User blog:Emptylord/Blogs/Upcoming class rework

In the near future we are to see a complete rework to the game's class system, which Riot covered the basics of in this blog. At the start of June, they published a thread in the Dev Corner that details the planned roles for each champions. For your convenience, I have combined below (left) a list of the planned classes as well as the champions Riot has assigned to them.

Note that Riot's is classifying champions by their target fantasy, rather than how they are currently played or built from patch-to-patch (e.g. Ekko's fantasy is an assassin, but he is currently played as a tank due to itemization exploitation). That said, in the comment section it has become apparent that Riot is defending a lot of their choices based on how the champion is currently played (e.g. Rek'Sai is listed as a Vanguard because she is currently built as a tank).

Overall - I find the new classes to have very weak distinctions. In the right column (below), I have implemented my own variation.

{| style="width:100%;" ! style="width:50%;"| Official ! style="width:50%;"| Personalized Clean=
 * style="vertical-align:top;" |
 * style="vertical-align:top;" |




 * (+Battle Mage)
 * (+Battle Mage)
 * (+Battle Mage)






 * (+Artillery)
 * (+Artillery)
 * (+Artillery)
 * (+Artillery)
 * (+Artillery)
 * (+Artillery)
 * (+Artillery)




 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Marksman)




 * (+Artillery)
 * (+Artillery)
 * (+Artillery)
 * (+Artillery)
 * (+Artillery)




 * (+Battle)
 * (+Warden)
 * (+Battle)
 * (+Warden)
 * (+Warden)
 * (+Warden)
 * (+Warden)
 * (+Warden)


 * (+Artillery)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Burst)
 * (+Enchanter)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Burst)
 * (+Enchanter)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Enchanter)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Assassin)

Feedback=


 * She may currently be played as a front-line tank due to her current balance state, but I disagree with this being her fantasy.
 * Shouldn't he be a Juggernaut?
 * She may currently be played as a front-line tank due to her current balance state, but I disagree with this being her fantasy.
 * Shouldn't he be a Juggernaut?
 * She may currently be played as a front-line tank due to her current balance state, but I disagree with this being her fantasy.
 * Shouldn't he be a Juggernaut?
 * She may currently be played as a front-line tank due to her current balance state, but I disagree with this being her fantasy.
 * Shouldn't he be a Juggernaut?
 * Shouldn't he be a Juggernaut?
 * Shouldn't he be a Juggernaut?


 * (+Battle Mage) Is this his fantasy or how he's currently played? His kit doesn't really lend itself to being a protection-tank.
 * I disagree. This is neither how he's currently played nor what I believe his fantasy is. I imagine his fantasy is Juggernaut, but his current playstyle is definitely Unique.
 * I'm undecided if protecting her allies is the fantasy of her kit or whether her Enforcer powers just has side-uses.
 * I think he needs a Juggernaut hybrid tag.
 * I disagree. This is neither how he's currently played nor what I believe his fantasy is. I imagine his fantasy is Juggernaut, but his current playstyle is definitely Unique.
 * I'm undecided if protecting her allies is the fantasy of her kit or whether her Enforcer powers just has side-uses.
 * I think he needs a Juggernaut hybrid tag.
 * I think he needs a Juggernaut hybrid tag.


 * Has Riot given up on our Mage/Assassin or just forgotten that this list is suppose to show a champion's fantasy rather than how they're played?
 * As with Elise.
 * Shouldn't Irelia be in the same category as Jax?
 * A fantasy issue for me. I do not think Nocturne is best represented by the Diver class, even if that's how he's currently played.
 * It upsets me that Riot's fantasy for Pantheon does not earn him a place in the same class as Riven, Yasuo and Tryndamere.
 * Is this the direction of his rework?
 * As with Irelia, shouldn't he be in Jax's category?
 * A fantasy issue for me. I do not think Nocturne is best represented by the Diver class, even if that's how he's currently played.
 * It upsets me that Riot's fantasy for Pantheon does not earn him a place in the same class as Riven, Yasuo and Tryndamere.
 * Is this the direction of his rework?
 * As with Irelia, shouldn't he be in Jax's category?
 * Is this the direction of his rework?
 * As with Irelia, shouldn't he be in Jax's category?
 * As with Irelia, shouldn't he be in Jax's category?
 * As with Irelia, shouldn't he be in Jax's category?

Overall - I dislike this entire subclass. The distinction between Divers and Vanguards is largely whether or not they're AP or AD. How is Malphite not a champion that excels at jumping on priority targets? For example, Shyvana, Sejuani and Vi are all very similar champions and yet current appear in three different classes. Ignoring most of the champions in this class and going only by its definition - how isn't this an Assassin class? In my opinion, this class should be axed and its contents split between the Vanguard and Assassin classes.


 * Is being immobile part of her fantasy? ... can you actually call her immobile? She's currently defined by her ability to engage and is relatively immune to being kited. Granted she's very similar to Udyr barring the dash... but you cannot discount that.
 * Is being immobile part of her fantasy? ... can you actually call her immobile? She's currently defined by her ability to engage and is relatively immune to being kited. Granted she's very similar to Udyr barring the dash... but you cannot discount that.
 * Is being immobile part of her fantasy? ... can you actually call her immobile? She's currently defined by her ability to engage and is relatively immune to being kited. Granted she's very similar to Udyr barring the dash... but you cannot discount that.
 * Is being immobile part of her fantasy? ... can you actually call her immobile? She's currently defined by her ability to engage and is relatively immune to being kited. Granted she's very similar to Udyr barring the dash... but you cannot discount that.
 * Is being immobile part of her fantasy? ... can you actually call her immobile? She's currently defined by her ability to engage and is relatively immune to being kited. Granted she's very similar to Udyr barring the dash... but you cannot discount that.
 * Is being immobile part of her fantasy? ... can you actually call her immobile? She's currently defined by her ability to engage and is relatively immune to being kited. Granted she's very similar to Udyr barring the dash... but you cannot discount that.
 * Is being immobile part of her fantasy? ... can you actually call her immobile? She's currently defined by her ability to engage and is relatively immune to being kited. Granted she's very similar to Udyr barring the dash... but you cannot discount that.

This should be a tank sub-class. You have the battling-ram tanks (Vanguards), immobile tanks (Juggernauts) and the protection tanks (Wardens) - but they are all qualified by their ability to take damage.


 * I'm not sure Katarina qualifies at being good at reaching priority targets, she's much less discriminate.
 * Again, I feel his unique isolation mechanic makes him a poor candidate for a "good at killing priority targets" category.
 * (+Artillery) The class definition does not suit her gameplay.
 * I'm not sure Katarina qualifies at being good at reaching priority targets, she's much less discriminate.
 * Again, I feel his unique isolation mechanic makes him a poor candidate for a "good at killing priority targets" category.
 * (+Artillery) The class definition does not suit her gameplay.
 * (+Artillery) The class definition does not suit her gameplay.

... so, the Assassin and Diver class do have the same definition.



I feel like this category is missing a lot of names.


 * (+Skirmisher) While he does have range, I feel that his lack of unit-ignorant poke makes him a poor candidate for an artillery champion.
 * (+Marksman)


 * Aurelion doesn't want to be in the fray, his unique casting paradigm just requires unique positioning. The fact he literally does no damage to people he's in melee with compounds this being a poor class for him.
 * She doesn't want to be in the fray - she just has low range. She's a marksman. She's a low-ranged (but not melee) DPS champion.
 * (+Skirmisher) Why's he here?
 * Similar to Aurelion, his unique playstyle means he has low offensive range but he doesn't want to be near his enemies...
 * Similar to Aurelion, his unique playstyle means he has low offensive range but he doesn't want to be near his enemies...

If you take out all the ones that really shouldn't be in this category, you're just left with AP Juggernauts and Karthus...


 * (+Battle) He doesn't want to be in the fray. He wants his enemies to be grouped up - but that's not the same thing. That is, unless this is a hint that you're planning to make his abilities interact with himself?
 * (+Artillery)
 * As with Cassiopeia, Twisted Fate should be in the Marksman class.
 * (+Artillery)
 * As with Cassiopeia, Twisted Fate should be in the Marksman class.
 * As with Cassiopeia, Twisted Fate should be in the Marksman class.
 * As with Cassiopeia, Twisted Fate should be in the Marksman class.

Overall I feel that too much has been put into making subclasses at the extent of actual differences. All mages have their own unique area of influence... some are long, some are short. I do not think that having long range is actually a subclass when Xerath and Ziggs are siege champions, while Vel'Koz and Lux are just long-ranged burst mages.

I also dislike that this class seems to be cementing the notion that AD Casters are not "mages".

Support-shaming is now canon.



Okay what even is this subclass? "Disruption" is literally the defining characteristic of tanks. If you're team-building and someone says "we need disruption", you're going to see Nautilus picked more often than Heimerdinger.


 * (+Battle)
 * (+Warden)
 * (+Battle)
 * (+Warden)
 * (+Warden)
 * (+Warden)
 * (+Warden)
 * (+Warden)

I feel like this subclass poorly covers the champions that are within...


 * He needs a Mage subclass, I think, since that was the fantasy you set about to fulfil in his rework.
 * (+Artillery) His poke isn't unit-ignorant, meaning he's just a long-ranged mage.
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Burst)
 * (+Enchanter)
 * He needs an artillery secondary.
 * (+Assassin) Is this his fantasy?
 * (+Assassin) While he's an ambush champion - ambush is no longer a specification of assassins, so I'm not sure Twitch qualifies (which highlights an issue with the design, in my opinion).
 * (+Burst)
 * (+Enchanter)
 * He needs an artillery secondary.
 * (+Assassin) Is this his fantasy?
 * (+Assassin) While he's an ambush champion - ambush is no longer a specification of assassins, so I'm not sure Twitch qualifies (which highlights an issue with the design, in my opinion).
 * He needs an artillery secondary.
 * (+Assassin) Is this his fantasy?
 * (+Assassin) While he's an ambush champion - ambush is no longer a specification of assassins, so I'm not sure Twitch qualifies (which highlights an issue with the design, in my opinion).
 * (+Assassin) Is this his fantasy?
 * (+Assassin) While he's an ambush champion - ambush is no longer a specification of assassins, so I'm not sure Twitch qualifies (which highlights an issue with the design, in my opinion).
 * (+Assassin) While he's an ambush champion - ambush is no longer a specification of assassins, so I'm not sure Twitch qualifies (which highlights an issue with the design, in my opinion).
 * (+Assassin) While he's an ambush champion - ambush is no longer a specification of assassins, so I'm not sure Twitch qualifies (which highlights an issue with the design, in my opinion).

Why isn't in this list?
 * style="vertical-align:top;"|
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)
 * (+Skirmisher)


 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Enforcer)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Enforcer)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)


 * (+Enforcer)
 * (+Juggernaut)
 * (+Sage)
 * (+Enforcer)
 * (+Juggernaut)
 * (+Sage)
 * (+Sage)


 * (Noteworthy for being the only Assassin without a dash)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Burst)
 * (+Sage)
 * (+Enchanter)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Burst)
 * (+Sage)
 * (+Enchanter)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Burst)
 * (+Sage)
 * (+Enchanter)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Assassin)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)






 * (+Mage)
 * (+Juggernaut)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Mage)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Mage)


 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)
 * (+Marksman)


 * Uncategorised
 * (Siege?)
 * (Mage?)
 * (Mage?)
 * (Mage?)
 * }
 * }
 * }
 * }
 * }


 * Class Exploration
 * and both excel at securing jungle objectives (more so than simply being "junglers") - perhaps a Poacher subclass? Champions like  could have Poacher as their secondary.
 * , and  all share a common point-blank-theme, but is this enough examples to create a sub-class or should they simply be Mages?
 * and both have fair unique "grief" play styles, and could perhaps spawn new Saboteur class. If defined by obstruction and denial, this category could gain  and  (with the Captain section losing the "denial" definition.


 * Fantasy Exploration
 * could be given a instead of, as well as the ability to  structures, and be made a true Kaiju-Sieger.
 * could be given stealth on his spell shield instead of an attack speed steroid to give him more repositioning power and play-up his ability to reach priority targets.