League of Legends’ new champion brings charm, gameplay, and a compelling backstory
Riot has revealed more details about League of Legends’ upcoming champion, Akshan, in a recent dev blog post. As a mid lane marksman assassin, Akshan offers unique gameplay mechanics along with a charismatic personality and a tragic backstory.
Akshan’s design was influenced by players shaping the metagame. Marksmen champions have occasionally ventured into solo lanes to dominate melee opponents, but they haven’t truly fit in those roles. Jeevun “Jag” Sidhu, the game design lead, explains, “They don’t provide the things that champs designed for mid should, like crowd control or target access. So we wanted to craft an experience that would feel like a distinct assassin style, but also clearly feel like a marksman… and put those two worlds together in mid lane.”
Akshan wields a powerful weapon consisting of a boomerang, grappling hook, and gun. With his high mobility, he can escape difficult situations or dive into the fray to assassinate his targets. His kit also includes stealth and the ability to revive fallen allies, rewarding players who can make quick decisions.
In terms of his lore, Akshan’s story is filled with tragedy. Hailing from Shurima as a street urchin, he always fought against injustices. However, after crossing the wrong person, Akshan was brutally beaten and left for dead. He was saved by a kind woman named Shadya, who resurrected him and trained him to become a Sentinel. Together, they traveled across Shurima collecting ancient weapons to combat Viego, the Ruined King.
Unfortunately, Shadya was murdered, propelling Akshan into a quest for vengeance using his new Sentinel weapon. John “JohnODyin” O’Bryan, the principal narrative writer, explains that the team strived to strike the right balance between revenge and heroism, ultimately creating a morally grey character with strong morals and noble motivations.
Akshan and Viego serve as perfect foils to each other. While both have experienced heartbreak, Viego is determined to destroy the world for his own desires, while Akshan seeks to save it. With the Ruination narrative building towards its climax, League fans can anticipate the conclusion of this epic story.
Akshan will officially join the League of Legends roster on July 21 with Patch 11.15.
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To watch the champion spotlight video of Akshan, click here.
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