What is Dominion in League of Legends?

Dominion was a now-retired game mode in League of Legends that took place on the Crystal Scar map. It featured fast-paced, objective-based gameplay where two teams of five competed to capture and hold control points to drain the enemy team’s Nexus health. With a focus on constant skirmishes and strategic map control, Dominion offered a distinct alternative to traditional Summoner’s Rift matches.

How Did Dominion Work in League of Legends?

Dominion was a now-retired game mode in League of Legends played on the Crystal Scar map, featuring fast-paced, capture-and-hold gameplay. In this mode, two teams of five competed to reduce the enemy Nexus’s health, which started at 500, by capturing and holding control points scattered across the map. The more points a team controlled, the faster the enemy Nexus health would deplete. Players started at level 3 with increased gold, accelerating the pace of matches to typically last around 15–25 minutes. Dominion also featured shorter respawn timers, health relics, speed zones, and central map buffs to enhance the action-packed experience. Periodic team objectives, or “quests,” added strategic layers by incentivizing control of specific points for extra rewards. Emphasizing constant skirmishes and aggressive play, Dominion provided a faster, objective-based alternative to traditional Summoner’s Rift gameplay before being retired in 2016 due to declining player interest.

Why Did Riot Games Remove Dominion?

Riot Games removed the Dominion game mode in February 2016 due to low player engagement and the challenges it posed to maintaining quality matchmaking. By the time it was retired, less than 0.5% of the player base actively played Dominion, and most matches consisted of bots rather than real players. This low popularity made it difficult to provide fair and balanced games, as the limited player pool led to longer queue times and uneven matchups.

Additionally, Riot faced challenges maintaining and updating Dominion due to its small player base. Resources that could be allocated to improving core game modes like Summoner’s Rift or developing new content were being spread thin. Removing Dominion allowed Riot to focus on game modes that were more popular and sustainable.

Despite its removal, Riot acknowledged Dominion’s dedicated fans and emphasized that the decision was made to prioritize the overall quality of the game experience for the majority of players. They also kept the Crystal Scar map alive through rotating modes like Ascension, paying homage to Dominion’s legacy.

Will Dominion Come Back to League of Legends Again?

Riot Games has not announced any plans to reintroduce the Dominion game mode to League of Legends. In a 2020 statement, a Riot developer mentioned that bringing back maps like the Crystal Scar, where Dominion was played, is “very unlikely” due to technical challenges, including the need for a complete rebuild to function with the game’s current engine. While Riot occasionally revives retired game modes for special events, there has been no indication that Dominion will return in any form. Players interested in similar gameplay experiences might explore other rotating game modes that emphasize fast-paced, objective-based play.

Conclusion

Dominion was a unique and fast-paced game mode in League of Legends that focused on capturing control points and intense skirmishes on the Crystal Scar map. Although it offered a fresh alternative to Summoner’s Rift, its declining popularity and challenges with maintaining balanced matchmaking led to its retirement in 2016. While Dominion is no longer a playable mode, its legacy lives on through fond memories and occasional nods in other game modes like Ascension. Whether Riot Games decides to revisit this classic mode remains uncertain, but it remains a significant chapter in League of Legends history.