Champion Reveal: Neeko, the Curious Chameleon

[quote=PsiGuard][center][img=https://na.leagueoflegends.com/sites/default/files/styles/wide_large/public/upload/neeko_gameplay_trailer_thumb_no_text.png?itok=iRirzmT8 width=650][/center] [url=https://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/featured/champion-reveal-neeko]Source[/url] [rule2] [center]Who is she? That depends—who are you? A shapeshifter from a long-lost tribe of vastaya, Neeko watches the world with wide eyes and endless curiosity, always looking for something new to be. She may not seem dangerous at first glance, but keep a close eye on her—with Neeko, things are never quite as they appear.[/center] [rule2] [center][embed=https://youtu.be/Lh_n4mQZthQ][/center] [table width=100%] [tr] [td width=120 padding="10px"][img=https://lolstatic-a.akamaihd.net/frontpage/apps/prod/rg-champion-reveal-neeko/en_US/325b98f79271c28b8748a6af3474938dc4cfe1df/assets/img/content/neeko/abilities/icon-p.jpg width=100][/td] [td vertical-align="top" padding="10px"][h2]Passive: Inherent Glamour[/h2] Neeko can disguise herself to appear as an ally champion. Damaging or taking damage from enemy champions or casting either Blooming Burst or Tangle-Barbs breaks the illusion and increases the cooldown. [/td] [/tr] [/table] [center][embed=https://youtu.be/BLNOV0vz8_s][/center] [table width=100%] [tr] [td width=120 padding="10px"][img=https://lolstatic-a.akamaihd.net/frontpage/apps/prod/rg-champion-reveal-neeko/en_US/325b98f79271c28b8748a6af3474938dc4cfe1df/assets/img/content/neeko/abilities/icon-q.jpg width=120][/td] [td vertical-align="top" padding="10px"][h2]Q: Blooming Burst[/h2] Neeko propels a seed into a target area, which blooms and damages enemies. If the burst kills an enemy or damages a champion or large monster, it will bloom again up to two times. [/td] [/tr] [/table] [center][embed=https://youtu.be/VUA5kPo7iww][/center] [table width=100%] [tr] [td width=120 padding="10px"][img=https://lolstatic-a.akamaihd.net/frontpage/apps/prod/rg-champion-reveal-neeko/en_US/325b98f79271c28b8748a6af3474938dc4cfe1df/assets/img/content/neeko/abilities/icon-w.jpg width=120][/td] [td vertical-align="top" padding="10px"][h2]W: Shapesplitter[/h2] [i]Passive:[/i] Every third basic attack resonates with spiritual energy, dealing bonus magic damage and briefly increasing Neeko’s movement speed. [i]Active:[/i] Neeko briefly slips out of sight, becoming invisible, gaining movement speed, and sending a temporary clone of her current form sprinting in a chosen direction. [/td] [/tr] [/table] [center][embed=https://youtu.be/WCKy0gYNR1I][/center] [table width=100%] [tr] [td width=120 padding="10px"][img=https://lolstatic-a.akamaihd.net/frontpage/apps/prod/rg-champion-reveal-neeko/en_US/325b98f79271c28b8748a6af3474938dc4cfe1df/assets/img/content/neeko/abilities/icon-e.jpg width=120][/td] [td vertical-align="top" padding="10px"][h2]E: Tangle-Barbs[/h2] Neeko slings a magical spiral in a direction, damaging and briefly rooting enemies it passes through. The last champion hit is rooted longer. If Tangle-Barbs hits at least two enemies, it grows in size, speed, and root duration. [/td] [/tr] [/table] [center][embed=https://youtu.be/aDvhjPHdCm0][/center] [table width=100%] [tr] [td width=120 padding="10px"][img=https://lolstatic-a.akamaihd.net/frontpage/apps/prod/rg-champion-reveal-neeko/en_US/325b98f79271c28b8748a6af3474938dc4cfe1df/assets/img/content/neeko/abilities/icon-r.jpg width=120][/td] [td vertical-align="top" padding="10px"][h2]R: Pop Blossom[/h2] Neeko begins charging herself with spiritual essence. A moment later, she leaps into the air, gains a shield, and slows nearby enemies, releasing energy upon landing to massively damage and stun enemies in the area. When disguised by Inherent Glamour, enemies won’t see Neeko’s initial charge-up. [/td] [/tr] [/table] [center][embed=https://youtu.be/9RNFJYPgLsU][/center] [size=5]Playing As Neeko[/size] [rule2] [center][embed=https://youtu.be/HxzlS7ItVGs][/center] As Neeko, you slip into the skin of your allies to bewilder enemies and surprise them with bursts of colorful primordial magic. Trip up foes you encounter with Tangle-Barbs, rooting them within the painful petals of a Blooming Burst as it flowers again and again. When you’re ready to seek out something more exciting, draw on your Inherent Glamour to mimic the appearance of an ally and scurry off to a new encounter. Once your curiosity startles foes into combat, use the clone from Shapesplitter to keep opponents confused while you reposition and prepare a special surprise. When you’re ready to reveal it was you all along, jump into the middle of the fight with a prismatic Pop Blossom and leave them all stunned. [size=5]Tips And Tricks[/size] [rule2] [center][img=https://lolstatic-a.akamaihd.net/frontpage/apps/prod/rg-champion-reveal-neeko/en_US/325b98f79271c28b8748a6af3474938dc4cfe1df/assets/img/content/neeko/collage.jpg width=750][/center] Neeko’s tricks change as she does. Here are a few ways to use the shapeshifting magic of Inherent Glamour: [list] [*] Copying an ally with melee or shorter range is a sneaky set-up for a Tangle-Barbs and Blooming Burst combo; you’ll catch foes who think they’re at a safe distance completely by surprise. Similarly, transform into an ally with a hook and watch as foes outplay themselves trying to hide behind their creeps—Tangle-Barbs will still hit them, and they’ll be rooted for even longer. [*] Disguise yourself as your jungler to fake a gank in another lane—foes will burn their escape moves out of instinct or be distracted when the real threat strikes. Alternatively, appear as a low-health teammate to bait the enemy team into diving you right as your Pop Blossom explodes. [*] Coordinate with your team to maximize Neeko’s mimicry. Switch with a recalling ally to keep opponents wondering who’s really in lane, or cast a clutch Shapesplitter in the midst of battle to befuddle foes with a triple-champ guessing game: is it the real one, Neeko, or the clone? [/list][/quote]

[quote=Silverman43]Guess I found my new AP jungler after the [[taliyah]] nerfs! She looks so fun to play gj riot![/quote]

[quote=Chromuro]I love her, I love every champ that has a positive/carefree attitude (yes, even zoe) and after pyke and kai'sa ending the year with a positive vibe is excellent. Unfortunately she seems to be in a role that I don't play often (people for some reason theorized she's a mid/sup, but I see her more as a jng), so I'll have to pass on her I guess the most difficult thing to master will be her passive since it's so dependant on your other teammates, maybe there will be a shaco-like situation where the neeko gods will trick you every time and kill you without breaking a sweat while the newer neekos will shapeshift in pretty obvious situations, making the passive useless. Lore wise I'm more interested about the fact that she's not a vastaya but a... cousin like she says. A distant cousin. And the language too, I'm interested in that too. Anyway chameleon grill best grill[/quote]

[quote=Hamstertamer]Her E really makes it look like she's designed to be a support. Hit 2 creeps then a champion behind them? Definitely something made for a lane bully, not a jungler. Still have to see how she scales. Passive and W active deal no damage, Q/E/R can be some sizeable burst, plus there's the on-hit effect from W. If she scales as a true damage dealer, she could very well become EXTREMELY obnoxious. I'd really hate it if she became just another of these "I oneshot squishies with no counterplay" champions. There's too much of these in the game already. At least put her damage into her on-hit effect. EDIT : Okay, just tried her out on the PBE. Her burst is decent but not BS tier. Her on-hit damage is at 60% AP every 3 attacks which is good but not insane. Also she's very low mobility. Seems actually balanced for once.[/quote]

[quote=unk87]One ability from leblanc and two from zyra. The passive needs to be seen in action because from what's in the text she probably can be targeted and likely doesn't share any map vision so no-one would mistake her except in ultra-low elo and full team-fights. A jungler can't rely on large fights because early and mid-game are all about duels and small skirmishes. The passive is probably useless in any lane.[/quote]

[quote=Hamstertamer]Pretty sure the passive is made for botlane. Have the ADC wait in the bush, take their form, sit in the lane CSing, bait the enemies into going on you, and bam, press R.[/quote]

[quote=Chromuro][quote=Hamstertamer]Her E really makes it look like she's designed to be a support. Hit 2 creeps then a champion behind them? Definitely something made for a lane bully, not a jungler.[/quote] Well, the same argument could be made when in jungle. Laner hides, neeko enters in lane diguised, positions herself and then E to root the enemy. Anyway she can be both a jng and a sup, one thing doesn't exclude the other lol. I think riot at least wanted her in the jng since she has some voice lines about neutral monsters and attacking while having a buff, we'll see where she lands in the next days, maybe there will be a zyra-like situation[/quote]

[quote=Hamstertamer]Actually she clears jungle really fast. Her Q and on-hit from W are really that good for clearing. And her root works on scuttles. So I can see it being a thing.[/quote]