What Some Champions Almost Became

This time... let's talk about forgotten concept art.
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[@himsnow8792]

It's funny to think that Braum went from Kratos to the Pringles man

[@catmomchantel]

Forreal, he needs a proper Kratos inspired skin

[@zerlichr426]

The reson they didn't pick Braum in Demacia is... They didn't like Braum to bark orders at everyone. No i am serious.

[@TrulyBS-QJ]

Hahaha

[@michagruzewski5592]

power level didn't change.

[@notgoodatgames6804]

@@catmomchantel technically Pantheon is League's Kratos

[@Aniiilov]

evil braum doesnt exist he cant hurt you, evil braum:

[@alexcat6685]

Braum is a Braum Moment, Though it would be an intersting turn around of how a character looks, But it wouldn't work for his story.

[@JD-vq7ln]

A dark magic mirror that summons an opposite character version would be cool. Braum would be so dark.

[@starblame5482]

He stole a door

[@MIDO44444]

I can take evil braum , mustacheless braum on the other hand

[@stickbugging]

@@MIDO44444 oh my god i cant even imagine that

[@vacant-state]

sooo crazy that Sylas almost looked like what Chamber ended up looking like

[@Congele_]

Had to scroll way too long to see any comment about this, I was starting to wonder if I was the only one seeing so many similarities with the design of Chamber

[@Mr_Salty1]

i tought i was the only one who saw it

[@i_dont_know_who_i_am69]

yeah for a second i thought necrit just photoshopped chambers head for the thumbnail lmao. they look so similar. i wonder if it's just a coincidence or maybe the same person worked on both characters

[@Cacany99]

I was wondering why Necrit didnt say anything about Sylas looking like Chamber

[@Ridlay_]

I wonder if there was inspiration taken FOR Chamber given it’s both Riot.

[@kayn9651]

The only thing I wish they did with Viego is to play into how his sword is an item sold on the Rift, and have it to where his weapon base-line is a spectral manifestation of his blade, but when he buys the completed item it becomes corporeal and has those original purplish colors on it. Or even the new darker tones of green that make it look less like a holo-blade.

[@shoyrushoyru]

yeah it would have been cool if they tied the item into his champ more, he just feels disconnected from that item weve had for so long

[@josemanuelrojas214]

Like Saber from fate?

[@Tom3kkk]

@@josemanuelrojas214 saber is hiding her sword with wind magic

[@freezzer0019]

I also expected something like that, maybe even comedic lines when he meets a champion who bought it like: Oh, so can everyone just get themselves a magic artefact carried by my family? People these days.. That was of course not really in character but I think you could have make it work. Anyways, I think why they didnt do something along those lines is because they can never see if Viegos build might change. Eventho blade of course is a very popular item, you never know what's gonna happen Its just the over decade old code

[@The.Doctor2]

@@freezzer0019 He should say "They can all buy copies, but only I have the original!"

[@ThatsPrettyFunnyMan]

Glasses Sylas was not entirely wasted as he was ported to Riot's other game; meet Chamber from Valorant.

[@no_opinion1065]

Glad to see I’m not the only one who noticed that, I wonder what other concept art from league went to valorant.

[@Patty-Kun]

I'd like to think that if Sylas ever gets an ultimate skin, they should implement the chain color concept into it. Maybe they could add that pet lizard too

[@Elemental-Phoenix]

It would be cool af but like Necrit mentioned, it would probably be incredibly annoying to maintain as you’d have to update and test him with every single future champion. Even Udyr’s skins didn’t demand such a long term maintenance commitment

[@oinkleberry]

Pulsefire Sylas PLZ. Could give him the glasses too.

[@jarrettcrump5316]

@@Elemental-Phoenix While thats true, they already have to do this to some extent just because of his ult. Adding a ult color to each champ when they're added would be relatively easy, and is significantly less maintenence than what they already have to do for him anyway.

[@miser2570]

​@@Elemental-Phoenix I mean, with the little knowledge i have of coding, and about how sylas works, there seems to be many ways to do it that arent specially hard, and if they are bothersome, its because of the many present champs not because of new ones. For exemple, as with the art shown, making all champs fit within a series of categories isnt really that hard, you just flag them in a category (which im pretty sure all champs are already flagged within a set of categories), pretty sure couldnt amount to more than a single line of code (thou in each champ), and then make sylas ult check that flag and set the appropiate color, new champs would be easier rather than anything, you just code the flag in right away. This is, thou, a very general solution, and riot knowing exactly how sylas already works, could probably come with an even simpler solution, like, i dont know, just adding an extra parameter to each ult sylas has coded in (since they doing that anyway) that just says what color it has to be, which also im pretty sure isnt even extra work if you already have to code an ult, the issue rather being retrocoding it in the present ults

[@Elemental-Phoenix]

@@miser2570 In my (very unprofessional and uninformed) opinion: the issue is less a matter of implementation and more a matter of future QA. For one, it's yet another thing they would have to test on a fairly regular basis to make sure it hasn't broken. Additionally, if they want to update the graphics of the effect at any point in the future, or add another category for whatever reason, they'd have retroactively test all his interactions all over again. It's not that it's impossible or even really that hard, but in a game like League, with millions of interactions and possible bugs...is it really worth it?

[@notestarlord7775]

Really sad to see Aphelios not mentioned at all Aphelios had a bunch of different and unique early concepts, such as being looking like 'Braums evil brother', to a Demacian Ranger a la Quinn, or even a Zaunite 'Bard' And even when they landed on the sleek Lunari look, his design, alongside his weapons, sister, and HUD went though many iterations

[@captainteamou3792]

That final Viego concept art looks really COOL and BADASS.

[@Ender14TV]

Fromsoftware vibes

[@settmain3724]

kinda wish they went with teh hecca demon look

[@mrszmatan2727]

Riot somehow managing to pick one of weakest designs they could. We know that armored Viego looked best, but other ones were good too and actually did not conflict much with already existing champs. They still settled on a design that does not make him in any way special compared to rest of champions in game, probably even more blank, because he is average pretty boy, they had to make his sword comically large so he would be distinct from someone like Yasuo

[@secretname2670]

I just wish he had that kingly long white beard and then just make his skins hot ffs

[@taemo3707]

@@mrszmatan2727 they seem to always end up with the least detailed ones. Especially kaisa with his armor instead of a jagged armor that actually looks like it protects her we got a very smooth condom suit :

[@gillesnotard69]

I know how excited you are to cover up the new Runeterra cards, like Xolaani and the World Runes, and I'm as hyped to see your video about it.

[@Ecstasyeye]

I really hope he's doing it. Its been a while since he made a video talking about LoR cards :(

[@Cydar0]

dont forget about the giant darkin *Ballcocks*

[@randomname8616]

Just so you know, "cover up" means "hiding something so people don't find out", the thing I assume you were probably going for was just "cover" without the "up"

[@blturn]

The A in D.N.A just stands for Art, which encapsulates all art around a champion. This goes for their animations, sound effects, visual effects, 3d models and more. Basically, the art team are there to create any palpable thing for a champion.

[@SadToffee]

The idea of urgot as a behemoth that slowly pulls you in is terrifying and amazing at the same time. And I feel like it shows a way that urgots ult could have been so much cooler.

[@mr.mystery9338]

Honestly it is already one of the coolest abilities in the game

[@crimsoneclipse0618]

Theu already had it implemented, but it felt too clunky and took way too long, so they scrapped iy before release

[@edrienmanzanero4081]

Urgots ult pulling the enemy slowly sounds cool and terrifying but in-game that ult would suck balls fam

[@SadToffee]

@@edrienmanzanero4081 not if it was implemented correctly, imagine fighting urgot and being unable to finish him off as he slowly pulls you in to your death, his entire kit could be built around it realistically, compared to now where we have mister walk in a circle and faceroll keyboard.

[@SadToffee]

@@edrienmanzanero4081 or, what if, instead of an ult it was a passive where when you engage urgot the chain starts pulling you in, and all of urgots abilities are designed to make it hard for you to escape.

[@BaldGoose]

I love how you tell the story of League as a whole. You tell us the written lore and how these characters were created. Why we haven't gotten new gameplay content. Very cool.

[@DandeDingus]

Funny thing about jhin. The assassin sniper was first made for kindred until riot changed them into the death spirits and left behind the assassin sniper idea

[@worldlinezero4783]

Thumbnail Sylas be looking like Chamber if he was arrested for drug possession

[@RedstoneRailroadRR]

Honestly my favorite was concept art for Sylas. I can see that maybe the glasses, shirt, and sharp hair cut gives off the "high class" or manipulative type. While sylas was meant to be more of a devil, rugged but able to do his schemes (plus seen some trauma). But I love the idea of the collar chain being part of his shirt, like an insane asylum coat in some ways (also makes him look more like a high level demancian threat. Granted shirtless makes him look like an animal that demacia shoved in chains).

[@yauma1098]

Well it gives me comfort to know that early concept Braum influenced K'sante. Both are big muscular men, but one used to wield two shields and K'sante wields tonfas taht in a sense kinda work as shields too. And the early monk braum vibes kinda translated into k'sante clothing. Having an Ionian monk with a big armor and robes using two blunt weapons or throwing shield would be awesome too

[@kalfkeith5646]

It always feels like the concept art are better cause we're so used to looking at the champion in the game.

[@kalfkeith5646]

Heyo where your check mark mate?

[@boiho8960]

This was very interesting i think you should make a second part and explore more monster champs because Tahm Kench,Volibear and Rek'sai have some amazing concept art

[@blackroses96]

That Viego concept art with Isolde's tombstone as his blade would make a great raid boss for the MMO.

[@crisendeep178]

IMO this concept is super boring. It's an another Morde who is boring as well. Only these the tombstone-sword and a black mist cape look really amazing and interesting.

[@krokso519]

I like Viego: He is truly the perfect little prince boy in his own eyes and that reflects so well. Though to me, he never felt like the evil giant monster king that controls the whole of the shadowisles

[@crisendeep178]

He does not reflect what the Isles are and what the king of the Isles is. And he doesn't reflect his own character. His desire of returning his love is not reflected in him. He only has this odd hole-tattoo that didn't show anything. These concepts of Viego with roses at least show that he is a romantic. But in the end we have just a handsome shirtless guy dressed in ridiculous clothes (wtf are these little wings on his knees?) with a tattoo on his chest which we don't notice because of his 6 abs lmao.

[@SodiumChloride00]

Spirit Blossom Sett also has the same kind of "spirit arms" as the "Vastayan Gangster Boss" Concept art

[@hydravortexx9529]

The last Viego concept wieling Isolde her tomb somehow made me think about Guts 😂

[@russelloats]

It just occurred to me. Riot should have changed Viego's recall animation after the whole Ruination event or at the very least give him 2 separate recalls, maybe depending on how much health he has. To mimic when he's sealed away by the Sentinels and Gwen. idk, maybe it would've looked too much like Sylas

[@aleksapravilovic7752]

The idea of Viego wielding Isoldes tombstone blows my mind, but with or without the tombstone he should have been fully armored, yes he would look like Mordekaiser but why is that bad? I would now give the pretty boy Viego we have, for an armored knight.

[@Rev1n0s]

The idea was to distingush him from Mordekaiser entierly but I agree that they should of taken Viego's design to other different direction.

[@lamjoe529]

i like how many characters had concept art with the yasuo hairstyle

[@moonynight6374]

I really wish we could get the "Darkin Behemoth" some day.

[@Chickensea10]

WE COULD SEE IT IN LEGENDS OF RUNETERRA! since norra got released all cards are on the table!

[@makes58]

@@Chickensea10 i dont want a JPEG as a consolation prize

[@Chickensea10]

@@makes58 pretty cool jpg though!

[@dmsviola1]

Maybe a Kaiju line to compliment the Mecha line?

[@Chickensea10]

@@dmsviola1 ooooohhhhhh that sounds dope!

[@stranger_one]

Riot: let's make it unique Also riot: but everyone must be sexy no matter their theme design. Be it deer, lizard, undead, monster or demon.

[@oinkleberry]

At least with Bel"Veth they unironically went the anti-sexy route in comparison to her original concept art. Kai'Sa though is an embarrassment of misplaced sex appeal.

[@pokimane4389]

@@oinkleberry you are the living embarrassment kiddo. Kaisa is way better design

[@pokimane4389]

Seriously kid cry about it

[@oinkleberry]

@@pokimane4389 the only crying I'm doing is crying-laughing at you 🤣

[@pokimane4389]

@@oinkleberry just like the doctors did when you were born. They were be like what a clown was born

[@Jjaeger_H]

The concept art is one of the reasons I love reading their dev posts, some of these are super fucking cool and really stimulate the imagination. Glad someone put the spotlight on them, seeing the really interesting characters and designs that could've been

[@shuraizo2877]

You can also argue that the Sett with floating arms was turned into his legendary skin, the Spiritblossom, with the spirits hanging around him turning into arms for some attacks

[@shuraizo2877]

Also the only problem I have with Viego is that he has his chest and abs showing for seemingly only fan service purposes

[@Rev1n0s]

The thing about Sylas' is that he's based on characters like Tain Long, Zaheer, Kratos, and Sagat; all of whom have been in solitary confinment.

[@AlexanderMartinez-kd7cz]

can we talk about how every iteration of seraphine in concept art is better than the one we got?

[@DustD.Reaper]

That is because Seraphine as an idea was always going to flop since she was just Belle Delphine ripping of Sonas kit to sell an ultimate skin

[@naser3000x]

Man that viego concept at the end is the coolest thing

[@robins2819]

What I'm getting from all this is what we start with really cool champion concepts then pick whichever one is the most fuckable one then further dumb it down from there.

[@jaimecouto9450]

Oh I've really missed your top tiers videos, thanks Necrit, hope to see more of this content soon

[@marvinbange1216]

Viego as a old bearded king wouldnt be boring at all imo. Would have really set him apart from the sea of other youthfull handsome lads running around on the rift

[@azrieldalusong5042]

Yeah he doesn't fit the narrative but I don't like the new on either, they could've make him more "ruined" (messy hair and black eyes and burnt clothes or clothes ruined) and move the triangle hole thing to left side of his chest. He's og design feels too safe.

[@1124spawn]

ok we’re gonna need a part two on this !!

[@thebaron9405]

Probably not related but, riot should really explore a rivalry thing between Viego and Mordekaiser, Both are "Mad" undead rulers that broke free from death by their own will, if Viego goes the "Mad warlord" way because of loosing Isolde forever, Him Butting heads with the soon to be re-re-revived mordekaiser would make a for a great story arc

[@Zeboki]

2:18 I mean considering how many hourglass pretty face champions are in the game to the point I sometimes cannot tell who the champion is from the skin unless I figure out the weapon, that's a big phat *X* to doubt.

[@YummyGummyGuy]

It would be cool getting some of these as skins eventually

[@sanity406]

My favorite concept was one for Evelynn, where she had 6 arms and looked like a Coven member - I was really hoping that they would that that concept for her Coven Legendary... But well, what we got is still pretty amazing

[@junkm0d628]

I love this, I definitely would not mind more like this

[@yurimaldonado4966]

I wish they used viego's four-armed concept design as a second phase in the ruined king game, like dracula from castlevania, wich was an inspiration. I actually agree with the decision of making him young and atractive, but they were a bit too shy and made his design undersell how powerfull he was supposed to be. Even in the novels, he has a second appearance where he uses a cloak made of mist and has a mad expression on his face with his perfect hair all messed up and covering his face. Shame...

[@janhendrik1227]

sylas with glasses looks like orochimarus Sidekick in Naruto

[@valleman5456]

One of Viego’s concepts shows him summoning mist crocodiles and tbh i would love to have a summoner character like that

[@Diyel]

Sylas with glasses is basically Chamber getting isekai'd into Runeterra lmao

[@misternoobz5888]

Maybe they should make Concept skinline because all this ideas look cool and wackey

[@gomiko8979]

As someone who loves shields and hammers, those braum concepts are hella fire. I love heavy armory so that really tickled me. The cici/cc/sisi concept should be released. That was a beautiful champion idea. Kind of like a shield ang can use it as an artillery cannon

[@VELVETPERSON]

Urgot got one of the best rework model ever. I hope, we will see some occult themed skins in the future for him

[@wastingsun]

This will probably not get traction but honestly Bel'Veth's squid concept art is SOO good. It would have worked so much better with her kit and I just love the idea of a false dress made entirely of tentacles like an eldritch queen.

[@NoBPlayer-od4ew]

In your past videos about the lore of the ruined king and the shadow isles, i first thought that viego would look like something that is rotten flesh and accursed bones with soul imprints, then have a heart glowing dark and greenish.

[@cleveranonym74]

Every time you put emphasis on the word "THESE" I was waiting for the ending to be "nuts"... for some reason 😂

[@valhhir]

Sylas : you want to play let's play

[@yammyboi5449]

I think K'sante was fully inspired by the concept arts from Braum wielding 2 shields

[@michalhrdy577]

very interesting video, had no idea about most of these. i'd really appreciate a second part video.

[@DangStank]

So sad to me, all the good concept art that gets scrapped just to become supermodels

[@nihil_est_divinum]

9:28 - Not everything about glasses Sylas was scrapped. I can see the resemblance in Chamber - a Valorant agent - in his look on the left.

[@JN-qg1eo]

LITERALLY WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE THE CONCEPT ARTS ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT HAPPENED. THEY LITERALLY COULDVE SWTICHED OUT THE BEST DESIGN FROM THE DESIGN USED IN LOL FOR LOR

[@Gurbo8]

Viego's design isn't very typical for a King-like character, but it's a very typical Riot-design. Very pretty, and not all that scary/gritty. I definitely expected something closer to Mordekaiser, and I've been disappointed ever since his reveal lol

[@personfromnothing]

at 17:10 the first mask in the third row looks quite similar to sentinels of light pyke with minor adjustments. cool how they reused that idea for pyke's skin.

[@skwarrior14]

young sylas looking like a pokemon trainer

[@simulacrumdei6462]

I'm honestly glad that you are one of the people who appreciate viegos design If he was the only champion to look this good and there weren't 20 hot guy champions before him i think he would have been something really special and people would have actually considered his design as good

[@williamsoule9067]

I really love some of Akshan's concept art!

[@dio722]

seeing Viego designs made me imagine a souls like game in Runeterra .They could make a whole game with only Viego designs as bosses

[@flameofmage1099]

Those are some awesome and terrifying Urgot designs!

[@timlancing7590]

I've been working on a 3D model of Kai'sa and I can't wait to finish with the base model so I can add the sick arm cannon

[@DadarkracoonNL]

The Sylas variant at 9:29 and the Jhin variant far right at 16:26 really make me think they reused some art for Chamber and Omen from Valorant

[@CptCh4os]

This was amazing. I'd love to see more if you have any other interesting ones

[@Archomir]

Why the concept arts are always better than the final product they choose as the official one

[@leobruch3697]

I still hope we get a whipblade champion like the Kayle concept art. Shadow Fight 2 had a really cool whipblade like weapon with beautifull animations

[@c0rse198]

I really want a champion with glasses now after seeing the early concepts of Sylas; I mean proper reading glasses not like vayne's glasses or the various goggles.

[@NEGIMAY]

Would be cool if that last one for Viego was used for the mmo

[@Congele_]

9:35 I can't be the only one thinking this look like it ultimately ended up being the inspiration for Chamber? The hair, glasses, but even the facial expression looks almost the same!

[@ctbandrew2388]

I think the grey and yellow “evil braum” is from demacia, made out of the same stuff that galio is made from

[@alexcat6685]

12:23 and a way more fitting for a person who had to sacrifce their humanity to survive in the void.

[@gearettex]

ngl the Sylas with glasses looks great, i can even imagine his taunts just fixing his glasses on his face

[@xhantTheFirst]

2 concept arts for Urgot were used to make chembarons in Arcane that's so cool

[@lcdc_azuralie]

Seeing the urgot concept arts just makes me sad. Urgot is def not my fav type of champion (I play mostly cute/human champions) but I wish riot would keep doing this type of monsters and concept arts cause its just soo cool to see the creativity

[@johanstenfelt1206]

Huh, well, this was interesting to find out about, i wonder if any of these could still potentially be used in one way or another in the future? Would be interesting. Anyway, i would really like to see more of these, if you feel up to it.

[@narcis6467]

Some of this concept arts are so much better than what they delivered... Is insane..

[@MrNoms-cn6px]

Old Sylas looked like someone that would scream "THEY ARE SO DEAD!"

[@lucad9667]

What I would have liked to see explored with Viego is a mask helmet (think King Baldwin from Kingdom of Heaven). At that point in time, the constant flow of pretty faces and sexy bodies was already an old hat, so twisting the idea a little with giving him a fake pretty face would have been cool. Make the eyes and maybe the mouth leak a dark liquid or something and it could look properly creepy as well.

[@Xenochetemist]

Okay I know Sylas with glasses is Chamber but FEMALE SYLAS !!! 👀👀👀

[@spaceginger7627]

What I found really cool about swains concept phase was that they struggled with his age. They drew him as 30 year old as well as 70 year old and anything inbetween.

[@reinm1237]

8:36 Sylas: "Time for ze Kings to bow!" *Summons a sniper rifle*

[@jimhomeijer1554]

A lot of these concepts seem super dark, understandable yet a tiny bit disappointing barely any champions are actually taken that route but would be very cool to see a Halloween themed game including the horror esc variants

[@AT7outof10]

We can just assume Silas lost his glasses, and is now running around near/far sighted.

[@CulturedDegenerate]

Kinda feels like almost every concept for Kai'Sa was better than what we eventually got. For Sylas, the opposite. They felt too clean, like he hadn't been mistreated in prison his entire life

[@sahelanthropus4991]

Ok so what we can learn from this is that the artists have great ideas and the one coming out always less fancy than the concept arts

[@1Rhaast]

I wish they made xayah and rakan look similar to kindred. And they could've made a huge time travel story emphasizing that kindred is a timeless spirit. That xayah and rakan were kindred when they were younger and more human. Or that they are from the future when kindred somehow eventually becomes more human.

[@cupidcup2007]

10:10 Targonian Aspect of Might Sett, yes I would definitely buy this skin

[@megablario842]

That old viego holding the tombstone could so be an ultimate skin

[@YannickOkpara-d5l]

If they had given Braum two shields, we probably would have been spared the 200 years of K'Sante.

[@xanithdegroot5407]

I need that Emo Xayah as a skin that is absolutely gorgeous. And a matching one for Rakan too please!

[@Canadioryan]

Some of the early Sylas art really reminds me of what we got for Chamber in Valorant

[@theonetruemonster3172]

I love that last concept of Viego. I'd buy that skin so damn fast.

[@nischalthapa2460]

I got cold when he said "Weilding his queens tombstone a sword"

[@RedstoneRailroadRR]

PS the idea of Viego having a bleeding chest hole, or a portal of the mist pouring out looked SO cool and creepy. Sure the triangle is neat, but that vortex looks so gooood.

[@JohnPaul_kun]

my god we could have a Sauron as the ruin king and riot didn't pick him oh man he look so darn cool tho

[@stavison]

"riot would need to make an element to every character ultimate" Well they already have to make the Ults work with him so I guess it would just add to the pile

[@Ridlay_]

7:42 Piltover, probably. Looks like he’s made of hextech, or just tech in general.