Rift Herald

The Rift Herald is a neutral monster that spawns early in the river pit, before Baron takes its place later in the game. Defeating it is a key mid-game objective that helps a team build a lead.

The team that kills the Herald receives an item called the Eye of the Herald, which can be used to summon the Herald as an ally. Once released, it charges down a lane and smashes into enemy towers, dealing heavy structure damage. This makes it excellent for cracking open a side of the map and snowballing an advantage. Knowing when to take Herald versus a dragon is a core macro skill.