does receive regular updates to introduce new experiences for its dedicated fan base. 

Brawl is a very different mode compared to classic League of Legends, so we’re bringing you a guide to explain how it’ll work and when you can expect to jump into the fun. Here’s everything you should know before diving into LoL’s new game mode.

Brawl is the latest experience in League of Legends. Designed as a casual, fast-paced game mode, each Brawl match only lasts around 10 minutes. In their official blog post, Riot Games made it clear that Brawl is supposed to be LoL’s equivalent of team deathmatch, in that you can jump right in and quickly understand the core mechanics.

The main goal in Brawl is to reduce the enemy team’s HP to zero. Two teams of five will start with 250 health each, while player eliminations and minion takedowns both deal varying amounts of damage. There’s no Tower or Nexus; Brawl is a mode made for simplistic combat. Unlike other game modes in League of Legends, you’ll find that Brawl isn’t based around complex strategy.

The impact that Brawl will have on the LoL community could be huge, as a new casual experience will help onboard beginners. For competitive fans, Brawl offers an opportunity to test different champions and gameplay mechanics in a relaxed environment.

Brawl’s release date: May 14, 2025

Patch 25.10 will launch alongside the new Brawl mode, which is planned to be released on May 14th, 2025. The official release date is still a month away, so the timeline could change between now and May. 

In a Reddit Q&A, Riot Games explained that Brawl will initially be a limited-time experience, lasting until Patch 25.13, which would be around six weeks.

Compared to other modes in League of Legends, Brawl is simple to understand. Each team consists of five players, and the matches last about ten minutes. There aren’t any core objectives, so strategy is less important. Brawl is the perfect opportunity to test new champions in a controlled setting.

Both teams have 250 HP by default. Player takedowns deal five damage, while eliminating a minion will deal one point. Pushing your minions into an enemy portal also deals a point of damage. The team that reaches zero HP first loses.

Luckily, the gameplay mechanics in Brawl are simple to understand. We’ve compiled a list of the core attributes for LoL’s newest mode so that you can jump straight into the action when it launches in May.

Bandle City is the map accompanying Brawl, so you’ll explore a colorful locale with a unique shape. Riot Games has described it as small but wide. You can jump back into the fun pretty quickly after a takedown, though Bandle City’s wide layout allows for multiple concurrent battles.

Each team has a Bandle Portal, and you can push your minions into the enemy portal to deal a point of damage to the opposing team. Overall, Bandle City is a tiny map, but it’s just big enough to feel open.

There are multiple ways to get power-ups in Brawl. If your team is losing, you can gain a comeback buff to deal more damage and gain extra protection. The comeback power-up is only available to players who are on the losing team, which will hopefully help prevent snowballing.

If you’re on the winning team, you’ll need to explore the camps on each side of the lane. Camps also offer gold, so it’s worth visiting them in each Brawl match. Power-ups from camps could include damage buffs or enhanced protection against the enemy team.

Modes like Summoner’s Rift and ARAM are wildly different from Brawl since the newest experience is designed for casual gameplay, not competitive matches. 

Brawl is unique in that it prioritizes the fun factor over strategy and defined objectives, so it’s perfect for beginners or any player wishing to relax.

The list below details how Brawl differs from a few of the other common game modes found in League of Legends.

Brawl mode was designed for new players and seasoned fans alike, though it’ll probably be more useful for beginners due to its low-stress gameplay and lack of strategic objectives. Riot Games has conveyed that they aimed to create a low-stakes mode where all players could enjoy a match, regardless of skill or knowledge.

Additions like the comeback buff help less-skilled teams hold their own, offering numerous chances to win even if you’re falling behind. Everybody has a fair shot in Brawl, which is exactly what Riot Games intended.

According to the official developer blog post, Brawl is an experimental mode focused on creating a fast-paced experience for beginners and pros alike. Fun is the primary objective, as opposed to the typical competitive gameplay that League of Legends is known for in 2025. The developers said: 

“We’re excited for you to jump into Brawl. Modes like this represent a newer direction for us – smaller, faster experiments that focus on fun first, not perfect polish.”

It’s evident that Brawl won’t be perfect at launch, especially for fans who enjoy hardcore gameplay. However, it’ll help transition beginners into more prominent game modes, like Summoner’s Rift.

Summoner’s Rift and other popular modes in League of Legends have dominated for years, so Riot Games is finally taking steps to implement more low-stress options. Brawl will present unique opportunities to gain a better understanding of LoL’s expansive roster since it’ll be easy to jump straight into using a new champion.

If you’re a beginner, Brawl will offer the chance to compete in a casual setting, granting your team a powerful buff whenever you fall behind the opposition. If you’ve always wanted to try League of Legends but felt too overwhelmed, this new game mode might be a good starting point.