Riot Games is redoubling its efforts to bring old League of Legends champions back to life, and in the next one, 12.7, a few characters will receive major visual upgrades. The studio wanted to focus on some of the most outdated champions and accompany the gameplay renewal process with improvements to ability effects. A miniature visual overhaul that keeps the character model intact, but completely changes their spell effects to bring them up to date and meet clarity criteria.
A little makeover for Orianna
One of the champions chosen for this small reshuffle is therefore Orianna. The Mechanical Maiden is a more than excellent character in terms of in-game balance, and that kept Riot from looking into her case for many years. However, its visual effects had become very outdated. Both in terms of clarity and art style, they didn't fit in with the rest of League of Legends champions. A problem that will be a thing of the past with the new changes made by Riot Games.
In comparison, the effects will see significant particle changes and a blue recolor for the base character model. Here are all the changes:
- Basic Attack : Added a trail to projectiles and a barely perceptible burst of light on impact.
- Q : Improved the effect that indicates the position of the sphere on the ground and the indicator when it hits a champion.
- W: Changed skill activation effect, added electric patterns.
- E: shield is now blue
- R : Added a new effect. The edges are better represented and the moment of the explosion is clearer. Also creates a yellow electric effect on affected enemies. When used on an ally, a star-shaped bolt of lightning emerges from the sphere.
As usual, when these changes come to League of Legends, all abilities will be affected as well. Riot Games will continue to make changes to the PBE during the 12.7 cycle, but only announced adjustments to the new base model.
Based on community feedback, the following changes are likely to come in the coming days.
- Most skins did not retain the unique effects of W (Order: Dissonance). They could therefore be added.
- Orianna's Hero of War ultimate lost some unique R (Order - Shockwave) effects. They too could be added again.