Hey Thryale,
Sure, let's talk!
His collection is starting to get pretty big, actually, but only 1 out of his entire ensemble gives the prodigal explorer new particles. (his ultimate) I feel this is pretty sad since mages in general have some of the best design space for new particles and visual effects.
Ezreal is one of the older champions, so you're right, he's collecting quite the catalog of skins. However, you bring up a good point - the only skin that changes his particles is his ultimate skin.
Ezreal's particles are pretty ambiguous and they match really well with most thematics. Something like PROJECT: would be a different story, but overall, they can mesh well. Of course, that's not an excuse, and not a solid reason as to why Ezreal doesn't have as many skins with particles as compared to someone like Yasuo.
Worse yet is the fact that ez had just recently received a new skin (ace of spades) which means he most likely won't see a new skin for another year or two.
We felt that Ezreal's personality fit in really well with the 'ace of spaces' mentality (cocky). We realized this was a 750 RP line, and that it meant another skin without particles for Ezreal, but we didn't want to waste the opportunity.
That said, he's not excluded from another skin if we find a thematic that he'd fit really well into. For example, if we find a really good winter skin for him, we wouldn't say no just because he had a skin fairly recently.
Let's take Soraka as an example. She received Reaper Soraka in October and Order of the Banana Soraka in April. They were less than a year apart. Both of these skins were great ideas for Soraka, and Soraka tossing bananas around has been an ongoing community joke for a long time, and we finally had a skin where we could utilize it.
We don't go down a list of champions who need a skin - there is no set order. We're certainly aware of those who need a skin (which is partially why Mordekaiser was also part of the playing card set), but it's not the end all when it comes to making a call on who receives a skin versus who doesn't.
Fitting into a thematic is extremely important when making this call. Sure, someone like Mordekaiser needed a skin, but is April Fools' really the proper spot? Do we have another upcoming thematic that would work better? Card skins - okay - Mace of Spades...erm... King of Clubs would be a better fit. (We used clubs rather than spades due to the shape language of his weapon, in case you were curious. We did consider spades.)
With that said, are there any plans on giving ez a visual update and improving the quality of some of his current skins?
Not anytime soon - texture rebalances are complete at this point in time, and Champion Update has their hands full with Taric and Poppy.
or will riot ever give him a quality skin with new vfx and particles that isn't ultimate tier?
Unfortunately, I can't say when that'll happen, but yes!
