In League of Legends, especially in the professional environment, even the smallest items require careful consideration from players. Each item brings certain advantages and disadvantages, and not every item is effective. Calculating based on strategy, game state, and champion composition to select the appropriate item is also a skill. However, there are many items that are considered “must-haves”. They may only have one function, but it is the most crucial function.
In this case, the item in question is the Stopwatch. Since its release, the Stopwatch has become critically important, and in a match, especially in the professional arena, there is always at least one or two champions using this item. Some players even sell it right after using it to buy a new Stopwatch. For example, Scout at the 2021 World Championship or Bdd, who is known for his strong preference for the Stopwatch. During the Swiss round of the 2023 World Championship, Bdd purchased and used the Stopwatch 10 times in just 12 matches.
However, players did not immediately realize that the Stopwatch had been removed; it took until professional matches were underway for people to notice that this item, which has been around for over 7 years, had disappeared. Matches in both professional and casual play are no longer “fragmented” by situations where both sides engage but either or both activate their Stopwatches.
However, this can also lead to a dull pace in the early and mid-game phases. Teams must be extremely cautious and prepare mentally before diving into fights, especially when their most crucial “insurance” item is no longer available.
Nevertheless, this is a notable change from Riot. Furthermore, the publisher may just be temporarily removing the Stopwatch before bringing this “core item” back with more effective adjustments that do not disappoint or frustrate the audience or significantly impact the matches.