Riot Games still has the power to surprise us all with League of Legends' new game mode: Dominion. Senior Staff Writer Chris "Pwyff" Tom got some hands-on time in San Francisco, so read on for all the details!

What makes Dominion significant?

You might have noticed this, but since League of Legends hit the ground running two years ago, the number of "DotA-clones" wanting to capitalize on the trend has risen exponentially. In broader terms, what always bothered me about this so-called MOBA genre is the fact that, these days, MOBA almost exclusively refers to playing on one three-lane, two-tower map, with creeps pushing along the lanes, and ten champions battling it out. Sure, there are a few unique offshoots, like Bloodline Champions, but for the most part, the terms MOBA and "DotA-inspired" have been used almost synonymously for quite some time.

With the introduction of Dominion, Riot Games is giving the MOBA genre a much needed shot of inspiration. Of course, there is no doubt when I say that I still enjoy playing classic League of Legends (and that mode isn't going anywhere), but Dominion is a challenge from an industry leader saying that they no longer need DotA to be a great MOBA. Even from an eSports perspective, Dominion will be a fantastic introduction to the genre with its objectively based point system and easy-to-understand objective placement. Players who are new to watching DotA or classic LoL games may have difficulty appreciating the subtle nuances that go into each match, but this was never the case in a game of Dominion, which felt more like watching a first-person shooter, with constant action and spectacular plays in every fight.

In the context of League of Legends, Dominion is also great in that it almost completely reinvents LoL's 80+ champion cast by giving them new objectives to fulfill in completely different ways. Tanks have been transformed into anti-siege units to disrupt enemy attempts to cap new towers, while assassins will love the opportunity to really flex their mobility muscles. Mages seem to do quite well in defending and roaming, while most tanky DPS champions seem to have found their role in pushing for new points. In other words, if you thought a new map would give new champions the opportunity to rise through the ranks, Dominion's completely new style has turned those tier lists onto their heads.

In the end, Dominion is probably the biggest step that the MOBA industry has taken in expanding beyond the borders of being simply "DotA-inspired." With so many competitors and imitators announced on the horizon, Riot Games has managed to demonstrate, once again, why they deserve to be at the head of the pack. So if high-octane skirmishes and a lot of individual moments to shine are what you're looking for in League of Legends, I highly suggest looking forward to this unexpected surprise. Dominion is, literally, a game changer and a genre changer.

Christopher "Pwyff" Tom, Senior Staff Writer