Champion Concept: Valefor, the Tormented
This is my first personal creation, starring Valefor, the Tormented. I’m still working on numbers, ability refinement, and pictures, but here is the jist of it.
Lore Valefor’s past is a big part in understanding his abilities and relation to other champions.
They speak of them as legendary warriors of ancient times. They come like vultures, knowing blood will soon be shed between armies. They are deadly and precise, but moral boosters for whichever side they may choose. They were ruthless against enemies, then took their leave, awing warriors that had witnessed such combat. Many speak of a warrior that always appeared around Northern Runeterra, empowering allies and striking fear into enemies. A warrior larger than man, with elegant dark blue-black tinted wings and twin swords that moved in perfect unison, controlled by a stern face with solid horns. This warrior was written and described in the history books of Demacia and Freljord, on the rare occasions he was sighted. He was seen by some as a protector, until that day. It was an all out war between Demacia and Noxus. This warrior burst into battle, letting out a mighty roar as he began tearing through Noxian ranks. Demacians, recognizing this warrior from books of old, cheered. Yet, they realized something different about him, different than described from what they learned from war tales passed down from generation to generation. This warrior’s wings were chained down, all attached to a locket around his chest, which had a green hue. His body and wings were scarred, as if he was tortured. He also no longer had swords, he was swinging around chains which extended from the locket. These were heavy chains with huge menacing rows of blades on the end. His chains, blades and wings would glow slightly green in the midst of battle. His face was filled with nothing but rage, and by the end of his dance of death the Noxian forces were slaughtered. My allies cheered. He slowly turned, surveying our Demacian ranks with cold eyes. He then lashed out against the nearest warrior, then the next, massacring our forces liked he had to the Noxians. We stood no chance against his unpredictable movements. We were accustomed to learning about this warrior as a hero, yet now he was striking against us. One by one our forces were swept aside until there were only a few of us left. The warrior turned to the last of us. His wings, weapons, and locket glowed green. Then he cried out. The glowing faded, and he dropped his weapons and knelt down, continueing to cry out. Regretting we could not help, we retreated, hoping that the same fate that had come to our comrades was not to be shared. This was the last time this warrior was sighted. One of the ancient warrior of old, one of the Darkin race. His name? Valefor. -Garen, discussing his early years as a warrior
Race: Darkin Age: Ancient, Unknown Alliance: Independent Friends: Aatrox, Garen Rivals: Mordekaiser, Thresh, Aatrox
Analysis: (if this gets enough support I’ll do this bit)
Abilities
The lore and his abilities are linked, so if you didn’t read the lore then read it to furthermore understand the interaction between abilities and Valefor’s past.
(Passive) Affliction : Valefor has a rage bar, and gains rage when auto attacking or using and ability. When below 50%, Valefor’s abilities cost less health. When above 50%, Valefor’s abilities do bonus damage, but cost more health. If the rage bar is full, Valefor gains lifesteal. Rage starts decaying after 10 seconds out of combat.
Analysis: Basically like Rumble’s heat or Renekton’s fury. Valefor can choose to spam abilities and auto attack for more damage and eventually, lifesteal, or choose to play passive and have his abilities do normal damage without losing too much health.
(Q) Chains of the Tormented: After a short windup Valefor lobs his chains in the air to a target location. If it is to hit a large monster or enemy champion he/she is slowed and damaged (physical), and Valefor yanks his chains to apply a heavier slow and leaps to his enemy. If the chains hits the ground, Valefor leaps to the ground instead.
Analysis: The range and missile speed would be alike a LeBlanc chain. This is Valefor’s gap closer or dash ability. Imagine his chains like grappling hooks, and he lobs them (like a Zilean bomb) and jumps to where they land. He can lob his chains over walls as well.
(W) Control Rage / Channel Rage: After a .5 seconds, Valefor gains a small shield, cries out and plunges his chains into the ground and is rooted. If his rage bar is above 50% or full, he start to consume it and heal himself. If he is below 50% rage, then he gains rage (% varies on how leveled it is.) If the shield is destroyed the healing is reduced and Valefor gains some rage (in Control Rage form). If the shield is destroyed during Channel Rage, Valefor stops gaining rage and pulls his chains from the ground, dealing magic damage in a short radius around him. This ability can be canceled at any time, and can be interrupted by hard cc.
Analysis: Yes, I know this is a confusing ability. First of, there is the shield. The shield protects Valefor while he is using this ability, but if it is destroyed, Valefor’s rage bar control is reduced. This is ability is a way for Valefor to manage his rage bar and set up his ultimate. It can heal him after a battle or to prepare for one and have his abilities do more damage. The shield is also used to make up for the fact that Valefor is rooted. For more context, this would be like a Yi Meditate combined with a Sion shield.
(E) Bloodbath: Valefor whirls his chains around for (secs vary on lvl) in front and behind him, dealing physical damage. Any enemy hit is slowed for 2 seconds (slow intensity depending on rank) and this effect cannot happen again for 4 seconds.
Analysis: This is Valefor’s most damaging ability, and what he wants to be maxing first. Imagine Thresh’s E, except Valefor’s whirls his chains for multiple seconds and does more damage. Here’s an example (skip to 2:29) to see what I mean (except imagine chains instead of lightsabers. This does not represent what Valefor would look like): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2944Gwqlvs
(R) The Enlightened / The Afflicted: If Valefor is below 50% rage, he turns into the Enlightened and breaks free of his chains. In Enlightened form, Valefor gains twin pair of swords and his wings break free of the chains and his lock. He also gains a short burst of movement speed (which decays), attack speed, and gains the option to cast Slash of the Enlightened. If Valefor presses R while in Enlightened form, he lashes out with both of his swords in a cone, dealing physical damage and any damage dealt heals himself and his allies. If above 50% rage, Valefor is consumed by the Dark Isles magic in the lock around his chest and lets out a bellowing roar and gains (% size and % health). In Afflicted form, Valefor wraps his chains around his enlarged fists and uses those to auto attack. Valefor can press R again to cast Rage of the Afflicted. Rage of the Afflicted cause Valefor to rip out a boulder that he can throw. When he casts this, he is rooted but is immune to CC. The boulder will travel in a straight line until it hits an enemy, which will be physically damaged and pushed back by the force. The boulder can push up to three enemies, and can carry allies (won’t be damaged). Both forms and abilities last for (secs based on rank.)
Analysis: Yet again another confusing ability. On pressing R, nearby enemies are CCed in some way depending on your rage, and these are serious abilities and steroids that enhance Valefor’s teamfight. Both are very different, but both are very beneficial for your team depending on what they need. In Enlightened form, it’s increased because of the AOE cone slash and attack speed and in Afflicted, he gains the ability to tank and peel for squishies with his boulder toss. First, let’s talk about Enlightened form. Valefor breaks free of his chains, his fury and the dark magic locket that contained his wings. He gains two swords and wings, and when he casts Enlightened Slash, he dashes forward and deals damage in a cone, healing allied champion nearby. Imagine a Riven E dash range forward into a huge sweep with his blades (Cass ult cone size) that heals allies. Here’s somewhat of an example of what Valefor’s auto attacks might look like (skip to 0:22. This does not represent what Valefor would look like): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGvSHEsJBjQ Now lets talk about his Afflicted form. Valefor gives into the dark magic and lockets and his rage, and lets out a mighty, perhaps global, roar. It fears enemies in a radius around him, and gives him increased size, health and super scary spiky fistcuffs. Valefor can tear up a boulder with his R which he can throw, and while he has the boulder is immune to CC. The boulder should be treated as terrain, which can knockback both enemies and allies. Damage will not be applied to allies. So imagine Valefor is throwing a Sion (the boulder) which can knockback enemies and allies, and doesn’t stop until more than three champions are carried or until it reaches max range it can carry someone (which would be about Tristana ult knockback.) Heres a visual representation, but (skip to 0:15. This does not represent what Valefor would look like): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLSmyUTOBvA
Visuals Valefor himself might look something along the lines of this, except imagine this figure with wings chained down, with the locket around his chest and holding the weapons showed above. Still working for what Enlightened and Afflicted forms might look like. (artwork isn’t mine): http://wall.alphacoders.com/big.php?i=150135
elf1.jpg
I imagine Valefor’s chains looking something like this. The blades would be much bigger and more menancing, and the chains might be thicker: http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?736588-5e-spiked-chain-amp-other-weapons-gear-not-in-5e-yet
chain.jpg
This concludes my champion concept starring Valefor, the Tormented! If you enjoy, please drop a like for popularity. If it gets enough popularity, I’ll make more analyses, write quotes and what roles on the Rift he could fill, insert item and champion interactions, draw my interpretation of what Valefor might look like, give skin ideas, and maybe make a new champion concept! If you have any comments, questions, criticism, or compliments, please feel free to say all below. Thanks for your time!