New Splashes

ProfDrDeath·10/13/2014, 7:57:40 PM·20 votes·5,508 views

What do you think about the new splash arts on the PBE?

http://www.surrenderat20.net/2014/10/1013-pbe-update.html#more

Personally, I like: Zilean, Veigar, Ezreal, Blitzcrank Talon - Helmet Bro is getting killed again. That guy has more lives than Kenny.

Dislike: Ahri - her face looks way better in her current splash. Janna - same as Ahri. Her face looks more benevolent in her current splash. The new one looks too cold and distanced for my liking. Wukong - his fur is way to bright.

Not sure: Shen - he looks a lot more sinister in the new splash. Tristana - her upper arm, or what's visible of it, is a tad thin for somebody who hauls a cannon around all day long...

72 Comments

MrBuffington10/13/2014, 8:53:29 PM14 votes

My opinion (Hit or Miss, will make edits):

Ahri : Miss, she looks sort of ghostly, doesn't really capture the vixen nature about her. I'm no artist, but I think the splash would do better with a bit of a warmer palette (not warm, but warmer; I'd like some of the "charm" feel), larger/darker pupils (they look a bit too distant), and a hint of a smile (for the "charm" feel). Perhaps have her hair a bit neater, while still having that "wild" look (more on the side of curly than uneven lengths?). Maybe I'm off with the suggestions, I don't know...to me she looks like a scared fox running away, instead of a cunning fox luring you in closer... (I think Dynasty Ahri does a better job with Ahri's character)

Blitzcrank : Such Hit, wow. Out of habit I found myself juking to the side irl to try to dodge the hook :P

Ezreal : I'm a fan, Hit. Ezreal looks more like that cocky, punky kid he's supposed to be

Janna : Miss; like you said, she looks too distant, also very elfish and too skinny, doesn't look like her lore depicts her as (which sounds like a retconn is coming....I hope they don't change too much...). Janna is supposed to be a human that becomes more otherworldly; her new splash makes her seem a bit too otherworldly, too inhuman (Frost Queen and Victorious Janna hit a better mark imo)

Kayle : ~~Hit, my lord she looks awesome.~~ Unsure, Legacy of Xion brings up some good points; I still like the splash, but wouldn't be opposed to some of the changes Legacy of Xion brings up. I agree with Ashes Arise, her thumbnail could use some touch ups (Lee Sin round 2/Shiny Diglett), but overall I like it.

MonkeyKing : Miss, it looks like he's trying to be aggressive and playful at the same time, basically face pulling in opposite directions. Like Ashes Arise was saying, the cheeky expression is pretty canon. (See his old splash and Jade Dragon Wukong)

Shen : Hit. Shen looks so awesome. I agree he looks a bit sinister, but he is a ninja; it'd be cool if they found a way to make that protector element a bit more apparent (for people who don't know what his ult does), but I like the new art.

Talon : Hit. He actually looks like an assassin now. Poor helmet bro

: ~~Hit, almost perfect,~~ Not sure, actually, she looks a bit stylistically different than Rocket Jump Tristana, which is my personal favorite, but I do like the new look. I sort of wish her clothes looked a little less like she found them on the ground. Not sure what to suggest, I like the armor, but the clothes seem sort of plain in comparison.

Veigar : ~~Hit,~~ definite improvement, but not quite sure either, there's something sort of playful or comical about Veigar that doesn't fully come across. I do like the new look, though.

Zilean : Hit, he looks awesome

Basically, there's something playful about Ahri, Janna, and Wukong that I think the splashes don't capture; the art is great but it doesn't feel like the characters. There are certain characters that are very serious (Kayle, Shen, Talon), and the splashes do a good job with that, and there are characters that are more playful (Ezreal, Tristana) and their splashes do a good job with that too. I'd say Ahri's is the worse offender; I only really have a problem with Wukong/Janna's faces, they're almost there; the rest of the splash seems pretty good. Ahri's looks like it's a harrowing skin, which it really shouldn't, the layout and general look of the splash is good, just certain details and colors would make it much better imo

The ones I'm split about I generally like, but I don't know if they're as spot-on as the ones I listed as "Hits"

Ashes Arise10/13/2014, 8:14:56 PM9 votes

I like all of them aside from Wukong's. The new splash looks far far too different. Wukong's current classic splash is one of my favorites in the game. His cheeky expression and bold pose. Also the new splash has wukong as huge and bulky (almost gorilla-like). Wukong isn't that bulky.... he's not..... he's not.... he's just... not... The new splash doesn't even resemble wukong to me. If I saw it out of context (without "Wukong NEW Splash" written above it) I wouldn't have even recognized him.

I'm just putting this out there. I HATE the new Wukong splash.

Only other small complaint would be that Kayle's new portrait (small thumbnail) looks too similar to pantheon. I guess its not that big of a deal because the splash looks great.

Avelys10/14/2014, 1:30:37 AM7 votes

Ahri got whitewashed in her new splash, isn't she based on Korean mythology?

Don't get me wrong, I love it but... I wish they kept some vestiges of her oriental origins.

Uncreative Guy10/13/2014, 9:05:53 PM7 votes

Honestly the Wukong splash is so ugly. It's too soft looking like play doh almost. It doesn't fit with all the others and it doesn't look like Wukong.

Baron Perenolde10/13/2014, 10:33:56 PM6 votes

Not really feeling Ahri's new splash, at least when it comes to her face.

Admix10/14/2014, 1:29:07 AM6 votes

I prefer the old Ahri splash, that asian look on her was really cool.

Janna's new face is simply... Awful. I think the old one was a lot more... playful.

sNanaya10/13/2014, 10:57:40 PM6 votes

Agree with ahri new splash disliking. The original face is alot better

Joushi10/13/2014, 9:24:13 PM6 votes

Ahri doesn't look either Asian or foxlike anymore. She looks Spanish with ears and a tail tacked on, and for a character that has a Korean name and they put a lot of effort into having her be the "Korean champion," it's rather disappointing that it made it this far without someone bringing it up.

TheUltimate310/13/2014, 8:03:48 PM5 votes

Only one I'm eh about is Kayle. And not because of the style, but because I really don't understand what they were going for with the shield. Is it like some weird liquid now or what?

And finally Zilean looking as epic as he deserves.

Narog10/13/2014, 9:23:31 PM5 votes

Is too much to ask to Riot to not go forward with some of the splash's ? like the Rengar and the Ahri ones?

Nameless Voice10/13/2014, 9:37:38 PM5 votes

I don't like the "action pose" style that has been featured in a lot of recent splash arts, where the characters' bodies are contorted into strange shapes to try to squeeze them into the frame with as little "wasted" / non-character space as possible.

In this batch, that specifically applies to Ezreal, Talon, and Kayle. In Kayle's case, the art is very messy and it's hard to understand what's even happening in it. The shield confuses the shapes, so you don't even get a clear idea of what Kayle is. From that splash art, I'd almost Imagine that Kayle was a woman in armour who travelled around inside a floating sphere with wings, rather than that the wings are attached to her and the sphere is a temporary shield.

I also don't like the new Wukong splash - it looks really cartoony, with large patches of flat colour on him, and the background too blurry.

The new Zilean is awesome, though. I also like the Shen and Ahri (though Ahri's could indeed do with a bit more work on her face.)

Flemman10/13/2014, 9:42:36 PM5 votes

Janna neck is too slim (or too long), you can be an elf without being a skeleton :p

Frick Mako10/13/2014, 9:52:10 PM5 votes

i hate the new janna splash art. janna's current splash art is so much hotter. i have a feeling the new irelia splash art is going to suck also. r.i.p.

Hi Im Dude10/14/2014, 2:24:20 AM4 votes

The janna icon looks like ezreal put on blue contacts

eightsy10/13/2014, 9:42:24 PM4 votes

I'd love it if Riot would post the artists names at least, so I can find the artists and look at their other works, these new splashes are great, especially Janna and Tristanna so I'd love to know who drew them... I'm pretty sure su-ke did the ezreal one.

Soarkin10/14/2014, 2:52:20 AM4 votes

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GreenLore10/13/2014, 10:26:06 PM3 votes

I really like them except for Wukongs it just looks too bright compared to everything else.

Also I am a bit disappointed that Janna is keeping her bikini,I found that never really fitting for her and it just gives the impression of cheap fanservice,like A:"i dunno what she should wear" B:"Just put her into a bikini,the boys will like it" A:"great idea"

Stancealot10/13/2014, 11:46:32 PM3 votes

Ahri I personally think that Ahri's splash art looks great, EXCEPT her face. I feel like her face looks ugly, like a 4/10. She looked like a 9/10 before I feel like it really is a shame. The worse part is that the only important part of the classic splashes is the face of the champion. So you do don't get to appreciate how good the rest of the art is because of skins and the only remnant is her unsightly face whenever you die or get a kill (or even look at the mini-map).

Edit: I feel like her hair is also a mess and really unkempt. When I think of Ahri I think of a beautiful seductress that pulls in people to feast on their souls. her face in the new splash just makes me think of ragged witch that lives in a swampy forest. Obviously this is my two cents and possibly is not constructive in any way shape or form, I just wanted to get it out there in hopes that there will be an edit or it won't go through.

flibitydoo10/14/2014, 3:32:29 AM3 votes

I think that all of the new splash arts are fine...

but like everyone else, a lot of them are replacing what are currently great looking splash arts (such as Rengar, Ahri, Kayle, Wukong, Janna). Which kind of makes me not really want some of them (especially Wukong), since they are fixing what currently isn't really broken at all.

My only real complaint against them is that Tristana kind of looks like a guy in the new splash, but that's just an opinion.

exe310/14/2014, 6:58:46 AM3 votes

Epic Tier: Tristana and Ezreal

They captured Tristana perfectly with that splash I love it so much for my original main and still all time favorite champion personality! Still a tad surprised they did one, i'd have assumed they'd wait for the Y.U.P. but maybe they're not so worried about doubling up on work anymore when they have to redo the splash again (so you guys finally get all the hires you wanted a while back? :P ).

Ezreal just looks badass! And here I thought the old leak looked sweet!

Awesome Tier: Zilean, Veigar and Shen

Nothing much to say, these are just all cool pics and I approve!

Great Tier: Kayle, Blitzcrank

The only thing putting her here instead of higher is the breastplates, why Riot why? It was one of the best things about very original Kayle. It was nice to have female armored champs who didn't have breastplates so it's very disappointing to see Kayle take that leap backwards. Otherwise it's a pretty cool pic. For Blitz the pic is awesome but i'm still not too fond of the colour changes, it still feels haphazard and not thought out to me. I prefer the classic all yellow but i'd be open to variations if they didn't feel thrown together.

Meh Tier: Ahri

The pic itself is good but she doesn't look quite right, probably the biggest issue is her ears, they're almost unnoticeable and that's disappointing given it's one of the things that visually shows how she's a fox.

Trash Tier: Talon, Wukong and Janna.

Wukong and Janna look just so wrong. All 3 look a bit undetailed tbh but Wukong and Janna's faces are the things of nightmares! :S They all just don't look like their respective characters imo (again, particularly their faces) and the art style is a bit dull.

cshakes10/14/2014, 12:40:03 PM3 votes

Janna, Ahri and Wukong are total misses. Wukong needing a new splash I can sort of understand, but they give him an ugly one that doesn't capture his personality at all? Seriously Riot.

Janna's was totally unnecessary and is friggin' ugly to boot. Her current splash shows an ethereal wind spirit, the PBE one just looks weird.

Solidair310/13/2014, 9:12:01 PM2 votes

I think Janna is supposed to look a bit distant, isn't she? Otherworldly and such. I haven't read her lore in a while, but I think she's appropriately captured in the new splash.

Also I must say, Ezreal looks amazing! And I love how Shen is disappearing in his splash. And Wukong's splash catches his personality, I think.

magikmarvelfan10/13/2014, 10:42:41 PM2 votes

Ahri I absolutly love the colours and the pose and that expression, she looks more mesmerazing, misterious and mystycal and natural, i whould follow her into the woods only to touch her tails and take a closer look at her eyes but we know what comes next and that feeling is basically what ahri is, buuuut her eyes and face could use a little tweeks make the eyes more sharp witout losing their inocence (fake but still) basicalyy more asian and it whould be perfect. Janna the more thin, long neck and elegant face, basicaly a bailarina physique, fits the girl that was homeless for most of her life ( possibly spending days witou eating) and spends most of her time flying, you cant expect her to have many curves the costume is kinda off i like to think she wears little clothes so she can feel the wind more closely . MonkeyKing the colours and the texture is what makes it so off and the simple fact it doesnt look like wukong Kayle her splash art is confusing but i think is the most poetic and epic splash art of the game, if you look with proper eyes, you will see that inside the circle ( her ultimate aura ) is filled with light and gives a certain sense of peace, like normal angel usualy do, but out side the circle everyhing is darker and more chaotic, once she leaves her aura she is covered in metal, she is preparing for war. and no matter how noble you might think your cause is, war is war and it always had darkness and chaos even tough you try to cover it with light and order Ezreal He looks SO COOL is like he is sliding down a clift and everything behind him is crumbling but he is still a bad ass <3 <3 the rest i thikn it pretty mutch hit the spot

Ulric Greatsword10/13/2014, 11:11:49 PM2 votes

I was trying to figure out what bothered me about Wukong's new splash. Then I realized that his face looks like it came out of a Tim Burton movie.

lambchops910/13/2014, 8:51:44 PM2 votes

Where are Shen's swords? It looks like he's only got the scabbards in the splash.

Alakinziliel10/13/2014, 8:26:37 PM2 votes

Love them love them love them. The artists have been doing an amazing job getting all of these out. So much work being put into all of this!

Cookie was taken10/14/2014, 11:13:43 AM1 votes

Not sure about the others but i think Blitzcrank is getting some in-game visual changes

kS7jqhxrGi10/15/2014, 12:06:35 AM1 votes

did they really nerf quinn roflllll

Kaimitsu10/14/2014, 3:40:22 PM1 votes

Hate the new Kayle splash, super disapointed they're holding onto the antiquated helmet.

inmUGco10/14/2014, 6:01:59 PM1 votes

Veigar so big Iron hand，i feel he is a Fighters！ Veigar ： i will Broken you Neck~

KazeNekochan10/14/2014, 8:07:36 PM1 votes

id love the janna if her face wasnt so bad her current splash actully looks like her and the new one just doesnt. if you jsut saw her face you wouldnt be able to recognize her but her current one actully matches her in game model extremely well and i think its the look players who see janna recognize. even looking at fan art or anything you can tell how most people see her imo i think it should be changed to match her model (unless they are changing her model again...please rito noo)

Maester Bacman10/14/2014, 6:14:44 AM1 votes

From what I have seen in the past months, this is not a "gradual change of base splashes"...

Ahri Akali Blitzcrank Caitlyn Cassiopeia Chogath Ezreal Janna JarvanIV Kayle KogMaw LeeSin Orianna Renekton Rengar Rumble Shaco Shen Shyvana Singed Sion Talon Tristana Urgot Vayne Veigar Zilean ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ IT'S A REVOLUTION !!!!!!!!

And I'm sure I missed some other champions that have had splash changes recently. You guys are changing so fast! O_o

While I can clearly see a darker tone in many of the new splash arts, I'm O.K. with it. I think that Riot has nailed it with this splash art change strategy. The first contact between a player and a Champion is usually the splash art, and these new splashes will make great first impressions.

I'm gonna prepare my tissues, because if Wukong got a change, Leona will also get a new Splash. And I can't wait. Make me proud, guys. :´)

Reslust10/14/2014, 11:58:11 PM1 votes

In my opinion, I love them. The only thing I'm not too hot about is how zoomed the "profile pictures" are. Especially with Veigar and Ezreal .