Season S42 is getting serious; the matchmaking system is more transparent, and the season skin is missing a marksman. (Part Two)

If you see the words "S42 Season", don't rush. The anniversary event has just ended, and it's still November. The current S41 Season started at the end of September. Considering the three-month cycle and the end date of the battle pass, the S42 update time will probably fall at the end of December or the beginning of January. Assuming you haven't obtained the King's Mark yet, or are still aiming for your ideal rank, the remaining month is crucial.

The 2025 season skin may be given to an unpopular marksman.

Speaking of King's Marks, there are four seasons a year, and accumulating four marks will automatically unlock a brand-new epic-quality seasonal skin in 2025. This skin is a limited edition and cannot be obtained through any other means. In recent years, the positions have been reserved for junglers, top laners, mid laners, and roamers, with a preference for less popular roles. It seems only the bottom lane is missing. Therefore, it is highly likely that the mark will be given to a marksman with a low pick rate. If you are missing marks and cannot collect them all, the remaining hope lies in the Time Realm, where extra tasks can make up for it. If you can't get them immediately, all the marks will be gone.

The highlight of Season 42, before the limited-time login, is expected to be the matchmaking system. It is said that the logic has been completely changed. Previously, the system would match players based on the unseen hidden MMR, current rank, and the player's chosen lane, trying to group players of the same rank together. Skill level was still ambiguous. For example, if you are Diamond I, you might be matched with a Diamond IV teammate. Imagine a Diamond V jungler against a Diamond II jungler, which team has a higher win rate?

New matchmaking rules for Season 42: Rank displayed takes precedence.

The jungler dictates the pace of the game, using their economic advantage to gank everywhere in the early game and help other lanes push their lanes. In the mid-game, they take the lead by securing objectives like dragons and pushing forward. Once the marksman has reached their power spike, the jungler takes over. In contrast, an assassin with poor awareness, who is a perennial jungler, focuses solely on farming in the jungle, never participates in team fights, and constantly complains about not having enough gold and items to fight, ultimately watches helplessly as towers are destroyed one after another, leaving no chance for a late-game carry.

With the introduction of the new rules, players are treated equally, meaning that teammates and opponents are matched based on the player's displayed rank. For example, if a player is ranked as Grandmaster with 1 star, the matchmaking system will prioritize players ranked as Grandmaster with 1 star. This approach aims to enhance the gaming experience, but at the cost of longer matchmaking times.