The L project has a long way to go, and there are only a few solid pieces of information for excited parties to browse. People are hungry for updates, and there’s been a lot of speculation about what to expect from Riot Games’ next big game.
So, with a lot of variables in mind, we’ve put together a list of five League of Legends characters we’d like to see in Project L. After thinking about this topic, many League of Legends characters have toolkits that can be translated cleanly into 2D fighters, making the job of picking out the ideal lineup pretty simple.
put
Our first pick is obvious, the character is simply perfect for a 2D fighter, thanks to their bare-bones brawl kit in the MOBA. We’re certainly talking about Sett, a relatively new Alliance cast with a variety of melee abilities that translates well into Project L.
The obvious variety of jabs and enhanced punches make the transition easy to imagine, but Seth is also one of the only grapplers that can be classified as the same as Zangief or Hugo in Street Fighter. If there’s a direct comparison of what Sett can play, fighting game fans can look to Miguel as a good comparison. A quick glance at his gear shows just how exciting a street fighter-style character can be.
Additionally, his ultimate skill is a jumping power bomb. It’s like it’s too perfect to cause massive damage as an all-or-nothing grapple. Since there aren’t many other characters that can play Sett’s role, this looks simple enough, like a typical Sett player.
robbery
This is an interesting one. In fighting games, certain characters have a long history of using clones or delayed afterimages to make some clever combinations. Right now, there are two characters in the League of Legends cast that could fit that bill, but since Le Blanc is a ranged character with a move set that doesn’t easily transfer to Project L, Zed is our best bet.
A very popular assassin in League of Legends, Zed possesses a range of ranged and melee abilities, as well as shadow clones that he can teleport to. This clone is a major aspect of his basic lane pressure and escape plan, and is the main reason we think he’ll be a great addition.
Cloning opens up many possibilities for unique fighting game action. You can test your opponent’s defenses using Mortal Kombat’s Noob Saibot-style, where one character flags devastating attacks and ambiguous obfuscations among their mates. Or, you can go all the way and make on-screen clones a permanent threat. We’re not talking about Ice Climbers in Smash Bros, more like Yun’s Genei Jin super from Street Fighter 3, where the clone repeats the player’s attack a few frames after use.
Zed has a lot of interesting stuff. As one of the most recognizable characters in League of Legends, we’d love to see it join.
Maokai
Maokai doesn’t get much love, but we’d be lost without him. One of the coolest trees in League of Legends to drop its leaves and join the cast of Project L could be perfect for those looking for a big-bodied character with some tricky setups.
The secret to why Maokai is a good fit? Saplings. In the game, these little guys are knocked over to apply a little pressure as they charge towards the enemy. They can also grow into larger companions when thrown into bushes, which is a bigger threat to those trying to walk on Maokai’s turf.
If that doesn’t sound like the bedrock of a big bruise with severe ground pressure, I don’t know what is. Combined with a grand slam, a target sprint to close the other characters’ distance, and his ultimate root wave for a great super move, Maokai seems like the perfect choice for a bruiser/rushdown hybrid.
If we’re here looking for inspiration for other games, the excellent Killer Instinct reboot Gargos is what comes to mind. Gargos are an absolute monster in their own game, combining some of their own oppressive attacks with a wave of minions that put extra pressure on the screen. Up close, these minions can really confuse a blocking opponent. We promise, it’s fun.
Jess
Well, let’s move on to more bizarre options. Jace’s popularity has grown a lot since Arcane was released last year, and as a hero who can switch between ranged and melee at will, his playstyle is beautiful. This opens the door to a rather engaging fighting game character who is suddenly able to switch from poking from a distance to dashing down with his heavy hammer.
Now, both forms have unique moves, which could make Jace one of the more complex characters in Project L. But considering that Jace is already one of the harder heroes in MOBAs, that’s perfectly fine. He’s a challenging option that offers big rewards, but even though Project L is lowering the barrier to entry for other fighters, you’ll need some of them.
There are plenty of fighting game characters that can switch seamlessly between keeping their distance and executing devastating combos. Games like Blazblue and Mortal Kombat have plenty of options to fill this role, but when it comes to stance switching, your options are a little narrow. Nightwing from the Injustice series is a great example of what we’re talking about, as their ability to switch between batons and staff dramatically changed their playstyle. You’ll need some tricky characters in a fighter, and Jace is a great option.
relatives
Our last option is also an “outside the box” option, with characters not easily imagined in a 2D fighting game. Kindred is a ranged jungler who primarily uses a bow to pick heroes from a distance, while their Phantom Wolf sidekicks take chunks from anyone within their range.
Believe it or not, puppet characters that allow users to control two separate bodies do exist. Often found in anime fighters, this little-known archetype is complex in nature. However, it offers a distinct twist to the typical far-flung fighters you usually see, and as such will fill a special little spot in Project L’s cast. For comparison’s sake, the most popular puppet characters are probably Rosalina and Luna from Smash Bros, but if you’re a fan of the current big game, Zato from Guilty Gear: Strive is another great example. It’s all about applying pressure from multiple angles to have devastating impact.
Whether this kind of hero is suitable for the more beginner-friendly plan that Riot people seem to be aiming for is a big question mark on that option, but if they’re willing to include some more complex options, Kindred is one of them and we’d love to See.
Those are the first five dream characters we’d like to see in Project L. If you’d like to see a choice among Riot’s rising star fighters, tell us below who and why they’d be a good choice. As long as it’s not Teemo.
For more on Project L, check out our article on Does Project L have what it takes to make it bigger?
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