Let's Polish Yorick's Shovel (Champion Discussion, Champion Gameplay Redesign)

Hey All. So, in the past, I made a post in gameplay & balance about a possible Yorick update. Now, I've scoped out Riots update schedule and I don't see Yorick up and coming anytime soon (I think its taric and poppy who are up next, great! those champions could use a new coat of paint!)

But, I am of the opinion that Yorick could do with a gameplay rework. Seeing as how I don't see Yorick being updated in the near future. I just wanted to open up a discussion about Yorick as a champion and how we could develop his kit in new and interesting ways.

So, let me just kick things off on a possible way we could develop Yorick. Keep in mind that this is just a suggestion. If you think its dumb just say so! If you have another idea you want to pursue with Yorick go for it! Let's just talk about Yorick.

Yorick - Champion Insights, why is he on the rift?

He's a bit of a tragic character, dying without an heir to the Mori name which caused his shovel to curse him with undeath. Wandering amongst the Shadow Isles, he has given himself the task of bringing rest to the undead denizens of that cursed island, thinking that would break his curse. Unknown to him, however, is that this is a futile task, Like bailing out water on a boat with a gaping leak. Personality-wise he brings a sort of dust in the wind attitude to his fate. He responds with neither anger nor drive to his task, just a dull emotionless sense of duty that keeps him going. He must have had some drive in the beginning of all this, but the years have taken their toll. The once vibrant hope he had of ending his curse has dwindled to a small flame.

But, perhaps by bringing rest to Runeterra's greatest heroes, maybe that could finally bring him rest. Which is why we see him hobbling around on the rift, shovel in hand. He's looking to bring you rest through the ol dirt nap, whether you want to or not.

How should his gameplay change?

Not by much, many elements of Yoricks character and lore are already present in his gameplay. But I would like to perhaps evolve his kit in a different way that captures the elements of "Futility" and "Bringing Rest". I think Yorick should have a bigger focus placed on Killing things. Why? Because Kills in League of Legends I think do a good job of explaining some of the biggest insights into Yorick's character.

Kills are certainly important within the game, but Kills are ultimately not the point of League of Legends. You don't win the game by getting kills, you win by pushing towers and busting that Nexus. So kills, while they help, are "futile" in the end because killing the enemy doesn't win the game. What comes next after kills, the pushing of lanes and taking of towers is what gives you the win.

Yorick has this idea in his head that if he just brings rest to enough souls. If he brings enough peace. He'll break the curse and resolve his situation. Although, what makes this sad is that Yorick fails to understand why he was cursed in the first place. He understands death. He's a grave digger. Preparing bodies for burial, giving them a proper good bye is what he knows. What he has failed to understand is that you not only say "good bye" to people (through death) but you also say "hello" to people (through birth.) We die, we say good bye and then we say Hello to our sons and daughters (We start the game, we kill our enemies, we push our lanes for that Nexus.)

Remember, Yorick Mori was cursed because he failed to produce an heir.

Yorick just understands the first two things in his lore, we die, we say good bye... (We start, we Kill).

So, this is how I think his gameplay should evolve past just ghouls, I think he should have a unique interaction with killing opponents and minions... But how would this look exactly? Through the Idea of EMPOWERMENT

Whats Empowerment.

Yorick wants to kill the opponent. Every time he kills an opponent he hasn't killed before. He is able to "empower" one aspect of his kit. So, Yorick can potentially empower himself five times. Since there are 4 parts to his kit. I was thinking that the first four kills allows Yorick to empower one part of his kit with the fifth empowerment enhancing all his subsequent bonuses... kind of like dragon.

Yorick Passive -- Restless Souls

Every five Minions Yorick Kills, the minion will come back as a ghost. Able to be Controlled with Alt+mouse, Yorick can command this minion to join in the fight or Yorick can kill the minion himself to heal some health based on health missing. Caps at 3 minion ghosts. Opponents and Yorick can pass through these ghostly minions. However, his lane opponent can kill the ghostly minions for a slight movement speed buff and getting the CS gold as if the ghost minion were a regular minion (Double Dipping!)

EMPOWERED: Every 3 Minions killed grants Yorick a ghost, now can carry 4 ghosts.

ON FIFTH KILL: Ghost Minions are granted a mini-baron buff

Currently, Yorick is a monster in lane, but his play style currently just makes it so that the opponent just doesn't play so we're going to be moving away from that idea. I think Yorick should still keep a strong lane identity. Although, it would be great if a strong laner could also have a kit that promotes good lane mechanics, like CSing, for instance. To take full advantage of Yorick's "new" passive you'll have to have decent last hitting ability.

Yorick's Q Ability -- Soul Slam

Energy Swirls around Yoricks Shovel as he slams it into the ground, Ghostly white energy flies in a straight line away from Yorick, passing straight through minions, but stopping at Champions. Champions Hit are dealt magic damage and a debuff called "For you the Bell Tolls." Yorick now deals a percentage of his ability power as bonus magic damage on top of his physical damage, for he is not only bashing your arm in, but your soul's arm as well.

EMPOWERED: Soul Slam now slows by 10%

ON FIFTH KILL: Soul Slam's slow is increased to 30%

We want Yoricks kit to focus on killing opponents, therefore, I think it's important that Yorick should have a way to deal both types of damage. We want Yorick to be difficult to itemize against because his kit is all about getting the kill on the opponent. This ability could also pave the way to give Yorick a way to flexibly build into AP or AD, rewarding smart itemization. Some nice hybrid builds could be achieved on this guy.

Yoricks W Ability - Scour the Land

Yorick chooses a medium sized area to turn to rot and disease. Allies and Yorick who fight in this zone gain bonus life steal.

EMPOWERED: Scour the land now poison opponents dealing Damage over time.

ON FIFTH KILL: While fighting in this zone, Opponent's Cool downs are lengthened by 10%

Yorick I think could use a bit of a buff to his team fighting ability. But again, since his new kit revolves around killing opponents, it shouldn't be a contribution like CC or pure utility. It should keep up with the idea of killing opponents which is why we have offensive-minded effects.

Yoricks E Ability -- The Hand

Yorick sends out a wave of energy at an area close by him, bringing to life a thin pale blue hand and arm that will stay active within a small zone for a couple of seconds. If an enemy unit enters into its zone, it will snap out and latch unto said unit. If it is a minion, Yorick can reactivate this ability to fling the minion in a chosen direction dealing a flat amount of magic damage to the first unit hit. If it is a champion, The hand will latch unto him/her and Yorick can recast the spell to deal physical damage based on health missing. Once the hand latches unto an enemy, the hand will begin to turn to a red color, indicating a channel time before Yorick can recast the ability for the execute or fling. Opponents latched unto by the hand are slowed by 10%

EMPOWERED: The Hand's grip strengthens, Opponents are now slowed by 20%

ON FIFTH KILL: The Hand will now prioritize Champions.

An execute, and a pretty deadly one at that, that's why it's carefully gated by the fact that it has clear play-arounds for the opponent. The opponent can distract The Hand with Minions, or just run out of its zone of influence and break the tether before the channel time is up for the execute. It's only when Yorick gains his fifth unique kill where the Hand will begin to specifically go after Champions.

Yoricks Ultimate -- Sleep

His eyes begin to glow, his grip on the shovel tightens, and he gallops at the enemy. Yorick chooses an opponent. The enemy Yorick has chosen will experience dark lines creep into the edges of their hud and a sullen bell resound with Yorick's voice saying "Join Them All...".

Yorick now has increased Movement Speed whenever he runs at the enemy he has targeted (Think: righteous glory... but perhaps this is more out of desperation...) at the enemy he has picked. Yorick next three auto-attacks deal bonus true damage and every strike continually darkens the enemies screen. On the third strike, the Opponent's screen will go completely dark for one second, before sliding back to normal.

EMPOWERED: Opponents chosen by the Ultimate deal 10% less damage.

ON FIFTH KILL: The Third strike now acts as an execute, dealing bonus magic damage based on missing health.

An ultimate quite like Nocturnes, a lot of its power is directed towards limiting a player's vision. Although the enemy being targeted is not without options. Yorick needs to strike an opponent a few times to get the full effect of his ultimate. Giving an opponent time to respond to this challenge. Although, I think that this ultimate would give Yorick much more character than just a temporary GA.

I hope that this gets you revved up to talk about Yorick. In my opinion he's a champion that definitely needs a gameplay update as his current kit is one-dimensional and very "unfun" for an opponent to go against. This should give him some depth while also introducing ways for an opponent to play around him.

But now I turn the discussion over to you guys. Let me know what you think should be focused on with Yorick. Do you like my suggestions? do you think they are dumb? just let me know!

Have a nice day.