Riot Games is testing WASD movement in League of Legends as the game’s biggest input change since its release. The goal is to make LoL more intuitive for beginners, while keeping point-and-click intact and competitive. However, players are split: some see progress, whereas others predict an inevitable downfall.

But what’s really at stake? A smoother future for LoL, or a shift that risks alienating its core? This article explains what WASD actually changes, who gains or loses, and how Riot plans to gate rollout behind provable parity.

What Are WASD Controls In LoL?

LoL’s WASD input mechanic introduces keyboard-driven directional movement as an alternative to the typical click-to-move familiar in most MOBAs. Abilities still aim with the mouse; however, what changes is how champions are steered between casts and attacks.

The LoL PBE experiment comes bundled with QoL tweaks, including expanded keybinds, camera options, and clearer last-hit aids, meant to streamline onboarding and playtesting. Riot has clearly stated that point-and-click remains supported, as the primary intent is parity—not replacement.

How Does WASD Differ From Click-to-Move?

Click-to-move excels at single, precise path movements that free the cursor for ability placement. WASD movement in LoL shifts the loop toward continuous micro-adjustments that will come in handy, especially for roles that rely on dodging enemy attacks. The net effect is a different rhythm: less stop-start, more flow.

Why Add WASD Controls In LoL At All?

There are two main reasons why WASD is coming to League: accessibility and parity. Regarding accessibility, the change lowers the barrier to entry for many new players who already use WASD. Since it’s already a default movement for them, it will make transitioning to LoL more natural.

When it comes to parity, though, Riot’s goal is to allow more optionality if data shows that neither input method offers a clear advantage. At the moment, WASD movement is only available on PBE, but it’s expected to be rolled out to non-ranked queues in the upcoming months.

Early Impressions Of LoL WASD Movement Controls

Even though WASD controls are only available on the LoL PBE, it has become one of the major talking points in the community, with many concerns already being raised.

ADCs Are The Clear Winners

Early feedback suggests that marksmen gain the upper hand with WASD. As it’s generally considered the most squishy role in the game, dodging is crucial, and the new movement makes this much easier, especially in close-up fights.

Some popular LoL streamers, such as Los Ratones bot laner Juš “Crownie” Marušič, have suggested that kiting may need to be nerfed. Other testers also note that while most ADCs won’t see many advantages early on, late-game hypercarries like Zeri, Jinx, and Kog’Maw feel overtuned.

I just tried WASD on pbe the kiting HAS to be nerfed
— Crownie (@CrownshotLoL) August 27, 2025

ADC Players Shouldn’t Be Too Happy

If the ADC role gets the most advantage from this new movement method, Riot will have to do something else to keep things balanced. This means that if the marksman advantages persist and are reflected in win rates, it’s highly likely that they will introduce role-wide nerfs.

Having said that, this raises the question of whether these nerfs are unfair to players who opt not to use WASD movement in LoL and stick to a more traditional point-and-click ADC setup. Fortunately, Riot has made it clear in their dev blog that neither input should be advantaged, saying:

“We want both control schemes to feel good across all roles and skill brackets. So to keep that reality, we’re taking things slow and will be rolling WASD controls out over several months so we can keep an eye on win rates across various skill levels, roles, and champions. And that’s where you come in.”

Collateral In Other Roles

If the new input system favors one role, it creates a knock-on effect that hurts others. Skill-shot mages like Xerath, Lux, Vel’Koz, and others depend on enemies committing to predictable paths. With their extensive range, these champions try to focus on the main carries in the backline.

But if WASD lets champs like Jinx dodge their abilities more easily, it indirectly nerfs those mages. On the flip side, point-and-click crowd control champs like Lissandra and Malzahar could rise in value, thanks to their reliable ability to lock down enemies with their ultimates.

Azir As The Cautionary Example

In the past, LoL balance changes have tended to skew more toward pro-play. Azir, one of the most popular high-ceiling, high-floor picks, is a strong example of how balancing a champion around pro play might make him almost unplayable in lower ranks.

Both professional and highly skilled Elo ranked players will find ways to make the most from LoL’s WASD controls. What’s more, even if Riot focuses its balance around them, it might have very negative impacts on mid and lower Elo.

Fans remain split along familiar lines. One camp sees WASD movement in LoL as a lifeline that could grow the audience and modernize controls. However, another warns about meta upheaval and identity drift. This caution is mirrored in community hubs and is tempered by concerns over long-term balance if parity isn’t proven.

Is WASD Movement Superior in LoL?

It depends. Early testing suggests WASD controls offer some advantages (particularly for marksmen) in certain circumstances, but it’s far from a universal upgrade.

How WASD Could Give Players An Edge

• Sustained trades and kiting: WASD helps maintain spacing while firing autos, smoothing out the cadence of kiting. This is why ADCs have stood out most in early tests.

• Late-game hypercarries: Champs like Zeri, Jinx, and Kog’Maw thrive with WASD movement. Their high-attack-speed and spacing-heavy fights benefit from tighter repositioning once they hit 2-3 items.

• Locked-camera play: With new camera options, directional keys let players hold steady positioning while leaving the mouse free for aiming and UI control.

Where Click-To-Move Still Shines

• Long-distance movements: Single right-clicks remain faster and more precise for big pathing decisions, like rotating between objectives or disengaging from fights.
• Cursor-first kits: Mages and enchanters (whose power comes from precise spell placement, triage, and target selection) may still perform better with a mouse-dominant setup.

When Is WASD Movement Coming to LoL?

At the moment, WASD is exclusively available to the LoL PBE with no firm global release date. Riot plans to keep WASD on PBE long enough to catch bugs, weird interactions, and balance issues. It’s only once all the creases are ironed out that Riot will roll it out to unranked queues, ranked, and professional play.

Ultimately, WASD isn’t universally superior, but it can be strong in certain situations. It raises the floor for kiting champions without invalidating click-to-move’s strengths in pathing and cursor-led play. The counterargument is that even small gains in ADC kiting could reshape bot-lane value and force nerfs to maintain balance.

FAQ

Does League of Legends Have WASD Movement Controls?

Yes, but only the LoL PBE. It is available as an optional control scheme alongside click-to-move. It is not a replacement for the classic input.

When Will WASD Movement Be Available In LoL Public Servers?

There is no confirmed date yet. The current path for LoL WASD controls is: PBE, non-ranked, ranked, and eventually pro play, if parity holds.

Why Is Riot Adding WASD Controls To LoL?

The goal is to lower the barrier of entry and reduce early friction for newcomers used to WASD, while still preserving League’s identity and keeping both control schemes balanced.

Is LoL WASD Movement Going To Be Permanent?

Only if testing shows it can coexist fairly with point-and-click. Ranked and pro environments are gated on parity outcomes.

Is WASD Movement In LoL Fair?

Fairness is the explicit benchmark. Currently, several balance adjustments are necessary, and if persistent advantages emerge (e.g., ADC kiting), Riot can adjust specific champions, items, or even classes before rolling out the changes.

Is WASD Movement Superior In LoL?

It looks situationally superior for kiting, although click-to-move remains strong for path commits and cursor-led kits. Expect preferences to split by champion pool and practice rather than a single “best” answer.