When it comes to gameplay matching a champion's thematic and personality, Ekko is absolutely perfect

Ahri Body Pillow·Apr 9, 2018·75 votes·15,894 views

Seriously. In his lore, Ekko plans and uses every single second. If he finds himself in an unfavorable situation, he bails/redoes and takes another crack at it.

In his actual gameplay, miscalculating by a single second can and probably will you get deleted. Like Riot has said, the way his kit works strongly encourages you to try multiple times to take out a target. Honestly, everything about this champion is amazing, from his lore to his kit. Ekko is the most fun I've had playing league in a long time.

I know this is like 3 years too late, but you did good Riot. Really nailed this one.

68 Comments

KrullyApr 9, 201827 votes

miscalculates, gets caught out pressses r safe

LeivveApr 9, 201819 votes

Maybe to a pleb like you. You aren't playing 4th dimensional chess like he is, so you can't seem how deep his plans within plans goes.

TerozuApr 9, 201837 votes

Yet they don't go deep enough, he's three steps behind realizing Swain is five steps ahead.

VelasanApr 9, 201812 votes

Yep, Swain plays 5 dimensional chess. He's cool like that.

MelledoneusApr 10, 20182 votes

But Zilean is already there, way more than 5 steps, and all in good time. Does this mean Zilean is playing 6 dimensional chess, or are we going further beyond and saying 7?

AhristocatsApr 9, 201826 votes

yea, they nailed it a bit later than expected considering that on release and for a fcking long time ekko didn't plan anything and was just a tanky motherfucker that would chase you for decades before finishing you off

Ahri Body PillowApr 9, 201842 votes

the tank ekko days were truly a dark time

Feel ApathyApr 9, 201832 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ahri Body Pillow,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=p4KyiRiw,comment-id=00000000,timestamp=2018-04-09T13:57:23.526+0000)

the tank ekko days were truly a dark time

item 3025 item 3065 item 3068 item 3111

CHUGGA CHUGGA

RyrynounetApr 9, 20181 votes

at least tabi ninja wasn't a go to buy item

Glory to GodApr 10, 20181 votes

Those items hurt my eyes

C9 Squeeky Apr 9, 201825 votes

I feel like Jhin was equally well done.

TerozuApr 9, 20181 votes

He was better on release when his R was strong enough to kill you in 4 hits, even if you were building tank and two levels ahead of him.

Automated RivenApr 9, 20182 votes

This is just objectively untrue. But sure. In fact the counter to jhin in the squishy meta that he was picked during was to pick a tank and tank his ultimate.

MimrApr 9, 20182 votes

[{quoted}](name=Automated Riven,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=p4KyiRiw,comment-id=000500000000,timestamp=2018-04-09T16:26:38.169+0000)

This is just objectively untrue. But sure. In fact the counter to jhin in the squishy meta that he was picked during was to pick a tank and tank his ultimate.

Or just pick any assassin or diver and instagib him as soon as he ults.

VelasanApr 9, 20188 votes

Agreed. Jhin is one of those few champs they just got down the first time. His theme matches his gameplay which matches his lore and so on. He also plays very differently, but in a fun way that doesn't make people want to tear their hair out... mostly.

He also has some really good sound design, especially during the ult.

ArakadiaApr 9, 201812 votes

I agree on him fulfilling his thematic well but he is certainly very frustrating to fight against.

BakedLotionApr 9, 20185 votes

I feel like Ekko is pretty fair. I've never been completely frustrated playing against him. He has very clear windows where you can attack him.

He's just annoying cause he's slippery but it's not like he can instantly delete you because the 3 hit passive takes time to work

Ivern and IreliaApr 9, 201812 votes

Raven RedeemedApr 9, 20189 votes

Rakan

Ivern and IreliaApr 10, 20181 votes

Definitely

HonestJohnTheConApr 9, 20182 votes

TahmKench

AirKingNeoApr 9, 20181 votes

Tahm is garbage design.

HonestJohnTheConApr 9, 20183 votes

I was referring to how it matches his lore. He can give you everything you want by whisking you away from death in an instant...

Or he can teleport you to the enemy fountain and run away laughing, taking it all away.

I wasn't suggesting his design was healthy.

RakanButTHICCerApr 9, 20181 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ivern and Irelia,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=p4KyiRiw,comment-id=0007,timestamp=2018-04-09T16:24:59.677+0000)

where're jhin and illaoi?

AirKingNeoApr 9, 20181 votes

Fiora doesn't fit much at all. Singed and Shaco are just terrible designs for gameplay.

Ivern and IreliaApr 10, 20181 votes

Fiora is perfect. She is the grand duelist in lore, and in game she can 1v1 just about anyone.

Shaco is spot on as well. In lore he uses simple tricks and toys to kill, and he gains great pleasure from the misery of others. His gameplay en captures this very well.

And as far as Singed goes, ill just leave this exert from his lore;
"it appears to many that Singed has lost all sense of humanity, leaving a toxic trail of misery and terror in his wake." If that doesnt describe his gameplay then i dont know what will.

SpecterVonBarenApr 10, 20182 votes

What? No Veigar ? He's one of the most perfect examples.

xelakerApr 10, 20187 votes

inb4 riot changes him into a fusion of two gay men in a pool.

Bent PixelsApr 9, 20185 votes

as an ekko main, i agree 100% with this.

ekko is so op and nobody knows it which makes him even better :D

WDG DevourApr 10, 20181 votes

I love Ekko but it's a shame how wildly unreliable he is, hence why he is never used in pro play.

Bent PixelsApr 11, 20181 votes

{quoted}

I love Ekko but it's a shame how wildly unreliable he is, hence why he is never used in pro play.

when i watched a game or two in the EULCS i saw someone from vitality i think or some other team use ekko mid and he did pretty damn well. i really wish i remembered the dudes name who used him but i really loved watching ekko finally get played. it was really exciting for me lmao (i get excited easily :D)

HügöApr 9, 20183 votes

Q, Q, Q, Q, Q: A very deep thought laning phase.

AnnoxisApr 9, 20183 votes

Actually, every champions designed by August have a really strong thematic-gameplay relationship.

Jynx, Vi, Jhin, Ekko and Gnar, these are the champs he designed. The link is basically his trademark.

rh3ydApr 9, 20182 votes

You both misunderstand Ekko then. All tank Ekko wants to do is have people “Step right up” and be cordial by showing them “How a hello is said in Zaun” Ekko is fun and I’ve only played him one or twice :)

AmazoXApr 9, 20182 votes

So are Jhin & Rengar

NeameanApr 9, 20182 votes

Except if you look at his reveal trailer. In the trailer whenever he rewind he retain the damage he took but in game he heals whenever he rewind. Aside from this I agree he is one of the most coherent champion.

Ahri Body PillowApr 10, 20181 votes

Yeah that irks me too tbh. But I think they had to implement the heal so it felt like using your ult actually gave you an advantage other than just being a situational nuke.

FairyfleurApr 9, 20182 votes

Not tank Ekko though; that thing was an abomination.

Risen29Apr 9, 20182 votes

Funny thing is, I remember on his release some complained that his kit didn't do more to reflect his bio. That basically only his R reflects his bio. The rest is generic skillshot/dash/cc/damage stuff.

TeCoolMageApr 10, 20181 votes

Omg I actually remember that too

Humble AatroxApr 10, 20182 votes

Rakan Warwick

MimrApr 9, 20181 votes

Sooo... a jerk? He comes across as a snarky, smartass bully in his voiceovers and his gameplay is the same. High damage and as soon as he notices he bit off more than he can chew he bails out and heals 1.5k HP in the process. I played him a couple of times just after his release and the shit I got away from alive with his R made me genuinely feel like a cheater. I should've been deader than dead but because I pressed a button I'm suddenly an entire screen away from the enemy at full HP. And to make things worse it's got a short CD as well. On the other hand, that makes it feel really good when I do manage to kick his annoying arse.

But to each his own, if you enjoy him, good for you.

Ahri Body PillowApr 10, 20182 votes

I didn't say he was fair or healthy (even though he really is), I said that his gameplay matched his thematic. Using his Z-Drive to get about of terrible situations is like the focus of his entire lore. Based just off your post, I don't think you know anything about Ekko's lore. It would take you about two minutes to watch his "Seconds" cinematic, and I strongly encourage that you do. His Chronobreak comic is hella good too. But I digress. His lore is centered around his ability to twist bad situations to his advantage. Pulled straight from his bio...

"A prodigy from the rough streets of Zaun, Ekko manipulates time to twist any situation to his advantage."

So thanks for proving my point, I suppose.

As for his VO, you'd know why he says the things he says if you like...read his lore.

GhaelWindsApr 10, 20181 votes

Fiora also has the same thing. Same thing with a lot of other champions character thematics being seen in gameplay is something that riot does very well.

Rico NastyApr 11, 20181 votes

item 3070 Karma

Modl Ryden lApr 10, 20181 votes

I was really pleased with how he turned out on his release. His whole kit stayed true to his cinematic.

BUT! Gameplay kicked in and had to be balanced for the sake of being a fair agent on the rift.

(Like you know how gritty it was for Ekko to use his Chronobreak with his teeth? Because his other hand was stomped down by the urgot/singed guy? Yeah you could do that in game, when you were hard CC'd, stunned or what have you, you could Chronobreak!)

Rico NastyApr 11, 20181 votes

Does anyone remember the circlejerking when Ekko was released? People were SCREAMING for nerfs. Funny how if he was released today, he'd be perfectly balanced.

Ahri Body PillowApr 11, 20181 votes

I mean he was pretty stronk. For example, his ult had NO mana cost, and his passive applied a slow as well as giving him the speed buff. I'm sure the boards were exaggerating and over reacting, but some nerfs were definitely justified.

I do think he has a great deal of counterplay, though.