A Shadow on the Horizon

Fasmodey·6/20/2017, 6:03:04 PM·21 votes·3,399 views

http://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/LOL_CMS_98_Article_06.jpg

We have a bunch of new champions in various stages of development. I’m not going to go over all of the champions in production (spoilers), just the one that has been infesting my mind lately — a new carry champion that we think will perform well in the jungle. After Ivern, we wanted to try our hand at a more aggressive, damage-focused champion that should feel at home in the jungle. They will also be our first transformation champion since Gnar, but this take on transformation will be unlike any champion we have ever made. I don’t want to say much more than that for now, but keep an eye out for more info soon.

New champion is a ''they''. Whch means we will have a duo characterized champion like Kindred again.

72 Comments

HalfTangible6/20/2017, 6:24:05 PM30 votes

'They' can also be a gender neutral singular pronoun, so... make of that what you will.

KuroCaliber6/20/2017, 6:17:16 PM11 votes

I believe it's they as a gender neutral pronoun actually.

GreenLore6/20/2017, 6:18:49 PM9 votes

Honestly I have to say my first thought when I saw that picture was "Darkin". When I read the description I thought "Darkin weapon that hasn't overtaken its host".

I mean that eye looks like it is part of something metallic to me and that guy from the Vastaya lore did call the darkin living weapons,so maybe there is something to that theory after all.

Sukishoo6/20/2017, 6:22:25 PM7 votes

No, pretty sure the THEY is used here to hide the gender of said champion until the official reveal.

Illâoi Evê Siôn6/20/2017, 6:18:36 PM4 votes

"They" probably just means "he or she".

Valor Bot6/20/2017, 11:15:31 PM4 votes

Posted this on /r/LeagueofLegends but I thought I'd take a shot at it here too:

The first transformation champion to ever be released was Nidalee back in 2009. It's been a little over seven years since then, and in that time Riot's released five other transformation champions to date (Shyvana, Jayce, Elise, Quinn, Gnar), with one of them sadly even losing their transformation within the same period of time (#bringbackValor).

Getting to the point, I'd love to read an article written by DanielZKlein or Reav3 discussing the lessons they've learned from each transformation champion, and how they're applying those lessons to the next new champion in League. It's a really interesting and unique mechanic that's known to bring a lot of balance headaches, so a bit of insight as to what the goals were with each transformation champion along with what what worked and what didn't would be a really awesome and insightful read.

Ralanr6/20/2017, 6:45:45 PM3 votes

And aggressive transformation champion that is home in the jungle.

Probably won't be that female assassin yordle I hope for.

Forbidden Siren6/20/2017, 9:06:51 PM3 votes

Hmm... I'm hoping it's a Watcher. There was a concept art of the Watcher that was released in an artbook awhile back.

https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/leagueoflegends/images/1/18/Watchers_concept.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160101182534

Voidzilla6/20/2017, 11:26:15 PM3 votes

Let the speculation commence:

Maybe because I'm heavily biased towards this faction, but I like to think that it's something Void related. The eye reminds me of Velkoz as well item 3513, acquired from killing the Void-warped Rift Herald. Riot has done fairly well with diction when they tease new content, especially Champions, and the specific word "infesting" pops out. The Void has shown an ability to "infest" others, whether that be the aforementioned Rift Herald, Malzahar 's mind, and AurelionSol's story where he described the land around a Void portal becoming distorted and malformed. On top of that, an archetype that hasn't yet made its way into this game that a fair amount of people have been wanting is a "Parasite Champion". Since parasites are mostly associated with insects and the like, the Void's aesthetics and effects make it the most suitable to lending itself to a parasitic character. The teaser also said this new Champ will introduce a brand new transformation mechanic - maybe it's not simply shapeshifting like Nidalee or Gnar, but taking over a host body (perhaps a jungle monster or even another Champion). Or perhaps it becomes an amalgamation of different bodies, where it collects biomass and turns into something based on the biomass collected. Then there's the title "A Shadow on the Horizon". There are several things in Runeterra that can be associated with darkness and shadows, the Void included. But with "horizon", that implies something not only in the distance, but something that'll bring a new dawn/dusk. If considering dawn/dusk in a more metaphorical sense, particularly a new age, then the Void can fit that bill. Every faction wants to change the world, sure, but the Void is the most drastic, as from what we can guess it wants to cause the extinction of this dimension by consuming it, turning it into an extension of the Void (as well as the Void itself being the most "distant" of anything we have, coming from an entirely different plane and whatnot). Thus, a new age for Runeterra, a "Void Age" if you will. With the word horizon I'm also just reminded of "event horizon", which is the edge of a blackhole and with blackholes theorized to be gateways to other dimensions/universes. A little far-fetched, admittedly, but as said, Riot's choice of words when doing teasers has been pretty clever, so why not try to dissect what they're implying.

I could be wrong of course, and this is just the ramblings of a crazy Void-fanatic. Still, it's fun to speculate, and that whole article was interesting. I always look forward to new champ-content, whether that be entirely new characters or gameplay updates.

Łast ßreath6/21/2017, 3:14:18 AM2 votes

Theory about this new champion:

This champion could be a manaless champion, or a new form of stamina. Since it is (to me) 99% impossible that its transformation could be like a champion that already exists, like Gnar with his Rage, Renekton or Tryndamere ;

This champion could transform by buying an item with some exclusive currency to the champion, like Gangplank and his Silver Serpents (to buy item 3903 or other things like that) Or it could transform by killing minions, jungle camps, drakes, nashor etc, red-buff, blue-buff and so on.. (May be a little weird tho :D)

According to

"This champion could transform by buying an item with some exclusive currency"

I believe the champion could win this currency by killing champions, getting assists, killing jungle camps, killing minions using a certain spell...

EDIT: Got an other idea, if this champion could transform into some form of "spirit" and go into the bodies of other champions in the game to control them (Yes it would be completely broken if it is not well balanced)

Well, that's all for my theories, can't go further since I am tired, sorry if my grammar is crap. Feel free to answer to this comment to give me better theories, to correct me and giving ideas...

ModCaptainMårvelous6/21/2017, 5:27:51 AM2 votes

Pretty sure it's gonna be Lifestealer or similar to lifestealer.

O Fallen Scholar6/21/2017, 12:42:54 PM1 votes

Please don't be another alien man. We have so many already. And for the love of god no more birds. But by the looks of it we get another "alienish" champion. FeelsBadMan.

Leyin6/20/2017, 6:12:37 PM1 votes

but with a tranformation like gnat , maybe something like a "normal person" that get after ulting , getting kills ,or sometinhg else swap the body with a demon like the typical angel/demon combo ?