Will "Faceless" Champions ever be Revealed?

A Superb Villain··13 votes·5,922 views

Champion identity is a very delicate subject. Who a champion is and why we players love them, is tied to their character, their stories, and generally, when any of these details are changed, we become distraught. For some champions, the absence of an actual face is a large part of their character. For example:

Veigar Viktor Jax Malzahar MasterYi Nautilus Shaco Shen Zed Mordekaiser

Conversely, some champions have been exposed, such as:

Kayle Kassadin Akali

My question to any Rioter is, will any currently concealed champions be revealed?

For the rest of us, I ask should they be revealed?

56 Comments

KING OF MASKS10 votes

For some of them, yeah why not. For others, absolutely not, unless there are extenuating circumstances. If the champion in question revolves around an air of mystery (Shaco Nautilus Jax Mordekaiser), then unless the reveal is somehow game-changing, learning what's under the mask would actually be detrimental to their character(s). For example (I'm just spitballing here), if Nautilus stripped down and we discovered that the diving suit housed an ancient eldritch being that somehow fused with the former human Nautilus to forge a new, unstoppable incarnation of vengeance (à la Lich King), and they somehow tied the ancient eldritch being into some other, larger story arc, then okay. That's pretty neato. But what if instead we just got some weird necrotic zombie design that didn't expand upon Nautilus' character in any way? Then that would suck. In fact, it would effectively ruin Nautilus' character, because the air of mystery is shattered and nothing is introduced to replace it. Then there are other champions who don't rely on any kind of air of mystery. Shen Zed are two examples. Unmasking these champions wouldn't affect their lore or their character much at all, because mystery isn't a part of their identity. If we learned what Zed actually looked like under that helmet of his, what would change? Pretty much nothing.

On the other hand, for a select few champions, unmasking could have some really amazing storytelling potential. Think about Viktor's more human side. And what about Malzahar? What was he like before his conversion? Exciting stuff.

Edit: For the record I would count Swain in the first category.

A Superb Villain5 votes

I agree with you on the nature of unmasking champions being a case by case basis.

As for Viktor, assuming the mask is not his face, I think it would provoke an interesting response for someone to ask, "When was the last time you saw the world without looking through a mask?"

KING OF MASKS2 votes

In Viktor's case it might very well be that he no longer has a human face; in which case, the unmasking could take place in a flashback.

A Superb Villain2 votes

That only makes the question more poignant; even if he wanted to, taking off the "mask" is no longer an option. His situation becomes a question of whether or not his struggle for perfection was worth the cost of pursuing it to the logical conclusion.

The only reason I doubt Viktor has completely restructured his face is due to retaining a number of biological components, suggesting he still has an organic body beneath the augmentations. While sustaining a body outside traditional means is possible, the act is costly and invites numerous complications. Until the transition can be completed without exceptional risk, I believe Viktor relies on the tried-and-true method of simply eating and drinking to stay alive; more efficient than carefully crafted injections.

And here I am ranting about the consequences of transhuman augmentations. God, I love Viktor.

Aatrox Herself9 votes

If you ever see what is behind Shaco's face, your already dead

A Superb Villain21 votes

Funny thing about the Demon Jester is that by being such a mysterious entity, we have no idea if the mask is a mask at all.

UomoAfide1 votes

You sir, have just won

Sukishoo2 votes

Yeah, that looks more like it's actually his face rather then a mask.

Ebonmaw Dragon8 votes

Did you know, that the original model of Veigar showed his face?

but yeah... its old and need an update.

Tesla Effect8 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ebonmaw Dragon,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=GGHu6TLV,comment-id=0005,timestamp=2015-03-26T23:43:57.120+0000)

Did you know, that the original model of Veigar showed his face?

but yeah... its old and need an update.

Would Riot please make him look like this, they even have this exact artist working for them. Just use his ideas and be done with it. http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2014/162/c/5/yordle_explorations__knkl_by_knockwurst-d7m0urm.jpg http://media.tumblr.com/34bce00c288245dbf2b621659869642a/tumblr_inline_n9jz0rDZEL1rkiwlw.png

Spam E for1 votes

I love that concept art made for Veigar but my only issue is his squeaky voice doesn't tie in there imho Xd

Only Play Darius3 votes

To be honest, I much prefer the black hole that his face is right now.

That old model face just looks..... off.....

Nagirah1 votes

IT'S A CAT

Angel Wodahs1 votes

veigar is a cat... oh my god.

TerminaGamer1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ebonmaw Dragon,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=GGHu6TLV,comment-id=0005,timestamp=2015-03-26T23:43:57.120+0000)

Did you know, that the original model of Veigar showed his face?

but yeah... its old and need an update.

Holy crap that face is terrifying

Ebonmaw Dragon1 votes
Jeddy0178 votes

I think you forgot Pantheon For him,it's possible that we may one day see his face.

A Superb Villain1 votes

Good catch; forgot about Pantheon.

Jeddy0171 votes

I got a question:Would Swain also count,even though we see the top half of his face?

A Superb Villain1 votes

I do not see why not. Granted, we do see a good majority of his face, but I feel there is enough concealed to warrant placing him in the "masked" category.

redniwediS7 votes

Technically speaking two of those champions you've listed are showing their faces, with one possibly also showing his.

Viktor is no longer a man, and he wears his glorious evolution proudly. There are some remnants of his former self (like the hair) but for all intents and purposes what you're seeing in the base skin is Viktor as he now is.

Mordekaiser is from the shadow isles, and based on his appearance I would consider him to be closer to Hecarim than Karthus. He is a spirit bound to an inorganic body, there is not necessarily anything inside beyond more metal.

Nautilus is a special case. He could quite possibly still exist within that shell of armor that was once a diving suit, however it is also possible that he and the suit are one and the same now. His lore leaves both options on the table.

With all this said, however, we could end up seeing what each of these champions used to look like.

Drakzul1 votes

{quoted}

Technically speaking two of those champions you've listed are showing their faces, with one possibly also showing his.

Viktor is no longer a man, and he wears his glorious evolution proudly. There are some remnants of his former self (like the hair) but for all intents and purposes what you're seeing in the base skin is Viktor as he now is.

Mordekaiser is from the shadow isles, and based on his appearance I would consider him to be closer to Hecarim than Karthus. He is a spirit bound to an inorganic body, there is not necessarily anything inside beyond more metal.

Nautilus is a special case. He could quite possibly still exist within that shell of armor that was once a diving suit, however it is also possible that he and the suit are one and the same now. His lore leaves both options on the table.

With all this said, however, we could end up seeing what each of these champions used to look like.

Technically we don't know if Shaco is wearing a mask either. That could be his true face.... so..... yeah.

redniwediS1 votes

True, these three are just a bit easier to say one way or another with. At least Nautilus's maybe has a little something supporting each side, we just don't know with Shaco.

Zirzon4 votes

Kassadin: "No one cared who I was until I put on the mask..."

A Superb Villain1 votes

That's not true, his daughter cared.

item 3070

Spam E for1 votes

I am still wondering what happened to her....

GaleWinUnleashed3 votes

I'm fairly sure that it's impossible for us to see Nautilus' face. He essentially is the suit now, and it's unlikely that the helmet can be removed anymore.

Tesla Effect2 votes

Yes please, I wanna know whats behind those mask. We must go all Scooby- Doo on them Rito!

Tesla Effect6 votes
A Superb Villain5 votes

Man, I was just trying to follow up on your Scooby Doo reference. I am quite saddened.

Also, I am ambivalent to the idea of Zed being a white-haired pretty boy. His voice acting seems to suggest an age between thirty or forty, at the youngest.

Tesla Effect3 votes

[{quoted}](name=A Superb Villain,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=GGHu6TLV,comment-id=0002000000000000,timestamp=2015-03-26T23:12:06.681+0000)

Man, I was just trying to follow up on your Scooby Doo reference. I am quite saddened.

Also, I am ambivalent to the idea of Zed being a white-haired pretty boy. His voice acting seems to suggest an age between thirty or forty, at the youngest.

Its like an anime thing, also when you read up on the Zed x Sydra comic, you will see how awesome it portrays the characters.

PS: Oh the Scooby Doo thing, lol, wasnt really thinking of it when I saw the picture. Thought it was Hannah Barbara in general, didnt remember any Asian villain in the old Scooby episodes.

cshakes1 votes

It's K, he can be a dark-haired pretty boy.

TwoD1 votes

zed isn't asian, hes adopted

revliledpembroke2 votes

He's an adopted child from faux-Asia. Do you expect an adopted child in China to be Asian? It's the same thing.

TwoD1 votes

zed is the nigga from africa

revliledpembroke1 votes

Wut?

Levyathyn2 votes

Pretty sure Malzahar looks like Antonia Banderas from Assassins. Or The 13th Warrior.

Ebonmaw Dragon1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Tesla Effect,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=GGHu6TLV,comment-id=0012,timestamp=2015-03-28T03:09:13.208+0000)

Faces Revealed:

Well, those "faces" are made by fans... except maybe, Nautilus and Veigar (Because those artist work for Riot)

I think that Viktor one is really close (because its based on the Prototype Skin)

Anyways, are cool pics.

Lost R1 votes

I say the Viegar one is canon. Same with the Ziggs sketch on the same page.

Spam E for1 votes

Jericho looks creepy....better keep that scarf on :S But I still believe that he may have something like a beak rather than a mouth down there.. Zed looks more....friendly and less evil like that (reminds me of Prince Zuco from the last airbender)

Criomhthann1 votes

WHY DO THEY WEAR THE MASKS?

tifas left elbow1 votes

Mordekaiser Isn't he supposed to be some sort of spirit inhabiting the armor? So far as the rest, bring it.

COWmanLord1 votes

Kayle has a skin where her helmet is off. Actually 2 skins now that I think about it. Also I think somewhere in Nautilus lore they say his soul is like bound to the armor or something so he doesn't really have a face. Same with morde

NeedMeSomeAshe1 votes

Here is what Jax looks like.

SpiritGear1 votes

Kayle has Skin that reveals her face

Sorioku1 votes

I'm pretty sure that black is Vivi's face.

Spam E for1 votes

For a while I thought you meant mysterious characters like "C" from Cait's lore...but to stay in topic, I would love to see Master Yi and Shen unmasked! But for champions like Jax,Mordekaiser,Shaco..."Unmasking"them will kinda ruin their mysterious character :S don't know about the rest tho

Forbidden Siren1 votes

I think KateyKhaos confirmed Shaco's face is maskless in his Wild Card skin.

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