Zaahen joins the roster on the 19th of November when Patch 25.23 goes live. Read on to get to know League's latest top laner and see what he can do!
Zaahen: The Unsundered
We’ve received our first look at the newest champion joining the League of Legends roster a couple of days ago when Riot’s newest cinematic, Twilight’s End, was released. The cinematic marks the end of the Trials of Twilight Season, bringing about the conclusion to the storyline with LeBlanc, Atakhan, Xin Zhao, and Yunara. You can view the cinematic below to meet Zaahen in the flesh.
Unlike his fallen brethren, Zaahen is a benevolent Darki—at least, for now. Zaahen calls himself “evil deferred,” and worries that one day he too will become corrupted and turn to evil. Until then, he uses his powers to destroy the Darkin, and you can do that too by wielding his Darkin Glaive on the rift. Zaahen is envisioned as a top laner, though his abilities hint at some great jungling potential. He’s a tough bruiser with plenty of built-in survivability—both heaps of self-healing and even a self-revive. For League of Legends veterans, many are calling his kit a return to pre-rework Aatrox, so that’s the vibe you can expect.
You won’t have to wait long to try Zaahen out. You can already play his on PBE right now, or wait just a few more days for his debut in Patch 25.23.
Zaahen’s Abilities
Cultivation of War
passive
Zaahen generates a stack of Determination for each enemy champion hit by his basic attacks or abilities, lasting for 5 seconds and stacking up to 12 times. Stacks expire one at a time every 0.25 seconds.
Determination: Zaheen gains 1.5% – 3.3% (based on level) bonus attack damage per stack. At maximum stacks, this is doubled to 36% - 79.2% (based on level).
Periodically, if Zaheen would take lethal damage while at max stacks, he enters a resurrection for 4 seconds, becoming invulnerable, untargetable, and unable to act as well as healing himself for 30% – 75% (based on level) of his maximum health over the duration. Afterwards, he revives himself.
The Darkin Glaive
Q
Q2
Zaahen empowers his next basic attack within 5 seconds to gain 25 bonus range and strike the target twice, each dealing modified physical damage. The second strike heals Zaahen, halved against minions.
The first two strikes can critically strike for 37.5% plus 20% AD bonus physical damage.
After 1.5 seconds, the Darkin Glaive can be recast within 5 seconds at no cost.
Recast: Zaahen empowers his next basic attack to deal bonus physical damage and knock up the target for 0.75 seconds.
This can critically strike for 75% plus 40% AD bonus physical damage.
The Darken Glaive deals doubled damage against monsters.
Dreaded Retirm
W
Zaahen shoots a magical glaive in the target direction to deal physical damage to enemies hit. Upon reaching maximum range, enemies hit take the same physical damage and are stunned for 0.25 seconds and pulled towards Zaahen.
Aureate Rush
E
Zaahen dashes to the target location. Upon arrival, he swings his glaive around himself, dealing physical damage to nearby enemies, plus 100 bonus physical damage against monsters. Enemies hit by the outer edge take increased physical damage and bonus magic damage, and grant Zaahen an extra determination stack. The magic damage is capped at 400 against monsters.
Grim Deliverance
R
Zaahen gains armor penetration.
Zaahen becomes immune to crowd control and gains 50% damage reduction over the cast time. He then leaps into the air to the target location. After a 0.5 second delay, he slams into the ground to deal physical damage to nearby enemies, healing himself for 33% of the post-mitigation damage dealt.
