A New Tank Champion, K’Sante, is Coming to League of Legends
A new champion is making their way onto Summoner’s Rift, and this time, they will be filling the role of a top lane tank. Riot Games has officially unveiled K’Sante, the Pride of Nazumah, following teasers in the preseason overview and a lore vignette. K’Sante will be the first pure tank champion added to the game since Ornn in 2017. While the exact release date is unknown, players can expect K’Sante to arrive on live servers in Patch 12.21, with testing available on the PBE in the near future.
K’Sante hails from Nazumah, an area of Shurima that does not worship Azir. In the preseason video, he is described as having defeated a powerful enemy and using its hide to craft “ntofos,” which are large blunt weapons that can also transform into blades. Notably, K’Sante is also the first Black LGBTQ+ champion in League of Legends, marking a historic moment for the game.
In the champion’s reveal video, K’Sante is known as the “Hunter,” and his partner is referred to as the “Archer.” They fought together to defend Nazumah, with K’Sante relying on his raw strength and skill, sometimes to the chagrin of the Archer, who encouraged him to incorporate finesse and strategy. However, K’Sante’s arrogance caused him to ignore the Archer’s advice.
Lil Nas X, the artist behind this year’s Worlds anthem, “STAR WALKIN’,” is collaborating with Riot’s skin creation team to design Prestige Empyrean K’Sante, which will be available for purchase during the upcoming Worlds event. It is unclear what Empyrean K’Sante will look like, as this skin line has never appeared in League of Legends before.
K’Sante’s release aligns with the duration of the Worlds 2022 event, which will feature skins from the Spirit Blossom universe, Bewitching universe, and possibly the upcoming Empyrean universe. The champions receiving Empyrean skins will likely be revealed in the next PBE preview.
K’Sante is expected to join League of Legends’ live servers in Patch 12.21, coinciding with the start of the preseason. Players can anticipate his arrival on the PBE for testing in the coming days, along with more details about his abilities.