In-Game Objectives and Shop Mechanics

The launch of Set 16: Lore & Legends brings a major shift to the core draft loop with the Lorefinder system. Out of the massive 100-champion roster: 40 specific units are “locked” at the start of every match. To access these champions: players must complete unique in-game objectives. These quests range from hitting a certain star level of a trait to equipping specific items. Once you fulfill the requirement: the unlocked unit is guaranteed to appear in your very next shop refresh in the furthest right slot.

This mechanic introduces a layer of controlled RNG. Instead of hoping for a lucky roll: players can actively pursue high-tier legends: including the new 7-cost champions. Once unlocked: these units enter the shared pool like any other champion. However: if you choose not to buy an unlocked unit: its appearance rate gradually decreases. This prevents the large 100-unit roster from clogging up your shop with units you do not intend to use.

The Lorefinder Tracker and Rewards

Outside of individual matches: the Lorefinder serves as a persistent progress tracker. Players can view a dedicated tab in the client to see their overall mastery of the set. The ultimate goal for many is to “complete” the Lorefinder by earning a top-4 finish with all 40 unlockable champions. Achieving this milestone grants exclusive rewards: including icons and a special finisher effect.

The tracker provides a “Pokedex” style experience for collectors. It encourages players to experiment with different compositions rather than sticking to one meta build. For example: to complete the Ixtal or Shurima entries: you must field their specific unlockables and survive until the final stages of the game. This creates a secondary meta focused on completionism alongside standard ranked climbing.

Community Reaction: Grinding vs. Innovation

The player base is currently divided on how the system feels in practice. On Reddit and official forums: many players have praised the “Unlockables” mechanic for making the game feel more tactical. They enjoy the guaranteed shop slot: which allows for more predictable transitions into late-game boards. High-rank players note that it rewards deep knowledge of the new roster.

However: the persistent rewards have faced heavy criticism.

  • The Top-4 Requirement: Many users find it frustrating that they must get a top-4 placement with every single unlockable to get the final rewards. They argue this feels like a forced grind.
  • Technical Bugs: There are numerous reports of the Lorefinder tab failing to load or progress not tracking correctly after matches.
  • Augment Gatekeeping: Some champions: like Zaahen: require a specific augment to unlock. Players complain that this makes completing the tracker purely a matter of luck in getting the right choices.
  • PvE Exclusion: Casual fans are disappointed that progress does not count in modes like Tocker’s Trials: forcing them into competitive PvP lobbies to earn rewards.

Overall: the Lorefinder system is a bold experiment in managing a massive unit pool. While the per-game shop logic is a hit: the external reward structure needs more polish to satisfy the broader community.