It can be hard to keep track of everything that Riot is doing. If they aren’t creating new modes like invasion for the Star Guardian series or the VS event for the Yasuo and Riven skins then they are pumping out old modes like Doom Bots. But League of Legends Clash mode is different than all of that. Clash seeks to connect the esport audience even more to the player base and also to make playing the competitive side of the game more enjoyable.

Clash is an esports like tournament mode designed to enhance the competitive play of League of Legends. This isn’t the same thing as Ranked though. While Ranked play allows for players to climb the ladder, slowly gaining LP to earn their new tier, Clash is based off an older model called Ranked Team queue. Unfortunately, that never worked out, but Riot is hoping this new mode will be the answer to the problems of the previous mode.

The biggest different in Clash is that every weekend a tournament is held. Players will have to find teams and join by Friday then compete that weekend. Based off some of the details that each tournament (of which there will be many) will have 16 teams, it means the weekend will have a slew of matches for each team, so it definitely isn’t something designed for the casual player. However, Riot has put considerable effort into the matchmaking behind the system, claiming that no matter a team’s skill level, it will match them accordingly with teams. Aside from the possible fun of this system, it’s exciting to think what streamers and pros alike might do with the new mode in their downtime.

In addition to matching based on skill, the system has mechanics in place to try to weed out smurfs, and if one or two high ranked players team up with several lower players, the system will match with team with higher skilled teams to prevent trolls from stomping lower ranked players.

Perhaps the most interesting concept about Clash, though, is in tickets. Tickets are the newest item introduced into LoL, and they will be required by teams to join a Clash team. Each team member will have to put forth a ticket to compete in the tournament – tickets being able to be purchased with either blue essence or RP. So long as Riot makes the tickets appropriately priced, there should be little problem with this system. After all, Clash is designed for more regular players of League, so finding the essence for tickets should be relatively easy (though we’ll have to wait on Riot for that one).

But there is one other aspect to tickets, and that is in betting them. Clash will require teams to put forth a minimum of five tickets, but it does not limit putting in more. More tickets will mean more of a reward on a win, so it puts in a risk/reward system that the game as of yet hasn’t seen. It is also an interesting way of playing off a gambling-like sensibility while still skirting the more dangerous aspects of it. Players don’t have to commit more, but the option to risk more for more rewards is enticing. Added on to this are a slew of prizes, many of which Riot are still keeping under wraps, but least of which are a small array of team icons achievable only through the competition.

For more casual players, Clash won’t change anything or do anything for them, but for the hardcore fans, it is a definite push to get more attention and traction for the esport side of League of Legends and to grow that audience.