Nexus Blitz: Mini Games, Map & Release Date

In 2018 Riot revealed a new game mode 'Nexus Blitz' to the public. It was a fun and unique game mode, which returned to the rift in 2020 once more along with the Spirit Blossom event.

Now, three years later, Nexus Blitz will make a comeback for the 2023 League of Legends World Championship, but some of you might not have been around then, so you're probably wondering what this 'Nexus Blitz' is and why everyone is hyping it up, right? Well let's go over the key information.

Nexus Blitz: What Is This League of Legends Game Mode?

Nexus Blitz is a fast-paced game mode in League of Legends designed for shorter, more action-packed matches. Played on a unique, smaller map, it features two junglers per team and a duo lane.

Unlike the standard Summoner's Rift, Nexus Blitz introduces random in-game events. Winning these events grants team-wide bonuses, like catapults or combat buffs.

Matches in this most usually last around 15–20 minutes, culminating in a "sudden death" where both nexuses walk to the center and duel. It offers a fun, experimental twist to traditional LoL gameplay.

Thanks to the sudden death ending, it's a great game mode for anyone who wants to play some League, but doesn't have too much time. The game is guaranteed to end within 20-minutes, which is pretty great.

All Nexus Blitz Mini Games

The thing that makes Nexus Blitz stand out is not only the new map and role differences, but also the mini games. By playing and winning these games, teams receive special bonuses that can help them win the match.

• Bardle Royale: A circle of fire shrinks around a section of the map, and players must remain inside it or take damage.
• URF Deathmatch: Teams face off in a best-of-three, rapid-fire deathmatch.
• Loot Teemo: Players chase a Teemo around the map, attacking it for gold.
• Loot Veigar: Similar to Loot Teemo, but with Veigar.
• Push the Cart: Teams compete to push a payload to the enemy base.
• Prize Fight: Players duel in 2v2 or 1v1 skirmishes.
• King of the Hill: Teams fight for control over a designated area.
• Scuttle Racing: Scuttle crabs race across the map while players can interfere.
• Protect the Soraka: Each team has a Soraka, and the objective is to protect yours while eliminating the enemy's.
• DPS Check: Teams attack a target dummy to see who can deal the most damage in a set time.
• Sudden Death: Nexus Blitz: After a certain time, both Nexuses (or "Nexi") become mobile and duke it out in the middle of the map.

Loot Teemo and Veigar are especially annoying, since you never know where they will spawn, but the gold gained can be the difference between a win and a loss.

All Nexus Blitz Mini Game Rewards

There are multiple rewards you can gain by winning the mini games mentioned above. Of course, it's important to note that these are the rewards and mini games from previous iterations of Nexus Blitz, and this time around Riot might have changed some of the games and rewards.

• Catapult of Champions: Allows players to launch themselves across the map.
• Blessing of Blitzcrank: Causes your turrets and cannon minions to occasionally fire a Blitzcrank hook, pulling in the first enemy hit.
• Poro King: Summons the Poro King, who heals allies, damages enemies, and can tank turret shots.
• Battle Sled: Allows your team to ride a sled from your base, crashing through enemies and structures.
• Guardian Angels: Grants a one-time resurrection effect to all members of the winning team.
• Statikk Shock: Provides players with the passive effect of the Statikk Shiv item, dealing bonus magic damage to multiple enemies with auto attacks.
• B.F. Shields: Gives a protective shield to all members of the winning team.
• Mega Cloud Drake: Grants enhanced out-of-combat movement speed to the team.
• Mega Ocean Drake: Boosts health and mana regeneration rates for a set duration.
• Aspect of the Dragon: For a short duration, attacks against enemies below a certain health threshold will execute them.

While the catapult of champions is a great reward, from personal experience it can also lead to some pretty chaotic situations, especially when you fly into a fight, only to have your team get completely annihilated before you get there.

Of course, my personal favorite reward has got to be the battle sled for the pure chaos it also creates on the map, both for your team and the enemy team.

Nexus Blitz Release Date

Nexus Blitz 2023 is going to be released with LoL Patch 13.21. The game mode should be available starting October 26, and this year, Riot is going to change things up by actually allowing Ivern on the map.

Previously, Ivern had been disabled due to his passive, but this time around Riot is going to simply change his passive to allow him to hurt jungle creatures, which means he will be enabled.

More League of Legends content:

• LoL Patch 13.21: Two Unlikely Champions To Receive Jungle Buffs
• LoL Patch 13.21 Will Bring A Much-Needed Jinx Nerf
• LoL Patch 13.21: Players Worried Morgana Will Be Overtuned After Buffs