Shaco & Leona have received VFX updates that are currently live on PBE and will hit the live servers on patch 12.7
Visual effects easily dictate how a champion feels when playing. Smooth and clean effects can give players a better overall experience when playing the game. While the newer champions and skins all have good detail and smooth transitions in VFX/SFX and animations, some older champions are getting small VFX changes to bring them up to speed.
Shaco and Leona are now getting a VFX update. Riot Sirhaian, a Senior Visual Effects Artist at Riot Games, recently posted on Reddit about these updates.
“Similar to the previous VFX updates we’ve made in the past (Vel’Koz, Zilean, Syndra, etc), we’re working on updates to the Visual Effects (VFX) of champions whose spell effects are in need of some love. Our aim is to get their VFXs to current League standards and improve gameplay clarity,” Riot Sirhaian said.
Shaco VFX Update
The VFX updates to Shaco will make his abilities and auto-attacks look cleaner. All of Shaco’s abilities and his passive got some kind of VFX changes. Also, it will be much easier to distinguish between ‘backstab,’ front attacks, and crits.
VFX Changes to Abilities
- P: All hits now have different effects based on whether they’re front- or back-stabs. Also, different crit effects.
- Q: Completely new “poof”. Going for “illusion” magic. Tried to keep some of the iconic orange smoke in the composition. New hit effects.
- W: New box placement effect, cleaned up range indicator, and added a subtle burst around the box once they’re triggered, to show the range of the fear (it’s bigger than the box trigger range). Also new missiles and hit effects.
- E: New missile, hit, and slow effects.
- R: New cast effect, poof, timer, and explosion
Additional Changes
- BA and Q now have different VFX based on whether or not they’re a front attack, backstab or crit.
- Added some extra subtle particles to the Q invisibility
- Also Added execute VFX for E (under 30%)
- Added a cast effect for R
Changes to Skins in Line with the VFX Changes
- Base: Complete Overhaul
- Mad Hatter Shaco: Gets the new Base VFX
- Royal Shaco: Gets the new Base VFX
- Nutcracko: Gets the new Base VFX, with a winter-themed recolor and some snowflakes.
- Workshop Shaco: Gets the new Base VFX, with an electric-themed recolor and some sparkling effects.
- Asylum Shaco: Gets the new Base VFX
- Masked Shaco: Gets the new Base VFX, with a red and purple recolor
- Wild Card Shaco: Gets the new Base VFX
- Dark Star Shaco: Mirrored new Base VFX, new hit effects, and some minor cleanup.
- Arcanist Shaco: Mirrored new Base VFX, new hit effects, and some minor cleanup.
- Crime City Nightmare Shaco: Minor tweaks
Leona VFX Update
Leona’s VFX changes will be minor compared to Shaco’s. The changes are mainly cleaning up some of the older VFX. The biggest difference looks to be on the E ability making it a lot cleaner. It will now be easier to understand the range of her E.
VFX Changes to Abilities
- P: Small cleanup.
- Q: New ground effect on Stun.
- W: While the buff is up, added some rays of light coming from Leona and the shield shines brighter. New explosion around Leona on release.
- E: New missile and root effects.
- R: New cast, warning AOE, and impact.
Additional Changes
- Idles: Leona’s sword now has some small flames, as well as inside the ring at the top of her shield.
Changes to Skin in Line with the VFX Changes
- Base: Updated and cleaned up Base.
- Valkyrie Leona: Getting the new Base VFX.
- Defender Leona: Getting the new Base VFX.
- Iron Solari Leona: Getting the new Base VFX, and some more flames to match her original VFX.
- Pool Party Leona: Getting the new Base VFX, a new R decal, and some bubbles and sunflowers across her kit.
- PROJECT Leona: Small tweaks.
- Barbecue Leona: Getting the new Base VFX, and her grill glows bright hot when her W is active.
- Solar Eclipse Leona: No changes
- Lunar Eclipse Leona: No changes
- Mecha Kingdoms Leona: No changes
- Battle Academia Leona: No changes
- Prestige Battle Academia Leona: No changes
- DWG Leona: No changes
- Debonair Leona: No changes
