It’s time to warm up your WASD keys and train your three middle fingers because Operation Swarm is here.
This Anima Squad guide was written after select media were given the opportunity to play an exclusive preview of the 2024 PvE game mode at Riot HQ, long before it hit the PBE and live servers.
In fact, the build we played with was even harder than the live version, so it took our makeshift 4-man squad many tries to defeat the first boss, which was met with applause.
For those unfamiliar with the genre, Bullet Heaven Survivor refers to a specific genre of video games commonly found in the Bullet Hell or Shoot ’em Up categories.
Players maneuver through complex enemy formations and fight for survival while evading enemies or destroying them with bullets (projectiles) that shoot out of your character at set times. That said, no, there’s no left-clicking for a basic attack here, and it took a seasoned League of Legends player like me a while to get used to.
You must rely on precise movement and shooting skills to avoid swarms of enemies and dangers. To succeed in these games, quick reflexes, strategic planning and mastery of game mechanics are required.
If you are new to the genre, don’t worry, there is plenty of time to get familiar with the PvE game mode, which will run in the League of Legends client from July 17 (Thursday) to August 19, 2024 (Monday).
ONE Esports’ Anima Squad guide for League of Legends’ Operation Swarm PvE game mode
Best Anima Squad Champions for Beginners – Watch Your Builds!
I’ll be the first to admit that I have very limited experience with the Bullet Heaven Survivor genre, so I felt a bit powerless in not being able to control my attacks.
And because I’m not used to being, well, surrounded, I often panicked at the beginning.
The first two free champions available to all players immediately are Jinx and Seraphine. Other champions – Yasuo, Xayah, Illaoi, Leona, Briar, Riven and Aurora – can only be unlocked once you complete certain objectives.
You have no choice but to settle for the support-AD duo at the start, so when it comes to upgrades, it is highly recommended to build them according to their role. Seraphine players should focus on picking support power-ups, increasing HP, and shielding your AD carry, while Jinx should focus on damage.
Aside from the bot lane duo, Aurora is one of the best champions for beginners as she can easily get out of sticky situations with her W ability. If you’re stuck in a corner or low on health, use your ability (E in PvE game mode), hide and run!
Remember, this is a survival PvE game mode – your HP is crucial
In the first map, there is a green futuristic fountain in the middle (see screenshot above) that you can step on to restore limited health.
This is helpful, but it has its limitations. You can’t stay in this area forever, so you still need to invest in your own survival by choosing powerups that give you HP.
At first I was greedy and put offensive powerups in all the time, but learned through trial and error that you have to constantly balance the powerup stats and always choose between utility, experience, range, raw damage, and defense.
Sometimes you’re just unlucky and the powerups don’t fit your character that well, but that’s part of the game.
There’s a secret the game developers told us: if you see a hammer, grab it. This is the powerup that’s especially effective for knocking down enemies in a large AoE.
When playing with more than one person, communication is essential, no joke
Similar to the Arena, you can revive your teammates, but you will have to wait a while and stand in a circle to do so. For this reason, you should not go alone to a corner of the map where your teammates cannot reach you.
Additionally, champions like Seraphine give shields to everyone within her range, while Illaoi’s tentacles can be helpful. Support your AD carries (not you, Yasuo) and you’ll have a much better chance of survival.
You’ll also get more breathing room if you move into the area cleared by your teammate’s powerup. And when mini-bosses appear in certain corners of the map, team up to defeat them together.
Finally, Anima Squad is a PvE game mode where you can’t blame anyone on the opposing team for your defeat, so please work together nicely for once and save the world.
READ MORE: Full list of PvE game modes in League of Legends – past and upcoming
