Evolution of a Dragon Champion

RiotIniquitee·Feb 18, 2016·1 votes·277,750 views

Hey folks,

Late 2013, we gave a super early preview of an eastern-inspired, serpentine storm dragon named Ao Shin that was in the first phases of champion creation. Then, in the two years that passed (aside from a few comments in low-key conversations) we went silent. Totally a mistake on our part, and the mystery around this dragon has only increased over time. We’ve seen the question of “Ao Shin where?” pop up all over the place, including being one of the most asked questions in our recently hosted preseason Q&A in China.

Now that 2016 is upon us and production schedules are being finalized for early this year, we finally have an update: the dragon that we previewed in 2013 has evolved tremendously over time. As such, we will not be releasing the champion that you know as Ao Shin, but in the first half of this year we will be releasing a dragon champion. His name is (tentatively) Aurelion Sol.

We can’t say much more about Aurelion Sol, but we did want to share some of the challenges we faced and lessons we learned. While the major news is out of the bag, you can still read on if you want hear how the dragon formerly known as Ao Shin evolved over the course of two years.

First: Ao Shin’s kit just didn't pass muster. This is a pretty common problem we run into in the initial stage of champion creation, and while sometimes we can adjust on the fly (a useable ‘paper kit’ might have two or three core abilities that make things click), other times we need to shelve the entire concept and take a step back. Internally, we call this ‘ice boxing’ a champion until we can revisit with a fresh perspective.

Second: delivering on the unique shape of a serpentine dragon’s body - long and powerful - in a game where instantaneous turning is key presents some unique technical challenges. Given enough time, we were confident we could solve the turning problem, but because Ao Shin’s abilities weren’t coming together we were reluctant to commit to engineering work that might just end up scrapped.

Finally - and this was the big one - we committed too early to Ao Shin’s premise without really developing his thematic roots. Around the time we announced Ao Shin, we were in the process of slowing down our champion pipeline to figure out how to continue delivering resonant characters that feel unique to the League universe. We learned a lot during this time (still learning!) and when we examined Ao Shin with these new lessons - Why was he in Runeterra? What were his motivations? - we unearthed a fresh thematic that really set us off running.

So in the end, while we’re sorry to have hyped up the idea of a serpentine, storm-wielding dragon for so long, we’re still very excited to deliver a dragon champion this year that we hope you’ll love. Aurelion Sol’s got some big shoes (claws?) to fill, but we still like surprises so stay tuned - any of our next few champions could be him!

721 Comments

thewire666Feb 18, 2016726 votes

Please make a skin for this champion: Definetly not Ao Shin.

Makuta TeridaxFeb 18, 2016191 votes

Or make a Ionian themed skin at release and call the skin simply Ao Shin. In honor of the Dragon who never was.

Malicious MetalFeb 18, 201632 votes

Hey Makuta, didn't think you'll be playing League of Legends after your plan of ruling over the Matoran universe bummed.

Sahn UzalFeb 18, 20168 votes

I LOL'd. Bionicle is my fucking childhood <3 Sad thing Lego is basically murdering it now.... http://www.lego.com/nl-nl/bionicle This pisses me off so badly.. summoner 31

Malicious MetalFeb 18, 20165 votes

It's far better than the anti-climatic ending they had for it in 2010.

I actually still got my collection lying around, collecting dust. Can't possibly get rid of them due to nostalgia^^''

Sahn UzalFeb 18, 201610 votes

Before I started playing video games, all I ever wanted was lego. I have a lot of Lego. A lot of it.

Even if I could get rid of them (Nostalgia 2 strong), it would take me hours and hours to get the sets together and sort everything out, you know? I have 4 or 5 huge crates filled with that stuff summoner 31

Makuta TeridaxFeb 18, 201630 votes

You thought getting hit by less than a third of a planet would destroy me?

You cannot destroy me, for I am nothing.

EROTIC RAID BOSSFeb 18, 201628 votes

{quoted}

Please make a skin for this champion: Definetly not Ao Shin.

If he's still serpentine, I actually think it would be cool if his release skin was based on ao shin

nosafterburnFeb 18, 2016134 votes

Question: Since you guys are being transparent (maybe half-opaque?) in the whole Ao Shin thing will Riot make a champion creation process for us to watch as a video to maybe show the process of a champ that makes it vs. a champ that wouldn't? It'd be fun aND educational. [slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

UnjustifiedAppleFeb 18, 201627 votes

I agree with this, I have always wanted to watch Riots creative process for champions. We always hear about how they feel about a new champion progression or its kit but I really think it would be exciting to really see it in action. It can always be after the champion is released. But let us visually see Riot at work for a change and not just updates and posts!

The IgnobleFeb 18, 2016102 votes

Well, since the Ao Shin hype is now dead...

aurelion sol wHERE?

OzzyOzrockFeb 18, 201671 votes

LORE: SHYVANA'S DAD

BOOM DONE

ZenithirFeb 19, 20165 votes

He ded.

Captain AishiFeb 19, 201622 votes

his ingame model has just been leaked!

http://www.mightandmagic.com/ss/Heroesv_IDcards_Necropolis_07_Bone_Dragon_06.jpg

Aurora SolisFeb 19, 201637 votes

I am so amazed that after having this username since S4 that I would be able to see the 'dragon' champion I have long awaited take a similar one to mine!

Fun fact: I believe Aurelion comes from either Aurelian or Aurora, (golden or dawn), with Sol/Solis respectively being 'sun' in Latin.

RiotRiot BaconhawkFeb 19, 201619 votes

That's super cool o.O

MarvickFeb 18, 201634 votes

So...yes, Warwick has eaten 2 champs...Urf and Ao Shin...fucking boss. New Warwick skin confirmed

DesolasFeb 19, 20168 votes

I have to say, neither of these champions look at all like Soraka... Is Singed just super-shitty at descriptions, or what?

FlamingoFondue Feb 18, 201633 votes

New champ is 2x more dragon than shyvana. Power creep wtf.

Toa of DeathFeb 18, 201628 votes

Sol means sun. He could have something to do with Mt Targon

YceoP3EFkhFeb 18, 201621 votes

But wasn't he in the Spirit Guard Udyr comic? We just ignore that now? =/

MrRazzleDazzleFeb 18, 201617 votes

So Spirit Guard Udyr's story won't have a resolution after 2 years of waiting. Great.

ultra boostedFeb 18, 201616 votes

The name gives off a huge Roman vibe. I'm guessing he's gonna have something to do with Pantheon and/or Leona?

SheikaReiFeb 18, 20162 votes

It seems like a cool name at first glance. But then you examine the name. Aurelion means one who is interested in butterflies. Which is related to Aurelia which is the chrysalis stage of a butterflies life cycle. And then Sol is Sun. After examining that, I can not discern and actual meaning from the name as a whole. It seems Riot didn't know what the hell they were doing with this name.

ultra boostedFeb 18, 201614 votes

Aurelian was also the name of a Roman Emperor who strengthened the postition that Sol Invictus (the sun god) was the patron of all Roman soldiers. Emperor, Sun, Soldiers, it would make sense that he is a diety that rules over Mt. Targon, no?

Intense SaltFeb 18, 201614 votes

Any one of us League Veterans who have been paying attention to your dev blogs over they years could tell Ao Shin was doomed from the start. It sucks that so many players hyped themselves up without being able to read between the lines - it was obvious this was something you were struggling with and didnt really want to become such a big deal.

And on that note, it's really cool that you're making a different dragon instead. Giving us an estimate (the first half of the year) is very comfortable as then we know when the deadline you set for yourselves are.

UriangerFeb 18, 201613 votes

Okay but even if he's not 1:1 with the original design anymore, he really SHOULD be named Ao Shin still just because of all of the hype. That's two years of hype. There's no ignoring how much of an impact that name alone has made on the League community.

Like, if the joke must die, at least give the people what they've been begging for. I mean, you bring back URF every year, right?

Ashen RiderFeb 18, 201627 votes

Make his title "The Storm Dragon" and make him have nothing to do with storms.

PershonFeb 19, 201616 votes

{quoted}

Make his title "The Storm Dragon" and make him have nothing to do with storms.

Hello and welcome to the League of Legends champion spotlight, featuring Aurelion Sol. The Storm Dragon. Aurelion Sol's passive is "Heating Up". Aurelion Sol gains passive stacks on an enemy upon basic attacking them, and upon 3 hits, does a set percent of their health as crystal damage. Now, because Aurelion Sol is an agility hero, we made his kit revolve around going pretty fast. His Q is "Breathe Fire," where he is rooted in place and can breath flames in a continuous line for 3 seconds, doing extra DoT to any enemy hit. His W is "Spit Flames," where he shoots a ball of fire in a line that deals damage and slows in the target area. This ability is literally Galio's Q, Resolute Smite. His E is "Icy Wind," where he shoots a cone of rocks and debris in an area in front of him that travels forwards. Think Annie W, but it moves. His ultimate is "Revenant of Dragons' Past," where he flies up into the air and splits in to after a brief delay. Aurelion Sol is invulnerable during the channel of this ability. After the channel, him and his other half, Ao Shin, fall to the ground creating a shockwave in a medium-sized area, doing true damage. Ao Shin is controllable by holding Alt and right clicking. Upon casting an ability, both Aurelion Sol and Ao Shin use said ability, but Ao Shin's have slightly different effects. "Breathe Fire" slows rather than applying DoT. "Spit Flames" applies DoT rather than slows. "Icy Wind" does physical damage, and his passive does magical damage.

Thank you for tuning in to the Aurelion Sol champion spotlight. Please don't forget to subscribe to the Riot Games youtube channel, and to check out my mixtape at www.soundcloud.com/riotphreakout. I was inspired by this new champion to "spit some flames" of my own.

lightdragoon88Feb 18, 201613 votes

Can you please please **PLEASE **at the very least have Ao Shin color/armor/face be on Aurelion Sol release skin?

Bootleg GayFeb 18, 201613 votes

I only have one simple, but maybe too invasive question.

Who worked on him all this time?

LevyathynFeb 18, 201612 votes

Nice. I don't think people will care too much if it is Ao Shin or if it's Ao Shin 2.0, as long as the work and design that went into him didn't go to waste, and let's face it, he's cool as fuck. I appreciate you hitting is up with this.

BowblaxFeb 18, 201611 votes

you should still call him Ao Shin because of how well known the name is in the league community and Aurelion Sol is harder to say and spell.

Vi and CupcaitFeb 18, 201616 votes

I'll be honest, I'm still gonna call him Ao Shin in game, or at least ASS

FlameHalbrdOkidoFeb 19, 201610 votes

I wish people would stop staying that Riot killed Ao Shin, that did not happen. AO shin has EVOLVED, he is still alive, he is not dead, he had merely changed. And they do this for a good reason. Champs like Azir would not be as awesome as they are now if Riot released the first draft, Azir is the sand mage 2.0 and Sol is gonna be Ao 2.0 and he is gonna be better. Think about it like how Jhin and Kindred are related. If I remember correctly, Jhin was going to be a robot cowboy bounty hunter, Kindred came along and they moved the bounty hunter aspect to Kindred. Basically Jhin and Kindred share a type of 1st draft while we play the final draft. Even if Sol has evolved into some thing very different from what we thought Ao was gonna be, that doesn't mean that the aspect of the old Ao is lost forever.

Best Veigar FLFeb 18, 20168 votes

So does Ao Shin just not exist in the league universe any longer or will he just not be a champion? Because even if he is not a champion I would personally love to hear more about him or possibly even get some lore to the character.

forestforestFeb 18, 20168 votes

I love dragons. C'mon Riot, show us that beauty :)

Makuta TeridaxFeb 18, 20168 votes

Dudes. Now you got me hyped. Me and everyone else. I guess the recent Targonian lore changes weren't just coincidential nor for Taric entirely.

If the champion ends up looking cool too in design... My GOD.

GraceNovamonFeb 18, 20168 votes

As long as you guys keep the concept of a legit dragon and not a humanoid one, i am really happy to see this announcement! Thank you!

Ashen RiderFeb 18, 20167 votes

Holy shit, I was just looking for news on Ao Shin today. Man am I glad I looked at the Dev Corner today. I don't even care that he won't be what he was initially presented to be. I'm just glad he still exists.

SheikaReiFeb 18, 20167 votes

Why Aurelion Sol? Aurelion is one who is interested in butterflies. Then Sol is Latin for the sun. How does that name make sense for a dragon? At least you say its still a dragon. Seriously, I need to know why you picked this name and what you actually meant for the name to mean.

BrutusnessFeb 18, 201631 votes

{quoted}

Why Aurelion Sol? Aurelion is one who is interested in butterflies. Then Sol is Latin for the sun. How does that name make sense for a dragon? At least you say its still a dragon. Seriously, I need to know why you picked this name and what you actually meant for the name to mean.

Aurelion is also related to the Latin word "aureus", meaning "golden". More sensible than "one who is interested in butterflies".

Celio Hogane HDFeb 18, 201689 votes

wait wait wait, are you saying...

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ma1IgUCuRYU/maxresdefault.jpg

AlmightyFeb 19, 201643 votes

There is also the possibility it is a name which is reflective of Sol Invictus (The Unconquered Sun), which was a cult which was prominent in the Eastern Roman Empire and Persian/Sassanid Empires and was officially adopted as a Cult by Aurelian. (Most noteworthy thing about it is that it was the religious bridge between traditional Pagan polytheistic views in Roman society to monotheistic.)

Pfft.. Who am I kidding... I am the only one who actually cares about this crap..

RiotRoboLionsFeb 19, 201634 votes

I love a good hiSTORY lesson. And that time period is totally my jam.

DwarvenGiantFeb 18, 20165 votes

I honestly didn't think I'd be that excited if a post like this happened. :D

Thank you for the update. Looking forward to Aurelion Sol.

ThubanFeb 19, 20163 votes

Why is Riot refusing to have electric champions? Volibear is the only one left. I didn't want Leona's God megaflaring the rift with solar energy. We want storms damnit,

Were the electric champions crashing the servers or something? Ryze, Xerath are arcane/aetherious/plain energy now.

Not happy about this change one bit.

TheHobbitsFeb 19, 201639 votes

item 3070 Kennen

Master SenseFeb 18, 20161 votes

Yet another champion with an idiotic and unpronounceable name. Like ffs it's becoming a joke how each time you make a champion with a progressively worse and worse name possible. It's literally a pain in the ass to pronounce IIIIIIAOAIDS. HOW HARD IS IT TO MAKE A SIMPLE, MEMORABLE AND NOT TONGUE TWISTING NAME?! Why not just keep the name Ao Shin?