6 Champions SAVED by Legends of Runeterra

[@TBSkyen]

This video was in production for a few weeks, and of course RIGHT AS I AM ABOUT TO RELEASE IT, Riot announce a visual update for Jax. Which is turns out was actually planned since around the time of his LoR release, but it got delayed due to staffing issues. WHATEVER MY POINT STILL STANDS (kinda) - I need to work faster on these dang things.

[@franciscoOrellana29]

Yes, I think they changed your idea of his lamp a bit, but it seems to me that the rest is fine with what you said.

[@omegasybers1110]

Well. You don't. Riot should work on those projects faster and communicate with us their plans more openly. There needs to be a visual overhaul of at least 30 Characters by now. Your "duty" is to do what feels right. And if Jax would have been announced earlier, there are still a bunch of other Champion Redesins made by the LoR Team that are very good. Veigar, Shyvana, Ashe and Annie just to name a few Also 🃏

[@Grimm-A]

@@franciscoOrellana29 Nah the lamp part is literally lore and intentionally, is a lamp that is slowly fading the more jax uses it, from 3 years ago lore on jax

[@smili-lutin2125]

Rumble, Milean, Malphite, Jax and bandle city as a whole. All characters that I fell in love with because of LoR and are beyond a doubt my favorite characters in Runterra

[@raziel5835]

I was thinking about it while watching hahah. Great video Skyen! Tho Jax is more of a main character, Zilean deserves a ASU waaaay more, he has the ugliest model currently :(

[@danfelder7636]

LoR Dev here. This video got shared to our whole team. :)

[@cartoonishidealism582]

Thank you for your work

[@ForSoxialBoy]

You guys and girls are so hot, thank you

[@michaelwilson8806]

Y'all are doing the Lord's work! Thank you 🙏

[@zisforzoo16]

Y'all literally carry the entire universe in League, it made me fall in love with the world. Thank you so much! I hope we get to see more of this!

[@danfelder7636]

@@zisforzoo16 Thanks :)

[@GoldenGoblinSupport]

"Their mains would get upset if they were deleted" Me, The Last Zilian Main: It's ok, let him die.

[@NickyBoi]

While admittedly not a “save” since he was already pretty great, Sion and his grey legion are undoubtedly one of my favourite editions to the league universe ever

[@heartlessmushroom]

It's really freaking cool that it establishes necromancy not only as a war asset but as a craft that's been practiced and perfected by the Noxian Elite, with Sion being the culmination of their efforts.

[@TBSkyen]

Oh hell yeah! The Grave Physician is such a cool villainous character

[@giratinathe_distorter7480]

@@heartlessmushroomhemomancy too with the vlad cards, Noxus is really magicky

[@nerdyandweirdybutmighty5256]

​​@Adrián Kubán people have already been suggesting that shaco could be reworked into being viego 's childhood toy so it could be possible to connect him to camavor and the shadow Isles really is the perfect place for possesd toys he could lean harder on being a puppet since Gwen didn't lean into it he could even be a good contrast/pareller to her

[@uncannybook581]

@@giratinathe_distorter7480 its an awesome parralel to demacia, and it makes it interesting that they arent able to beat them lol

[@publiusnaso9473]

LoR gave Seraphine hair dye, lots of leather, a scooter, a squirrel, a guitar with a FLAMETHROWER attachment that she made herself, and a Zaun punk diva gal pal! Bring some of that to League please.🃏

[@ewbait]

You know how bad a character's design is when LOR completely destroys its base LOL design only 2 and a half years after their release...

[@murkel7634]

Gal pal with heavy lesbian tension.

[@TheIcyCube]

@@ewbait Definitely not destroys, more like upgrades by a mile

[@alexcat6685]

Her gameplay too should be reworked aswell to fit that idea, since I don't think her poking away playstyle fits zaun's more griddy in the fray battling. I have an idea that she becomes a Diving enhcanter, both clash in their objectives since one prefers diving into battle using everything to be the first in and get the first kill or pressure, while another prefers to stay back and enchant or keep their allies alive to succed. That clash shows a problem, maybe I should lean more to her being a Diver that supports, since in a way divers require ally help to succed, so her inspiring allies, forcing enemies out of position by launching herself through them, using the flamethower to lower enemy defenses so on. And ofcourse her scooter as her Homeguard animation, by default it should be in.(35:36 because yes it does fit her very well, like her driving to her performance instead of just gliding there like she's some god)

[@ewbait]

@@TheIcyCube destroys as in is much better than the original.

[@lucasrv2630]

What is also tragically great and beautiful is that the prince is pretty much Viego. He is in fact what Isolde always wished for, at least on the surface. A grand, handsome and loving prince who'd give her the world. She loved his voice, the voice as the handsome gentleman asking Gwen on a dance. His face and even slightly his hair, like his too. What most of us forget to keep in mind as love grabs our hand and takes us on a journey is that there is... more than those things on the other side. Things we not always want. So beautiful that Isolde's legacy would get asked to dance by *him.*

[@tuannguyencanh6096]

Runeterra Seraphine is what i wanted from Seraphine - a relatable character with depth and not a pop star who just struts around.

[@CptApplestrudl]

It's beyond me how they had good concepts for her and deliberately decided to go with what we got ingame. Plus that weird lore relation to the Brackern?!

[@tuannguyencanh6096]

@@CptApplestrudl pretty much

[@gabrielgomessilva484]

​@@CptApplestrudlwell all Zaun Piltover were involved with brackerns... Vi, Caitlyn, Jayce, Viktor, Jinx and a bunch of others did used brackerns crystals but Seraphine was the only one blamed for it even being the one that got the direct permission to do that from the brackern "soul"

[@hallysis5439]

@@gabrielgomessilva484 the implication was: they don't know about it.. SHE knew their lifeforce were being used and thus about the genocide...She can HEAR it. yet doesn't seem to care and chooses to do nothing about it. Instead just keeps using them to power her stage. And when she meets skarner she had THE GALL to rub it in his face that she can hear his people's suffering? Of couse they're retconning it, but the initial implications just painted her as a psychopath.

[@residentfacehead3465]

Even more than Jax's Followers, Jax's personal Voicelines are my favorite part of LOR Jax. "Let me show you how we did it in Icathia!" "Your gonna want to watch this." "A thousand years of battle and im still warming up!" And his taunts to Azir are legendary: "Glad you could make it to the second uprising Feathers." "Gonna witness this lamp to your face!"

[@LIAuNXeNON]

perosnally when milio comes i would love an interaction between the 2 where jax says "here's to you kid" it would be a fun callback could work well and personally i just want those 2 to interact the difference in outlook could really pick at the "facade" that jax has built up in that time

[@zap4th368]

“A thousand years of battle” is my personally favourite. There’s just something to how he says it that makes you BELIEVE him, no matter how cocky it sounds.

[@HawaiianJuicebox]

'DID I SEE YOU USING MY LAMP TO STIR THE POT LAST NIGHT?!' 'Sorry! I broke my spoon in our last battle.'

[@DeltaRed12]

FOR ICATHIAAA! And you know what? For me too! I think I quoted that right...

[@HawaiianJuicebox]

@DeltaRed12 the second part is, '& you know what? Also for me!'

[@gazelle_diamond9768]

I think another part that Gwen represents, even though it is not really relevant to the LoR cards, is "healthy grieving". The contrast to Viego is obviously there, but even ignoring that, Gwen represents not just childhood and innocence, but also a mature way of dealing with and accepting pain, loss and grief. I would be really interested to see this part of her be included in some future content of her's.

[@stellasilverr]

this!!! ^^ it especially makes sense when you think about the keyword they added with Gwen, Hallowed, which strengthens every unit you pull from your deck the more hallowed units die. It's like, these people will be gone, but you can grow stronger from it

[@gazelle_diamond9768]

@@stellasilverr True! I didn't even consider that, but yeah, that makes perfect sense.

[@odisleftpaw5663]

idk why but the detail of seraphine not having naturally pink hair really does a lot for her character to me, it's a very small detail but it goes a long way to show how much she does to be this idealized pop star

[@jackgreen8496]

I'd also like to point out that the mini-arc with Master Yi is both interesting and deeply tragic. His arrogance during the Noxian invasion costs him his village, and turns him into a tragic wanderer only revitalized by Wukong's intervention. Now, with Jun he sees a way to redeem himself, by training the next generation of Wuju swordsmen, but ultimately fails to save her either. Which is both brutal and somewhat ironic.

[@theastaff8197]

What i must say is master yi's gameplay does portray arrogance. Completely out healing your damage which he stands still is so offensive 😂

[@GumshoeClassic]

LoR Seraphine has improved my opinion of her design to such a degree that it earned her the biggest honor I can bestow: Desperately wish for a Pentakill skin.

[@1greninjawolfbossdeath648]

Also the voice lines, she sounds so less pretentious. I don't want to tear my ears off when listening to her in LoR

[@bthsr7113]

Redefining a pop star into a metal head could be an interesting challenge. Also while talking music skins, make a True Damage fan or effects skin for Lucian with glitter or pyrotechnic guns.

[@elquecodelaobscuridad5681]

@@bthsr7113 It could be inspired by something like babymetal

[@LPR44]

@@elquecodelaobscuridad5681 Babymetal(sih) Seraphine and Gwen would be dope!

[@juliankanzuki2013]

It really does fix a lot of her problems.

[@edenpk8541]

My extra thoughts on Gwen: Not only does she represent innocence and joy, but she particularly is tied to children and childhood. As you mentioned in your video, she was created by a young child Isolde, as an imaginary friend and for wish fulfillment. One more important thing that a favorite doll/toy/stuffy does, though, is protect that child. Teddy bears and dolls keep you safe from things that go bump in the night. When you see something scary, you now have an ally and a defender who can help you face that fear. Gwen literally drives away the scary, corrupted ruination of the dark mist by fighting it off with her scissors AND by providing her own aura of safety and happiness, i.e. the Hallowed Mist. While I think it's cool that she gets to go on all these adventures that young Isolde dreamed about, I don't think she was ever *completely* relegated to Viego. Even without Viego, there will always be scary things, and kids will always need a friend or caretaker to protect them and give them strength. There is no shortage of threats and danger in Runeterra, and as we see in her backstory, she will always be there, *for the children*. She is unique as a champion in that she is explicitly here to protect children and childhood, and I love her so damn much.

[@Grim_Sister]

Gwen’s my favorite too. I craft and draw a lot and hope to be a concept artist some day. And I can’t tell you how many times I wished my crafts would come to life

[@Poketom-ob1dl]

Now I really want a storyline of Gwen fighting against Nocturne

[@nilmerg]

looking at it with this perspective, gwen would be one of runeterra's strongest against nocturne & fiddlesticks. she is resistant to & repels fear.

[@GreatDinn]

How has there not been a story about Jax and Zilean yet? It's right there. Both present at the fall of Icathia! What do they think of each other? Does Jax think highly of the mage who managed to help some escape? Or does he resent that a powerful mage chose to flee rather than fight? Does Zilean look at the weapon master, and the Light of Icathia, with fondness and hope? Or does it bring back old grudges and regrets, that all that's left of Icathia is a mage who failed and a brute who dives headlong into any fight he can find? Do they unknowingly press at each other's sore spots? Or do they find solidarity in one another? And how do their respective found families see each other, and the "opposing" master? THERE'S SO MUCH TO WORK WITH, WHY IS THERE NOTHING!?

[@eminkilicaslan8945]

As a Zilean main, that's my exact thoughts, but somehow his entire recoginition is his rivalry with Volibear, dunno how and why.

[@fairyonice9504]

I was thinking the same thing, the story basically writes itself! One looks to save Icathia’s past with time magic, the other tries to prevent Icathia’s doom from coming to other places. They’re such nice foils! I don’t even play this game and I want to see this story!

[@Metallix37]

The thing I loved about Seraphine Lor is realising just how easy it was to make her design perfect and how it was done as soon as you got someone one it who cared about it.

[@golemofwill4728]

Zilean has so much potential to be a badass and loving character for his home. I truly hope he gets a voice update instead of 4 lines. He could be such a deep character. His base design has so much potential with a real update. I love playing him and his playstyle truly feels like you're a man seeing multiple timelines and how to prevent loss as much as possible.

[@P.H691]

If riot ever does the void event, Zilean can learn that he can’t save his people alone and he’s willing to enlist the help from champions who are extremely powerful and have abilities he never has to fight against the void. The reason why he sees the void winning is due to him only using his magic, upon getting help from others, Zilean sees a future that is extremely hazy, but for once, he doesn’t see the void have a guaranteed win

[@JayStorm199]

I recommend watching his LoR voicelines

[@aviowl]

Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like banana

[@flameofmage1099]

Literally one of his voicelines is "Yes". YES!?!?

[@reyon2673]

Would love an update for him, but I'm also really scared they'll ruin him if they change his kit :(

[@immagoingbacktobed1742]

Legends of Runeterra's legacy is that it saved the IP. Like said at the end- it literally breathed life into the world of Runeterra. I remember how I felt about the world before and after LoR released and the contrast between those two periods couldn't be more night and day.

[@webbowser8834]

It's hard to overestimate how much work LoR is putting in as a brand ambassador. I played League for a few years in college before deciding that I just didn't enjoy the genre, and then proceeded to not think or care about Rito in any way shape or form for roughly 5 years after that. Then Legends of Runeterra came out, I was experimenting with different card games and it just blew me away with the raw production value and just as a legitimately well designed card game I could really get into. It is no exaggeration to say that Legends of Runeterra made me *care* about Riot Games, it made them a company to watch for me, and that's great.

[@cwynwyn2934]

I love that Seraphine's Zaunite Roommate has an amp for a leg. And her sticklike, almost insectoid exaggerated proportions are kind of great I think. Great character design on her. 🃏

[@cotren8860]

What zaunite roommate tho?

[@lenleydelasheras2239]

@@cotren8860 the zaun diva, in reference to the "and they were roommatess vine"

[@Greenwren]

I saw Zilean in the thumbnail and I have been summoned. ✨ Edit:🃏

[@kolden687]

Same 😅

[@ShaddyFromHatena]

🃏

[@claracclenky]

🛟

[@TehGenericGuy]

The time has come and so have we

[@alertmottoes6413]

🃏

[@AltohP]

Something amazing is that Yi's googles are modeled after 'the spirit of wuju'. It's a 7 eyed bird creature thing. And the disciple of Doran that made his googles is a bird creature too. So the googles are Canon and intentional

[@t-1156]

I can't believe Skyen has forgotten the most important thing Runeterra has given to a champion: Kennen now has gotten students to A V E N G E!

[@ThyFloorestFloor]

He will finally avenge his students

[@velconx15]

He'll avenge his students

[@aldrensiscar3988]

And all of his followers got rotated.

[@alertmottoes6413]

@@aldrensiscar3988 he wil A V E N G E his followers' dissapearances

[@duncandisorderly9445]

Your conclusion about Gwen really brought tears to my eyes. I, too, lost my childhood. I had my innocence slowly beaten out of me, leaving nothing but demons in my head to whisper in my ear. To go on adventures that my childhood self would’ve always wanted to. To treat that child with the gentleness and kindness that embodies Gwen? That’s a dream that makes me want to weep.

[@JediWilli]

I hope you live a better life than back then, bud. And that you find the time to be the kid you deserve once in a while.

[@RazShape]

Amen brother

[@t-1156]

"It would take me hours to list the contributions, retcons, editions and expansions that this game made to the league of Legends universe" I honestly and genuinly think most of us watching your content would in a heartbeat watch an 8 hours stream that is just a list all of those things.

[@guacamojo]

don't tease me like that

[@aleksrbk]

In the somewhat early stages of Runterra, T B Skyene had some streams just about that. Mostly of course being more of an art critique, however, if there were lore bits to discover there be some theory-making.

[@rosalindgatto9630]

I don't even play League of Legends or Runeterra, and I would in a heartbeat watch that 8 hour stream

[@Zene00]

I have the popcorn... wheres the 8h stream?

[@ShaddyFromHatena]

I certainly would lmao

[@aidankircher8865]

Its worth noting that Riot just put out a Dev Blog explaining the use of Jax's Lamp-post. It's no longer just a flex to give other people a fighting chance. It's the only remnant of his home that he still has, and he can't carry that unwieldy thing AND a weapon, so he fights with the Lamp-post.

[@Neutronblast7777]

This was already explained in his biography. The lamp-post is actually a magic staff with conjured elemental fire that Icathian mages used to contain the void.

[@eminkilicaslan8945]

After his VU tbh lamp-post looks nothing short of a weapon. At least looks more deadlier than Wukong's staff.

[@AdventureSteve7]

I absolutely love Jax's design in Legends of Runeterra. The purple mixed with golden colors is just pleasing to see

[@Garnet-ec5is]

Same, but i prefer tve old mask. the new one look more mechanic and im not sure if i like that. the rest is perfection

[@zerlichr426]

They will acually port it to LoL. They annouced Skarner gets delayed but they will ASU jax and shown his LoR version.

[@taemo3707]

​@@zerlichr426 they showed a different design from LoR jax 😔

[@liddumananayo1070]

@@Garnet-ec5is really? They look pretty similar to me

[@Brother_O4TS]

The visual redesign recently looks good now

[@MrNukedDuck]

I've always known that LoR Seraphine was a huge improvement on her original design, but this video really made me appreciate just how much it does to improve her as a character in Runeterra! Just the fact that they gave her outfit more of those down-to-earth leather aesthetics that we saw in the early concept art is a huge improvement! What a breath of fresh air!

[@azurclerx951]

As much as I like Gwen’s story in LOR, I’m still craving for more. Who are those spirits ? Why is Gwen so familiar with the mysterious pretty boy ? Where are they coming from ? Why do they have a party on a dead island ? This is thrilling to look into as a Gwen main but it also makes me craving for more lore for Gwen

[@JediJMoney]

I think the “pretty boy” is supposed to be a version of Viego, at least an imitation of him as the dreamy prince he was before everything went south in him and Isolde’s relationship. I know that brings about plenty of other questions, but that’s what I think TB Skyen was trying to get at in the video.

[@Marko_52]

Shadow ilse are not really under shadows anymore.. Maybe those spirits are people from blasted ilse that were left traped under the shadows and now are selebriteing because they are finaly free? But thes i dont know what are the shadows from gwen's lvl 2 art..

[@GSugaF]

So, there was a card in the Foundation set called "Tortured Prodigy", a tormented soul of a pianist "living" in the Shadow Isles always frustrated by his inability to compose his perfect music. Riot later addeed a card called "Redeemed Prodigy", the chill pianist of the ball who no longer pursues perfection and now strives for "perfect imperfection". It implies that these are the same characters, the former in the past and the later in th present (and while I don't know if this was actually confirmed by Riot, the LoR wikia also states that). If all of this is true, it suggests that Gwen has been purifying the souls of the Shadow Isles and giving them a better afterlife.

[@HagathaHexMe]

I think now with Viego no longer being around to keep the shadow isles submerged in his black mist the hallowed mist is slowly beginning to spread and purify the trapped souls with Gwen being basically at the forefront of this conflict. Gwen fights against the black mist by helping the trapped souls find peace and comfort, and by literally fighting the monsters of the black mist with these hallowed spirits helping her. Gwen fighting to give the souls of the Shadow Isles a better afterlife, since it seems as though even with Viego gone they still can't move on. In that sense I think the mysterious man is literally the good side of Viego, the part of his soul he discarded the moment he became the Ruined King, the part of him that Isolde fell in love with.

[@cartoonishidealism582]

@@GSugaF The Yorick story that Riot Forge released kinda has a similar vibe, with the reveal that Yorick has been redeeming a ton of spirits and helping them move on I feel like Riot wants to do this so that they can keep the Shadow Isles around while progressing its story. The original plot of the Shadow Isles was SUPPOSED to be Yorick destroying the Black Mist and letting everyone pass into the afterlife, but that would mean no more Shadow Isles and no more Shadow Isles champions, which I doubt Riot would allow. So the idea of redeeming the Shadow Isles may be a way of pushing the story forward while still keeping the Shadow Isles a place filled with ghosts and monsters and wraiths.

[@goofball3158]

My favorite thing when champions are added to Runeterra is the voice lines and the implied lore. They’re by no means a forgotten champion, but for instance Kindred’s lore in runeterra is fascinating. Showing that kindred aren’t the only death spirits of runeterra. Or Malphite now being a DAD with a ROCK SON, along with having a adorable and sweet friendship with Taliyah. Legends of Runeterra is top tier, and I hope more people give it a try. It’s been sad seeing one of my favorite games not achieving the success I think it’s earned.

[@nallash905]

Loved tour take on Gwen, I never actually thought about what her deal with the ball was, but now you've changed my perspective entirely! Amazing analysis, as always. 🃏🃏

[@FoundBoy]

Why did every story retold by this man of these charachters emotionally touched me? Damn, even after playing LoR itself, I couldn't guess the full story behind those pictures and quips between cards. How dramaticly heartwarming and hopefull in the face of tragedy all of those stories are. If the stories told are meant to spark emotions then these are the storiest stories I've heard for some time. Told through cards, movies, dialogue and written bits and retold by a lovely storyteller, Skyen. Why, this is astounding on so many levels and I love every one of them

[@Spamhammerful]

as someone who played rumble at release, fell out of love with him to main viktor, seeing what LoR did with my baby boy made me audibly cheer great work as always skyen! 🃏

[@OakenTome]

I was waiting for you to mention the creature they introduced with Yi that his helmet is canonically based on. It does still look kinda silly, but I’m glad they gave it more meaning.

[@pyrothrope]

The art in LoR really is absolutely gorgeous and it was singlehandedly responsible for getting me into the LoL lore. I'd love to hear you talk about the story telling some of the non-champion cards do! So um... 🃏

[@Caitsaysthings]

Ugh I could really go on about how perfect seraphine is In LoR, her dad is incredible, her squirrel is fantastic, her both rivalry and maybe romance with that rocker girl? It just does her so well

[@thor8606]

I never really got into LoR but always loved seeing how they contributed to the world-building of runeterra, this video highlights a lot of what the writers and designers have given to the fans and I'm glad it exists

[@elvenatheart982]

I watch a lot of lore youtubers for different franchises, but you have a way with words that I kid you not made me tear up, when I heard how much passion you have for the world of Runeterra. Thanks for making my day a bit better❤

[@GCWeber]

Another interesting thing about LoR Seraphine is her friendly rivalry with the Zaun Diva, which really does a great job at emphasizing the core of her story, that she is the bridge between the two cities, by giving her another connection to Zaun. Also I ship it but that's beside the point.

[@SavageRealityBeasts]

You can’t not love somebody who has an amp for a leg

[@gabrieldossantos1116]

​@@SavageRealityBeasts That's just screams badass rockstar

[@FinnUkato]

I'd like to think that Seraphine's LOR reframing was to show how her character adapts when performing in Zaun. It's a great insight into her character as her league "persona" can be seen as a front she puts up for the people of Piltover. She changes how she presents herself to cater to which audience she performs too, and I think that shows how ware she is of the situation between both regions.

[@despitemyself226]

The way I sobbed when you covered Gwen! Idk man, I'm protective over her, she's so pure & the concept/idea of her is so stellar 😢

[@prestonm-f382]

While the full reinventions are obviously the best, one thing I really like is how LOR progresses the stories of champions, or modifies stories that already work. Sion’s story isn’t the most unique, but the undead juggernaut is still pretty cool. But turning him from that into an undead GENERAL is incredibly cool, leading the Grey Legion. Giving Vladimir a coven of blood benders? Expanding the Darkin so much? Writing Corina as C and making Caitlyn actually feel like a detective? Veigar’s mech suit? There’s so many things in LOR that are improved, and I didn’t even discuss that some followers just expand their champions so much. Literally the only things I don’t like are Kindred’s followers (except for the Etherfiend) and Galio’s brothers, and even then, they’re potentially interesting. I’ll miss how good the creativity was.

[@webbowser8834]

Etherfriend is actually excellent. A death spirit that hunts other death spirits is cool af. I would go as far as to say that the existence of Etherfriend justifies the existence of other death spirits besides Kindred. Once you introduce the possibility of death, it becomes much easier to introduce the possibility of more.

[@genesisyugioh9405]

I'd be curious to see an inverse list for this. Not exactly a "6 champions RUINED by LoR", but just a list of champs you feel might have gotten weaker in the transition, since during the initial card art streams, I know you pointed out a few you didn't like, like Elise

[@bthsr7113]

In this vein, I'd shay Shyvanna having a wider support network kind of undermined the feeling of isolation some of her stories were trying to build.

[@Kaikirith]

@@bthsr7113 Highly disagreed. Part of her story IS seeking a place to belong though, not total isolation. The dragonguard doesn't operate in the middle of Demacia City but rather they tend to be more out and about in the mountains, which does not inherently negate the sense of isolation from her countrymen present in Shyvana's core character struggle. That sense of isolation was not wholly removed from her, as her interactions with Arrika display, and the fact her flavour text literally still talks about the distrust her countrymen still hold for her. And to be quite blunt, as someone whose fav champ literally is Shyvana, I do not WANT her to remain isolated. I like what they were attempting to build up with her involvement with the dragonguard (and trying to give some sense to her nonsensical armour, which I think needs to be axed completely in a vgu but I digress). Just because Shyvana is a magical being regarded with fear and distrust does not mean she is not allowed to have friends, and she needs someone out there on her side other than Jarvan the fucking Fourth who still puts his trust in the Mageseekers like the grief-stricken idiot he is. To think the dragonguard undermined her stories is, imo, a misunderstanding of her core character struggle. The point of her story isn't solely that she's isolated, it's that she has been trying to find someplace to belong (which is why she serves Jarvan in the first place, because he promised her a place in his personal retinue and she feels she owes him for that), and that no matter how much good she does, no matter how much she tries to show that her intentions are pure and she fights for Demacia just as any other Demacian, it's never enough. This is why her falling to the global Harrowing was actually a good, compelling story choice, that despite everything she's done the people will not trust her, so if they are so insistent that she is a monster then a monster she shall be, thus proving those who feared her right all along. Of course the downside to this is that the entire narrative was a complete bust and we're coming up on two years since any of that happened and last anyone was aware the Sentinels left her in the Mageseeker prisons and we haven't heard from her since. Yay. But anyway no I think the dragonguard angle is onto something and I think it suits her better than being smack dab in the middle of Demacian politics she is wholly unequipped to deal with in the capital proper.

[@bthsr7113]

Well wanting a place is her goal, I just feel she's gotten too much of it without earning it. And I want to see her earn it. I wanted to see her connect with Jarvan after he dropped the blind fool disguise and have him elevate her with her having tempered her predatory instincts. Have him show that he ultimately cares about her more than hiding his understanding of the plot, and have her be a decisive force for good in the Demacian civil war once all cards were on the table. Let her be a hero to the people

[@miticaBEP07]

Azir and Xerath at the very top. The latter was watered down into a cackling supervillain who just wants power and apparently uses slavery himself, which is a terrible plot point, and the former's arc is just... gone. He's back to tyranny and expansionism, never interacts with children despite being a grieving father of three and the "I know what you've planned for the weavers" could tip the scales into making him unforgivable. And they still have him be chummy-chummy with Ekko and Irelia, who should sniff a tyrant among a crowd of millions and want nothing to do with him.

[@CrowePerch]

This design honestly addresses every single issue I had with Seraphine's design on launch. I often saw people say she was "too much like Sona" or that they hated that she was a performer, but to me it was always that it felt like her base design just didn't exist in Runeterra. Legends did such a good job on these designs, and the base game needs to start taking some notes.

[@FROZENSOLID]

i don't know how you did it but this video just pushed a billion inspirations into my mind all at once and since it came out i have not stopped myself from writing stories about the forgotten characters of leage of legends, you just sparked my mind into creativity, thank you so much

[@josephgabriele8400]

I loved the Darkin Saga in LoR, it's been a better lore event than the ruination in my opinion 🃏

[@locke8412]

that shit was legendary. really elevated aatrox's character for me

[@bthsr7113]

@@locke8412 He went from chastising his comrades and being a laughable ball of rage ready to not just cleave but heckle anything in sight to actually feeling like a tragic figure. Though I can't deny the main game one made me laugh. "There was a memo!"

[@Wuhaboo]

Exactly we got the most 3 important champion lore for the moment

[@Tachii31]

The LoR additions to Varus and the idea of a Darkin being reminded that they were these great heroes in the past is really interesting instead of just "he likes murder".

[@webbowser8834]

As someone who didn't play any of the other versions of the Ruination event, I actually really liked LoR's take on it. Viego and Akshan were really fun champs to mess around with, and having all the regions get "ruined" cards really sold that this was a global event that hit everyone in some form or another.

[@Bass897]

I really wish we got LOR Sera in SR. Her LOR design is just amazing like you described. If that was the design we got from the start i feel as if her backlash would have not been there. I know it will never happen but I hope riot can ditch the her hoverboard and let her walk and fight with a guitar. Her spells can be her playing different strums to buff her allies and show that inner Zaun side of her. Amazing video as always!

[@spookyboi7660]

I cannot emphasize how much I want skyen to voice an audio book. Even him casually talking can give me goosebumps at times but when he gets serious or dramatic, oh my lord.

[@SeerCynea]

ok not gonna lie, id love an hour long video detailing all the changes and retcons legends of runeterra has made to league lore... pretty please? :3

[@FirstLast-wk3kc]

35:51 Wow, a Lorekeeper Skai'en? That's either very lucky coincidence, or a very sneaky reference, lol

[@mateusfontescruz1103]

To end with Cithria was kinda meanifull to me. She is my favorite card, from my very simple elite deck. But she kinda represents the good impact that LoR made. Falling in love with this world and adventuring through it.

[@SavageRealityBeasts]

Veigar’s levelled up version being him in a mech suit because it makes him feel taller is just amazing

[@toucan4075]

I've only recently been getting into the lore of runeterra and that last bit was absolutely heartbreaking to hear. I've loved LOR for giving so much life into runeterra; their artworks splashing so much personality and storytelling into an otherwise stagnant world. A shame they chose to gut art in the name of money, but that's just business I suppose. Here's to hoping for a good future Edit: 🃏

[@sekischro5093]

what did they do? i cant watch it right now

[@Arcavi0us]

​@SekiSchro Essentially, he talks about how LoR's game state is basically on life-support compared to how it was on release. No focus on POC, less focus on story driven development, less staff. He is fearful that the game's state right now is the best it will be narratively and creatively.

[@valvadis2360]

Yeah i'm in the exactly same boat

[@claracclenky]

@@Arcavi0us I wish they made it a pay to play game instead of the skins so it would’ve made more…

[@Arcavi0us]

@Clara C Clenky 100% Snunny has a good video on it somewhere talking about this. In Hesrthstone there is a lot of stuff to whale your money on, whereas in LoR it's mainly board skins and character skins. Combine that with the fact HS has cross-promotion with other blizzard titles to bring in new people. I think a free skin in LoL for doing progress in LoR would really boost player count.

[@cheglock4314]

I love your videos so much, the details you mark and your speech just leave me breathless, I catch every word. After Seraphine fragment I saw "In conclusion" and was very surprised because "Wait, the video supposed to be 40 minutes long!" I will never get tired of your video essays and I'm really hoping I'll see more new ones Thank you so much for your work! 🃏

[@yur1ck361]

I just really wish the very best to Legends of Runaterra, the narrative power that each card has is just such a delight!

[@SuzukaYuka]

While small their Dev team is still really good. The game struggled a bit when they tried to focus on PvE content, but the refocus on competitive play meant a great improvement in gameplay quality even with a smaller production budget.

[@zap4th368]

@@SuzukaYuka I have fallen off of the game (mainly due to not being able to play it on my main devices) but as someone who sucks at the nuance of competitive deck building I did appreciate the PVE stuff. All **I** ever wanted was a path of champions deck for every champion (eventually. Like, released 2-4 at a time). That way you get to play those champions, and even begin to understand “ok, this is their thing” by seeing what the given cards and powers do for them.

[@fourth4q118]

​@@zap4th368 YES, me too, enjoying PVE more than PVP because I can't come up with an optimal deck for my main..

[@PlebCentre]

@@SuzukaYuka As someone who hit Master's in the last 7 seasons the new standard rotation is the best the game has been competitively in years. And as much as I can appreciate the PvE content, LoR's high-level midgames are the best out of all competitive TCG's on the market and I really hope they continue to push for it to become something like the Tekken of TCG's.

[@i1iii1i_______________________]

This is one of my absolute favorite videos on KZbin. Such great story behind all of these and how you presented all of it was amazing !

[@MrPeter2397]

I have been able to run a D&D Campaign for the last three years, since the release of that Dark Tides of Bilgewater module, in Runeterra and I cannot stress enough how much LoR has been helpful toward it.

[@Flavorless13]

Spot on analysis is an understatement. It gave me chills, and other moments like Gwen being the legacy of Isolde, or Jax being the last light of his nation, and Zilean's power, responsibility, lifetime of pain, vulnerability really moved me.

[@cyberrb25]

26:47 There is a bit of value. If we consider the Ghostly Paramour a variant of Viego, we could see how Gwen's story in LoR is what Isolde actually wanter her life to end up, in a sense - where she's the heroine, and not the trophy.

[@Koubaieep]

How many times have you watched this? Me : Yes

[@TBSkyen]

Appreciate it!

[@NullHorrors]

I'm extremely glad that Legends of Runeterra is still addressed to this day, being a fan of League's lore. I really want this game to flourish, and I would really enjoy seeing your Card Reviews, I thoroughly enjoy your type of videos going over the Runeterra universe :)

[@sekischro5093]

he reviewed all the cards for 50 hours

[@felixrowan646]

I play the heck out of LoR, probably more than I should. My go-to "time waster" on my phone. Haven't gotten sick of it yet and I'm still enjoying the new things being produced, particularly the new champion Jack. I'm all for you covering more of the cards. 🃏

[@jstin8]

What a great theme for the video. Loved your points about Jax and Yi especially. Never really thought about Yi’s old armor sharing design with Noxus’s style. Have you considered talking about specific narrative improvements that LOR has made for certain League characters? You touched on it briefly with Jax, but I feel like there is a lot of potential with many characters and how their depth is increased thanks to their interactions and flavor text help build upon them. Aatrox in particular has grown immensely in my eyes thanks to his new conversations with fellow Darkin such as Joraal. Seeing how he interacts with them as a general, and in many ways a hero, to his fellow darkin. Which hammers home how far he has fallen from grace.

[@hickumu]

Such a great video. I'd already seen your points about Seraphine in a short, but I appreciated seeing those expanded and also the addition of Zilean, Jax, and Gwen - those are three of my favorite characters in Legends of Runeterra, in huge part due to the story that was built around them with their cards and the personality it allowed them to have. Zilean as the kindly old teacher, haunted by the failures of his past as he carefully guides a new generation! Jax with his found family! Gwen with, yeah, the beautiful and poignant and *innocent* story of the Midnight Revel! I've gotten really invested in these *characters* and I hope the devs are allowed to bring more of that energy.

[@leonieschusterschitz8173]

I LOVE GWENS LOR STORY THEY ARE SO CUTE AND PLEASE LET THEM BE THE IDEALIZED ROMANTIC VERSION OF WHAT VIEGO AND ISOLDE COULD HAVE BEEN PLEASE ITS SO ROMANTIC AND CUTE AND OMG PLS I have a theory that the paramour is a doll Isolde made for Gwen as her prince :) that’s why I feel it’s based on viego (before they crumbled apart) omg the way u describe it is making me cry :) I love Gwen so much

[@Azure_Gust931]

Ew

[@franciscoadasilvajr4514]

Something cool that the mirage that follows Jax does is showing "another warrior from Icathia", allowing us to see what in Jax clothing is a remimber of his home

[@friendlyfiddler5727]

Truly, what the team of LoR did both for champions and for Runeterra itself cannot be overstated. Great vid and 🃏

[@viniciusbrando264]

I love the way you write your videos, you have such a powerfull way to comunicante and tell stories. I teared up hearing about what Gwen represents, it was só beautifully worded

[@ZeroToNegative]

I only really dabbled in LoR when it first released, back before Bandle City and even Targon were added. I enjoyed my brief time with it, but I had absolutely no idea just how much love and care the creative team was putting into this. Thank you for highlighting all of these poor champs who got a second chance, and it's sad to hear that LoR won't be getting much more.

[@DrunkTsundere]

LOR is still very much alive and getting support. I dislike the conclusion that he drew at the end. We're still here and playing because the game is still fantastic. LOR isn't going anywhere.

[@chadgemacusi1369]

What do you mean by "won't be getting much more?" the game is very much alive and getting updates

[@ZeroToNegative]

@@chadgemacusi1369 sorry, misspoke at the end there. I'm aware that the game is going to still be getting updates, but I'm lamenting how it's going to be shying away from giving old league characters the visual and story updates they deserve. That is, if what T B Skyen says is true

[@DrunkTsundere]

@@ZeroToNegative But that's not true. He's literally making that up with no proof, when even just in the most recent set that just came out a few weeks ago, they gave Sett and Samira visual and story updates, and introduced a new character, Jack.

[@neon2112]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video Skyen 🃏 Your perspectives on all of these champions were very heart-felt and I'm really happy that you took the time to analyze and appreciate a champion like Rumble, who most other people don't even bother to acknowledge

[@tomm8218]

I was always a fan of League Lore, the moment LOR came around I was instantly hooked and played it a lot, even tho I don't really like card games, just so I could see and hear the awesome interactions, places, persons and storys that the world has to offer. It's such a shame that riot doesn't respect that part of a game anymore. A real shame. Oh and of cause 🃏 Loved the LOR card art streams!

[@A-Wild-Frost]

I have not played runeterra, but have been playing league since beta. Holy cow.. This is a fantastic video! I had no idea how incredible the artwork and storytelling in LoR was. Im a bit late but great video, awesome voice, and really nice editing you did here. Thank you.

[@klyxes]

8:05 I guess you could say, zilean's development is...frozen in time...

[@JackCipherCreations]

This video is old, but I feel absolutely compelled to comment. Skyen, your sense of scripting and voiceover is impeccable. I have not played League, or Legends of Runeterra, I only know about these characters from your shorts & videos, but your passion for the lore and the design of the cast is so infectious, i cant help but be sqept up in your enthusiasm. I don't cry much, but simply hearing you DESCRIBE Gwen's backstory & its subsequent continuation brought me to tears. I suppose I feel like it's tailor-made to strike my emotional vulnerability; I actually HAVE a cutesy twin-tailed anime waifu character of my own whose adventures I am currently detailing in my personal comic project. I longed to give her that same sense of joy, wish-fulfillment, and freedom from her tragic past as Gwen, and it all just hit like a truck, and that is in great part to your incredible video. You have a great skill for how to make evocative videos & I just wanted to commend and congratulate you for all this entertaining & informative content.

[@MrWannabemonkey]

I've kinda been binging your Shorts and a lot of your essays recently and this video makes me wish two thing: 1. I wish I could get into Legends of Runeterra but me and TCGs just don't mix 2. I wish Riot would release either a TTRPG-System or a D&D Setting for Runeterra

[@goldenalpaca3881]

Gwen's segment made me tear up not going to lie

[@actuallygin]

Zilean was actually mentioned in the Ruination novel. Ryze was studying a tome provided to him by Thresh, which had notes and spells from some of the most powerful elemental mages of all time. Mostly from Ixtal and Icathia. And Zilean contributed to it as well, and it also mentioned that he travelled to Ixtal at some point in the past to study elemental magic. So he's not FULLY disconnected, but it was a very pleasant surprise reading his name in the novel.

[@onihae9063]

and they connected the green eyes of master yi to the spirit of wuju, giving it more meaning

[@HumanDictionary7]

As an avid lore devourer of everything Runeterra, I've been waiting for a long-form commentary like this from people like yourself on all these rescued champions. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!! 🃏

[@JayStorm199]

Could you talk more about the lore of legends of runeterra? Like the Durand Family & their Petricite Constructs for example, now that they tie-in with mageseeker game.

[@deniscruz9222]

Thank you for shining a light on one of my favourite games right now, it also made me fall in love with runeterra's universe, the game not only upgrades the design and lore of existing champions, but adds so much more, even exclusive champions with their own lore, and i think its fantastic. I wish the best future to this game, and to you and your channel.

[@Nicholas86753]

I would love a Part Two to this. More Champions that LoR has saved

[@benbeck2029]

This was so needed. Great job again my friend! You made me have the realization that Shaco, cho gath, etc. still have no true story. I hope they live up to the high standard you have (rightfully so) preached! 17:25

[@Lewicidddal]

It's really disheartening to hear what happened to the LoR team following the success of Arcane. I hope the game has a bright future but knowing Riot I don't have much hope left. Great vid as always 🃏

[@MirrorTheBall]

Hey, this is the first full video I watched, from you. Nice job very cool and entertaining content

[@phantasticgoose]

I like that LOR shows us Seraphine’s dad. Long story short is I hate my parents because they’re massive narcissists. Seraphine having a loving father who takes interest in and supports her dreams is nice, because it’s a reminder (for me, at least) that parents that care actually exist, and even if I didn’t grow up with parents that cared about more than just their personal wishes, I can be better than them when I do become a parent myself one day. The cycle ends with me.

[@valerielusa8000]

Narcissist =/= abuser, conflating the two contributes to intense stigma against people with a painful mental illness, stop it

[@phantasticgoose]

@@valerielusa8000it would be slightly more possible for me to take this reply seriously if I had actually made that equivalence myself, but you’re the only one claiming that I did, so 🤷🏽

[@wolfofsummerbreeze]

I would love if Gwen kept going on adventures, just in the nightmares of kids who need rescue.

[@cole_box]

In league my favorite champions/mains were mostly yordles like gnar, poppy, and tristana so when the bandle city expansion came out it was such a fun time seeing the revamps and added lore for yordles and where exactly they reside. Even characters I never even thought of before like azir and zilean were made to be awesome, like everyone on the LOR team really did fantastic work. I enjoyed LOR's gameplay but the personality, interactions, and lore between cards in the game made it even better, so seeing as Riot is sort of putting the dev team on a leash is disappointing.

[@juuuuuuno_7]

It is difficult to describe just how much more appealing Sera would be in league if she had that handmade flame guitar.

[@kayle995]

the video was so fun to watch until the sad conclusion. Lor videos are also the reason I've found your channel when the game came out, so yea more would be nice🃏

[@PabloNavarrete5780]

I’ve played LoL very very little, but I’ve been deep into LoR and I really really hope we can still get the growth of Runeterra through it. I love how the followers and landmarks give the world a big feeling of life, I love the silly stuff like Acorn or Serafine’s Super Fan and then the super serious stuff with the Darkin how Jun basically gets corrupted by Xolaani. I really hope it doesn’t get gutted like you said

[@obsessivelychaoticdimwit9764]

Rell so forgotten you forgot to add her to the club :(

[@MrCosmik1]

This content is so on point, I want to see you talk about EVERY SKIN AND CHAMPION! And I love that LOR is getting some attention, its visuals is truly the best thing about it and their team needs some goddam recognition

[@shmooters5599]

The lore and world building in LoR are some of my favorite aspects of it so I do sincerely hope that they reevaluate their decision to stop making these types of stories. It’s these stories that make us all fall in love with the characters again, in LoL malphite is a rock guy, in LoR he basically has a son who is one of the most popular followers in the game. It’s these stories that keep us coming back for more

[@griledchese2056]

man, it's been a while since I watched a T B skyen video, and I kinda forget how good he is at making videos? like the writing and voiceover in this video is so damn good, it makes so incredibly hyped for the champions in LoR.

[@Mortal-Knite]

Jax, Seraphine, and Master Yi I enjoy their new looks in LoR. It really shows where they came from. *(Instead of looking like a sand troll with Ionian clothing or whatever, a Pop star in the wrong (some what) era, and a Warrior's traditional suit ahead of their time)*

[@zulhadi2303]

Hope this becomes a series because i love the world building of runeterra, its such an interesting place to explore!

[@QuiteRelative]

The love and care given to turn around all of these charachters to give them their space and thing to do is astronomical! LoR truly is just the gift that keeps on giving! That said, hopefully Riot will eventually reconsider their decision to butcher up and ice the game for the foreseeable future. 🃏

[@akuma7425]

Legends of runeterra did so much for the lore, even champions that weren't really "saved" but finally got something going on after a long while of just standing in the corner doing nothing. Like I was overjoyed to finally have some more story for Annie that wasn't "she is just wandering and burning stuff around Noxus" and to finally know what the heck Tibbers was. I find the concept of having several gods of death beside Kindred really cool, and all the new Darkins we got and the fact that Aatrox was at the top of his menace, for the first time I feel he was really "the world ender".

[@InfectedSean]

Damn that Jax visual change and story is actually insane. Had no idea. I've always liked Jax, but this takes it to an insane level. If they implemented the visuals and transfered his story from LoR to League, he might actually be my favourite character, hands down.

[@andrewm.8772]

I feel that the mystical monk warrior could have been kept. There is currently a strong dissonance between his personality and his visuals, but his visuals were the stronger of the two. A lone survivor clutching onto a craggly lamppost, the last surviving piece of his home, is a cool character and one that his voice lines didn't line up with. The direction they took makes his visuals line up with his character but I kind of wish it went the other way.

[@xxlordtinchoxx9015]

im dissapointed that nautilus wasnt in the top, he was just a wacky metal suit that punished people, but lor brought him to life as the real titan of the depths

[@Noanatsuka]

I, for one, really hope that when they don "condense" everything down to one setting, that it's more in-line with LoR, which took existing ideas and explored them in a variety of fun/interesting ways... instead of Arcane, where it often time ignored or flat out changed how things were originally supposed to be. (For example, Yordle's "glamour" disguises are part of the lore everywhere... except in Arcane where they walk around and it's... normal?)

[@sallomon2357]

I think LoR actually also skips over the "glamour" cuz from what I remember, in her interaction with Veigar Senna calls him a "fluff"/"fluffy" or sth like that. But maybe my memory fails me, not sure, can't really check it right now. Edit: also remembered now that the art for Piltover Academy literally has a statue of Heimer on it, and I'm not sure whether the disguise works for statues etc.