Comeback Mechanic

Comeback mechanics are passive systems — most notably bonus gold awarded to the team that's behind — built into the game specifically to keep a losing side from spiraling out of contention after an early setback. They soften, but don't erase, the effect of a snowballing enemy lead; a team down several kills can still claw back into item parity faster than the raw gold difference would suggest. Relying on comeback gold alone isn't a strategy, though — it buys time to make a play, not a win on its own.