The Rouge Sentinel – Akshan will hit the Rift in League Patch 11.15.
The next League of Legends champion – Akshan is more than just a handsome assassin.
In a developer blog post today, Riot discussed Akshan’s position as a mid-lane marksman assassin and his lore. While his kit offers unique gameplay, the Rogue Sentinel also adds a captivating personality and a tragic background to the Rift.
According to Riot, the new champion’s design was inspired by observing players “define the meta.” Marksmen have abandoned the bot lane on occasion, dabbling in a solo lane to overwhelm a melee opponent. However, “none of them feel like they belong there,” according to game lead design Jeevun “Jag” Sidhu. That is, until the next patch.
“They don’t provide the crowd control or target access that champs designed for mid should,” Jag remarked. “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 the mid lane.”
Akshan has the mobility to escape out of a difficult position or the ability to leap into the battle and assassinate a target, armed with a formidable weapon that includes a boomerang, grappling hook, and pistol. Players who can make quick and unexpected judgments will benefit the most from the Rogue Sentinel’s kit, including stealth and the ability to resurrect fallen teammates.
In terms of his story, Akshan has had his fair share of tragedy. Growing up as a street urchin in Shurima, he was constantly outspoken about injustices he observed. However, after “pissed off the wrong man,” the young Akshan was violently attacked and left to die. Shadya, a kind woman who revived the urchin with a powerful weapon, saved him. Shadya prepared Akshan to be a Sentinel, wandering across Shurima in search of ancient weaponry that would be utilized to destroy Viego.
All wonderful things, however, must come to an end. Shadya was killed, leaving Akshan to exact vengeance with his new Sentinel weapon.
“We had a hard time finding the right balance between revenge and hero,” said principal narrative writer John “JohnODyin” O’Bryan.“There were points during development where we made a slight adjustment to who he was, and he swayed too far into evil, and lost the good part about him… I think he’s landed in a place that’s morally grey. He has strong morals and a good motivation, and that’s what keeps him from being the type of man he hunts.”
Akshan and Viego are mirror images of each other. Despite the fact that both have suffered grief, Viego is determined to destroy the world in order to obtain what he desires, whilst Akshan is attempting to rescue it. With the Ruination tale obviously approaching a peak, League fans should find out how the story concludes shortly.
Akshan is expected to join the League cast with Patch 11.15 on July 21.