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Fearless doesn't make games worse, this does...

Esports Garage

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If you’ve been watching League Esports in 2025, you know that Fearless Draft has taken the scene by storm, going from surprise gimmick to global standard basically overnight and revolutionizing drafting in pro play. But with MSI in the rear-view mirror and the honeymoon phase wearing off, some fans and content creators have begun doubting whether the format is hurting the quality of professional games. Is Fearless draft killing professional League of Legends?

Is it the draft format or the children who are wrong?

Special thanks to Leo for coming on the show (@MZLeothechosen)

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Written & Produced by Julian 'Pastrytime' Carr & Manny Sanchez
Edited by Manny Sanchez (@msanchez_tv) & Benz Vrianne Beleber
Branding & Visual Design: Kaitlyn Jang (@Oatymeals)

20 Comments

@Tfg20Minecraft 1 year ago

I never want to go back to watching nonfearless

@UwU_Blaster 1 year ago

Fearless isn’t ruining anything. It’s exposing which teams have better champ pools and further ensuring that the better summoners win. That’s the whole point of this game.

@Xynth25 1 year ago

Short Answer: No

Longer Answer: Absolutely Not

Fearless is the single biggest reason that I'm watching League again.

@Idektbhxd 1 year ago

Fearless has made League as a viewer experience so much more enjoyable. I remember seeing the same comps every game which was extremely boring to watch.

@yesicollectwarhammerfiguri9473 1 year ago

god forbid these pro players that are paid thousands and thousands to play the game actually have to learn more than 2 champs every year!

@henrypendergast8108 1 year ago

I easily watch 10 times more games now that they are fearless. Especially in international events, where I try to watch every match

@Griffin그리핀 1 year ago

Fearless isn‘t ruining games but exposing how much a coach and team champion pool are really doing. People are starting to complain because some of their favorite teams aren’t as well rounded as they thought. Now the better teams win out almost always

@MelchiorVA 1 year ago

Fearless has made being a viewer SO MUCH BETTER. I never want to go back to before fearless.

@godsdrunkestdriver91 1 year ago

One thing i definitely miss from before fearless is seeing teams draft a salty run back after a loss

@Rambonez 1 year ago

I love rewatching 2024 worlds finals, but I didn't realize how much I didn't like the drafting process until fearless started. I'm really excited to see fearless at another international!

@simonjamesroger13 1 year ago

For me, I love Fearless. It means there's more strategy to drafting, keeps the games from being stale after getting hit with the same team comps over and over, and means that the champion mastery Pros build up in soloq and scrims actually can matter to any individual draft.

@guilhermemadureira5885 1 year ago

Short answer: No
Long answer: Even tough we have less optimal comps and less consistency on champ mechanics from individual players, it makes pros need to learn new champs and matchups, which is also a really skillful thing overall.
We lose the "series pick" option (for example mf support on that skt vs kt 16 worlds), but at the same time we don't have a 5 game zyra/karma vs jhin/ashe which was also the only botlane at that series, so games get less repetitive.
Better viewing floor experience overall, sacrificing a little of the ceiling hype storylines.

@WildcardVT 1 year ago

I love fearless, I think the biggest problem is that riot isn’t buffing or nerfing enough champions enough. Like rumble being strong for so long, engage supports being meta the entire year, xin’s dynasty recently. It’s not fun when every draft boils down to the strongest priority champs make the comp around and most of those champs don’t change.

@TheSergio1021 1 year ago

Fearless should have been done years ago. Probably once the champion roster exceeded 100 champs

@b.l.t.7808 1 year ago

Every year, I say "I'm done watching esports" and then someone else ropes me into watching a few games, and then I'm excited for worlds all over again.

@matthewclark4958 1 year ago

Been playing for 14 years. Fearless is the best. It also is much more relatable to lower elo be cause we see so much diversity at those ranks

@ShyKnockLoL 1 year ago

Really happy y'all put this one out! Hope this calms some of the flame that always happens when it comes time again, especially around Worlds

@mathijsfrank9268 1 year ago

Take a decade old esport.
Change the rules to require every player to learn at least double the amount of Champions.
Complain that some players struggle when this new rule is having the most effect....

Of course people will struggle with this for a while, you can't just change every player's skillset overnight. It'll take time for the more diverse champion pool requirements to catch up with the players that didn't have this in the first place.