Atakhan in League of Legends: Everything You Need to Know

The League of Legends universe is no stranger to introducing exciting challenges, and Atakhan is the latest epic addition to Summoner’s Rift. This formidable monster, introduced by Riot Games in the latest season, promises to shake up strategies, team objectives, and gameplay dynamics. Atakhan not only offers incredible rewards but also serves as a game-changing objective for players and teams vying for dominance on the map. In this guide, we’ll delve into everything you need to know about Atakhan and its impact on League of Legends.

What is Atakhan in League of Legends?

Atakhan is an epic jungle monster introduced in the new season of League of Legends, designed to provide significant buffs and rewards to teams who manage to secure its kill. Found on Summoner’s Rift, Atakhan spawns in a strategic location near the Baron Nashor pit. With multiple forms and high damage output, this monster presents a serious challenge for teams aiming to claim its powerful benefits.

Unlike the Rift Herald or Baron Nashor, Atakhan has a unique mechanic involving "Blood Roses." These roses are dropped upon the death of certain champions, making the monster stronger if not dealt with swiftly. The introduction of Atakhan ensures teams must adjust their objectives and prioritize efficient gameplay to maintain control of the game.

 

Why Atakhan is a Game-Changer

The introduction of Atakhan has redefined late-game strategies in League of Legends. Teams must now weigh the risk and reward of attempting to secure Atakhan, as it can determine the course of the game. Its rewards rival those of Baron Nashor, forcing players to choose between objectives carefully.

Additionally, the Blood Rose mechanic introduces a dynamic that punishes careless play. This change encourages more disciplined and calculated approaches, particularly in ranked matches where every decision matters. With Riot Games constantly updating League of Legends, Atakhan is a testament to their commitment to keeping the game fresh and competitive.

 

Rewards of Defeating Atakhan

The rewards for defeating Atakhan are well worth the challenge. Teams who succeed in taking down this epic monster receive buffs that can drastically impact the game. These rewards include:

• Enhanced Damage: A boost in attack power for all team members, allowing for stronger team fights and faster objective clears.
• Increased Mobility: Improved movement speed, making it easier to rotate between lanes and secure additional objectives.
• Regeneration Buffs: Increased health and mana regeneration rates, enabling prolonged engagements and better sustain in fights.

These buffs can shift the momentum of a match, giving the winning team a clear advantage over their opponents. However, securing Atakhan requires careful planning and execution, making it a high-stakes objective.

 

Understanding Atakhan: Spawn Mechanics and Blood Roses

Atakhan makes his appearance on Summoner’s Rift at exactly 20:00, spawning in the river near either the top or bottom lane. The side he appears on is determined by which lane has seen the most champion damage and kills by the 14-minute mark. At this point, Atakhan’s pit will emerge, marked by two permanent walls that carve out his territory. These walls serve as a clear signal to players, giving ample time to plan their strategy for facing this ancient demon.

But there’s more to Atakhan than just his spawn timing and location. The level of champion damage and kills throughout the game up to this point will determine which of Atakhan’s two forms appears. In high-action games, players will encounter Ruinous Atakhan. Defeating this form grants your entire team permanent enhancements to all Epic monster rewards, alongside leaving behind a field of Blood Roses for nearby players to collect.

So, what are Blood Roses? This new plant being introduced to Summoner’s Rift offers a minor but permanent advantage to your team while also denying the enemy team the same benefit. Blood Roses provide a small amount of XP and a stacking Adaptive Force buff to your entire team. They can spawn before the 20-minute mark, appearing around areas where champions have died or near Atakhan’s spawn location. Additionally, they are a reward for defeating Ruinous Atakhan, making them a valuable objective in any game.

Voracious Atakhan Buff

Defeating Voracious Atakhan grants the victorious team a permanent bonus of 40 gold for each champion takedown for the remainder of the game. Additionally, the team gains a single-use death mitigation effect that lasts for 150 seconds. If a player would otherwise die during this time, they instead enter stasis for 2 seconds and are transported back to base after another 3.5 seconds. When this effect triggers, the would-be killer is rewarded with 100 gold and 1 Blood Petal for their team.

Ruinous Atakhan Buff

Slaying Ruinous Atakhan provides the team with a 25% boost to all Epic monster rewards for the rest of the match. This buff applies retroactively to previously earned rewards, such as prior dragon stacks. Additionally, the team receives 6 Bloody Petals immediately, while 6 Large and 6 Small Blood Rose Plants spawn around Atakhan’s pit.

Blood Roses and Petals

Blood Roses and Bloody Petals are valuable resources that enhance gameplay. Each petal grants the collecting player’s team 25 XP, with the amount scaling by up to 100% based on the player’s K/D/A ratio (players with lower K/D/A ratios earn more experience). Additionally, each petal provides between 1 and 0.33 Adaptive Force.

Petals are primarily obtained by interacting with Blood Roses, which drop 3 petals for large roses and 1 petal for small roses. Players can also collect petals through other means, such as slaying Atakhan, adding another strategic layer to this game-changing mechanic.

"With Atakhan, we wanted to create an important gameplay objective that allows players to participate more in shaping the story unique to each game on Summoner's Rift. Both team's actions, their choices to fight or not, and where and when they do, will determine Atakhan's location and form. Our goal is for this to ultimately let players actively create more variation to each game of League.

As a minor side note, in order to make room for Atakhan, Rift Herald's spawn time has been pushed back to 16:00 and Baron Nashor's spawn time has been pushed back to 25:00. We don't want games to last longer than they do today, and we'd make changes if we see that's the case. Typically, teams aren't taking Barons at 20 minutes when they spawn, so we think there's room for another powerful mid-game objective that is more realistically claimable in Atakhan."

— Riot Games

Conclusion

Atakhan in League of Legends is a thrilling addition to Summoner’s Rift, offering new challenges and rewards for players. By mastering the mechanics of this epic monster, teams can gain a decisive edge in the game. Whether you’re aiming to dominate the Rift or just curious about the latest updates, understanding Atakhan is essential for success in the current season.