LoL Tests WASD Controls

LoL Tests WASD Controls in League of Legends Beta

In a move that could shake up the way League of Legends is played, Riot Games has announced that WASD controls will soon be available for testing. This long-requested — and highly debated — feature is heading to the Public Beta Environment (PBE) for an extended trial run before possibly going live.

The new control scheme has sparked intense discussions across the community, with many wondering whether it will boost accessibility for new players or fundamentally alter the core gameplay that has defined LoL for over a decade. Riot has made it clear that these controls will stay in beta for several patches while the team monitors balance and gameplay impacts.

Why is Riot Adding WASD Controls to LoL? Currently, movement in League of Legends relies entirely on right-clicking to direct your champion. Skilled players have mastered techniques like “kiting,” which involves quickly alternating between attacks and precise movement clicks to keep enemies at bay while dealing damage. This mechanic is especially important for ADCs and ranged champions, where precise micro is essential for climbing the ranked ladder. With WASD, players could move their champion with directional keys while aiming abilities and auto-attacks using the mouse.

This setup could make movement feel more natural for players coming from other games, potentially boosting the confidence of new players and making it easier to focus on positioning during fights.

However, this same change raises competitive concerns. If WASD allows for smoother animation cancelling or easier kiting, it could give certain champions a major advantage, impacting the competitive rank environment in both solo queue and pro play.

The Dodge Debate

One of the biggest points of contention is how WASD controls might affect skillshot dodging. Currently, dodging requires precise mouse clicks to quickly reposition — a process that demands both speed and accuracy. With WASD, dodging could become as simple as tapping a key, allowing for more responsive and predictable movement.

Some see this as a quality-of-life improvement that lowers the barrier for new players. Others fear it might unintentionally create a “boosting” effect for mechanical performance, letting lower-ranked players evade abilities more consistently without developing the same precision required with traditional controls.

If dodging becomes too easy, it could shift the balance for champions who rely heavily on landing skillshots, potentially forcing Riot to adjust damage numbers, cooldowns, or hitbox sizes.

Community Reactions

Reactions to the announcement have been mixed. Some players are eager to try a system that feels more familiar to those coming from FPS or MMO backgrounds. Others are concerned that League of Legends could lose some of its unique identity if WASD controls become the norm.

One vocal player summed up the sentiment: “It’s either going to be mandatory for some champions or a complete trap for new players. Balancing two control sets competitively is a nightmare.”

Others have pointed out that there’s also a chance nothing changes. If WASD proves less precise than mouse-only movement, high-level players may stick to the current system, leaving WASD as an optional tool rather than a meta-defining shift.

Accessibility vs. Competitive Integrity

Riot’s stated goal is to make LoL more approachable for newcomers. Movement with WASD might lower the initial learning curve, helping new players focus on ability usage and map awareness rather than mastering rapid click movement.

But accessibility changes in a competitive game always come with trade-offs. If WASD creates a gameplay advantage, it could affect ranked balance at all levels, from Bronze to Challenger. Pro play could see meta shifts where certain champions become far more viable with the new controls, potentially forcing bans or balance updates.

The following image was leaked by SkinSpotlights, revealing the in-game settings for WASD controls:

Riot will have to decide whether WASD should be a fully viable alternative or simply an optional, slightly less efficient control method. This balancing act will determine whether the feature is widely adopted or remains a niche preference.

What Happens Next

The WASD control scheme will appear on the PBE in the coming weeks, allowing testers to provide feedback and highlight potential issues before it hits live servers. Riot will be closely monitoring:

• Champion balance — especially for champions that benefit heavily from movement precision.
• Skillshot interaction — how dodging and hit rates change with the new scheme.
• Player adoption rates — whether the feature is boosting player retention or causing gameplay frustrations.

If successful, this could be one of the biggest changes to League of Legends since its release. If not, it may remain a short-lived experiment. Either way, it’s clear Riot is willing to explore bold ideas to keep LoL evolving — even after 16 years at the top of the MOBA genre.

The bottom line is that WASD controls could boost accessibility for new players, but they may also affect balance, ranked play, and champion viability. The upcoming PBE tests will reveal whether this is a welcome evolution or a controversial misstep for League of Legends.

 

GG Boost, the Best Elo Boosting Experience!