Riot Games has introduced a new champion in League of Legends, the 159th in LoL. The dark support Renata Glasc revolves around money and manipulation. Some fans are already praising it: This is the best champion concept League of Legends has ever had.
What is the idea behind the new champion?
- Riot Games said about the new champs for 2022 that they looked at the roster of enchanters in LoL: These are supporters who assist and buff their partners in the bot lane. The existing enchanters are all colorful and cheerful beings – they wanted to contrast that with something “dark and gloomy”: A supporter who secretly despises their ADC for taking all the glory.
- Out came Renata Glasc, the Chem-Baroness. The parents of the entrepreneur were selfless alchemists and philanthropists, which always rubbed young Renata the wrong way, as she sought power and wealth. Her parents were ultimately killed by business rivals; Renata lost an arm in the attack, and since then, nothing has been worse for her than weakness and poverty. She is described as a greedy and cunning entrepreneur who devises long-term plans to achieve her goals, radiating a confident arrogance along the lines of “Get out of the way, low-income earners”.
- Her manipulative nature is also reflected in her abilities. Her “R”, hostile takeover, ensures that enemies fight each other.
Fans love that they can see muscles and wrinkles on Renata Glasc
What do people like about the new champion? Actually, Renata Glasc’s abilities are being discussed quite controversially. Especially her “W” ability is viewed critically, as it involves a revival and many have a problem with that in LoL.
But almost everyone highly praises the champion concept behind Renata Glasc:
- The champion is seen as a desperately needed change. As LoL is teeming with slim, young women – Renata Glasc, on the other hand, is older, broad-shouldered, and muscular. Fans love that her wrinkles and muscles are visible. One user claims this is the best champion concept that Riot Games has brought to LoL.
- She is seen as a “dominant female figure” and is nicknamed “Mom”.
- There is already fantasizing about a “girl power” bot lane with Renata Glasc and Samira.
- The fantasy of manipulating opponents and pitting them against each other seems to be well received. Strangely, many even seem to like the idea of being manipulated by Renata Glasc, taking out their own teammates.
The anticipation for the new champion is expressed on Reddit in a post titled “Step on me, please”.
“Step on me, please” refers to a trope in Asian mangas where aggressive large women step on submissive men who throw themselves on the ground.
Apparently, this is a type of hero that has been missing in LoL.
Renata Glasc’s voiceover also receives much praise; her voice lines reveal her complex past, her relationship with the death of her parents, and her thoroughly capitalist and manipulative nature.
There are some very cynical and malicious gems, especially when listening to her interactions with other characters from her city Zhaun. For example, she tells Viktor that he seems to have forgotten which money made him what he is.
In the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, there was a rogue who also sparked such “step on me” reactions, even from the game’s mastermind, Naoki Yoshida:
That’s why the Final Fantasy XIV head says to a woman “Step on me”
