Qiyana is a Deliciously Villainous Protagonist and I am HERE for it

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOO·6/25/2019, 8:10:21 PM·25 votes·14,893 views

Having just read the newest batch of material on the Universe site I have a few thoughts. I’ll get the minor ones out of the way first.

Zilean’s situation absolutely opens him up for narrative opportunity with plenty of intersection availability with other champions.

Malphite is a big doofus and I love him.

A Taliyah/Skarner journey story would be awesome, out of the many champions Skarner could interact with, Taliyah is most likely to understand him.

Anyway, on to Qiyana,who joins the roster of LoL villains with one of the pettiest moves possible. One thing I find that compels me to be interested in a character is, more than anything, motivation. You don’t need to be sympathetic to your villains if you’re also really eager to see what they’ll do next. There’s no doubt about it that Qiyana is motivated. She’s ruthless, ambitious, cunning, and confident. She’s the major player in Ixtal and I cannot wait to see how she deals with the threats to the empire, both within and without.

21 Comments

TheMan2926/25/2019, 8:26:04 PM9 votes

I have much the same views as you regarding qiyana. I was hesitant to see an obvious character development to maturity, and this Caligula/Azula characterization fits way better (hell, even DRAVEN would agree she has too much of an ego).

as for Malphite, I like they kept him being a shard of a greater whole. while I did enjoy his character, I do think it could be better with an updated bio (which we get tomorrow I believe?)

EdgeLady6/25/2019, 8:52:29 PM4 votes

Qiyana did give off the impression of disregarding life, but I wasn't sure Riot would go this far with her. They're definitely trying to give her a backstory akin to Prince Hans; hopefully she'll end up as a more fleshed out character that he was (at least in his first appearance).

Lintu Puck6/25/2019, 9:57:09 PM4 votes

still a bitch. still hate her.

NotaRobot10066/25/2019, 11:43:35 PM3 votes

She's a wretched menace and I greatly appreciate that.

Unusual midlaner6/26/2019, 9:18:34 PM2 votes

She’s literally a bitch with a fat ass

Makarakarn6/27/2019, 1:22:00 AM1 votes

Most people just don't like the type of person she is irl, so they instantly think the character is instantly the most evil thing to exist and needs to be hated.

PermaJinxed6/29/2019, 4:14:57 AM1 votes

Qiyana, to me fits in with many others in league lore: I would absolutely HATE her in person, but as a character, I find her compelling.... Or at least interesting to watch. Others that follow this; Leblanc Jinx Camille Draven Zoe Lulu Elise Evelynn Mordekaiser Karthus just to name a few...

SpecterVonBaren6/26/2019, 2:56:24 AM1 votes

Some of my favorite villains come from the Redwall book series. You spend almost as much time seeing them and their power squables and backstabbing as you see of the heroes being merry or heroic.

And despite almost all of the antagonists being unequivocally evil, they're so enjoyable to watch. I love seeing things like a villain go mad but be the only survivor of a battle because he hid in a hole under a basket or a previously loyal 2nd in command just comepletely nope out of the story when things look bad.

I agree, there is certainly a place for characters like Q.

mrmeddyman6/26/2019, 7:04:39 AM1 votes

Zilean has Aatrox listed as a related champion

The possibilities.....

Dead Anime Dad6/26/2019, 7:29:59 AM1 votes

Imagine talking down to the embodiment of fire, or a dragon that creates stars and just as easily destroys them. It's a real case of twice the pride, double the fall.

Camille Ferrøs6/26/2019, 12:04:30 PM1 votes

Big agree.