Jhin is a masterpiece

PerfectFour·2/3/2016, 12:27:28 PM·77 votes·6,990 views

So i finally played like 10 games so far with him and i have to say that everything about him is truly the definiton of great champion-design

You start the game with him and he either starts with a stylish quote or he starts to whistle with the music in the background. you get those sniper vibes you know?

every ability feels so well reasoned and the moment you ult, especially with the high noon skin you feel like "showtime baby" and then you either miss every shot (and its okay though because his ult isnt that easy and needs a bit of practice) or kill someone while it feels soooo satisfying. Like BAM. And then the passive flower goes off with a finishing sound. There, beautiful.

i could continue forever with things i like about him but there is no need, because everything is perfect.

gypsy, you designed Jinx Vi Gnar Ekko and nowJhin

you just KNOW how to make a champion feel rewarding and super entertaining.

Thank you.

116 Comments

Orangesilk2/3/2016, 2:33:52 PM9 votes

I absolutely, completely, entirely disagree with you, and Gypsy is as far as I'm concerned the -blandest- champion designer ever.

Jhin has almost no imagination or creativity in his kit.

Q: Fiddlesticks E. W: Jinx W (but it has longer range and goes through minions, OOOH). E: Caitlyn Teemo Shaco Nidalee (We've seen traps before, give us -something- new). R: Xerath (But it's a skillshot, not an AoE, OOOH).

Really really uninspired champion, the only interesting thing about him is his passive and it's basically a stat-modifier, that's his main gameplay defining trait, that his stats work differently, and that just screams bad design to me, it doesn't live up to the hype of the "Artsy killer" much like Ekkos AoE nuke + heal doesn't live up to the "Turn-back time" fantasy.

Let's look at recently released champions and how they all bring something NEW and ORIGINAL to the game (with the exception of Ekko and Jhin, ofc):

Azir This guy is one of the most interesting game-changers ever, and a really polemic champion: Aside from the whole soldier shtick, which was really really new and innovative, this guy here makes turrets and creates truly impassable terrain, his kit is an actual masterpiece of design and originality.

Kalista This girl here has one of the most interesting passives ever, it defines her, she's the girl that hops around. But it's not about her passive, it's about how she forms this connection (evil pact) with her support, the whole idea of throwing someone at people, enhancing your AAs off the support AAs, it really is something new, she really really made the duo lane something different.

RekSai The whole idea of blind underground champion was interesting, add in the fact of her semi-permanent tunnels, semi-global presence. She really does embody that "underground predator" feel, she lives up to the fantasy. Even playing against her, you just walk around knowing she could scream and spring from a tunnel out of nowhere, really nice kit, really original too.

Bard Ooh boy, where do we start on Bard. He has plenty of innovation in his kit, with magical journey being one of the most interesting skills ever, and his ult being one of the first instances in the game where your teammate can actually, directly, fuck you over. The idea of an infinitely scaling roaming support might sound weird, but he pulled it off nicely, and the satisfaction of roaming, getting an assist mid and a couple of chimes is something else.

TahmKench This guy here is really polemic, I for once love what he brings to the rift: Teleporting an ally across the map is an extremely interesting innovative play (which is why Riot has to keep it rather undertuned) Devouring an ally or an enemy really brings across the concept of the "Big mouth" champ, and it's something we'd never seen before, overall, even his grey health bar, which might look like his most bland and uninnovative mechanic, is actually an interesting concept that makes you choose between a shield now or sustain later.

Kindred This isn't my favorite example of design but she's interesting. Overall I'd say she failed to embody her fantasy as a dual champion (much like Ekko and Jhin, you'd think she was designed by Gypsy too) And her kit is a convoluted mess without much originality in it. But the whole counterjungling stack thing, and her insanely dangerous ult (similar to a Bard ult) at least bring some new mechanics and dynamics to the rift.

Illaoi This girl here is actually very interesting, sadly kept weak due to her status as the ultimate bronze stomper. The whole concept of "ripping your soul" was innovative enough, we'd never had an ability that punished you by annoying you for a whole 60 secs, but it's really something we'd never seen before. Combined with the whole tentacle thing, that while not being 100% original (makes you think of Heimer and Azir) it really brings a feeling of freshness to the rift.

Iqqi2/3/2016, 10:16:27 PM6 votes

Yes Gypsy is in my opinon Riots best champion designer. Every champion he has released in my opinion has felt balanced. Sure Vi has the potential to get really big and own people, but the key is she doesnt have disengage. She only goes one way ( I dont count a 5 yard dash ) When compared to Kha and Rengar who are super OP all the time. No Gypsy I really hope Riot keeps you and lets you keep building champions. You are the first champion designer in a long time (longer than I can remember) who has an amazing track record for creating unique, enjoyable, not game braking, and champions who can be balanced.

Karma Deified2/3/2016, 8:22:55 PM4 votes

I agree, Vi Jinx Jhin are very well designed.

Very Epic Guy2/3/2016, 5:59:47 PM4 votes

I have to agree! Every detail of playing him is a lot of fun, from his quotes to his emotes to his abilities. He really conveys that feeling of "unhinged psycho killer" and it creeps me the fuck out!

His kit does have a good amount of counterplay and even his autos are balanced out. He may be a bit on the weak side of things come to think of it, but it doesn't really matter since he's just that fun

Madra2/4/2016, 9:56:49 AM3 votes

Jhin's okay. I don't like his bundle of stats passive. I don't think an ADC that has slows and a root really deserves to have such a powerful scaling movement speed bonus simply because he landed a critical strike, especially since the root goes through minions and procs under such a wide number of readily available conditions. He does feel like a unique champion, and I appreciate that his abilities are ultimately kept fairly simple. There's a definite disconnect between his concept and his design, though; it doesn't feel like you are playing a cruel virtuoso assassin. Jhin gets a B- from me.

Ben Sharpio2/3/2016, 3:01:31 PM3 votes

I love the fact that hes a new champion that isn't annoying to play against/overpowered. I still don't mind banning him in champion select in ranked games for the sake of the team, but in normals, i enjoy working with the champion if he's on the team, and i actually enjoy/don't mind playing AGAINST him. He has unique abilities and clear counterplay, and i recently saw a really good jhin on my team and on the other team. It was truly awesome to see how people have adapted to his playstyle.

DEGplays2/3/2016, 10:55:05 PM3 votes

When I play Jhin, I get this awesome sense of "Who's gonna die today?" I LOVE IT, it's unique, it's BAD ASS, it's satisfying.

I believe that Jhin is a champ that rewards really well and punishes like no tomorrow. Sure his mechanics aren't.... mechanics.... But placement is his game and it makes it feel like you really are trying to SUPPORT your team as an ADC (Bot lane puns, gotta love them) Jhin is Jh-in the right place and I can't wait to get him to lvl 5.

KING OF MASKS2/3/2016, 10:57:54 PM3 votes

I dunno... from a mechanical standpoint Jhin looks great, but on an aesthetic level he feels like a complete misfire (if you'll pardon the pun). I haven't played him yet so I won't go overboard with the negative criticism, but I really don't get the sense that his kit is in line with his "psycho artist" theme.

Reading the dev blog makes it obvious that Jhin had a ton of really cool potential, but so far the end result is just kinda meh, in my opinion. Again, haven't played him yet so I could be totally wrong, but that's my first impression.

Chuck Charles2/4/2016, 4:34:48 AM2 votes

i think his visuals are kind of lack luster, but his kit is fun. that said, i think the W procing off teammates just feels too broken right now. that will need some work as its range is pretty ridiculous and he can chain cc from a mile away.

rescued2/3/2016, 10:30:00 PM2 votes

THANK YOU GYPSY!

Jhin is probably my favourite champ by far in the game. Thank you for creating such an interesting character! <3

Actually xPeke2/3/2016, 7:56:01 PM2 votes

I feel like Jhin is a little bit clunky though. And the fact that they need to put more power on his W and less power on his AA's tbh

Tyrone Lannister2/3/2016, 5:17:25 PM2 votes

I like that way you die boy

Only Play Darius2/3/2016, 4:40:07 PM2 votes

Jinx and Vi are among my favorite champions, but laning against a Gnar as someone who isn't an assassin is painful, while Ekko has had a troubled balance history

But so far I haven't had any pains playing against Jhin

Left Hook Larry2/3/2016, 10:39:32 PM1 votes

jhin is fine

But those champs you listed excluding Jinx are all cancerous

PrometheS2/3/2016, 1:37:01 PM1 votes

He's cool but most Challenger players like imaqtpie don't think he's strong overall.