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League of Legends, splash art history

Moonboy65··81 votes·35,894 views

Throughout the course of League's history, the artwork for each champions and skins has changed drastically, so I decided to make a side-by-side comparisons of all the splash arts that have been updated, starting with Ahri (I will go alphabetically):

WARNING: This post is HUGE!!!

UPDATE: fixed some of the pictures

NOTE 1: I will leave out the splash arts the didn't get changed much (example: Bandito Fiddlesticks), I will also leave out the shared splash art for Quinn, Garen and Aatrox as it was updated after the reveal of Ironside Malphite, I will also not be counting Captain Gangplank.

NOTE 2: Unreleased Artwork and Pre-Release artwork will not be included (example: Graves' cigar, no ears on Ahri and the April Fools Lee Sin)

Most recent update = Update with the Chinese art, will most likely get updated with a brand new piece in the near future NEW = this piece or art is brand new, it was either part of a past champion rework/recent rework or the bonus updates

Ahri *Classic

Akali *Classic

*Crimson Akali

*All-Star Akali

*Nurse Akali

*Blood Moon Akali

Alistar *Classic

*Golden Alistar

Amumu *Classic

*Pharaoh Amumu

Anivia *Classic

*Team Spirit Anivia

*Bird of Prey Anivia

*Noxus Hunter Anivia

Annie *Classic

*Goth Annie

*Red Riding Annie

Ashe *Classic

*Freljord Ashe

*Sherwood Forest Ashe

*Woad Ashe

*Queen Ashe

Blitzcrank *Classic

*Rusty Blitzcrank

*Goalkeeper Blitzcrank

Brand *Classic

*Vandal Brand

Caitlyn *Classic

*Resistance Caitlyn

*Sheriff Caitlyn

Cassiopeia *Classic

*Desperada Cassiopeia

*Siren Cassiopeia

Chogath *Classic

Corki *Classic

DrMundo *Classic

*Mr. Mundoverse

Evelynn *Classic

*Tango Evelynn

Ezreal *Classic

*Nottingham Ezreal

*Striker Ezreal

*Frosted Ezreal

*Explorer Ezreal

*Pulsefire Ezreal

Fiddlesticks *Classic

Fiora *Classic

Galio *Classic

Gangplank *Classic

*Spooky Gangplank

*Minuteman Gangplank

Garen *Classic

*Dreadknight Garen

Gragas *Classic

Graves *Classic

Heimerdinger *Classic

*Alien Invader Heimerdinger

*Blast Zone Heimerdinger

Irelia *Nightblade Irelia

*Aviator Irelia

Janna *Classic

JarvanIV *Classic

*Commando Jarvan IV

Jax *Classic

*The Mighty Jax

*Vandal Jax

*Angler Jax

*PAX Jax

Karma *Classic

Karthus *Classic

*Pentakill Karthus

Kassadin *Classic

*Festival Kassadin

*Deep One Kassadin

*Pre-Void Kassadin

Katarina *Classic

*Mercenary Katarina

*Red Card Katarina

*Bilgewater Katarina

*Kitty Cat Katarina

Kayle *Classic

*Silver Kayle

*Viridian Kayle

KogMaw *Classic

Leblanc *Classic

LeeSin *Classic

Lux *Classic

*Sorceress Lux

Malphite *Classic

Malzahar *Classic

*Vizier Malzahar

*Shadow Prince Malzahar

Maokai *Classic

MasterYi *Classic

*Assassin Master Yi

*Chosen Master Yi

MissFortune *Classic

*Candy Cane Miss Fortune

Mordekaiser *Classic

*Dragon Knight Mordekaiser

*Infernal Mordekaiser

*Pentakill Mordekaiser

Morgana *Classic

Nasus *Classic

*Pharaoh Nasus

Nidalee *Classic

*Snow Bunny Nidalee

*Leopard Nidalee

Nocturne *Classic

*Ravager Nocturne

Nunu *Classic

Olaf *Classic

*Forsaken Olaf

*Glacial Olaf

*Pentakill Olaf

Orianna *Classic

Pantheon *Classic

*Myrmidon Pantheon

*Ruthless Pantheon

*Full Metal Pantheon

Poppy *Classic

*Noxus Poppy

*Lollipoppy

*Blacksmith Poppy

*Ragdoll Poppy

*Battle Regalia Poppy

*Scarlet Hammer Poppy

Rammus *Chrome Rammus

Renekton *Classic

*Bloodfury Renekton

Rengar *Classic

Riven *Classic

Rumble *Classic

Ryze *Classic

Sejuani *Classic

Shaco *Classic

Shen *Classic

*Frozen Shen

*Yellow Jacket Shen

Shyvana *Classic

Singed *Classic

*Hextech Singed

Sion *Classic

Sivir *Classic

Sona *Classic

*Pentakill Sona

*Silent Night Sona

Soraka *Classic

*Dryad Soraka

Talon *Classic

Taric *Classic

Teemo *Classic

*Happy Elf Teemo

*Badger Teemo

Tristana *Classic

*Earnest Elf Tristana

Trundle *Classic

Tryndamere *Classic

TwistedFate *Classic

*PAX Twisted Fate

*Jack of Hearts Twisted Fate

*The Magnificent Twisted Fate

*Tango Twisted Fate

*High Noon Twisted Fate

Twitch *Classic

Udyr *Classic

*Black Belt Udyr

Urgot *Classic

Vayne *Classic

*Vindicator Vayne

Veigar *Classic

*White Mage Veigar

*Curling Veigar

Viktor *Classic

Vladimir *Classic

Warwick *Grey Warwick

MonkeyKing *Classic

*Jade Dragon Wukong

Xerath *Classic

*Runeborn Xerath

*Battlecast Xerath

XinZhao *Imperial Xin Zhao

Yorick *Pentakill Yorick

Zilean *Classic

*Old Saint Zilean

Times sure have changed...

95 Comments

FBI Surveillance20 votes

Wow, super interesting post. I've almost forgotten about some of those old ones (oldest Alistar LOL) Also I think you repeated Dr. Mundoverse

Moonboy654 votes

[{quoted}](name=FBI Surveillance,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=MzVlq4ZV,comment-id=0001,timestamp=2015-12-02T01:02:50.733+0000)

Wow, super interesting post. I've almost forgotten about some of those old ones (oldest Alistar LOL) Also I think you repeated Dr. Mundoverse

woops, my bad XD

ShadowParker10 votes

Goal Keeper Blitzcranks is also the same in old and new.

Where did you get the old PulseFire Ezreal picture? They released the "new" one when he came out.

Wind Whistler1 votes

[{quoted}](name=FBI Surveillance,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=MzVlq4ZV,comment-id=0001,timestamp=2015-12-02T01:02:50.733+0000)

Wow, super interesting post. I've almost forgotten about some of those old ones (oldest Alistar LOL) Also I think you repeated Dr. Mundoverse

Yeah, old Alistar looked fucking retarded. But I think old Annie is even worse.

Moonboy652 votes

[{quoted}](name=Wind Whistler,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=MzVlq4ZV,comment-id=00010001,timestamp=2015-12-02T01:25:27.130+0000)

Yeah, old Alistar looked fucking retarded. But I think old Annie is even worse.

i do like some of the updated splash arts:

Assassin Master Yi, Chosen Master Yi, Singed, Sona (Silent Night Sona and Pentakill Sona)

Togekiss2413 votes

Riot Circa 2008 ~ Ugly paint-overs of in-game models.

Riot Circa 2012 ~ Great to Decent digital paintings, albeit sparse in numbers

Riot Circa 2014 ~ Cleaner, stylized paintings with awesome in-your-face action poses.

Rito has certainly gotten better over the years.

Axis the Dragon12 votes

Oh dear

Motorbike Riven

SUPER CHEST Tryndamere

SUPER PUB- I mean, CHEST HAIR Gangplank

Tasteful Sideboob Muscle-bound Soraka

Drow Ranger Ashe

Cartoon Alistar

I-have-no-background-awkward-pose Amumu

Fur Fighters Annie (pls someone get the reference)

Man, that was a hectic era... times sure have changed.

heterosexual DIE1 votes

Fur Fighters Annie (pls someone get the reference)

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/understand_reference_supernatural.gif

TendajiX1 votes

TF was the worst damn he was so disproportional lol

Axis the Dragon1 votes

Yo he had that Johnny Bravo body going on for real

NegusInParis7 votes

Ahri was so beautiful <3 and kayle

MarhsallLee673 votes

I really miss Ahri's old splash art :<

Solitair2 votes

Personally, I don't understand the fuss over ahri's old splash. I've been doing art my whole life, and the old splash is inferior in every way. The composition is bland, the contrast is bland, The facial features are extremely out of proportion( if her face wasn't tilted up, you'd see a really, really long nose), and the painting overall looks like it could have been done by someone who was barely getting a grasp on all of the elements I just described.

I think it's just nostalgia that makes people like it. If not, I could never guess.

Keevalroy4 votes

the old splash is inferior in every way.

If you're only comparing quality, absolutely. But the way she's presented in the original is more appealing and does the character justice. She's meant to be elegant, entrancing, and beautiful. The updated splash shows none of these qualities, showing change for the sake of change even going as far as to alter her physical anatomy. It's not just nostalgia, it's people preferring Ahri to be presented as who she is. It's the same reason people threw a holy-shit-fit when "Ahri" was in A New Dawn...it wasn't her. This impostor had blue eyes, one tail, odd proportions, and had absolutely no behavioral qualities we'd expect from her.

The bottom line is, it's not a suitable replacement because this is a recreation rather than an update. I still stand by my point I made last year about this - if this was a brand new champion, it wouldn't matter. Unfortunately, when you're dealing with an established character, when forcing a random change that doesn't need to happen, nor was wanted or warranted, people are going to be angry and confused.

HayRoss7 votes

Man, it's funny to look back at Yorick's old splash arts and see how bad they were

Oh wait

heterosexual DIE7 votes

Rectification.

Graves *Classic

-1st Splash : http://media.lolusercontent.com/api/embedly/1/image/resize?url=http%3A%2F%2Flol.esportspedia.com%2Fw%2Fimages%2Fc%2Fcc%2FGraves_Splash_0_Old.jpg&key=a45e967db0914c7fb472fd4381e6c85b&width=425

-2nd Splash : https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iv0-YtMia0E/maxresdefault.jpg

-Most recent update : http://media.lolusercontent.com/api/embedly/1/image/resize?url=http%3A%2F%2Fddragon.leagueoflegends.com%2Fcdn%2Fimg%2Fchampion%2Fsplash%2FGraves_0.jpg&key=a45e967db0914c7fb472fd4381e6c85b&width=425

I7A6X2v27 votes

2015: Warwick Same classic splash art since his release in 2009, 6 years ago. Rammus Same classic splash art since his release in 2009, 6 years ago.

2025: Warwick Same classic splash art since his release in 2009, 16 years ago. Rammus Same classic splash art since his release in 2009, 16 years ago.

Those 2 can't get new base splash art now anyway, because they need RELAUNCH (VISUAL UPDATE, NEW VO, NEW VFX, NEW MODELS)

ShadowParker6 votes

Sooo many feels in one post. God I remember the feeling that went with playing this game back in the day, the time where there was almost no smurfs, everyone was learning all the neat tricks with all the Champions and what not. The meta was not nearly as enforced as it is today. The game was simple. I enjoyed these times.

Keevalroy5 votes

Ahri's old splash is still so much better than the current one. I don't understand why it was so pressing that she had to get a splash update when the community was largely against both versions since barely anything about it changed in a period of time twice as long as it apparently takes to make a brand new one.

How about a Snowdown gift Riot? (Not expecting anything this year - that would be crazy) If you don't want to backtrack whatsoever, that's fine, but at least give us an option to hold onto some of the things that brought us to liking the characters. We need the ability to spend our piles of unused IP on something, so we should have the option of buying old splashes, VOs, and possibly even a customizable HUD.

Everything would be purely client based so clarity for new players won't be an issue. Everyone will only see / hear what their clients are set to present to them.

Baron Perenolde5 votes

Janna's 2nd splash art was way better than her current one.

ZT Xperimentor2 votes

I'd say the same for ahri & sivir, their most recent ones are inferior to their previous ones.

Kanzaki Ranko5 votes

i love how every champ that was released in beta (2009) just had one pose for one splash + skins, and skins were just paint overs

Totalis5 votes

See? The VAST majority of these were HUGE improvements. It just makes me wonder how they can redo so many splashes into something amazing, but at the same time ruined ahri's, janna's, fiora's, and katarina's splashes.

Like how were these let threw when they are clearly NOT up to the standard of the other splashes, at least in term's of their faces, which are the single MOST important part of a splash? The biggest defining trait of any person, real or imaginary, is their face, and to butcher it is an affront to the character and to those who play him/her.

Joycons1 votes

They wanted a more sleek, modern look to the splashes, but ended up ruining the looks that most people loved.

They could have just modified old splashes, but chose to make entirely new ones, that seemingly have no emotion to them and do not capture the actual character.

Leadpaintchips1 votes

the new janna one seemed like it focused more on her having that other worldly bit, but to each their own.

Blue Moon Wolf4 votes

http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/2/22/Akali_Splash_0_Old.jpg R.I.P. side boob :(

SpartenA79913 votes

I miss old shyvana, anivia, riven (2nd), and wukong splash arts [zombie-nunu-tears]

Moonboy6510 votes

{quoted}

I miss old shyvana, anivia, riven (2nd), and wukong splash arts [zombie-nunu-tears]

i miss the old Ahri splash art [zombie-nunu-tears]

Joycons1 votes

I miss the old Rengar splash art item 3070

ZT Xperimentor2 votes

I miss the old sivir & nocturne skins; too bad riot repeatedly refuses to make them 'traditional' skins for sale like they did with other old champions with

okino1 votes

Pretty sure it only becomes traditional when the older skin looks totally different from the new, like Traditional Karma or Trundle.

LeafyGreen4 votes

Traditional Skins aren't going to me happening anymore said by Riot.

What they were is the champions like Trundle and Karma got complete overhauls in their themes but their original themes were already good enough to keep.

Unlike someone like Poppy, who is being changed to what Riot wanted them to look as from the start. Karma was changed after they liked how she looked and thus was given a traditional skin that reverts her looks.

That's how I see it.

ShadowParker1 votes

Why'd he get downvoted? Just because your opinion is different from his doesn't mean you can justify down voting him.

SpartenA79911 votes

Why the hostility? I didnt downvote him for anything. You are just looking for a fight.

ShadowParker1 votes

What are you talking about? I'm asking why your comment got downvoted, it's targeted @ the people who downvoted you. Not you specifically.

SpartenA79911 votes

Because what you said was directed at me because it was a reply to me. XD whatever, thanks for backing me up then. [slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

ShadowParker1 votes

Yeah, I wasn't exactly sure where to put it, because noone commented saying something bad. And I can't make an individual comment because it won't make sense. So sorry for the confusion :p

Shadowkirby143 votes

It's funny how Fiddlesticks is the only one that doesn't look exactly like his new splash art when comparing to his in-game model. He still looks like his old splash.

Selfhood3 votes

I think those are better than the current http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/0/04/Ahri_Splash_0_Old.jpg http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/9/91/Anivia_Splash_2_Old.jpg http://lolwp.com/wp-content/uploads/Freljord-Ashe-Splash-new.jpg http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/d/d6/Garen_Splash_4_Old.jpg http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/f/fa/Janna_Splash_0_Old.jpg http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/c/c5/Kayle_Splash_0_Old.jpg http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/9/9b/Wukong_Splash_1_Old.jpg http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/2/29/Vayne_Splash_0_Old.jpg http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/5/58/TwistedFate_Splash_2_Old.jpg http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/c/ca/Tristana_Splash_0_Old.jpg http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/d/d7/Sejuani_Splash_0_Old.jpg http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/2/24/Rengar_Splash_0_Old.jpg http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/b/b9/Renekton_Splash_0_Old.jpg http://lol.esportspedia.com/w/images/a/a7/Morgana_Splash_0_Old.jpg

TendajiX1 votes

Jade Wukong for sure, the new splash is cartoonish and lacks the intricate, peaceful yet epic feel of the last splash. Unwarranted change imo

Leadpaintchips1 votes

would have to add Shyv to that list, myself.

Bellopia1 votes

I'm still mad about Kayle's new splash.

Myozthirirn2 votes

I just remembered why i played only morgana when i started this game e.e

Malicious Metal2 votes

Both Pentakill Mordekaiser and Karthus look better quality wise but I feel like the old Splashes had more power and captured the essence of Heavy Metal better :S

koager2 votes

Love the updates to the splashes. Still waiting and hoping for Riot to update Karma splashes for her other skins

The Mormonator2 votes

I want that epic Queen Ashe art back. That arrow ;-;

revliledpembroke2 votes

Huh....in every case of the individual splash arts being made into group shots....I hate the group shots.

Joycons1 votes

Rengar is the only champ that I'd kill to see his old splash come back. (Yes, i do miss ahris,) but Rengar's old splash was so nice. It was actually way more aesthetically pleasing than his new one, at least to me. I feel like it captured the actual champion more. When I look at the new one, it seems like an attempt to make it look "cooler" but it just.. doesn't. Maybe that's just me.

GamerulMaZgaPvP1 votes

Sorry but you made a mistake... That isn't old poppy ;D it's the new one... But great job

revliledpembroke1 votes

Is it time to update this post on updating pictures with the latest updates?

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