Recently, in a short film, Riot has teased Naafiri – the latest champion from the Darkin group that will be appearing soon. The film immediately caught massive attention from the online community, especially since the Darkin champion line has not seen any new “recruits” for quite some time. Compared to other regions and champion classes in League of Legends (LoL), Darkin is perhaps the champion line that Riot has “forgotten” the longest.
The new champion also possesses many unique traits, the most notable being: Naafiri will be the first “non-human” (not human-like or resembling any humanoid form) champion of the Darkin class. Broadly speaking, Naafiri is also very special within the entirety of Runeterra. This champion does not take on a monstrous form like champions from the Void, nor does it have the bizarre shapes of the Fae like Xayah, Rakan, Lillia, or Tahm Kench. Naafiri will take the form of a hunting dog, according to Riot’s clips.
However, from Naafiri’s appearance, many players have drawn parallels to an earlier project of Riot that was ultimately shelved by the publisher. Back in Season 2, Riot had teased a champion resembling a dog, featuring spikes or a fluffy coat. This champion also had a predominant red and black color scheme, and at that time, many believed it would be a champion from the Void. In fact, there was information confirming that this champion eventually became Rek’Sai.
But in the end, Riot did not bring that project to fruition. The champion named Omen remains a memory, existing only on paper as an idea. However, since Riot transformed Ao Shin into Aurelion Sol, many believe that Naafiri’s case could be similar, as Riot revives a design from its distant past.
Currently, Riot has not announced an official release date for Naafiri. However, it will certainly be sometime in 2023, and when this champion appears, it is likely to bring many exciting new playstyles. Players are sure to be thrilled when Naafiri takes on the form of a hunting dog in Summoner’s Rift.