In 2021, one of the most notable events for the League of Legends community was the Ruins of the Sentinels – The Sentinels of Justice. This was not just an ordinary in-game event but was heavily promoted by Riot, complete with a cinematic for the event. Additionally, this event marked the beginning of the Ruins of the Sentinels – The Sentinel of Light skin line and showcased champions such as Viego, Gwen, Akshan, and later Vex.
As of now, during the World Championship 2022, champions like Viego, Gwen, and Vex are being widely used. In fact, Viego has maintained his “hot” status since his debut in 2021. This champion is among the most frequently banned/picked characters and is considered a favorite of many renowned junglers like Tian, Canyon, and SofM.
However, while his “contemporaries” are gaining attention, one name is gradually fading from the minds of the League of Legends community: Akshan. This champion was introduced during the Sentinel of Light event as a key card to help the Sentinels counter Viego. Unfortunately, upon entering the Summoner’s Rift, Akshan did not exhibit the same grandeur.
With a mobile skill set and the ability to resurrect teammates, Akshan has never been able to showcase this in professional play. Experienced players know whom to attack first, and a champion as “fragile” as Akshan cannot withstand burst damage. His Heroic Swing ability is too easily countered when teams place vision around the map. As a result, despite appearing a few times in regional tournaments, since Worlds 2021, Akshan has virtually disappeared.
Upon his release, Akshan was expected to be extremely powerful with his skill set. However, as Riot began adjusting this champion, it made Akshan unsuitable for the playstyle of League of Legends. Damage was reduced, attack speed was decreased, health was too fragile, range was short, and his strongest ability rarely had the opportunity to be used – all of this is more than enough for this champion to be “shelved”.
Riot always prides itself on its “200 years” of game development experience, but in recent years, they have continuously stumbled. Fiddlesticks was reworked but also vanished, and Akshan, shortly after his release, became a relic of the past. Perhaps, if these champions want to return, Riot will have to take practical steps. The only question is, no one knows when this publisher will begin those actions.