League of Legends Shyvana Rework Goes Live, Twisted Treeline Teased

The Half-Dragon Returns#

According to PCGamesN, Riot Games has released Shyvana's rework for League of Legends alongside a developer diary that includes an unexpected tease. The update overhauls the Half-Dragon champion after years of community requests, finally addressing one of the game's longest-running rework campaigns.

Shyvana's original kit launched back in 2011, making her one of League's older champions. While her dragon transformation fantasy remained compelling, her gameplay struggled to keep pace with modern champion design. Her basic abilities felt outdated compared to newer releases, and her ultimate's reliance on building fury through jungle farming created awkward power spikes that left her vulnerable in the early game. Players have consistently pointed to her lack of skill expression and binary play style (either dominating or irrelevant) as core issues needing attention.

The developer diary also caught players' attention for another reason: a mention of Twisted Treeline, the 3v3 map that Riot removed from the game in 2019. While the exact nature of this reference remains unclear, any discussion of the retired map has sparked immediate speculation within the community about a possible return. Some players wonder if Riot is testing waters for a limited-time event, while others hope for a permanent reintroduction with updated balance considerations.

What This Means for Players#

Shyvana has been a frequent topic in Riot's annual champion rework polls, with players consistently voting for her to receive a gameplay update. She competed against champions like Skarner (who received his rework in 2024) and Udyr (reworked in 2022), often placing in the top three. Her dragon-themed kit and dual form gameplay made her a unique but aging champion in the current roster, one that represented an older era of League design philosophy.

For jungle mains, this rework could significantly shift the meta. Shyvana has historically been a power farming jungler who scales into a teamfight monster, but that playstyle has fallen out of favor in an era dominated by early-game ganking and objective control. If Riot modernizes her kit while preserving her core identity, she could offer a viable alternative to the current crop of meta junglers like Viego, Graves, and Nidalee.

The Twisted Treeline mention is particularly notable given Riot's history of removing and reworking game modes. The 3v3 map was a staple of League's early years before being sunset due to low player engagement and balance challenges. Riot cited the difficulty of balancing champions for both Summoner's Rift and Twisted Treeline, along with queue times that had grown increasingly long as the player base concentrated on 5v5 modes. However, the map maintained a dedicated community of players who appreciated its faster-paced, more intimate gameplay and unique strategic considerations.

If Twisted Treeline does return in some form, it would mark a reversal of Riot's recent trend of streamlining League's mode offerings. The company has historically been reluctant to split its player base across too many queues, which makes any hint of the map's return all the more intriguing. Whether it appears as a rotating game mode, a special event, or something else entirely remains pure speculation at this point.

Community Response#

Both announcements arrive without detailed patch notes or timeline information in the available coverage, leaving players to discover the rework's changes firsthand. This approach mirrors Riot's handling of recent surprise releases, though it also means theory crafters and one-tricks will need time to dissect the new kit before optimal builds and strategies emerge.

The League subreddit and social media channels have already lit up with reactions. Shyvana mains are cautiously optimistic, hoping Riot preserves what made the champion appealing (her dragon transformation power fantasy and ability to melt objectives) while addressing her weaknesses. Others are sharing their favorite Shyvana moments and discussing what they hope to see in the rework, from improved AP scaling options to more interactive dragon form abilities.

The Twisted Treeline discussion has taken on a life of its own, with veteran players reminiscing about the map's unique strategies and newer players curious about what they missed. Some are tempering expectations, noting that Riot has mentioned removed content before without bringing it back, while optimists are already theorizing about how a modernized version could work in 2025's League ecosystem.

Are you excited to try the reworked Shyvana? And would you welcome Twisted Treeline back to League of Legends? Whether you're a longtime Shyvana player or just curious about the changes, this rework represents a significant moment for one of League's classic champions.