The “Neglected” Champion of League of Legends Makes a Surprising “Return” at LPL
In League of Legends, not every newly released champion becomes a hot pick, and not all old champions fade into “oblivion.” The reality shows quite the opposite, as the number of new champions that have frequently appeared in the meta in recent years can be counted on two hands, with examples like Yunara and K’Sante. Meanwhile, a slew of newly introduced champions has quickly sunk into obscurity. However, recently, the “neglected” champion Naafiri made a surprising appearance in a special role.
Accordingly, in a match during the group stage of LPL Split 1 between WBG and AL, player Flandre brought Naafiri onto the field for the first time in an LPL match in the Top Lane position. Known for his many unique champion picks, such as Jayce Tanker last year, Flandre’s “daring” use of Naafiri in an important official LPL match also stirred the community. Notably, Zika from WBG also brought Varus to the Top Lane – a choice that is very rare as this AD champion is currently a very strong hot meta pick.
However, the chances of Naafiri returning to professional League of Legends remain very low
Despite having had a debut at LPL, the chances of Naafiri being chosen more frequently in the upcoming professional arena remain very low. Essentially, this champion has yet to be adjusted to fit the current meta. Moreover, with its inherent nature as an assassin, lacking mobility and requiring many factors to be effective, not only now but possibly in the future, this hound-shaped champion will likely continue to sink into oblivion unless Riot takes effective adjustment actions.