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What's your favorite (and optionally least favorite) faction(s) in terms of style/design/etc?

Forhonor321·12/31/2019, 6:34:05 PM·16 votes·13,436 views

While I slowly contemplate on whether or not I should ditch LoL for Legends of Runeterra when it hits (or just ditch the game in general), I started to look back at what currently keeps me playing or even interested in the world of Runeterra. Not too long after did I realize that one of the biggest factors for me staying is the style of factions the world brings. The architecture, armor and weapons, the designs of champions to represent these regions, all of it just is interesting to me. It's almost why I still keep around a bit longer just to keep up with the new artwork and designs coming out (and the small, nearly-dead hope that the game will eventually get better).

So, that got me wondering. What are everyone else's favorite (or even least favorite) faction(s)?

To me, it comes down to 3 main ones:

  • Noxus

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/leagueoflegends/images/e/e9/Noxus_Crest.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20161117055949[/img]

I. LOVE. NOXUS' DESIGN. Everything about Noxus just draws me to them, more so than ever since their lore rewrite a while back. I think the first time I was really getting into their design was with the Sion rework. Looking at him was just fascinating as to how they took the character and the small snippets of design of city from his previews/monument also drew me more into it. I also feel like it's been becoming more cohesive in overall design lately, with things like the Swain rework and Mordekaiser feeling more intertwined. Plus, I just love the various armor designs they have. That sold me on them.

https://cdn1.sixmorevodka.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/08000257/NOXUS07.jpg?webp=0[/img] https://cdn1.sixmorevodka.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/08000258/NOXUS06.jpg?webp=0[/img] https://cdn1.sixmorevodka.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/08000254/NOXUS11.jpg?webp=0[/img]

  • Shadow Isles

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/leagueoflegends/images/c/c6/Shadow_Isles_Flooded_Cities.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20190126160036[/img]

Second overall favorite in terms of general design. I think the Shadows Isles have a neat concept, of something once being holy now is a place of dread, misery and living death. I also have really have come to love a lot of the recent character designs from Legends of Runeterra. It's also a great way to have a celebratory Halloween event, though Riot has seemingly been moving away from that the past few years.

https://imgur.com/01Yr9G1

  • Freljord

https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/002/407/725/large/joon-ahn-sheet-03-sejuani-env-160421-1200-02.jpg?1461349183[/img]

I'm a sucker for themes of vikings/barbarians/people of a frozen land. Now more specifically, I prefer the designs of the Winter's Claw and Frostguard. I just find them a tad more interesting than Avarosan designs because I'm more use to their looks a bit more. I'm a bit of a Warhammer player and if you know that, then you should know about the designs of Norsca and the Warriors of Chaos, not to mention I'm just use to the stereotype of barbarians n' vikings looking more similar to those two in fantasy than the nicer look of the Avarosan's.

https://cdn1.sixmorevodka.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/08000331/FRE07.jpg?webp=0[/img] https://cdn1.sixmorevodka.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/08000332/FRE06.jpg?webp=0[/img]

And now to briefly go over the factions that I don't really like:

  • Ionia

Just...never was drawn to it that much. I think on a whole it's...fine, but when it comes to fantasy I'm more drawn to styles/themes of Western mythology over Eastern. Looking into Eastern mythology, such as Journey to the West with Wukong and Krishna to name some of the bigger ones that I'm recently come to know a bit, it just feels lackluster with insanely powerful and/or flawless characters. In the context of League, though, I just look at it and think "this is literally just all of asian culture turned more anime and cranked to 11." I've also never have been a huge fan of a lot of champs from this region, mainly Yasuo (for obvious reasons), but have one or two exceptions like Jhin. Outside of that, I could care less.

  • Ixtal

This might be a bit more biased since I haven't really read up on Ixtal and the first champ to represent this region I absolutely despise but I really could care less about Ixtal. Now, I know it's brand new and I should read up on it, since apparently that's were dragons now originated from and malphite is apart of the region (so now he has a proper canon place to be in Runeterra), and give it a chance but as I said, I don't like the champ that was released to show it. Quiana I hate on multiple aspects, from her kit to her looks and personality. It's very important that a champ has something I really like about them to consider trying them out or investing in them in some way, but she doesn't have any of that. There's also the aspect that there isn't that much concept art of the place itself. Mostly it just being art from the stories or of some large palace/cities from a distant, which doesn't excite me.

Side note: I also feel the name is too close to Magic the Gathering's Ixalan and now was kind of hoping that dinosaurs would be included in there.

  • Bandle City

There's...nothing. Riot I feel has been dropping the ball on this particular faction for a while now. All we know is that there are magical gates that pop up randomly to the Yordle's home. That's it. We don't get a glimpse at it, we don't know the pattern of it, where or how Yordles came to be, nothing. With LoR, I feel like they're just continuing to forget that Bandle City exists. They have the concept of glamour, yet in a lot of the cards just appear as normal. As these suppose to show how they actually look to others or seeing through their disguised selves? There's a lot of potential here that could be interesting but nothing is done yet.

Neutral stance

Finally, a real brief overview on the factions that I don't really place in either category.

  • Demacia - I think they're rewrite is good from just being the pure "good guys" by adding in some moral and social dilemmas with mages and magic. Like the classic medieval look they have going but isn't that super striking to me.
  • Bilgewater - Absolutely love the take on pirates in this world, mainly in the port/city itself with the buildings being made out of wrecked ships. Nothing really new with them lately, though to keep that love, along with a limited supply of champs that I like to play from there.
  • Piltover/Zaun - Definitely an interesting location. I like the idea of both cities striving for the same thing (just going about it in very different ways) and it's also nice to see Riot's take on Steampunk in a magic-ridden world. That said, I'm not super big into Piltover's overall design, Zaun I feel could use some more neutral/good aligned characters like Ekko, and I'm already interested in a few other factions already.
  • Shurima - Like the idea of a desert/Egyptian themed faction. Sadly, not that many champs to keep me interested.
  • Targon - Love a lot of the concept art and champs in-game. Not a fan of the Aspects or the Solari.
  • The Void - HAS AN EXTREMELY GOOD THEME!!! I just can't fully get behind it and I don't know why.

Anyways, I'm done talking about my thoughts on the various factions but what are your favorites (or least favorites)?

21 Comments

thefatlazycat12/31/2019, 8:29:03 PM7 votes

Top 3:

Noxus - For a similar reason to why you said, the nation's architectural design is amazingly gothic, the cultural mosaic that is the Noxian population is something fond and familiar to me, and the history of the proto-Noxian tribes and Mordekaiser fascinates me to no end.

The Shadow Isles - I like the visual design of the shadow isles, and storylines like the ruined king, karthus', and (old) mordekaiser's lore really pulled the Isles to the top of my favourites list.

Ixtal - While their lore is underdeveloped I currently like the direction Ixtal's lore can go, I like the idea of Qiyana becoming a military dictator and this not sitting right with some citizens who try and form a rebellion.

Least favourite: (all the others are really a tie)

Ionia - Ionia always struck me as a dull asia stand-in that felt like riot's Gary Stu region, I remember rolling my eyes when I read about how the Ionians were so in tune with the land that it just 'gave' them the resources needed to survive. Frankly the only appealing part of Ionia's lore to me is the subjugation of the Vastaya. And don't get me started on the champion design, Jhin, Shen, and Sett may be the only healthy champions in all of Ionia's design.

NelsieLisnen12/31/2019, 11:57:47 PM4 votes

My least favorite have to be (and I don't know if they count as a faction) the Vastaya. They are basically a mishmash of champion designs, some more animalistic, some less, that riot decided to include into an entire species, and that's why I think they lack design integrity and cohesion as a whole, plus they are not very fleshed out. Like, Wukong was just supposed to be another Son Goku knockoff, and it shows. While there are some Vastaya designs I really dig, like Rengar, Xayah and Rakan, there are also Vastaya that are shit designs by many metrics, like Neeko, Wukong, and now that Sett guy.

NOW FOR FAVORITO: BILGEWATER Why? Because it's a harbor of chaos, opportunity, and wild pluralism. Within its port-town style streets and treacherous habitats you can find anything from pirates, gunslingers and savages to eldritch gods, magical critters, demons and spectres of vengeance. It's a place where any wacky idea of a champion that can't fit into any other region can find a cozy corner.

Caretaker Jack12/31/2019, 6:51:33 PM3 votes

My Top 3:

  1. Shadow Isles
  2. Mt. Targon
  3. Ionia

Reasoning:

The Isles is pretty sophisticated compared to the other factions. So much that it actually develops other regions. Itd like a modernized version of zombies. Classic. It's got villains, heroes, tragedy, etc. For me, it's (easily) the best.

I looove Greek myth, so a modern take on it was a definite "yes!" Seeing biased humans with Godlike power do what they can is always a riot.

The world is among the most solid. It's popularity pushes writers to develop the plot more and more... Needless to say, Riot has succeeded.

My Bottom 3:

  1. Ixtal
  2. Shurima
  3. Bilgewater

Reasoning:

Bilgewater is dope, but even the release of Pyke couldn't take it off my bottom three. Frankly, it feels like yesterday's news. Anything interesting about it (to me) is because of the Isles.

Shurima hasn't been touched in awhile and the little we do know has left us with more questions than answers... After theory crafting, I finally decided I was bored with it.

Ixtal just got here and it looks like a plot device. It's like if Mexico had a baby with the Disney version of Atlantis and I'm not impressed... The fact it's mysterious has the same effect on me that Shurima did.

Chembaron Yamada12/31/2019, 11:42:23 PM3 votes

**Favourite: ** Zaun I love chemtech aesthetically, the combination of alchemy and technology with the unsetting vibes which champions like Urgot, Warwick and others are giving you are the best. Also it feels so diverse, since Zaun provides so many different sources for power to become a champion. Genius inventors, special creatures made with science, augmented people, ancient spirits, robots.... there is so much going on in Zaun.

Piltover Clean version of Zaun. I like the Victorian vibes it gives and that it feels a bit more futuristic than Zaun. Hextech is well established thematically, even in the client of the game. I hope that we can get more champions from here in the future, tho, since this region is still pretty small...

Least favourite: Demacia Honestly, aesthetically it just is the "good fantasy region" for me. Nothing really outstanding for me here, just stuff I have seen over and over in other games.

StormBladeMaster12/31/2019, 11:54:56 PM3 votes

My 3 favorites :

Ionia : I love asian culture and Irelia is one of the most beautiful champions in the game. Ahri is amazing too. I like the way they made Ionia a "weak country" but who is becoming stronger because people like Irelia and Karma are inspirations and lead their army.

Piltover : If i had to live on Runeterra, i would choose Piltover. This city is amazing, progress and everything. I wish we could have more story about Caitlyn and Vi hunts because it's exciting. I love the story of Piltover, i don't know why but this "detective story" style is really cool.

Btw a lot of interesting characters like Orianna, Camille, Caitlyn, Jayce, Vi...

Demacia: I really like the civil war beetween mages and normal people. It's add something to Demacia. Instead of having a boring city who represent the "light" and "justice" or "the good", you have a part of shadow. Demacia is not perfect and it's funny to see the flaws, it's add something tragic, dramatic and i like it. By the way, i loved the comic about Lux and Garen. That why i put this city in my favorites.

My least favorites :

The Void: I really don't like the lore, i'm not interested in the void. I read the stories and i wasn't immersed in the universe. After all, most of characters are strange creatures who want to destroy or eat the world... Kai'sa, Malzahar and Kassadin could have been interesting but i didn't like it either.

Mount Targon : The story is way too complicated. This is not the place i like the most to be honest.

Bilgewater : I love the city, i love pirates but i feel like this place is wasted in stories. When i see the pictures of Bilgewater, this place looks amazing but when i read the stories, i feel like you could have done way better.

Whyte Lyon1/1/2020, 3:27:29 AM3 votes

I'm no monomaniac nor fussy. All world-building is good world-building.

Hextech OwI1/1/2020, 5:47:34 AM3 votes

Top 3:

1 - Piltover

Lovingly steampunk, the mix of victorian aristocracy coupled with unfathomable technology is awesome imo.

2 - Freljord

Tribal style and snow always go well together.

3 - Targon

Reminds me a lot of druidic stuff and it's quite nice.

Least Favorite: Ixtal

Just not a big fan of the "old civilisation" design

RyzeTheSmurfMage12/31/2019, 9:37:31 PM2 votes

Personal top 3: Shurima

By far my number 1. I just love the Ancient Egypt aesthethic, it's magic and all the magical shit it has, all the gold, architecture, the Ascended, Azir, history etc. I never get bored theory crafting it because it holds so much potential. I really hope more of it's potential is shown in LoR when it's added to show more of its aesthethic and awesome shit it has and may have (like the weapons and armors, how the soldiers and warriors look, more huge beasts and magical constructs and siege weaponry, maybe the Sun Priests?) And also as a Warhammer player, SETTRA DOES NOT SERVE

Freljord

Elemental spirit gods, Vikings, Ice magic imbued superhumans, what's not to love about this? The aesthethic rly fits them too. The Frostguard are imo the coolest tribe in Freljord

Noxus

While it's not on par with Shurima and Freljord for me, they still have cool aesthethics and elements to their faction, especially military, that makes them cool

Personal bottom 3: Ionia

While I love the East Asian theme and aesthethic usually, I feel like it's wasted with Ionia, making them pacifists with no standing armies and shit. They are also given basically no flaws which doesn't help in making them more, and I have....a personal bias against its champions (I wonder why /s)

Bilgewater

I just personally don't find anything interesting about it. Unlike other nations which while inspired from irl themes but added some unique elements to them, Bilgewater is literally just....pirates. All the unique stuff about it is not even in the city itself.

I don't have a third because I love league lore in general with a few exceptions and besides those 2 there isn't any faction I truly dislike (since Bandle has no lore at all lmao)

Others: Demacia Good aesthethic and theme as well as military details. Interesting lore overall although I'd wish for Lux to stop getting so much content like she is the main character Targon Good aesthethic and setting, although except for Panth and Zoe the Aspects don't seem influential at all in Runeterra when it's their job to be. Shadow Isles Very cool setting and tons of potential for spooky monstrosities, as well as a v interesting history. Overall I like it a lot Ixtal Aesthethic is smooth and nice, I love the theme of ancient civilisations, and them being master elementalists is also something I like a lot since I love magic in Runeterra. Overall it holds great potential but it has yet to be shown The Void Ngl I'm not a big fan of the Void itself. I like it as a threat tho. It rly sells the whole world ending threat theme

14daysuspensionk12/31/2019, 11:05:15 PM2 votes

Shurima or Ionia perhaps the favorite, I like the design of things such as armor and weaponry in Shurima since it's not very typical. Although Ionias biologial nature makes it hard to choose. Least favorite would probably be Demacia, I mean, the idea of a magic absorbing city is cool but the rest of their world reminds me too much of our world. First of all, they ride on horses, they are animals mostly used by us in our world. Not much that stands out there, especially considering the fact that other regions of Runeterra use animals that would never exist or evolve in our world. I mean Demacia would have the same but we never really got to see them, I can think of one mythological animal that exists there, but it isn't exactly a domesticated species. Also, the design for armory and weaponry really reminds me of our world, the other regions have somethings that do not look anything like the stuff in our world. Although fi Demacia is supposed to remind us of our own world, I guess that can excuse it. Especially considering the discriminating conflicts going on there, people do often in the real world rebel against their rulers when they feel oppressed unfairly, and that's what's happening in Demacia.

Harleqynn1/1/2020, 9:52:35 PM2 votes

Honestly Piltover and Zaun are my favorites- there’s something so cool about a whole technology overhaul and happening in such a small area that is so fun- also the mock politics between the two are so cool as well!

RyzeRework1/1/2020, 2:14:53 AM2 votes

Bandle city is definitely weak as far as I forget it even existed untill now

Cryoheroine1/1/2020, 4:53:19 AM2 votes

Freljord Everything about it just for some reason appeals to me, all always love cold/winter themed landscape cause of the various things you can do with it. Also I have a find to electricity and Ice, and what a coincidence that two champions who embody it, reside in the freljord. Not only that, but my main is from there. Not real keen on Vikings but I do love the architecture and layout of everything there, also there pretty much the only region that doesn't give a shit about magic and let's it do what it wants and has creatures like the demigods roaming around. Piltover I like steampunk sticks, and also love the idea of an entire city based around technology, it relates to what we're kinda doing irl. Shurima I like deserts lol

Close third Bilgewater I love pirates! Or at least the concept surrounding them and stuff, bilgewater kinda leans away from stereotype pirates in some sort of way. Sail around on ships but treasure is irrelevant, you know, but instead they give it the sorta of "thieves and bandits and bounty hunters" vibe.

Demacia I don't hate Knights and royalty and all that, and the whole concept I nice, but I just can't like this region, not only does a VAST majority of the champions in this region piss me the hell off in-game, (Poppy (cause she isn't busted and can you really hate something with that cute of a lore and face?) and Quinn (you rarely see her and she isn't THAT problematic) are really the only ones who don't, fiora also but every now and then she has her moments...) But this region is pretty much bias. They hate magic, anyone who just SHOWS a hint of being able to use it, is sent prison for life, or worse, killed on the spot. All cause prince jarvan the r%%%%%ed's father got killed and he assumed it was by magic. As much as lux irritates the shit out of me, I do feel bad for her lore-wise, she's forced to hide what makes her, her and even worse is part of royalty, meaning it will be VERY problematic if anyone finds out. I used to think Garen was just this magic hating ass, until I saw the comic and realized he's willing to keep a secret FROM THE PRINCE HIMSELF just to protect his sister.... He may be an ass in game but he's a selfless brother in lore which I can respect. Hell they even MADE a champion just to fight off anything that uses magic, GALIO! And the walls, and weapons literally sap magic from anything, living or non-living, which hurts the living, a whole lot too. I couldn't even imagine what it would be like if Anivia went anywhere near demacia.... Everything about this region just sucks ass.

Avicou1/1/2020, 5:57:18 AM2 votes

The two factions I'm drawn to are Shurima and the Freljord, the ones really centered in mythology and ancient history.

My least favorite is the Yordles, they all look stupid and they have no real lore.

VelvetCrotch1/5/2020, 1:54:26 PM1 votes

I can make this short: I second the taste of the OP. Noxus, Freljord and Shadow Isles are also my fav design :)

Wrathof3001/4/2020, 9:34:49 PM1 votes

My favorite faction is Targon. Initially Targon was developed as the "Greco-Roman" faction of Runeterra similar to Ionia representing Asian culture and Shurima, Egyptian culture. The new Targon lore pushes dives more into Greek mythology as the Aspects can be compared to the Olympian gods and the their vessels being compared to greek demi-gods and heroes. Targon is steeped in celestial themes and gives the region a unique aesthetic which it previously lacked.

My least favorite faction is the Void, individually the void champions are amazing and interesting characters and the Vel'Koz lore significantly improved the Void's lore allowing the readers to understand the mindless destructive nature of the Void, however, collectively the Void is an unimpressive faction. This is because the Void is given the role of the ultimate evil by the writers, we are told to be afraid of the Void and the impact they can have on the lore yet the Void has done nothing to deserve this role. This is not due to a lack of lore.

It has been stopped in Icathia by the Ascended host and single handed frozen and trapped by Lissandra in the Howling Abyss and it continues to be shoehorned into any lore possible, the Void's strong point as a villainous faction is quantity over quality whereas other villains such as Mordekaiser or the Darkin focus on quality. I look forward to depth being added to the Void champions to make them real threats and not just impending dangers.

GreenLore1/5/2020, 6:40:29 PM1 votes

Noxus is my favorite faction in terms of design and I simply really love how varied the noxians look.

My least favorite ones are the shadow isles, the void and bandle city. I mean I really like the void and the shadow isles as a concept and their individual champs, but they are both a bit to monotone for me(shadow isles is full with blue&green mist and dark colors, while void is almost completely purple).

Bandle on the other hand simply lacks a cohesive design. It is described as whimsical and magical, but most of its champs look like they are part of a military unit.