Curse augments are a type of magical enhancement that involve the use of curses to imbue objects with power. These augments are typically used in fantasy settings where magic and curses hold significance. The process of creating curse augments involves a skilled spellcaster performing a complex ritual. The spellcaster first selects a curse that aligns with the desired effect of the augment. This curse could be anything from causing misfortune to enemies, to enhancing the power of the wielder. Once the curse is chosen, the spellcaster then imbues it into an object of their choosing.

Curse Augments in LoL Arena have been disabled for the holidays

We must bid farewell to these Augments for a few weeks.

League of Legends saw the reintroduction of the enormously popular Arena mode on Dec. 7 with Patch 13.24 a day before. Players are once again enjoying deathmatch gameplay, but Riot is disabling one type of Augment for the Christmas break.

On Dec. 14, Matt “Phroxzon” Leung-Harrison, the lead gameplay designer for League, announced on X that the team is disabling Curses in the Arena for the holidays. While he acknowledged they are regularly picked on certain champions, he gave two valid reasons why Riot decided to go in this direction.

“Curses are proving to be popular, fun options. They allow champs to high roll strategically and play for late game in an intuitive and satisfying way. It’s the type of augment that we think has potential long term,” Leung-Harrison explained. But, it wasn’t enough to keep Curse Augments over the holiday break.

Tanks like Dr Mundo regularly used Plaguebear, one of the disabled Augments. Image via Riot Games

The developer believes Curses are too powerful on a few specific champions. But, at the same time, on average they have the lowest placements, meaning they’re just a bit too unbalanced. “Ideally we’d want these ones to be a little more broad [in terms of popularity],” he wrote.

On top of that, Phroxzon dove into the details of Curses mechanics, especially how they aim to stall out fights in order to maximize stacks. While it proves to be a strong strategy on champions that pick these type of Augments, Riot doesn’t like this type of gameplay “too much.”

There are five Augments with Curse effects, and these are Dark Blessing, Deathtouch, Desecrator, Doomsayer, and Plaguebearer. The effect allows players to gain stacks by attacking enemies, and these stacks have different effects. For example, Plaguebearer allows you to gain a permanent one bonus health every second for each stack inflicted on targets.

Once the curse is chosen, the spellcaster then imbues it into an object of their choosing. This can be a weapon, armor, or any other item that the spellcaster deems suitable. The curse is intertwined with the object, creating a symbiotic relationship between them.

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Those who have played Arena since Dec. 7 might have realized some champions rely on these effects too much. Luckily, with dozens of other Augments in the mode, in the end, we shouldn’t feel the impact of disabling Curses too much during our holiday games.

Curse augments can provide a range of benefits to the wielder. For example, a curse augment on a sword may make it more effective in combat by allowing it to pierce through armor with ease. Similarly, a curse augment on a piece of armor may provide increased protection to the wearer. One important aspect of curse augments is that they often come with a price. The curse that powers the augment can have detrimental effects on the wielder, ranging from minor inconveniences to severe consequences. This adds a level of risk and balance to the use of curse augments, as the benefits they provide must be carefully weighed against the potential costs. In some cases, curse augments can also be used as a plot device in storytelling. A character may seek out a curse augment in order to gain additional power for a specific task or mission, but must then face the consequences of wielding such a powerful item. Overall, curse augments are a fascinating concept in fantasy settings. They allow for the exploration of complex themes such as power, sacrifice, and the consequences of one's actions. Whether used by heroes or villains, curse augments add depth and intrigue to the world they exist in..

Reviews for "The Psychology of Curse Augments: How these Abilities Affect the Player's Mindset"

1. Sanjay - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to try out Curse Augments, but I must say I'm disappointed with the overall experience. The gameplay felt clunky and unrefined, and the cursed abilities didn't add much to the overall enjoyment. It felt more like a gimmick rather than an integral part of the game. I also encountered several bugs and glitches, which really took away from the immersion. Overall, I wouldn't recommend Curse Augments to others looking for a smooth and satisfying gaming experience.

2. Emily - 1/5 stars - Curse Augments turned out to be a total letdown for me. The concept seemed intriguing at first, but in reality, it just made the game incredibly frustrating. The cursed abilities were more of a hindrance than a helpful addition, making it almost impossible to progress in the game without constant frustration. The difficulty level was just way too high, and it felt like the developers were more focused on making the game challenging rather than enjoyable. I quickly grew frustrated with Curse Augments and ended up giving up on it altogether.

3. Michael - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for Curse Augments, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The gameplay mechanics were confusing and poorly explained, making it difficult to fully grasp and utilize the cursed abilities. Additionally, the lack of variety in the augment options made each playthrough feel repetitive and unexciting. It's a shame because the visuals and graphics were impressive, but the lackluster gameplay and lack of innovation ultimately left me feeling unsatisfied.

4. Sarah - 2/5 stars - Curse Augments had the potential to be a unique and exciting concept, but it didn't quite deliver. The cursed abilities felt overpowered and unbalanced, often leading to frustrating moments where I died repeatedly without feeling like I had much control over the situation. The lack of proper tutorials or explanations made it even more difficult to understand how to effectively utilize the augments, resulting in a frustrating and confusing gameplay experience. Overall, I found Curse Augments to be a missed opportunity for a truly captivating and enjoyable gaming experience.

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