Beware the shadow, Evelynn’s rework is coming to League Of Legends . After months of teasers and whispers on the forums, Riot Games uploaded the champion update for Agony’s Embrace. She’s now a siren, a devilish imp who takes pleasure from inflicting pain on others. She’s fighting because that's what turns her on, a backstory that definitely wasn’t created to give edgy 12-year-olds something to spank it to.
Over the last few years, League Of Legends has moved away from overly sexualized female characters. Ahri, Miss Fortune and Janna are still around, but Riot Games has focused on making champions that aren’t just two beach balls on a toothpick. With Evelynn, Riot’s going back to its skanky roots, turning the naked blue shadow into a horny beast. When she kills an enemy champion, she says stuff like “I hate it when they don’t last” or “oh well, time to find a new toy.” For a game that’s been trying to distance itself from one-sided stereotypes, it seems like an odd choice.
In terms of her abilities, Evelynn remains a stealthy jungler looking to pounce on any enemy dumb enough to stand in her way. Riot made a smart design choice by retooling her passive so that she only gains Camouflage, formerly known as Stealth, until level six. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been in a game of League against an enemy Evelynn who gets first blood. Even if I say in chat that she’s going to gank bot lane level two, my ADC and support will still over extend and give her an easy double kill. This change allows for a bit more counter play, with less chance for early-game cheese to leave players salty.
Evelynn no longer has to spam her spikes to deal any damage, a blessing to anyone who’s ever broken a keyboard slamming Q in a team fight. Hate Spike sends out a spear and it lands on a champion or monster, large spikes appear behind an enemy for three attacks. Like every champion rework, Riot has given her some crowd control that fits seamlessly into her kit. Without breaking stealth, she applies a mark on an enemy to either slow or charm them, depending on how long the debuff stays active. Combo that with her Whiplash, and she can easily duel most squishy champions before eating them for dinner.
Widowmaker might be one of the strangest ultimates to ever appear in League Of Legends. She jumps into the air, dealing damage while invulnerable (like Xayah’s Featherstorm), then teleports a few meters behind the attack. Like every modern champion, she needed some form of dash to escape a fight after diving in head first. It can also be used as an engage tool, clawing her way onto an enemy carry and eating them for dinner. She might leave unsatisfied, but her team will be ecstatic seeing that “Victory” screen pop-up.
Riot Games did a good job of keeping Evelynn’s core identity while bringing her into 2017. She’s no longer a “one and done” sort of attacker, who has to pop her ultimate on multiple enemies to be useful. Now, she’s a nimble assassin who can play with her food before devouring them whole.
Player.One will be playing with the new rework, sharing updates along the way.
