Olaf

Olaf The Berserker is a Champion in League of Legends.

Background
On an uncharted continent beyond Valoran's grasping clutches, the conqueror named Olaf was born to a long tradition of soldiers unlike most others. Berserkers, as they tout themselves, are warriors who channel fury deep from their cores, unleashing pure and savage wrath upon their enemies. This fearsome evolution is a product of their unforgiving home, Lokfar - a barren tundra where all creatures must vie bitterly for every resource. Olaf belonged to a seafaring clan known for ruthlessly pillaging any and all villages within reach of their dragon-crested longboats. The last time he saw his icy home, Olaf was embarking on an expedition to pioneer and plunder a distant land known only to legend. However, while underway, a terrible storm sprung up and Olaf and his crew were thrown to the mercy of a roiling and pitiless sea.

His ship destroyed, his crew nowhere to be found, Olaf miraculously washed up untold miles from "friendly" waters on the foreign shores of Valoran, south of Demacia. This unfamiliar place stunned and frightened the Berserker, for Lokfar is not privy to such potent magicians. Approaching them, Olaf hoped that they could use their mysterious powers to send him back to his people. A bargain was struck. Olaf would use his awesome prowess as a warrior to serve the unusual wars of Valoran in the League of Legends, and in exchange the sorcerers would find him a way to return. Despite his participation in the League, Olaf knows better than to trust the "finger wagglers" that run the Institute of War. He deliberately keeps details of his life and home from them. After all, with enough information, they would most certainly find the Lokfarians and dominate them as they have dominated all of Valoran, keeping both quietly -- and unwittingly -- in their thrall.

Beware the war cry of the Berserker. What surges toward you is unyielding, free from the shackles of reason.

Development
On June 2nd, 2010 a new preview was given by the Community Manager, ByronicHero:
 * As you may have observed throughout your time in Runeterra, the League of Legends Design Team seeks to promote synergy whenever possible (like a boss). Between champions with guns, champions with cultural ties, and champions under five feet tall, there are a ton of ways that our champions synergize with one another. We felt that the champion, Sion, however, didn't have enough kindred spirits at his disposal. This is an important issue! We're talking about ensuring that an important subculture in the League of Legends gets equal representation! That subculture is, of course: vicious, axe-wielding maniacs. To bolster the ranks of this often underappreciated demographic, we're pleased to be able to introduce Olaf, the Berserker. And just to make sure he fits the bill exactly, this guy actually has a pair of axes. So strap on the nearest helmet, sharpen your greatsword, and raise an ice cold flagon of mead in honor of Olaf, the latest champion to grace the Field of Justice.

Strategy

 * Using Ragnarok can greatly reduce the damage taken from Reckless Swing.
 * Getting lifesteal and health items greatly increases his survivability, as well as increase his damage output from Vicious Strikes.
 * Armor penetration (from runes and items) in addition to Ragnarok makes him a true killer.

Quotes
Upon Selection
 * "Leave nothing behind!"

Movement/Attacking
 * "To plunder!"
 * "To action!"
 * "The Might of Lockfar approaches!"
 * "Faster to battle!"
 * "I'm going."
 * "Finally, some fun!"
 * "My axe is thirsty."
 * "Chop chop!"
 * "Urge to kill rising!"
 * "Obliteration!"

Taunt
 * "C'mon, I won't hurt you. I promise!"

Joke
 * "The worth of a man can be measured by the length of his beard, and the girth of his belt buckle."

Trivia

 * His name is common to those of the vikings (Norwegian, Danish, Swedish).
 * Olaf may be a reference to the Olaf from the novel "The Sea of Trolls" in which the Olaf is a famed Berserker, matches the description, and even uses his joke "The worth of a man can be measured by the length of his beard, and the girth of his belt buckle" in the story. 
 * Olaf uses Mana and Health to cast his Abilities, leaving him as one of the more unique Champions in the current game.
 * The pose in his art and his dance is a direct reference to the "Techno Viking".
 * The glacial skin resembles the Vrykul of Ymirheim from World Of Warcraft. However, the original source of this imagery most likely stems from the description of frost giants from norse mythology.
 * The forsaken skin resembles the Chaos Marauders of Warhammer.
 * Olafs quote "Urge to kill rising" is a reference from an episode of the Simpsons(Treehouse of Horror V)
 * Olaf's ultimate, Ragnarok, is a referance to a string of events in Norse Mythology, similar to that of the Apacalypse, that lead to an ultimate final battle in which the Einherjar (all resident warriors in valhalla that died in combat) fight alongside Odin, the ruler of Asgard. Many of the major gods, including Odin, his son Thor, Loki the God of mischief, and many others where expected to die in the events of Ragnarok. Many natural disasters were also expected to occur during Ragnarok, including the subsequent flooding of the whole world. Afterwards, the world resurfaces renewed, the surviving gods meet, and the world would be repopulated by two human survivors.