Season 3 Preview Signals Doom Bots Return and Halloween Vibes Pour In
Riot’s Season 3 preview is delivering a Halloween-flavored mix of nostalgia and new twists for League of Legends. While the showcase doesn’t specifically spotlight Harrowing or Winter map revamps, it does confirm one of the community’s longstanding requests is very much on the table: the Doom Bots mode is returning, reigniting the spooky season hype for 2025.
Doom Bots is back with a fresh roster and familiar chaos. The mode’s core concept remains a cooperative AI challenge where waves of mutated bots take on champion personas and attempt to obliterate your Nexus. Across difficulties, bots gain escalating mutations; lower difficulties skew abilities, while higher levels amp up the chaos and even tease foreboding final boss moments. The current preview hints at new additions to the Doom Bots lineup, including UFO Corki, Infernal Diana, and the colossal Mega Ziggs, capable of wreaking havoc on lanes and structures. A midlane “King of the Hill” objective appears to mix into the classic format, further shaking up how teams chase victory.
The 2025 Doom Bots arc will also feature a new tyrant: Fright Night Veigar could replace the previous Evil Lord of Doom Bots as the mode’s ruling threat, according to the official artwork that accompanied the Season 3 reveal. For players chasing a longer challenge, surviving certain milestones remains a path to victory in Doom Bots, and the Trials of Doom will offer rotating challenges tied to each patch, encouraging players to adapt on the fly.
Season 3 also brings a broad visual refresh and cosmetics calendar. Xin Zhao is receiving a complete skin overhaul—his gameplay will stay the same, but his skins will look sharper than ever. As a trade-off, the Commando and Imperial skins associated with him will rise from 520RP to 750RP with patch 25.17, so fans might want to pick them up ahead of the 25.17 drop.
New Epic and prestige plans round out the roster. The Seneschal of Demacia is slated for an Epic skin (1350RP) in Season 3 Act 1, with the broader narrative moving LeBlanc’s schemes into sharper focus as Yunara and Xin Zhao get tangled in the chaos surrounding the Spirit Blossom era’s departure. Viktor’s Machine Herald skin will debut with patch 25.19 and will be free to players who have Mastery level 5 on Viktor as of August 4. In addition, Mel and Sylas will receive Prestige skins, and the World Championship-inspired Worlds skins (T1-inspired) are set to release in September.
On the gameplay front, Riot confirms the introduction of WASD controls in Season 3, providing a shift away from traditional point-and-click movement. The system will first roll out on the PBE, then to solo queue, and finally to ranked play, with Riot monitoring for any competitive balance implications.
Season 3 is scheduled to land with patch 25.17, currently slated for Wednesday, August 27. While the exact thematic focus remains under wraps, the Halloween atmosphere seems likely to be center-stage, alongside a slate of cosmetic drops and system updates designed to refresh the experience for both new players and veterans.
If you’re gearing up for October and love Halloween aesthetics, the article notes several strong options in the skin catalog, and provides a rundown of Mythic Shop exclusives for those chasing something a bit rarer.
Key takeaways
– Doom Bots returns in Season 3 with new additions (UFO Corki, Infernal Diana, Mega Ziggs) and a midlane King of the Hill element.
– Fright Night Veigar may replace the Evil Lord as the Doom Bots’ final boss in 2025.
– Xin Zhao gets a full visual overhaul; related skins rise in price from 520RP to 750RP with patch 25.17.
– Seneschal of Demacia Epic skin (1350RP) debuts in Season 3 Act 1; LeBlanc’s storyline broadens with Yunara and Xin Zhao entangled in the chaos.
– Viktor’s Machine Herald skin arrives with patch 25.19 and becomes free for Mastery 5 players as of August 4.
– Mel and Sylas receive Prestige skins; Worlds-inspired skins (T1) release in September.
– WASD controls are being added to Season 3, tested on PBE before live deployment, with careful monitoring for competitive impact.
– Patch 25.17 drops around August 27; Halloween vibes are anticipated as part of the season’s thematic mix.
Summary and outlook
Season 3 promises a mix of nostalgic Halloween flavor and modern refinements: a revived Doom Bots mode with an expanded roster, a refreshed visual line-up for key champions, and new control options that could alter how players experience the game. The timing aligns with Riot’s ongoing seasonal map and cosmetic cadence, suggesting a strong emphasis on both gameplay variety and thematic celebration this fall. For players, the biggest practical takeaways are to plan for price changes on certain skins, consider prioritizing new cosmetics, and get ready for WASD support in a gradually unlocked rollout. If the Halloween mood and Doom Bots keep delivering the same chaotic fun, 2025’s LoL season could become a memorable blend of old favorites and fresh twists.