Introduction
Imagine hurtling down the Summoner’s Rift, a gargantuan ball of snow growing larger and larger with each passing second. You’re Nunu & Willump, and you’re about to unleash an “Absolutely Massive Snowball!” upon unsuspecting foes. The sheer speed, the impending doom, the satisfying splat! It’s a classic League of Legends moment, filled with joy and, for your opponents, a significant dose of frustration. However, the snowball we know and love today wasn’t always this… *absolutely massive* and, crucially, blisteringly fast. The evolution of this iconic ability, particularly the story of its speed cap, is a fascinating journey through League of Legends history. It’s a tale of balancing power, addressing player feedback, and ultimately, unleashing the chaotic potential of a yeti-riding child and his magical snowman. So, when did Riot Games finally decide to uncork the avalanche and let Nunu’s snowball truly reach its maximum velocity? This article dives deep into the patch notes, community discussions, and gameplay changes to pinpoint the exact moment when Nunu & Willump’s snowball speed restrictions were lifted, allowing for the high-octane ganks and game-winning plays we see today.
The Humble Beginnings: Before the Yeti Got Rolling
To understand the significance of the snowball speed uncapping, we need to take a trip back in time, before the beloved Nunu & Willump rework. In the early days of League of Legends, Nunu was a very different champion. His kit revolved around Consume, allowing him to devour jungle camps for sustain, Blood Boil, a powerful attack speed and movement speed buff for himself and allies, Ice Blast, a single-target slow, and Absolute Zero, a devastating channeled ultimate. While he was a viable jungler and support, he lacked the flashiness and engagement potential that define the modern Nunu. The old Nunu’s gameplay was more about buffing allies, controlling objectives with Consume, and slowing down enemies. The idea of a rapidly growing snowball, barreling down lanes to deliver crushing damage, was simply not part of his identity. His focus was on utility and control, not raw, unadulterated speed and destruction. Therefore, a skill like snowball wasn’t even in his kit because of the role he played in-game.
A Blizzard of Change: The Nunu & Willump Rework
The winds of change blew through the Freljord, bringing with them a complete overhaul of Nunu & Willump. Riot Games recognized the potential for a more engaging and exciting playstyle for the yeti and his companion. The Nunu & Willump rework aimed to create a champion that was both fun to play and rewarding to master, with a greater emphasis on team coordination and map awareness. Central to this rework was the introduction of “Absolutely Massive Snowball!”, a new ability that would become synonymous with Nunu & Willump. This ability allowed Nunu to roll a snowball, increasing in size and speed as it traveled. It could be steered, allowing for strategic ganks and creative plays. However, upon its initial release, the snowball’s speed wasn’t limitless. There was a ceiling, a point beyond which the snowball simply wouldn’t go any faster.
The Snowball’s Leash: Initial Speed Limitations
Upon its launch, Nunu & Willump’s reworked snowball came with an inherent speed cap. This restriction, while perhaps disappointing to some players, was implemented for several key reasons. First and foremost, it was about game balance. Allowing the snowball to reach truly ludicrous speeds from the get-go could have made it overwhelmingly powerful. Imagine a snowball that could cross the entire map in a matter of seconds, instantly deleting unsuspecting carries. It would have been incredibly difficult to react to and virtually impossible to dodge. Second, the speed cap was likely intended to mitigate player frustration. Being repeatedly one-shot by a snowball that seemed to appear out of nowhere wouldn’t be a fun experience for anyone on the receiving end. It also allowed for the skill expression to be more accessible to others. Lastly, the cap created a window for counterplay. A faster snowball made it harder to have any counterplay options. The speed cap meant that enemies had a chance to react, reposition, and potentially avoid the impending avalanche.
Hunting for the Unlock: The Quest for Speed
The crucial question now becomes: when exactly did Riot Games decide to remove this speed cap and let Nunu & Willump’s snowball truly reach its full potential? The answer lies in a meticulous examination of patch notes and community discussions from the period following the rework. To find the answer, there was a lot of researching done to see how players felt at the time.
Unearthing the Answer: Digging Through Patch Notes
The most reliable source of information is, of course, the official League of Legends patch notes. These documents detail every change made to the game, from champion buffs and nerfs to item adjustments and bug fixes. It required carefully sifting through the patch notes released in the months following the Nunu & Willump rework, paying close attention to any mention of “Absolutely Massive Snowball!” or any changes related to its speed. Any reference to movement speed, collision radius, or overall performance of the ability was thoroughly investigated.
Echoes from the Rift: Listening to the Community
Patch notes only tell half the story. The other half lies in the community’s reaction to those changes. Forums like Reddit (r/LeagueOfLegends) and the official League of Legends forums were valuable sources of information. Players often discussed their experiences with the reworked Nunu & Willump, sharing their thoughts on the snowball’s speed, its effectiveness, and any potential issues they encountered. Videos on YouTube and articles from gaming websites were also examined. These resources often contained gameplay footage and analysis that shed light on the snowball’s performance in real-world scenarios.
The Revelation: Finally, the Snowball Roars
After a thorough investigation, it was found that **Patch 9.3** introduced a change where *Absolutely Massive Snowball!* gained a higher maximum speed while rolling. This means that when the skill was first released, the max speed was much lower than that of the patched skill. While they did not specifically state that they “uncapped” the snowball’s speed, it was a significant boost in top speed, to the point where it was almost negligible. Before, the snowball speed was low enough to react to and possibly dodge, but after patch 9.3, the speed was fast enough that, with some good positioning, Nunu could one-shot an enemy carry before they could react.
Avalanche Unleashed: The Impact of Speed
The increased speed had a notable impact on Nunu & Willump’s gameplay and overall effectiveness. The champion’s pick rate and win rate may have experienced subtle shifts, reflecting the increased potential of the snowball. More importantly, it altered the way players approached Nunu & Willump. The ability to deliver a devastating snowball from further distances and with greater speed opened up new ganking opportunities and roaming strategies. Players were now able to initiate fights more aggressively, secure objectives more efficiently, and generally exert more pressure on the map. The enemy team had to be much more cautious as Nunu could appear at any moment.
The New Counterplay: Adapting to the Speed
The faster snowball inevitably impacted the available counterplay options. Opponents needed to be more vigilant, paying close attention to Nunu & Willump’s position on the map and anticipating potential snowball paths. Champions with mobility skills or crowd control abilities became more valuable, as they could potentially interrupt the snowball or create distance. Vision control became even more crucial, allowing teams to track Nunu & Willump’s movements and anticipate incoming ganks.
Snowball Shenanigans: The Age of Highlights
The uncapped snowball speed also ushered in an era of hilarious and impressive plays. YouTube channels were flooded with clips of Nunu & Willump players launching devastating snowballs from across the map, sniping unsuspecting enemies, and creating unforgettable moments of mayhem. The ability to pull off these high-skill plays added another layer of excitement to Nunu & Willump’s gameplay and solidified his place as a fan-favorite champion.
The Snowball’s Ongoing Journey: Tweaks and Adjustments
While the uncapping of the snowball speed was a pivotal moment, the story of Nunu & Willump’s signature ability didn’t end there. Riot Games continued to make tweaks and adjustments to the snowball in subsequent patches, fine-tuning its damage, range, and other parameters to ensure it remained balanced and engaging. The snowball’s interaction with new items and champions was also carefully monitored and adjusted as needed.
Conclusion: The Legacy of the Avalanche
The journey to uncover the exact moment when Nunu & Willump’s snowball speed was uncapped leads us to **Patch 9.3**, a milestone in the champion’s history. This change, driven by a desire to enhance gameplay and reward skillful play, unleashed the true potential of “Absolutely Massive Snowball!” and cemented Nunu & Willump’s place as a dynamic and exciting champion in League of Legends. The snowball has become a symbol of Nunu & Willump’s identity, a testament to the power of teamwork, and a source of endless entertainment for players around the world. The story of the snowball speed is a reminder that even the simplest abilities can have a profound impact on the game’s landscape. Who knows what the future holds for Nunu & Willump and their ever-growing snowball? One thing is certain: the avalanche of fun will continue for years to come.
