The Next Ultimate Skin (Part 4)
Hello Everybody!
My God, it's been some time, hasn't it? Nearly 6 months since my last thread, and, amazingly, it continued to get traffic all through those 6 months up until a few days ago.
What happened a few days ago? Well, if you've been living under a rock, or are just now coming back to League.........this happened:
Now, this thread isn't to give my opinion on GGMF. I've already done that in a separate thread, which you can read here. Instead......this thread is meant to look towards the future, and build up hype for the next ultimate skin......I mean, that's what the point of this entire series has been about, right?
Now, you might be saying "But, Riot can still update GGMF! Isn't this jumping the gun a little bit?" While this is true, I don't believe I'm making this thread too early. Considering some responses we've gotten out of some Rioters, they seem pretty dead set on GGMF, and the most we will probably get is some animation updates. GGMF still has a whole 'nother week on the PBE at time of writing, so, it will be interesting to see what Riot does with the skin, considering the feedback they've gotten.
Now, this thread will be different from my previous threads. In Part 3, I had predicted that a top laner would get the Next Ultimate skin. It really only made sense, since we already had an ADC, Jungler, Support, and Mid laner. Due to this, according to my rules stated in Part 3, we were able to shrink the number of champs viable for an Ultimate skin down from well over 90 champions, to just 25. Had a top laner gotten the Ultimate, the number of viable champs would have sky rocketed back up to that 90+ threshold.
What makes a champion viable for an Ultimate skin? Well:
- The champ has to be at least 3 years old.
- We don't want any new champs getting Legendaries or Ultimates. It would just be too unfair. At the time of writing the youngest viable champ is actually
Bard. (Did I make you feel old?) - The champ must not already have an Ultimate or Legendary skin (that has not been vaulted or are Legacy!).
- In the past, I've gotten a bit of flack for stating that some champs are viable for a Legendary/Ultimate, despite already having one. Corki and Heimerdinger are 2 of the biggest offenders. Thing is, the Legendaries belonging to these champs are vaulted, and cannot be regularly purchased. When I consider a champ to have a Legendary, that means that that skin can be purchased under normal conditions in the store. So, due to that, the only champion to have more than 1 Legendary is
Cho'gath.
Under these rules, the current number of viable champions for an Ultimate or Legendary is 90. They are:
Top Lane:
Jungle:
Mid Lane:
ADC:
Support:
Mind you, I have also included champs currently in production for a VGU (Irelia and Akali) or are in heavy talks for a VGU ( Mordekaiser and Pantheon). Generally these champs will not be included on any list of skins due to the extra work needed to redo their skins. Effectively, they get a whole list of new skins due to a brand new model. However, since we don't know the actual list of champs Riot has for VGU candidates (only assumptions, and the champs in actual production (which is Irelia, Akali, and quite possibly Nunu)), I have added champs on this list that really shouldn't be on there.........just to make things easier.
Now, as to actually why this thread is different from my past threads. I don't want to make a prediction this time. Think of it.......I have a 1 in 90 chance of guessing the right champion when Riot themselves haven't even started discussions on the next lucky champion. You may ask "Well....why not just guess another top laner?" See, I would, but, considering recent developments........we can't say for sure that a top laner will get an Ultimate.
So, I want to instead give suggestions. I want to list my top 5 champs of which should get the Ultimate skin. In my opinion, these champs I will list are, by far, the most deserving, and have the most potential to deliver a fantastic Ultimate skin. These champs are iconic, and have been staples of the League of Legends community for years on end.
Before I move on, I want to heavily imply that I am trying my absolute best to keep bias out of the equation, and I hope you do to. These champs I am suggesting are not my favorite champs, hell, I hardly even play them. I chose these champs due to their design, and their potential, so please keep an open mind if you do not see your champ on this list.
And now, in no particular order, I present to you my picks for who should get the next Ultimate skin.
#Orianna
https://img00.deviantart.net/efc4/i/2013/331/f/9/orianna_by_kyuriin-d6vsxw4.jpg
Now well over a year and a half ago, in my very first thread of this series, I actually predicted that Orianna would be the next recipient of the Next Ultimate skin..........but that went to Lux. Can you believe that Orianna has yet to even get her Legendary? She has been such a popular champ (albeit, not on the same level as Lux or Ahri), and has been such a staple pick in pro-play for years. In fact, it was Orianna that helped Taipei Assassins win the second Worlds Championship against Azubu Frost.........and she doesn't even have a Legendary.
But what kind of skin could an Ultimate skin for Orianna be like? Well......back in my first thread, I came up with an interesting theory. Every Ultimate skin thus far (even GGMF) has been a future version of themselves. Ezreal becomes a time traveling criminal; Udyr finds enlightenment, and is able to work more closely with the spirits; Sona gets a MASSIVE upgrade to her Etwhal; Lux masters the elements; and MF gets an upgrade to her guns. Thing is a future version of Orianna is......well.....Orianna. According to the lore, she won't change......at all. She may get a few replacement parts here and there, her ball might get an upgrade, and......that's about it. So what if we change things up?
What if she never had that accident down in Zaun? What if she never had to have her body parts replaced piece by piece with machinery? What if she was still human?
https://pre00.deviantart.net/6104/th/pre/i/2014/239/b/f/orianna_for_comic_by_izzypeasy-d7wumc9.jpg
https://orig00.deviantart.net/8a0a/f/2013/334/d/3/human_orianna_by_lemunz-d6warru.png
https://i.redd.it/ppvgc0cblzly.jpg
Now, obviously, her ball would still be a part of her....it's just how Orianna works. But I believe this skin is where the animation department of Riot can really flex their muscles. We have skins with plenty of voice lines, and plenty of models (looking at you E. Lux), but we don't have a skin that has a very diverse set of animations. The skin itself would be relatively simple in terms of looks. Just make Orianna human again, give her a nice outfit, and probably make her ball look a bit more ornate.......but the animations would take your breath away.
Just think of it.....she would dance.......she would actually dance around the battlefield.......and it would be gorgeous.
We already have a skin completely based around music......why not have a skin completely based around the 1 thing that comes with music.
Now, some of you may say that a skin like this is out of Riot's reach, due to their mission to make Riot be able to be ran on even the worst of computers. Could a dinosaur computer handle a skin with such complex animations as this skin deserves? I'm not sure.............but it would still be awesome to see, wouldn't it?
#Leona
Another champ that just baffles you when you realize that they have yet to get a Legendary. Besides Thresh, I'd say Leona has been the poster girl of tanky supports......even before Thresh came onto the scene. Not to mention that there isn't a single player in League of Legends that has been playing for more than a few months that isn't familiar with her. She's easy to understand, easy to play, and easy to like. Despite her simplicity, there is just very little that isn't to like about Leona.
But what would an Ultimate skin for Leona entail? Well, there are plenty of directions you could go, however, since she already has a futuristic/tech-like skin in PROJECT: Leona, I would recommend that we go a bit more.........traditional. Remember that Eclipse skin concept that got the designer of it a job at Riot?
http://pm1.narvii.com/5812/c9327fd8a7486b3b0913958c42527dc2ca134fe4_hq.jpg
Yeah......that skin. Thing is.......I don't think this concept is worthy enough of being an Ultimate skin......it's too straightforward. I can see it as more of a Legendary than an Ultimate due to it's straightforward nature. An Ultimate needs enough of an open concept in order to REALLY deliver on the Ultimate experience......so, what if we take it a step further?
https://i.imgur.com/udSYHDN.jpg
We have God Fist Lee Sin, and God Staff Jax.......why not just go full out on Goddess Leona? I mean, she is the physical embodiment of a God like entity.....what if she embraced that entity to it's fullest extent? This skin would likely be fairly simple in terms of Ultimates......I'm not exactly sure what new thing a Goddess Leona skin could bring to the table. Though......there could be something interesting done with her passive. Elementalist Lux gains energy to transform into a new model through damaging champs......what if we had something similar through Leona's passive where allies damage enemies through her passive. In fact, we have yet to get a skin that truly synergizes with another skin or champ in the game unless you look at Xayah and Rakan........of whom are supposed to synergize with each other. A skin that grows more complex as your teammates grow more powerful........that sounds like a good Ultimate to me.
#Wukong
https://img00.deviantart.net/b5ab/i/2016/070/6/3/wukong_by_lancer0519-d9upcb6.jpg
EDIT: Alright, I done goofed........General Wukong already exists.........and I completely forgot that it exists...........yep. So, I'll leave this one up to you guys. I still strongly believe that Wu is more than deserving of an Ultimate skin. So, if you guys have any interesting concepts you happened to come across, lay them on me, and I'll replace this "concept" with an actual concept.
My bad..........I apologize to all Wukong mains out there.
In Part 3 of my series, I actually had Wukong as my second choice of getting the next Ultimate skin. If you are to ask anyone who has played this game for a few years, who they think the most iconic champions of League are........chances are, Wu would be in their top 10. The fact that he has yet to get even a Legendary, despite being so iconic to the game, does make you wonder.
Anyway......what could an Ultimate for Wukong entail? To be honest.....that's a very good question. There have been plenty of concepts already used with him...........except one. Anyone happen to recognize this specific concept?
Apparently, if I recall, this is meant to be a "General" Wukong concept, and i don't mean "general" as in ordinary. Oh no, I mean "General" as in a leader of armies. That said, though, this one art style looks more.........demonic to me. how about we try something a bit more....fitting?
http://lolwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Wukong-fanart.jpg
Far more fitting of the "General" theme, don't you think? As for what this skin could possibly bring to the table......again, a very good question. Riot could try to make a skin that reacts to the state of the game. For example, if you're ahead, the skin would have a certain model and animations, but if you're behind, it would have a different model and animations. Though, to be honest, that may not be the most brilliant of ideas, because it could feel bad for your skin to tell you "Hey......you're losing." That said, the new Swain does exactly this.......and he outright tells you whats going on. He has voice lines for when you're behind, even, and ahead. So.........why can't a skin do the same thing?
#Vi
Oh Vi...........kind of a common theme amongst these guys as to why they haven't gotten a Legendary, isn't it. Let me ask you.......when you think of junglers........who comes to mind? I'm sure quite a few of you likely said Lee Sin.......which makes sense. But if you were to think of the second person who comes to mind......who might that be? Sejuani? J4? Warwick?
Or the one jungler that could have any hope of possibly even comparing to Lee Sin's popularity?
You may not see her much now......or you just may not notice her as much. Vi has made such a lasting impact on the League of Legends community that she's become second nature. You are never surprised to see a Vi, you know exactly how she works, and you know that if you're playing ADC, you better have your ass covered.
So......what kind of Ultimate skin could Riot make for Vi? Well......you don't have to look far...
I mean...
She is...
http://i.imgur.com/a59IVzZ.jpg
Such...
https://static.lolwallpapers.net/2016/01/Vi-Skin-Fan-Art-By-VegaColors.jpg
An easy....
https://img00.deviantart.net/0976/i/2014/089/4/7/baker_vi_skin_idea_by_somedudewithapen-d7c7ivg.jpg
Champ....
https://i.imgur.com/3CWb0V8.jpg
To make skins for!
With all of that said, though, I think a good Ultimate skin for Vi wouldn't be a completely new fantasy for her. No, I think if you just age Vi a few years, improve her fighting style, and either make her gauntlets better or even more rugged......you'll have a skin many people will fall in love with.
You know how many voice lines Tahm Kench has? Well, this skin would have nearly double what he has. The skin and model itself won't be much, but every time you play her, she tells you a different story based on the champions in the game. Make it to where she has been around the block quite a few times, and she's seen everything Valoran had to offer her. She's far more calm, cool, and collected......a stark contrast to her current hot headed self.
A skin where most of what you pay for isn't in the model itself..........but what it tells you. How it interacts with not only you, but also your teammates and your opponents.
I think a skin like that would blow everyone away.
#Annie
https://media.alienwarearena.com/media/Art-Annie-LOL-Wallpaper-h.jpg
Leagues premier poster girl. Long before Ahri was even a concept.......we had Annie leading the charge. In fact, she is one of the very first champions that Riot EVER designed. I believe her, Singed, and I think Fiddle were the very first champs that Riot ever designed. Even to commemorate her, Riot has a giant statue of her right behind their front door!
And despite ALL OF THIS.........she doesn't even have a Legendary.
Honestly, if there is 1 champ that is more deserving of an Ultimate than Annie, please let me know. Even her entire concept is so easy to make skins for, that she is still the record holder for the most skins in League (I think MF just tied her, though). She is SO easy to make skins for, that you don't have to look far in order to find an interesting concept for her.
However, there is 1 concept that no one has ever really talked about.........and that's Annie all grown up.
Now.......stop right there......I know what you're thinking, and what you're thinking is bad.....got it? But now that we have that out of the way.......Annie is...what, now? 8? Maybe 9 years old? And she has the power to bring down a house just by sitting in a corner and crying.
Think of what she could do when she learns to control this power. Even in the original lore, pre-retcon, it was stated that Annie could easily be the most powerful person on the rift......once she learns to actually control her power. And now, in the new lore, I'd say she is no less weaker than what she once was. Would she be on the same level as the likes of Azir? Probably not......but she'd likely give him a run for his money.
And just think of what they could do with her spells. Riot could make them more elegant, but also far more terrifying than what they are now........and the stuff they could do with Tibbers.
Honestly......Annie is a champ who is just waiting for an Ultimate skin to come her way, and due to her simplicity, the amount of freedom Riot has to create such a mind blowing skin is....well......mind blowing, to say the least.
So, why have I made this post? Well...for 2 reasons, really.
So far, none of my predictions have come true, or have even been in the ballpark. The closest I came to actually predicting the Next Ultimate was actually back in Part 1 where I predicted Orianna. The only similarities that Lux and Orianna have are that they are both mid laners. So, as time went on, I realized just how difficult it is to try and predict which champ will get the next Ultimate. There are so many champions that have yet to even get a Legendary skin that trying to predict who would get it next.....is nearly impossible.
My second reason actually has to do with Riot themselves, and right now, I am writing specifically to the skins team over at Riot.
Look....you've done some incredible work. Some of the skins you've released really hit the nail on the head when trying to deliver on that specific fantasy, and the expectations that come with it. But, that isn't to say you've had some bumps along the way either. There have been some skins released that are very blatant cash grab skins. Now, I understand, you are a company, your primary goal is to make money, and most of your income comes from skins. I don't mind seeing the occasional cash grab skin, because you do have to make money.
But with the reveal of Gun Goddess Miss Fortune, and the blatant lack of creativity and time put into it tells me that you might be leaning too far towards the cash grab side of things. GGMF is not a true Ultimate skin......it is a cash grab skin. Ultimates were your way of expressing what the skins team could really accomplish with a skin, and I know, for a fact that GGMF is NOT what your current capabilities entail.
You are so, So, SOOOO much better than this. I made this post to hopefully plant a seed in your guys' minds over there. To really get the creative juices flowing, so next time..........you release the most mind blowing skin yet. I want you guys to make...
Pulsefire Ezreal
Spirit Guard Udyr
http://st.elohell.net/public/chill/0443492c042a354e8629edb13c3ffc73.jpg
DJ Sona
http://i.imgur.com/h5SQx4o.jpg
Elementalist Lux
http://i.imgur.com/Oq1cmp9.jpg
And ESPECIALLY Gun Goddess Miss Fortune
Look. Like. Childs play.
And I know that you are more than capable of delivering on such a skin.
And there you have it folks!
If you've made it this far, then I have to thank you greatly. I know that there are quite a few people who were really looking forward to this......especially considering the response I got on Part 3 once GGMF was revealed. I know that this one is quite different from past iterations......but I intended for that ever since I made Part 3.
As for when Part 5 will come out......well, it may take some time before that happens. The only way for my stance to change on these champs getting an Ultimate is only if they get an Ultimate or a Legendary. So, until then, this will likely be the last one for quite some time.
But with that said, I now want to ask all of you......who do you think is the one champ most deserving of the Next Ultimate skin? But I beg of you......keep bias out of it. I know you would love more than anything to see your favorite champion get an Ultimate skin, but you have to realize that League is a global game, and has been around for 8 years now. Try to think of the impact, and relevance your champ has had in the game and the community over the years.
If you give me a solid reason as to why a specific champ should get the Next Ultimate, don't be surprised to see it up here next to mine.
But in the meantime, thanks for reading! Electro
TL;DR
In my opinion, the champs most deserving of the Next Ultimate skin are:
Orianna
Leona
Wukong
Vi
Annie
This is due to the champs being iconic in the game, and having a significant impact on the game. Also, they would have easy enough concepts that Riot could take and run with.
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