League of Legends: Everything New in Bridge of Progress ARAM

Key Takeaways:

1. Unique Piltover and Zaun Themes: Each side on the Bridge of Progress ARAM map brings distinctive Piltover and Zaun-inspired elements, enhancing the ARAM experience.
2. Exclusive New Mechanics and Buffs: Special buffs like Council Member and Mad Scientist, plus customized shopkeepers and VO, add strategic depth and character.
3. Immersive Map Details and Easter Eggs: With Arcane-inspired details, the Bridge of Progress offers unique visual and interactive elements for fans to discover.

League of Legends’ ARAM mode has just introduced a new, limited-time battlefield called the Bridge of Progress, available until Patch 15.1 on January 8, 2025. This special ARAM map brings the rivalry between the advanced city of Piltover and the murky depths of Zaun to life, adding fresh gameplay elements, iconic voices, and intriguing Easter eggs that will appeal to long-time fans and newcomers alike. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about this exciting addition to League of Legends.

1. Unique Announcers and Shopkeepers

In keeping with the Piltover and Zaun theme, the Bridge of Progress map features dedicated announcers and shopkeepers representing each city’s vibe.

Announcers

• Piltover Announcer: The Piltover side’s voice-over was crafted by Riot writer Isa Mari “Riot Orkidian” De Leon and voiced by Darin De Paul, known for roles like Reinhardt in Overwatch and J. Jonah Jameson in Marvel’s Spider-Man.
• Zaun Announcer: Voiced by Jess Harnell, the Zaun announcer matches the city’s rough and grimy atmosphere. Harnell has previously voiced characters like Wakko Warner from Animaniacs and the America’s Funniest Home Videos announcer.

Shopkeepers

• Piltover Shopkeeper – Buybot: Voiced by Allegra Clark, Buybot represents Piltover’s sleek automation. Allegra Clark’s roles include Bloodhound in Apex Legends and Fairy in Zenless Zone Zero.
• Zaun Shopkeeper – Rascal: Zaun’s shopkeeper Rascal, a quirky yordle with a shady vibe, is voiced by Mick Wingert, known for voicing Po in the Kung Fu Panda series and Tony Stark/Iron Man in What If…?.

These specialized shopkeepers provide a unique in-game atmosphere, making players feel immersed in the world of Piltover and Zaun.

2. New Game Mechanics and Strategic Enhancements

The Bridge of Progress isn’t just a visually distinct ARAM map; it also introduces new game mechanics that affect gameplay for each team based on their side.

Hextech and Chemtech Marks

Instead of the traditional Mark/Dash summoner spell, the map has added two unique abilities:

• Hextech Mark: Available to Piltover’s team, the Hextech Grenade can hit an enemy, allowing the player to Dash toward the target while reducing the cooldown by 25%.
• Chemtech Mark: For Zaun’s team, this version of the Mark/Dash summoner spell behaves similarly but aligns with Zaun’s industrial theme.

These abilities make combat faster-paced, allowing for surprising plays and dynamic strategies.

Special Buffs from Health Packs

Health packs on each side of the map provide different buffs for champions depending on whether they belong to Piltover or Zaun.

• Council Member (Piltover): Picking up a health pack on the Piltover side grants champions a buff that refreshes their basic abilities every 15 seconds, promoting aggressive play.
• Mad Scientist (Zaun): Zaun’s health packs grant a “Mad Scientist” buff, which causes champions to randomly grow in size (gaining health and damage) or shrink (gaining speed and haste).

These buffs last for 30 seconds, adding an extra layer of strategy to health pack collection.

Team-wide Inhibitor Buffs

Once an inhibitor is destroyed, a team-wide buff is granted for three minutes:

• Backup Battery (Piltover): Reduces summoner spell cooldowns to 15 seconds, allowing Piltover champions more frequent use of their spells.
• Mad Scientist (Zaun): The Zaun team receives a buff similar to the “Mad Scientist” health pack buff, adding unpredictability and chaos to their playstyle.

3. Distinct Map Features and Environmental Details

The Bridge of Progress map is filled with immersive elements that enhance the ARAM experience. Here are some key features:

Side-specific Visuals

• Zaun Side: The Zaun side of the map is characterized by chemtech fog (replacing traditional bushes), symbolizing the city’s polluted air. Extra chemtech fog is found near their fountain.
• Piltover Side: Piltover has small speed zones reminiscent of the Cloud Dragon in Summoner’s Rift, giving a burst of movement speed to champions who pass through. There are also barricades near the Nexus and Tier 1 towers, adding more defensive positions for Piltover’s team.

Expanded Bases and Sidelanes

Both teams benefit from an expanded base area. Additionally, a new railway sidelane cuts across the east side of the map, adding an extra tactical element to the game. Health relics are placed closer to the center of the map, increasing competition for these valuable resources.

Speed Pads

Speed pads are located near the sidelane entrances and Nexus turrets, providing players with a 130% movement speed boost, which can turn the tide of a team fight or aid in a quick retreat.

4. Exclusive Nemesis Quests and Champion Buffs

A new feature on this map includes Nemesis Quests, which are unique to champions featured in Arcane. Champions like Jinx, Vi, and others central to the Arcane series can activate special Nemesis Quests, adding bonus objectives and rewards in the game. Completing these quests enhances the champion’s stats, giving the team a significant advantage.

5. Arcane-inspired Easter Eggs and Trivia

The Bridge of Progress is loaded with nods to Arcane and League lore, creating an enjoyable experience for fans of the series. Here are some notable Easter eggs:

• Piltover Nexus: When Piltover’s Nexus explodes, it mimics the hextech core explosion scene from Arcane Season 1, Episode 3.
• Zaun Nexus: Zaun’s Nexus releases shimmer upon destruction, referencing the shimmer vessel scene from Episode 9 of Arcane.
• Character Accessories: Poros can be seen wearing recognizable accessories, including Caitlyn’s hat and a blue mohawk similar to Jinx’s followers.
• Graffiti and Murals: Numerous graffiti pieces around Zaun pay homage to Jinx and Vander, with references to the Firelights and the explosive monkey toys created by Jinx.
• Shopkeeper Displays: Each shopkeeper has items connected to the series’ main characters, from Jayce’s mini hammer to Heimerdinger’s goggles and Vi’s Atlas Gauntlets.

These references not only deepen the immersion but also provide a fun scavenger hunt for fans of the Arcane universe.

FAQs

1. How long will the Bridge of Progress map be available in League of Legends? The Bridge of Progress ARAM map will remain active until January 8, 2025, coinciding with the end of Season 14 and Patch 15.1.

2. Are there any changes to gameplay mechanics on the Bridge of Progress? Yes! The map introduces new mechanics like unique Hextech and Chemtech Mark spells, specialized health pack buffs, and team-wide buffs upon inhibitor destruction.

3. Can I find any Arcane references on this map? Absolutely. The map is filled with Easter eggs from Arcane, including graffiti, shop items, and Nexus destruction animations inspired by iconic scenes from the show.

4. How do the Nemesis Quests work? Nemesis Quests are exclusive to champions from Arcane, offering additional objectives and powerful stat bonuses for the champions involved.