I can't think of a bigger lore/gameplay disconnect than Blitzcrank

ModCaptainMårvelous·12/11/2017, 9:48:47 PM·32 votes·2,526 views
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/leagueoflegends/images/d/dc/Blitzcrank_OriginalSkin.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170621012512

Of those not scheduled for an update, that is.

To start, what's Blitzcrank's lore?

Blitzcrank is an enormous, near-indestructible steam golem originally built to dispose of hazardous waste in Zaun. Evolved beyond his primary purpose, Blitzcrank selflessly uses his strength and durability to protect others. Able to see past false veneers and artifice to the truth of an intention, Blitzcrank moves to help those in need.

What does this tell us about Blitz? He's:

  • A protective defender.
  • Made to dispose/deal with hazardous waste.
  • Learning to be human.
  • A tanky powerhouse.

So what it's Blitz's in-game like?

###BRING

###ME

##THAT

#ASS

Blitzcrank is one of the most aggressive pick-champions in the game and completely designed around yanking someone into him. His stats are tank-leaning but he has no defensive steroid save for his barrier. Every single part-sans-passive of Blitzcrank's kit is for him to manhandle whoever he can get his fat metal hands on. No aspect of gameplay on Blitzcrank tells me that he's a defender of the weak and Zaun's clean-up crew to deal with hazardous waste. Plus his in-game quotes are kind of out-of-date but I can't fault that.

"Well what about Leona cap!? She's-"

Leona comes from a tribe of warlike sun-worshipping warriors obsessed with martial combat. Leona is the front-line warrior who is tanking by drawing the enemy's attention to her. She may not be Braum levels of defensive but her mindset is firmly rooted in "I'm going to cut down the problem before it's a bigger problem". Still, my point is that you can justify Leona's kit being a mesh with her story and personality. I don't see a mesh you can really justify from the subquote. That's not to say Riot can't tweak it but I think it's painting a very duality-focused image of Blitz.

50 Comments

Ralanr12/11/2017, 9:54:52 PM22 votes

So we either need Blitzcrank to be a groper in lore or make his gameplay more protective (he could use a rework anyway)?

I vote option one.

xxxDogmanxxx12/12/2017, 6:57:24 AM9 votes

BUILT TO DISPOSE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

Pretty sure the enemy champions count as hazardous waste, so it makes sense that Blitz disposes of them.

SELFLESSLY USES HIS STRENGTH AND DURABILITY TO PROTECT OTHERS

Blitz has some of the best peel in the game. He literally pulls enemy champions off his teammates. He knocks them up so they can't get to his teammates. Then for good measure, he silences them as well.


If you want someone who doesn't fit his lore, look to XinZhao.

His lore says he was up against 300 people in the Fleshing (and it's confirmed he defeated around 50 at once in his previous Fleshing match). So why in game can't he even 1v5? It's false advertising.

Sharjo12/11/2017, 10:18:07 PM8 votes

I find it unlikely that they're gonna give Blitzcrank a VGU anytime soon, but I definetly agree with you Captain; he needs it, especially in the kit department. Blitzcrank is someone who, lorewise, is one of the greatest forces of good in Zaun and is a being built for the purpose of utility, utility be happily brings to help out everyone he can. In game he's a fairly one dimensional champion whose gameplay revolves around "grab the guy who needs to die". He can protect with his kit but really it's not what he's built for.

I feel like there's ways of looking at his identity as a steam golem built for utility to put him in to a better place kit - thematic wise than where he currently is. I'll throw some out there:

  • Rocket grab can hit allies and yanks them to safety
  • Blitzcrank can blast steam from his body to knock back enemies
  • Blitzcrank's ultimate his him channel in an area, stunning all enemies while his channel is maintained

There is the major problem of changing his play pattern though, which would probably piss people right off. I figure at this point it'd be very hard to actual realise the thematic of Blitzcrank lorewise in his kit without throwing out his original play pattern or at the very least reworking it so heavily it doesn't play nearly the same. I worry that Blitzcrank may never get the kind of kit love he deserves because of how long he's existed as he is.

I do hope that at some point they can make Blitzcrank more like he is in the lore, but who knows if that'll ever happen. At the very least I hope he gets his visuals looked at at some point because his hands fucking irk me to look at good god. Those god damn fingers that don't move and clip through his palms annoy me so much.

Dead Anime Dad12/12/2017, 1:07:59 AM7 votes

Blitz's kit is a staple in league of legends, very iconic. I think changing it would make plenty of people angry. If nothing else his hook is guaranteed to stay.

LordGeovanni12/12/2017, 8:42:41 AM5 votes

Blitz w moves faster to save people blitz e powerfully lifts up toxic waste blitz q to collect waste or save people from far away platforms blitz r ima golem and run on magical technology let me shock you with the logic from another world than runeterra.

AmazoX12/12/2017, 7:50:21 AM4 votes

{quoted}

So what it Blitzcrank in-game like?

###BRING

###ME

##THAT

#ASS

I love this. [zombie-brand-clap]

Disulfiram12/12/2017, 7:59:05 AM3 votes

{quoted}

  • A protective defender.
  • Made to dispose/deal with hazardous waste.
  • Learning to be human.
  • A tanky powerhouse.

To be fair, blitz can be played that way too:

  • keep some distance from the squishies
  • when a Jarvan jumps them use your grab to take him away
  • flame your team
  • build tanky
6FlagsFunnelCake12/11/2017, 10:09:12 PM3 votes

Blitz, along with JarvanIV.

I can't imagine any gameplay niche that Jarvan is filling. As of right now, he's just a funny looking royal who swings a weird stick around and occasionally makes walls.

Lorewise, he's meant to be the somewhat young, naive and reckless prince. On the other side of that however, he's meant to be very inspiring to his soldiers, choosing to fight alongside them in honor and glory rather than commanding from the sidelines.

Lord Phazanor 12/12/2017, 5:09:07 AM3 votes

This post should be deleted. If Riot reads it, either they'll destroy Blitz's lore or his kit (or even both).
Please, don't draw attention to him.

sumerska12/11/2017, 11:33:09 PM3 votes

Blitz reminds me a bit of BayMax from BigHero6 ^^

Cavesloth12/12/2017, 8:44:16 AM3 votes

After what they did to Varus and Volibear, honestly I'd rather they leave him alone lols. Who knows how they'd make it worse, but they would.

Mansana12/12/2017, 6:52:54 PM2 votes

I agree. How the heck is he protective?

"The time of men has come to an end."

"Exterminate, exterminate."

"Quake in fear, fleshling."

He sounds like a terminator with no remorse. Wasn't he created by Viktor or something along those lines? He's a soul-less robot with little to no emotion. His story could be so much more once they find a purpose for him.

Jaspers12/12/2017, 11:45:44 AM2 votes

TahmKench - He's a demon that preys on people devouring them and their souls.

Gameplay... not so much.

Ebonmaw Dragon12/12/2017, 12:32:02 AM2 votes

{quoted}

What does this tell us about Blitz? He's:

  • A protective defender.
  • Made to dispose/deal with hazardous waste.
  • Learning to be human.
  • A tanky powerhouse.

Mana Barrier is used as a protection of the Toxic waste of Zaun. Rocket Grab is used to take the toxic waste that is in places that are hard to reach. Overdrive Is just Blitzcrank using more energy than the usual in order to run faster. Power Fist ... yeah, that is just Blitz punching people. Static Field is the effect of the energy that he uses.

The thing is that his skills do have connection with what he does, however the use that the "summoners"(notcanon, but in game) give to those tools that he have is not related to cleanning thing, unless you count his enemies as toxic waste.

Craft Zeppelin12/13/2017, 6:19:11 AM1 votes

If Blitz says "I came looking for booty" in a Brooklyn accent in his new voiceline, I would die laughing.

DariusDemiurge12/11/2017, 10:02:19 PM1 votes

Blitzcrank in lore a hero. Blitzcrank in game Joe Biden.

We must remember he was made to be a bruiser top laner in the beginning of league. How I miss those days.

GrReaper9612/12/2017, 1:01:38 AM1 votes

At least he has a REAL lore item 3070 Nunu item 3070

Kullen12/12/2017, 1:41:05 AM1 votes

YES MAKE BLITZ PULL ALLIES THAT WOULD BE AWESOME

Teriyaki Bukkake12/12/2017, 5:13:05 AM1 votes

Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco Shaco

Way bigger

Abibyama12/12/2017, 7:39:42 AM1 votes

##EHEM Orianna

Invisible Thot12/12/2017, 3:29:38 PM1 votes

Make him gay for viktor for his lore rework

MXXXXXL12/12/2017, 8:18:49 PM1 votes

Then his lore is outdated and is 100% of the problem here, don't rework his kit just for the sake of this game's lore.

zlumpy12/12/2017, 9:41:33 PM1 votes

His speed buff gets replaced with a shoryuken then Maybe? Just punch the problem away.

Fedoran12/13/2017, 4:48:00 AM1 votes

I think the biggest disconnect is my bot lane.