[Champion Concept] Niado, The Razor Conductor
Good evening everyone! BowietheNifty here to bring you another champion concept. Though honestly I have been surprising myself lately. A concept for December, January, and now the 1st of February? Huh...I guess my backed up work is finally getting done. I do have an announcement. I am doing another block of concepts. For this block, it is marksman. Marksman is a class that I have recently enjoyed playing. Saying that in 2017 is like asking for punishment, especially with the updated assassins and well new Warwick too. Now these next set of marksmen I have been working on for quite sometime. Some of them were created due to random brainstorming, and others were challenges to create a certain brand of champion. Niado here was conceived when I had too much time on my hands. For those who have been actually following my posts on the boards, well you might recognize these abilities. I had a paper kit released for this guy, but now I have more then just that complete for him. Anyways I always appreciate feedback and questions about my concepts. As well I have a link to all my concepts at the bottom, so if you wish to check them out go for it! Without further ado, lets get onto the concept.
Niado, The Razor Conductor
Updates In-Depths for abilities added - 2/1/2017 Interactions added - 2/2/2017 Item builds added - 2/11/2017 "Works Well With" added - 2/12/2017 "Your Worst Enemies" added - 2/12/2017
Innate passive additionally makes Niado's critical strikes double his blade's projectile speed - 2/14/2017 Reduced duration for ultimate to 10 seconds from 16 seconds - 2/14/2017
Added Projectile Speed to base stats - 2/17/2017 Innate passive now deals an additional 15(+40%AD) to minions at 30% HP - 2/17/2017 Cool downs for Q changed to 14/13.5/13/12.5/12 seconds from 14/14/13/13/12 seconds - 2/17/2017 Added for E's In-Depth, spinning blades duration is reduced by 0.5 seconds for every 200 bonus projectile speed - 2/17/2017 R's increased range on basic attacks and abilities removed - 2/17/2017 R's duration now grants 50% increased projectile speed - 2/17/2017 R now resets Niado's basic attack timer when he catches a blade for its duration - 2/17/2017
Appearance (Note that I don't own the picture being used here. This is mainly for reference to give you a general idea of his appearance.) Niado is a middle aged gentlemen. He tends to wear fancier attire as it tend to show how highly he thinks of himself. On his arms and back are a different story. One his back rests a hex-tech power generator. It straps onto his back much like a vest or pair of suspenders. Being small and sleek, you could barely tell it was power source if it wasn't for the general sparking and light it emits. The generator is connected to his arms, or more importantly it powers his arms. While he tends to keep them covers, his arms are completely metal. On his hands themselves there are two magnetic cores. These glowing spheres are able to generate magnetic fields in specific points around him. Now these are actually useful for this weaponry. He uses thrown weapons known as glaives. They're as basically the combination of shuriken and boomerangs. Mainly he carries two in hand, but he has the other 4 glaives in pieces that are on his person. Those incomplete glaives can be simply constructed together with the use of his magnetic cores and he can have them flying beside him at his will.
Lore Professor Niado was a man who had quite a bright future ahead of him. Being born in Piltover, he had access to many luxuries others around the world did not. The city of progress was home to many great inventors and scientists. Niado had promise with his intelligence and problem solving. Although he was nothing compared to Jayce, he still took pride in his work. Though of course there was a problem below the city itself. Zaun was a hole of waste and plague that was a stain below the great city. While never being there himself, Niado had always heard stories of the horrors that were down there. One day he decided to devote his studies down towards Zaun, to see if there was anything he could do to improve the city. Bringing along hired security he ventured forth into the sickly streets. What he saw nearly disgusted him. How in the world could a place like this even exist? Truly nothing could survive here, and yet there was life. People who were forced to live here. Mainly were sick, augmented, or even ghastly by appearance. There was a lot of work to be done, but how could it be done quickly was the question.
This little visit however didn't end well. Being in attire from Piltover really drew attention from the locals. Before it came apparent, they had been targeted. A group of thugs had set their eyes on them. Niado's group would be attacked by a couple of loyal Zaunites. At the time, Niado was just a professor not experienced in combat. All he could do was sit back behind his hired help to defend him as they tried to make a run for it. Though the enemy was smarter then given credit for. The ambush was able to corner the professor's group. Being at a disadvantage, they had to hold out for the time being. The guards fought as hard as they could as their lives depended on it. During the scuffle however, the professor wouldn't come out unscathed. He would manage to be hit on the receiving end of an explosion. While he somehow was able to escape death, he would end up going unconscious.
Niado would actually awake a week later in a hospital bed. He was surprised to be in one, let alone in Piltover. Apparently his hired help had one the battle over all despite the disadvantages. Being severally hurt, they rushed the professor back up to the city. Luckily they were in time to save his life. However he suffered quite a bit of damage. Both his arms had to be amputated due to the shrapnel. His head had a severe concussions to go along with it. The doctors believed that this would lead to him losing his memories. Though luckily too much wasn't lost, but instead something was gained. A new side of him was born that day as he figured out an answer to a question. What could be done about Zaun? His answer was filled with malicious and rage. It was time to wipe Zaun's citizens off Runeterra. With a decent recovery and a new set of artificial arms, Niado started working on a new set of projects. He decided the best way to take care of the city below was to make weapons. For months and months he started to formulate blue prints for many different sets of weaponry. Making weaponry wasn't his main field of study, but he took to it like a fish in water. Once the prototypes started to come around, he realized he had to scrap many of them for reasons. Some of the weapons were too weak, they wouldn't be able to dent the augmented thugs. Others were too strong, they would cause so much damage that it would threaten the city of Piltover itself. Robotic weaponry was something he considered as well, though they were too unreliable for his tastes. As he continued in his work, a dark side of him grew as well. He didn't want to simply destroy the Zaunites, he wanted to make them suffer. He wanted to shred them to pieces, and he wanted to do it himself. This ambition of his turned to self vengeance, he wanted to be the one who minced them into bit.
Eventually he turned to using blades in his work. Sword were standard at first, but there wasn't much he could do to improve the design. They wouldn't get him anywhere against the guns below. Though he started to think, was there a way to send the blades to his target? Doing research into thrown weaponry he did make some discovers. He made more prototypes based around boomrangs and crossblades. Though as he tested them he realized that they had potential, but what was needed was more control and an easy way to retrieve them once they are thrown. Eventually he started to theorize on how he could do that. Then it hit him, magnetism. A way to attract metal and bring it to where it was needed. It was far'fetch at first, but he had a theory that could make it work. Though he would have to create a new device something that could make magnetic fields where he chose. After many more months he actually managed to create such a device. The prototype could generate a magnetic field could magnetic fields where ever he pinpointed it too. It would of been impossible without hex-tech. He worked on perfecting the magnet core, making it more compact and even implementing them into his hands. Now he could simply grab any metal object from quite the distance away. It was the perfect tool to use with his bladed weapons.
Having tons of tests and perfecting the use of his magnet cores, Niado figured it was time to show off his work. Inviting some of Piltover's finest over to his lab, he wished to show them a demonstration of his weapons. Thus he did so, controlling the swirling blades like puppeteer he showed the many aspects of them. While it did impress the audience, they were not ecstatic about the purpose of these weapons. Eliminating Zaun was too immoral for their tastes. Niado tried to convince them otherwise, but they saw didn't see eye to eye with him. Some of these were colleagues of his were utterly worried about him. The others wouldn't see such approval of a weapon or taking aggressive action against the city below. Hysteria started to over take Niado, he knew exactly what needed to be done. They had no idea what the place was like down there. It was a plague, a festering parasite that needed to be cut off. Without hesitation he turned his blades against his observers. His lab would become coated in Piltoverian blood. The professor would gather what he could of his research and leave the old lab behind. He didn't need the city's approval. He was a problem solver, and he was going to take care of a problem. Leaving the city of progress, he headed down into Zaun to start the extermination of its dwellers.
Roles Primary: Marksman Secondary: Fighter
Niado is a ranged attack damage carry who can go down two different styles. He can take the standard marksman roll being reliant on basic attacks, or he can be an attack damage caster who focuses on his abilities to deal damage. This blade tosser brings a unique identity with how his basic attacks function.
Stats
HP: 535 (+84) HP5: 5.62 (+0.55) MP: 310 (+40) MP5: 6 (+0.5) AD: 56 (+2.41) AS: 0.645 (+3%) AR: 24 (+3.5) MR: 30 (+0) MS: 330 Range: 525 (ranged) Projectile Speed: 800 (+ base projectile speed[%Bonus attack speed x2])
Abilities Innate - Tossing Blades Passive: Niado has two glaives for use in basic attacks and abilities. Basic attacks go in a straight line towards the target piercing enemies and going max distance of 525. The blades then reverse direction returning to him. These basic attacks can be dodged. Each blade can deal damage twice to the same target, once going out and once going back. Does not pierce structures or strike twice against them. Deals 60% AD to minions and non epic monsters, plus an additional 15(+40% AD) against minions below 30% HP. Deals 80% AD to champions and epic monsters. Deals 100% AD to structures. Has fixed attack speed that scales per level. Attack speed from items, runes, masteries, or buffs increase the blades projectile speed for his basic attacks and abilities. Additionally, Niado's critical strikes double the blade's projectile speed.
In-Depth Niado's passive really makes him rather unique through my eyes. I have seen a lot of other concepts attempt to make basic attacks into skill shots. Now while this is all good, I believe that it would become too much of a hassle to play with. With Niado he targets much like a normal basic attack which makes it simple. Though sense these attacks are in a straight line, they can be dodged if the targets do move out of the way. As well he only has two blades to work with, meaning that he needs to have a blade return to him to fire off the next basic attack. Early game this is a hindrance for Niado, but late game this actually does some work. Each basic attacks can hit multiple opponents twice which can be devastating in team fights. While each hit does deal reduced damage, the overall damage for one basic attack is higher then most champions. This isn't without its flaws however, this strictly makes Niado a close range marksman. Chasing an opponent is rather difficult as they can walk out of range of his basic attacks. Much like Jihn, Niado's attack speed is fixed per level. Though buying attack speed increases the blades projectile speed not only for basic attacks, but for his abilities as well. With the higher projectile speed, it becomes harder for opponents to dodge and even allows the blades to return to him much faster. There are a bunch of hidden secrets to mastering how to work around the blades, but I will leave that a secret. I must tell of one interaction though, with
. The bolts come out only when the blade is thrown, meaning that these do not proc the double strike potential. The bolts will fly to targets nearest to the original.
Q - Back Flip Cool Down - 14/13.5/13/12.5/12 seconds Mana Cost - 90 mana Range - 600 Blade/400 Dash Active: Niado throws all blades in hand in a targeted direction while back flipping the opposite way. Blades deal 12/24/36/48/60 (+50%AD) physical damage on the way out and then same damage on the back. Targets hit by multiple blades from this ability take 50% of the damage from each blade after the first.
In-Depth Niado's Q is actually quite a powerful one. It grants him a bit of mobility and damage output to those chasing him. All the blades in hand don't come out at once. Instead they come out one shortly after the other. This means that the damage from the all the blades isn't put onto a target all at once. Though this ability can be used without blades in hand just to activate the back flip portion of it. Keep in mind, this ability does have a lengthy cool down and higher mana cost. How you use it can effect a lot, especially with the returning blades.
W - Whirling Blades Cool Down - 12/11/10/9/8 seconds Mana Cost - 75 mana Range - 500 in hand radius/ 250 spinning blade radius Active: This ability reacts differently for blades in hand and in flight. Upon activation all blades in hand will spin around him once dealing, 40/65/80/95/110 (+40%AD) physical damage and slowing targets by 30% for 1.5 seconds. Targets hit by multiple blades coming from the hand increase the slow to 50/55/60/65/70% and refreshes the duration, but take no additional damage. If the blades are in flight, they will stop in place spinning dealing 60/90/120/150/180 (+90%AD) physical damage over 4~1 seconds. Damage over time is dealt faster by increasing projectile speed.
In-Depth Niado's second ability has multiple uses to it. For one thing, it is like two abilities in one. Blades in hand are thrown out and circle around him to slow targets just near the edge of his basic attack range. Simple enough for an ability, thought there is more too it. The blades themselves come out of him based on the direction he is facing. His first blade will come out in the direction he is facing, the second will go behind him, any other blades will come out at different position between the first two. This makes it so that an opponent isn't immediately hit by all the blades getting the increased slow. The second portion of this ability effects only those blade that are in flight. They stop in place creating a damage over time zone. This is one of his main damaging skills as it shreds through people, especially with the assistance of added attack speed. Did I mention that if multiple spinning blades are over lapping each other, their damage does stack. Making their damage zones over lap is much more difficult then it would appear however. When activating this ability both portions can go off simultaneously. Pairing a whirling blades slow with a spinning blades damage output is tricky, but it can be done. Every 200 bonus projectile speed reduces the spinning blades duration by 0.5 seconds.
E - Reposition Cool Down - 10 seconds Mana Cost - 60 mana Range - 750 cast range Active: Niado causes all blades in flight to change direction going to target location after a short delay. They deal the same damage as their current action and effects as they travel. Having a blade return to Niado reduces this abilities cool down by 1/1.5/2/2.5/3 seconds.
In-Depth This is the ability that gives Niado a high skill ceiling. Reposition has a lot of uses that can be used for many sort of situations. Now when it says it deals the same damage and effects as their current action, it can get confusing. So if the blades in flight were thrown as a basic attack, then repositioning them will make them deal the basic attack damage as they travel. However sense basic attacks do strike twice, once going out and once coming back, that does effect the damage output as well. Lets say an opponent is struck by the going out portion of a basic attack, but not the returning portion and the blade is on its way back to him. Niado can reposition the blade to deal the returning portion damage of a basic attack as it travels. Hopefully that makes sense. Though this does allow him to strike enemies outside his basic attack range or give him crazy ways to strike unsuspecting opponents. Good Niado players will even be able to reposition the slowing whirling blades out of its range onto a single location. That is just one example of what can be done. Oh keep in mind when a blade does return to Niado, this cool down is decreased. This allows for more complex game play being able to keep the repostion up constantly.
R - Flying Death Cool Down - 100/90/80 seconds Mana Cost - 100 Mana Range - Self cast Active: Grants Niado an additional 2/3/4 blades for 10 seconds. For this duration his basic attack timer is reset upon catching a blade and his projectile speed is increased by 50% These extra blades interact with his abilities just like the first two.
In-Depth Now this ultimate may seem mediocre, that is a very wrong assumption to make. Granting the extra blades means that he can deal massive damage with his abilities and keep up his basic attacks on opponents. Being able to keep blades returning to him does make Repostion pretty constantly available. Having his basic attack timer reset upon catching a blade means he can keep up on his damage output. The increased projectile speed means his attacks will be much harder to avoid, especially in the late game. At max rank having 6 blades to deal with can become overwhelming, but oh boy will Niado be shredding those unfortunate souls.
Interactions
Jokes
"What can I say? gets poked by a blade I am a cut above the rest."
"Mince, Dice, Flaaambe? Maybe I should of been a cook."
"Now how do I put this? Sometimes I cut myself."
To ally Piltover champions, "Ah joining in the effort. A sharp mind this one."
To ally Zaun champions, "Fighting with the problem? Have I become dull?"
To
"HOW? HOW DO YOU BOUNCE AXES OFF PEOPLE? TEACH ME!"
To
"I love a girl with sharp legs, I mean nice legs."
To
"Blade arms!? Why didn't I think of ...oh wait I did."
To
"You are like me. Solving problems by your own hands"
Taunts
"Time to cut down these miscreants."
"You will be shredded like paper."
"You are pretty dull aren't you?"
To enemy Piltover champions, "If you don't see the problem, then you are apart of it."
To enemy Zaun champions, "You will be eviscerated for the better of progress."
To
"Everyone at the academy always despised you."
To
"Good thing they called the exterminator"
To
"I have heard of you. You're set to be diced."
To
"Lets see how many pieces I can make of you."
Killing
"HA! Finally cut him down! HAHAHA!"
Killing Zaun champions "All in the name of progress."
Dance Niado breaks apart his glaives into tiny pieces. Holding up his two index fingers he then acts like a music conductor. The stream of small blades follow his finger's movements.
Laugh Niado starts to laugh maniacally at first, but catches himself. Clearing his throat with a cough he postures himself up like a proper gentlemen.
Item Builds
So with Niado being an ADC, you have several options for the builds. Recently lethality has made a rise in build for a lot of ADC's. Though I am going to show you a recommended build here. Something that I would personally run if I had a chance to play this champion.
_Necessary Items _



Personally I would like to run Niado as an AD caster. He has rather high mana costs for his abilities and these will help out with that. Manamune gives you that rather large mana pool that allows you to keep casting abilities. Once turned into Muramana, it actually does have a unique effect on his basic attacks. Throwing one basic attack will deal 6% of his current mana as bonus physical damage to all targets hit but only at the expense of 3% of his current mana. Though his bonus damage only applies when the blades travel out, not back to Niado. Essence Reaver gives him a good amount of AD with some cool down and critical chance. Plus if a basic attack crits it will restore mana for each enemy hit, not just the first. Though it will only restore mana once per target, so hitting the same target twice doesn't restore mana twice. Now Berserker's Greaves grants attack speed which may not seem good for a caster. In Niado's case this is the opposite, as bonus attack speed increases his blades projectile speed. This means it is much harder for his abilities to be dodged.
Offensive Items



Niado does specifically physical damage. Due to this lethality is a solid stat to build on him. Youmuu's Ghostblade not only gives a good amount of AD, but lethality and cool down to go with it. The active even allows him to chase a bit better. Black Clever is one item for a major cool down reduction. Not only does it give damage, but that ability to shred armor means he will be doing major damage in prolonged fights. The health isn't a bad stat either. Bloodthirster grants a major amount of AD for Niado. The life steal it provides may only be gained through basic attacks, but being able to weave basic attacks in between abilities would bring major benefit to this purchase. Now life steal only applies to blades going outward not when they come back to him.
Defensive Items



If Niado is having trouble staying alive, these are some items you should be looking at. Death's Dance works fantastically as he only deals physical damage. Being able to heal off with all the damage and the added cool down does mean he could sustain through fights better. Blade of the Ruined King is usually an offensive choice on most ADC's. For Niado is allows him to sustain a bit more through his basic attacks. His basic attacks going out will be able to deal current health damage to multiple targets and heal from it. With the attack speed he will also be able to retrieve his blades back more often and made them harder to dodge. Maw of Malmoritus is something that is great against magic comps. Not only does it provide a magic shield when low, but that life grip passive will make it so that he can survive the for the rest of the fight. The added cool down reduction helps his kit out as well.
Works Well With
Niado is an ADC and because of this he is rather squishy. Having the Radiant Dawn between him and his opponents is a god send for him. Leona can keep targets locked down within his flurry of spinning blades. Niado does very well with aggressive tactics and with the diver style of Leona it works out in his favor. Not only this but her passive adds in the little extra damage on his attacks.
When the Razor Conductor and the Chain Warden walk into lane, you better be good at dodging. Threshe is an overall viable support for any carry. Being able to push, pull, and lock down foes, he can either hold them still or knock the enemies into a bad place. With Niado's decent wave clear he actually helps his support by providing souls for the Warden to grow stronger. Being caught in the box alongside whirling blades sounds like a really bad time.
Going a more poking route, Zyra is a strong pick for that. Her plants can keep the enemies at bay or afraid to jump on Niado. Once a fight happens, these two will put out so much damage per second that the opponents will fall at their feet. A good timed grasping root or one of her ultimates could keep opponents still along enough to be shredded by the flying blades.
Your Worst Enemies
One thing about Niado is that his basic attacks have the ability to miss. While Kalista shares this trait, she also as mobile as a jack rabbit. Niado won't really be able to fight her with basic attacks and has a bit chance to miss his abilities against her. Plus she excels at prolonged fights more then he does. It wouldn't be long before the spear of vengeance rends him to the afterlife.
Vayne brings the pain to Niado. Unfortunately those tumbles are the bane of his basic attacks being able to dodge them and retaliate with more damage. The true damage from those silver bolts will really rack up in a fight. Plus running wont really do good as she will hunt you down quite easily. Though while this is a bad matchup, it is manageable.
Going against Caitlyn is a different story. In this match up, Niado will be kept at range not being able to fight against the sniper early. Those traps and her high range will keep the blades just beyond the point of being able to strike her. Plus with the nets little mobility she can outplay the Razor Conductor and dish back more damage. You would have to get close to her to really apply damage.
**CCOS Good neighbor Bonus ** Review for Zezaleya, the Winter Wyvern Review for Gabriel, Keeper of the Forgotten Review for Keizel, The Thunder Amidst the Fog Review for Karin, the Savant Supernal
So it is pretty dang late for me at this time. Seriously why I post these at such an hour really boggles my mind sometimes. Though this is what I got for Niado. Soon I will be adding more to the concept, like item builds and so on. For now I wanted to get Lore and the general ability descriptions out of the way. Anyways I want to know of your thoughts on the concept. Feel free to leave any criticism whether it be good or bad. It really does help me for fine tuning my champions. If you feel like reading some of my other concepts, then I have a list that you can find below. Thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a good day.
BowietheNifty's List of Concepts
Next Champion: An ADC for sure, but not sure which to release. Have two of them linked to Piltover but one to Targon. Need help deciding.
. The bolts come out only when the blade is thrown, meaning that these do not proc the double strike potential. The bolts will fly to targets nearest to the original.