Update: August 14
Starting with Patch 9.16 the rework of Pantheon is now implemented into League of Legends!
Update: July 31
Pantheon's new abilities kit has been revealed alongside patch 9.15 release! Check below for more details.
Original Article
Riot Games just released two videos teasing the long-awaited rework of our favorite Spartan warrior, the well-named Pantheon. It's been a while since the Unbreakable Spear has been released into the Summoner's Rift: to be completely exact, Pantheon joined League of Legends in 2010.
Yes, you heard us well — Pantheon is almost ten years old. Perhaps it's the reason why Riot decided to rework him. After all, when you're a Champion, which birthday gift could be better than a rework?
The principal goal of the studio was to keep Pantheon's lore intact, without altering it. The Unbreakable Spear used to be a great warrior named Atreus, whose ultimate objective was to climb the Mount Targon. While he was climbing, he became the receptacle of the god of war, Pantheon.
Within the new lore, Aatrox kills Pantheon and Atreus takes his body back while keeping Pantheon's powers. The rework was, therefore, aiming at keeping this representation of a great warrior while getting rid of the divine aspect. This change will be visible, as Pantheon has now a gigantic scar on his chest. With this mark of a terrible wound, no one can deny that he's a mortal human, and not a god anymore.
Considering with abilities kit, Riot decided to make Pantheon a bit harder to play, raising the skill caps required to properly play him. All of his four spells have been reworked, but Riot tried to keep the spirit of the character.
For instance, his ultimate is mostly the same: he jumps into the air, then proceeds to dash onto the ground. However, when landing, "Grand Starfall" no longers generate a circle AoE, but rather makes Pantheon comes in at an angle to streak across the ground. Honestly, it looks like Hecarim's ultimate.
According to what is shown in the video, it seems that his Q is no longer a targeted spell, but rather a skillshot one. The W seems almost the same except Pantheon now adds some attacks just after jumping and stunning his target — which almost looks like Xin Zhao's Q. The E stills channels spear hits in front of Pantheon, but he seems that he now has a shield and that he uses for a final hit when the channeling ends.
The Unbreakable Spear won't do magic damage: Pantheon was created as a warrior, and he will stay that way. Check his theme if you weren't sure about this...