Hello everyone!
Similar to the previous VFX updates we’ve made in the past (Ziggs, Thresh, Lux, etc), we’re working on updates to the Visual Effects (VFX) of more champions whose spell effects are in need of some love. Our aim is to get their VFX up to current League standards and improve gameplay clarity. In Patch 10.3, we’ll be releasing a VFX Update for Annie and Nautilus!
Just like the previous ones, and since these are smaller updates geared toward sprucing up some of the oldest members of the roster, they aren’t in the same prioritization conversation as to how we decide who gets a VGU (where we take model, gameplay, and thematic into account too!): they do not affect any other timeline, and are simply dev passion projects.
We’re looking for feedback on their VFX changes, which should be up on the PBE soon-ish. Please try them out there —especially if you’re a main— and leave us your feedback once the changes are up!
ANNIE
VFX Update aimed at improving gameplay readability and modernizing her effects.
Base Kit:
- P – Cleaned up Passive indicator and added a Passive hit overlay on those stunned by Annie.
- BA – New missiles and hits.
- Q – New missiles and hits, and now has a small cast effect.
- W – New cone AOE now matching the actual hitbox, and added a hit effect. Also made a new UI QuickCast indicator to match the actual hitbox.
- E – Added the ripples effect often used in damage reduction shields, and modernized the effect as a whole. She now burns the ground under her!
- R – New cast effect with better representation of its hitbox. New idle effects on Tibbers. Now has a fire effect all around Tibbers to hint at its AOE damage range.
- Idle Effects – Modernized idle fire effect.
W comparison (Live/New/Comparison):
Skin changes:
- All Skins: Cleaned up and matched base changes.
- Goth Annie: Recolored from Base.
- Annie in Wonderland: Now has Legendary-tier VFXs! Thematic goal was to make it feel Wonderland-y, dreamy, magical. Also has new Recall and Dance VFXs. Let us know how you feel about this!
- Frostfire Annie: Recolored from Base.
- Panda Annie: Some cleanup and matched base changes.
- Hextech Annie: W should better represent the hitbox. Some cleanup, and matched base changes.
- Super Galaxy Annie: Some cleanup and matched base changes.
- Annie-versary: Matched base changes.
Known issues or things to add:
- Add trails on Tibbers attacks for better impacts
- Add vertical motion on all Tibbers casts
- Annie in Wonderland E shrooms feel too popcorny
- Fix Tibbers ground enrage buff (for now it’s spawning orange dots on all skins)
- Panda Annie’s Q hit effect lasts for too long
- Add ripples to all Tibbers E shields
- Some more snowflakes for Frostfire Annie
- Recolor for Frankentibbers Annie
NAUTILUS
VFX Update aimed at improving gameplay readability across his entire kit, modernizing his effects and giving him a more defined VFX thematic.
Base Kit:
- P – New root and hit effect.
- BA – Now has trails on all his attacks. Also new impacts.
- Q – New Q missile (finally) representing his actual hitbox (as best as possible). Slightly tweaked the UI QuickCast arrow to better match the length/width of the missile.
- W – Some cleanup and new shield effect. Removed floating anchor from DoT in favor of a more subtle dark ray of light. Also cleaned up his eyes effect while W is active. New AOE hit effect reflecting the actual size of the AOE.
- E – Minor cleanup.
- R – Adjusted sizes of explosions to better match their hitbox, and added a new indicator on the target, which should now reflect the actual hitbox of the approaching charge.
Skin changes:
- All Skins: Cleaned up and matched base changes.
- Astronautilus: Some cleanup, matched base changes and added new VFXs across the whole kit. More asteroids, stars and space stuff!
Known issues or things to add:
- Recolor for Subterranean Nautilus
Please test those changes on the PBE once they are up (should be some time later this week) and let us know if you have any feedback!