Riot Games has officially revealed the newest champion in League of Legends: Vel'Koz, the Eye of the Void.
A terrifying being created for the sole purpose of learning, Vel’Koz absorbs knowledge and accrues understanding through a multitude of tests and scans. Unfortunately, those very tests, while extremely productive for Vel’Koz, have a tendency to utterly destroy his subjects.
Described as a ranged mage, Vel'Koz excels in long-range harass available from the start of the game; however is threatening early presence is offset by his fragile nature, requiring teammates' protection early on. Here are his abilities:
Passive: Organic Deconstruction
Vel’Koz’s abilities Deconstruct those they strike. After being hit three times by his abilities, minions, monsters and enemy champions are Deconstructed and suffer bonus true damage. Enemies lose their Deconstruction stacks by avoiding Vel’Koz’s attacks for a short while.
Q: Plasma Fission
Vel’Koz fires a plasma bolt that slows and damages the first enemy struck. Once Plasma Fission hits, reaches its maximum range or is reactivated a second time, the bolt splits at a 90 degree angle. The split bolts deal the same damage and apply the same slow.
W: Void Rift
Vel’Koz sends out a straight line blast that tears open a temporary rift to the Void before exploding. Both the initial tear and the delayed explosion damage and apply Deconstruction stacks to caught enemies.
E: Tectonic Disruption
After a brief delay Vel’Koz disrupts a nearby area, damaging and launching all enemies caught into the air. Enemies hit that are close to Vel’Koz are also knocked back slightly.
R: Life Form Disintegration Ray
Vel’Koz channels a ray of infinite energy that follows the cursor for a brief while, damaging, slowing and Deconstructing all enemies in range.
Riot notes that Vel'Koz has a rather short autoattack range but can keep enemies at bay with his abilities. By fully stacking Organic Deconstruction against lane opponents, Vel'Koz will deal "substantial true damage." His ult is also said to deal "devastating amounts of damage" to enemies caught, its long channel time and slow turn speed makes initial positioning "absolutely paramount."
Vel'Koz is currently on the League of Legends Public Beta Environment, though he's not yet playable. Once we do get some hands-on time with him, we'll be sure to post any video or impressions we have. Though it sounds like assassins and high mobility champions will have a field day with Vel'Koz.
