Today Riot revealed the next champion to join the League of Legends - Yasuo, the Unforgiven.
The champion has visual resemblance to Xin Zhao, yet Yasao is part of the Ionian faction, and not Demacia. The lore background represents him as a master of the legendary wind technique, seeking both revenge and a way to clear his name of the accusation that he killed his own master. As the lore goes, Yasuo will be rival with another wind technique champion that will join League of Legends in the future. Ao'Shin (a previously announced champion by Riot) has a lot of wind themed elements on his artworks, so chances are he will be Yasuo's rival.
Yasuo posses the following skill set:
Passive: Way of the Wanderer
- Intent: Yasuo's critical strike chance is doubled.
- Resolve: Yasuo gains Flow as he moves – the faster he moves, the faster his Flow meter fills. When full, Yasuo activates a brief shield after taking damage from enemy champions or monsters.
Q: Steel Tempest
- Yasuo thrusts forward with his sword, damaging all enemies in a line. Successfully landing Steel Tempest grants Yasuo Gathering Storm stacks for a short period. The third stack of Gathering Storm causes Steel Tempest to send out a whirlwind that travels in a line and sends all enemies caught Airborne. If Yasuo casts Steel Tempest during Sweeping Blade, the ability strikes all enemies immediately around him.
W: Wind Wall
- Passive: Dashing replenishes Yasuo's Flow faster.
- Active: Yasuo creates a wall of wind that slowly drifts forward for a few seconds. The wall blocks all enemy projectiles.
E: Sweeping Blade
- Yasuo dashes a fixed distance through an enemy, dealing damage and marking them briefly. If Yasuo uses Sweeping Blade multiple times in succession, the ability deals extra damage up to a cap. Yasuo cannot use Sweeping Blade on an enemy that's already been marked.
R: Last Breath
- Yasuo teleports to a nearby Airborne enemy champion, briefly suspending them and all surrounding Airborne enemies mid-air as he damages them. Once he lands, Yasuo gains significant armor penetration against his enemy's bonus armor for an extended period of time.
When it comes to gameplay, even though the champion is melee, Riot has developed him as a mid laner. With his high mobility it, will be easy for Yusuo to avoid ganks. Farming will not be a problem due to his Steel Tempest skill, as well as the possibility to dash in and out of the combat zone. His Wind Wall in particular seems very strong and has great potential of turning team fights. Being able to block all projectiles can have a huge impact on a team fight. For example, Ashe's Crystal Arrow, Varus' Chain of Corruption, and Caitlyn's Ace in the Hole are projectiles. One potential reason for this champion not to become mainstream instantly would be a relatively weak early game.
Source - League of Legends
