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So, it's Vladimir's birthday.

Over Innsmouth·7/27/2017, 10:50:02 AM·31 votes·1,448 views

On July 27th, 7 years ago, on a day perhaps like today - Vladimir was added into League of Legends.

I won't be long with this, I don't have the skill to properly craft a lengthy self-essay on why I think this is significant.

I like to think everyone has a Champion they're close to in League, whether they're a die-hard main or OTP, or whether they just dart from Champion to Champion in a series of flings. For me, that Champion has been since I started, and always will be, the pun-slinging, blood-wielding, collection of vampire references that is Vladimir.

Vlad's been my main ever since I started, back in the very beginning of Season 4. I absolutely adore playing him, from starting the game as a glorified cannon creep with a heal, to the lategame monster who will suck you dry and enjoy every drop. I love his shitty puns and his garish attire. I love how each and every one of his skins is a vampire reference, though he could stand to break the pattern with the next one. I love how mind-numbingly obnoxious dodging lane-losing skills with a single button press feels. I love how oppressive I can be when I slowly but surely drain your health in lane over and over and over until you risk death for a single cs, while I'm full of health.

I feel naked when I can't sustain, exposed and weak.

As little lore as we have on him , I also love that too. He's apparently a core member of the Black Rose, but he seems to hold his position out of might rather than cunning. He was instrumental in the (re)resurrection of Sion, but beyond that he seems to have no interest in the higher politics of Noxus. What he is interested in, if his old lore is any indication, is self-serving hedonism focusing on his fetishistic love of blood.

Taken from the Universe Page:

"A day earlier, the teenaged Vladimir had brutally murdered two boys his age, for no better reason than to enjoy the intoxicating scarlet bloom that surged forth. He realized immediately that he would never be able to suppress his murderous desires, and if he remained in Noxus, his foul deeds were sure to catch up with him."

He's an apolitical, murderous psychopath with little to no concept of nationalistic pride and prioritizes himself and having a good time over all else.

That's something I can happily get on board with.

There isn't any greater meaning to all this, I'm just expressing myself because I can, because I'm elated. I'm not trying to push anyone else to pick him up, because he's all mine stay away everyone is free to like what they like, I'm just using today's significance as an excuse to talk about something I love.

#Happy Birthday Vladimir, may your rivers stay red and your puns stay shitty.

http://teknoyun.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/10ekimpbeguncellemesi.png

17 Comments

Blood Magicks7/27/2017, 11:38:56 AM14 votes

I was born and raised in blood in all sorts of horror and fantasy themes and my love for Vlad stems from the fact that he is a heavy punch in everyone's nostalgia while being a fresh take on the subject.

Let's face it, while the vampire thematic is somewhat drained of life, blood magic is fresh and unknown and utterly terrifying. From the monstrous rituals in Dragon age to the primitive art in Game of Thrones where everything has a price, the concept or sanguimancy has immense potential:

  • There is the paralyzing fear that the polished, handsome gentleman you are conversing with can rip you apart from the inside; a feeling of uneasiness and dread which he can use to his advantage. To me, all the horror Vladimir is capable of becomes twice as immense when hidden just beneath a flawless surface. Vampires aren't as scary as they used to be, but blood mages get more dreadful with each franchise.

  • I love the idea of blood magic as an art/science/craft that you dedicate your life to; a secret cult and tradition that only the most talented and merciless of mages can be part of. I am a scientist myself and work in biotechnology, so this hits a bit close.

  • Humanity is an important factor here: I love that a blood mage is still a mortal human, but burdened with immense knowledge which he/she must preserve at all costs. Human pride, ambitions, desires: I agree with Tides that Vlad was initially apolitical, but his position in Noxus and his human nature ended up dragging him into the conflicts.

  • Lastly, you cannot deny the appeal of a dom who can control your physiology, sometimes very subtly. That Marquis splash is next level, and it achieves both the dread and the erotica without showing a single drop of blood.

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/81a719304ea264d5104428fe034e07e40096c3ce8577442a9a75b542ad35a0c1.jpg

I am almost upset at the fact that Vlad is in a very balanced state at the moment which bars him from VUs and hence the amount of quality content he deserves. His legendary skin, not to mention his older ones, look embarrassingly dated. Judging by the undeservingly high ratings the recent Castlevania anime got, there is a market for this aesthetic that isn't being saturated.

TwitchInMyPants7/27/2017, 12:12:45 PM6 votes

Welp good thing Morello isn't working on the game still or he'd be trying to find ways to nerf Vlad for "being a mistake" hehe

Happy Birthday, its a good time to B-

VelvetCrotch7/28/2017, 3:12:52 PM2 votes

Happy birthday to u, vlad, who has a cool theme but looks like a metrosexual anime-boy, with a fitting but boring kit - except his W and E - and one of the most ugliest skins ingame except his legendary, which is outdated af.

we think of you, vlad. and we will hope for a deserved VGU in the far future.

Quindec7/27/2017, 7:05:50 PM2 votes

he can suck the blood out of me any day...any places

Dragon Master7/28/2017, 7:05:52 PM2 votes

Kneel before Vladimir

Epicurus7/27/2017, 12:39:51 PM2 votes

I've been sitting on a Nosferatu Vlad skin shard for months now, wondering wether I should start playing the hemomancer...

Even though I don't play Vlad, I find his persona very endearing, and eagerly await his expanded lore. Also, "the Crimson Reaper" is probably my favourite epithet of them all.

Happy Birthday Vladimir.

Rand0mH3r0X7/28/2017, 7:10:05 PM1 votes

I won't be long with this, I don't have the skill to properly craft a lengthy self-essay on why I think this is significant.

One 438 Word Essay later.

You're right. Essay formats usually are 500 words or longer. You disappointed me twice.

That's great that you've been able to enjoy that particular champion for so long. There a few champions which I play that haven't received major changes, mostly just Jarvin and Riven.

THE RlVER KlNG7/27/2017, 5:22:35 PM1 votes

After Fiddle Vlad was the first champion I bought and my first main before Vel'Koz and Tahm Kench

I actually got Mastery 7 on him before I got Mastery 7 on Tahm, incidentally

a lot of people don't know that about me because I'm so ostentatiously a TK main but Vlad is my second and most fervent love

Miss Luxanna7/27/2017, 10:35:16 PM1 votes

Lux > Vladimir <3 <3 <3

strut7/27/2017, 11:03:24 PM1 votes

Since his rework i feel less attached to him every day. There was a point when i only needed a few games to be 20th most mastery points vlad on EUNE now im more than 100k behind. He has changed so much lately i just cannot bring myself to play him. Since he's being picked in pro play i just don't feel the same way about him.

Time to return to my first true main i guess. Velkoz

AbiwonKenabi7/28/2017, 3:20:24 PM1 votes

Love the lore, love the style, too bad I suck (heh) at most midlaners. And top laners for that matter. My lil bro played him yesterday though. Happy birthday Vlad! :3