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League of Legends: Darius Skins’ Review – StrategyZero
Jun 262012
 
Darius, the Hand of Noxus
Darius, the Hand of Noxus

Darius, the Hand of Noxus is an armoured axe wielder in his classic incarnation and also in his alternative ones. His skins draw from aristocracy and technology as sources of inspiration and improve his looks with varying degrees of success. Apprehend the best Noxian looks in one crippling strike with the help of his skins’ review.

Lord Darius
Lord Darius Splash Art Lord Darius Model
Category: Regular
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Darius wearing lavish armour ornamented with gold.
Model: New model for Darius and his axe.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: This splash art is heavily centred on Darius to the point of almost ignoring the background. There are just a few soldiers marching, a victim, some flames and a heavy dark sky. While the minimal background does allow for the attention to focus on Darius it also makes the piece look like a pose and not a glimpse into a battle. Fortunately, Darius is very well depicted: the metal plates reflect light in different ways and the chainmail is adequate though a bit plain. Besides, the axe shows dents and an appropriate motion. Still, it isn’t as well coloured as Darius and seems to come from completely different pieces; just like his gloves. Darius expression is convincing, the scar and glowing eyes give severity to his visage but this doesn’t go well with the tiara. Overall, a splash art with an uneven composition that shines and disappoints depending on where you look.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Just like his splash art, Lord Darius is a skin that excels or lets down depending on where you look. From the waist up the armour shows an exquisite detail and complex decoration: it looks both regal and menacing. The axe is also well designed as it is both good looking and believable. Besides, the imprinted cape adds a fitting air of royalty that matches the tiara; which still looks out of place. However, Darius face looks plain, especially in comparison with the splash art where his eyes have an in-human glow and an imposing scar marks his ferocity. Moreover, from the waist down the armour is a complete disappointment because its design is simple and drab. This is even more notorious due to the stark contrast in quality that is evident between Darius upper and lower body. In conclusion, Lord Darius is a skin that tries to be excellent but ends up being barely acceptable thanks to the glaring inconsistency of its design.

Bioforge Darius
Bioforge Darius Splash Art Bioforge Darius Model
Category: Regular
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Darius wearing a serum-powered suit.
Model: New model for Darius and his axe. New glow for his suit when using an ability.
Particles: New particles for his abilities.
Animations: New animated back valves for Crippling Strike.
Sounds: New sounds for Noxian Might, Decimate, Crippling Strike and Noxian Guillotine.
Splash Art: The background displays some sort of laboratory complex and lots of electricity. The setting is reasonable but the intense fog that clouds the vision simply isn’t. Darius prepares a strike before the viewer: his ferocious expression and in-human eyes are very eloquent about the outcome. However, his suit of armour can’t be fully examined due to perspective chosen. Still, what is visible looks rather good: cracks and dents show its wear and the metal reflects the nearby light sources. Unfortunately, the glowing serum is rather subdued and maybe even eclipsed by the effect of the electricity; but it attracts attention nonetheless. On the whole, it’s a good portrayal of Darius that serves its purpose and makes the look interesting.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Bioforge Darius is an unusually polar skin that shines and disappoints depending on context. To start with, the new model is interesting but the colours are rather mute and the aspect seems dull. Conversely, when the suit comes to life when using an ability the contrast of colours makes the look quite attractive. The illuminated tubes show the opposite side of the skin; which definitely catches the eye. Moreover, the new particles, while straightforward, are a nice addition that complements the glowing serum quite well. For some reason, Noxian Might doesn’t benefit from the spectacle that the abilities offer. That omission seems like a wasted opportunity that could’ve complemented the general glow of Noxian Might. Therefore, Bioforge Darius manages to feel great and plain depending on the Hand of Noxus’s activities. In the end, it’s a peculiar skin with a novel feature that is appealing as long as you can excuse its shortcomings.

Woad King Darius
Woad King Darius Splash Art Woad King Darius Model
Category: Regular
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Darius as a Pict warrior.
Model: New model Darius and his axe.
Particles: New frost particles for his abilities.
Animations: New recall animation.
Sounds: New sounds for Decimate, Crippling Strike, Noxian Guillotine and recall.
Splash Art: This piece aims to show Darius as a warrior that succeeds no matter the adversary. In this case he not only faces a strong blizzard, which conveniently blurs most of the setting, but also a pair of reptiles that could very well be the heads of a hydra. Due to the storm most of the piece is rather diffuse: monsters, setting and even Darius. The piece seems like a glimpse into an ongoing battle but one that is taking place in a vacuum. Only the monsters and Darius are discernible and just to a point. In fact, only Darius face, body and axe are clearly displayed.
The rest seems to sink in a sea of blurry snow. There still are a few nice touches like the way the wolf head on Darius shoulder echoes his ferocious charge. It seems as if Darius draws his strength from the animal’s spirit, thus acquiring the strength of a vanquished foe; a fitting motif. Regardless, there isn’t much else that the snow reveals and what it does isn’t very clear. Therefore, it’s an interesting piece with a few nice touches but with a composition that makes the viewer struggle to appreciate what’s going on.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Woad King Darius is actually quite unpretentious yet that makes its accomplishments feel even more special. At a glance, it’s just Darius as a Celtic warrior dressed in furs. Nevertheless, the colourful appearance, richly decorated axe and whimsical armour manage an appealing look. The frost added to his abilities isn’t unwelcome even if it is a bit unexpected. It isn’t unfitting but doesn’t feel like a natural addition either. It’s also a bit inconsistent: Noxian Might’s stack indicator looks identical, unlike other skins with new particles, and Decimate’s ice shards are barely noticeable. In the end, Woad King Darius offers a convincing look that might not be as regal as its name implies but that is certainly nice.

Dunkmaster Darius
Dunkmaster Darius Splash Art Dunkmaster Darius Model
Category: Legendary
Price: 1820 RP
Concept: Darius as a brutal basketball player.
Model: New model for Darius and his axe.
Particles: New particles for his abilities and auto-attack.
Animations: New animations for his abilities, two for his ultimate, auto-attack, emotes, capture, standing idle, walk, three recalls, death and respawn.
Sounds: New sounds for his abilities, auto-attack, recalls, emotes, death and respawn. New voice-over and new quotes for his abilities, before and after recalls, placing wards, when buying certain items, taunting certain champions and beginning a match.
Splash Art: The setting is clearly a basketball court that is being destroyed by Darius’ power. Unfortunately it’s all too blurry so while one can get a general idea it’s impossible to distinguish details; like the spectators: they are all a diffuse mass of people. It’s also strange that there are no other players in the court. In fact, it all looks so gloomy and empty that it doesn’t strike as the great spectacle it should be. Darius’ doesn’t fare much better. While his power is expressed in his muscular effort and the fancy flaming ball he’s also rather diffuse. At least, it’s easy to get a good view of his aspect; though his new choice of weapon isn’t clear. Ultimately, it’s a splash art that goes directly for the show which makes the rest of the elements suffer. It barely works but it’s a far cry from something fitting a legendary skin.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: A basketball player as a lethal warrior in a battlefield screams preposterous at a league away. Dunkmaster Darius is a skin that tries to be funny and doesn’t offer anything else: it embraces its comical attitude and doesn’t let go. Maybe because of that intense focus on instilling basketball in everything that Darius does the skin manages to have a unique and appealing charm.
While a joke can only stay funny for so long Dunkmaster Darius goes beyond that and paints every aspect with a shade of basketball. For instance, he doesn’t forget to constantly bounce the ball and in his ultimate he actually dunks a basketball; instead of using his new backboard-axe which would’ve been the expected and suboptimal solution.
As a weapon, the backboard is certainly an exaggeration but he is explicitly displayed as a brutal player; even in his quotes. Besides, as the basketball is ever present it’s arguable whether the backboard or the ball is his real weapon; which cements the theme but appears ambiguous.
There are some rough edges: the particles for Hemorrhage and Noxian Guillotine are the only ones that really stand out. On top of that, Noxian Guillotine is so fast that its new look is barely noticeable; which is a letdown. Besides, the sounds tend not to seem particularly special. However, most of the animations and the voice-over convey the theme very well; even though sometimes he sounds like his brother Draven.
Without a doubt Dunkmaster Darius is a skin that asks for a specific frame of mind to accept its prerogative. As a funny skin it can only be so funny and for so long. Fortunately, the skin tries hard to engulf Darius in the world of basketball and it mostly succeeds. Therefore, if you feel like adding some basketball to your battles then Dunkmaster Darius won’t disappoint.

Academy Darius
Academy Darius Splash Art Academy Darius Model
Category: Regular
Price: 750 RP
Concept: Darius dressed as a high-school delinquent.
Model: New model for Darius and his axe.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: Four cool students posing at class; maybe between lessons. The intellectual can evidently be found by the blackboard, the aristocrat reassuring his looks, the tough guy displaying his might and the lady absentmindedly checking her phone as the sunlight bathes her clothes. To start with, the arrangement of the piece allows each champion to claim a part for themselves. The classroom is serviceable as it conveys a setting but is a bit diffuse to display any specific details. The people seen at a corner are almost unidentifiable and the notice board looks sketchy. At least the champions’ portrayals are clear but the sharp quality of their depictions contrasts too much with the draft-like quality of the background. Regardless, they manage to expose part of their personality like Ekko’s holograms, Vladimir’s elegance or Darius strength. It’s only Ahri who seems lost and even out of the picture with only her eye-catching tails to grab attention. Fortunately, the champions don’t compete for attention and, even if they don’t really work together with a unified objective, manage to coexist in a certain harmony.
All in all, it’s an effective splash art that shares the available room between the four champions in a reasonable way. There’s a bit of their character in each depiction and the context is clear. More could’ve been done but the result is definitely good.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Exaggerating the mix of high schooler and ruffian we find that Academy Darius is a bancho with a layer of post-apocalypse survivor or someone that takes the fighting too seriously. Such lack of moderation not only accommodates for his classic characteristics but keep him from falling to the usual choices in the realm of fighter-students. If we take the shoulder pads and axe away Darius could very well pass for a rebellious teenager so the theme is stated effectively. The mentioned pads and axe are preposterous additions so one has to take them as the stylized fantasy that they propose.
All in all, Academy Darius is a bit of a stretch but suffices for a tough high-school thug with a penchant for overdoing things. The style stands out and conveys the student idea despite the exaggerations. For fans of the Hand of Noxus and high school stories this skin could be an option; provided he could still fit at a high school.

Dreadnova Darius
Dreadnova Darius Splash Art Dreadnova Darius Model
Category: Promotional (forge 10 gemstones or reroll skin shards and permanents in Hextech Crafting)
Price: Not Applicable
Concept: Darius as a futuristic warrior.
Model: New model for Darius and his axe.
Particles: New fire particles for his abilities, auto-attack and recall.
Animations: New recall animation.
Sounds: New chainsaw sounds for his abilities, auto-attack and recall.
Splash Art: The suggestion of a battlefield filled with desolation and death is clearly there. Sadly, it’s only a suggestion. The background is so diffuse that details are difficult to notice. There’re war machines, soldiers in futuristic armour and explosions but everything subdued under an oppressively limited colour palette. It seems as if the sky is falling down but instead of making a testament of the horrors of war it just obscures the visuals.
Aside from this chaotic disappointment we find a sharp portrayal of Darius in his Dreadnova armour. The vivid colours, precise lines, detailed surfaces, effective light reflections and intricate design of the armour make the depiction a marvel. There’s a cartoony feel most prevalent in areas like the right fist and head but the result is a portrayal that relishes in its complexity. The fire displayed by the jetpack is alright but that shown by the chainsaw-axe is excellent: heat disrupts the precise geometrical shape of the teeth in an accurate and eye-catching way. The forge centre of the weapon is also another part that catches the eye even if that doesn’t mean that the handle doesn’t have an interesting design. It’s a bit of a pity that the left shoulder and arm sink in the background fog despite not being far away enough to justify such an intense depth of field effect. Something similar happens to the right leg which means that it’s not a matter of distance.
All added together, this is quite an impressive splash art with a portrayal that pops out from the piece with intensity. Sadly, there’s a relegated background that isn’t able to shine with its own light; though it perfectly could. The portrayal also has some issues. While there’s nothing major they are hardly unnoticeable. Nevertheless, as a presentation card for Dreadnova Darius this is a splash art that is as effective as it is attractive.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Although the initial impression given by Dreadnova Darius is that of yet another tech-based warrior from a grim future there’s a good execution of such a familiar theme; thanks Warhammer 40000. The armour is heavy, sturdy and exaggerated in areas, though the jetpack looks quite practical, as would be expected from stylised sci-fi. The new axe perfectly follows suit leaving a general design that may prioritise form over function but that surely manages to stand apart with a personality of its own; borrowed from a Space Marine but still good. If this isn’t enough to make the skin special then the advice given by Bioforge surely is.
The skin has a really good particle department that takes an obvious cue from Bioforge’s style and builds upon it in a different yet attractive way. More than a progression of such design it’s an adaptation. Specifically speaking, the whole armour looks subdued, unlike the splash art, most of the time until full Hemorrhage stacks are acquired. With a touch of PROJECT, the distorted glow on the armour makes the skin come alive; Decimate’s hit and heal also takes advantage of it which further adds to the best aspect of the skin. Regardless of how appealing the glow is there’s more to like. Hemorrhage’s stacks are quite appealing and with a full set of them they coalesce into an attractive hologram. Decimate’s radii also follow the distorted look of the hit and heal along a fitting even if brief electronic sound.
Where sounds take precedence over particles is on Crippling Strike. The chainsaw and flame sounds make a great support for the perhaps unusually subtle but definitely appealing axe’s visuals. The fire, glow, smoke and teeth animation make the ability very satisfying to activate; though the eventual hit doesn’t feel very different to a normal auto-attack, sound aside. Unfortunately, Apprehend has nothing to add to the classic style so it’s just the good, old, recognisable ability. Fortunately, Noxian Guillotine does have something to say. With jetpack and chainsaw-axe fired up to attack, though the latter not fully active like in Crippling Strike, the ultimate becomes a stylish and eye-catching finishing move. It could add up to more, being an ultimate, as it leaves the feeling that there’s repressed power. Perhaps that has to do with the shy approach of the auto-attacks which change with little personality from the classic style.
All in all, Dreadnova Darius is a skin with a clear and appealing personality. The idea and initial impression isn’t particularly groundbreaking but the skin knows how to appeal. The distorted glow, holographic stacks and appealing chainsaw-axe make for an interesting set of activities. Sadly, the skin ends up being a bit uneven as Apprehend shows no change and Noxian Guillotine doesn’t add up all the power shown in the abilities to one full, devastating attack as it could. Still, it’s all an attractive proposition for fans of dark sci-fi. Being a skin that can only be crafted, it’s quite a good present to get but it doesn’t progress far enough from what previous skins have done to make it something unmissable.

God King Darius
God King Darius Splash Art God King Darius Model
Category: Legendary
Price: 1820 RP
Concept: Darius as a monarch in wolf-styled armour.
Model: New model for Darius and his axe plus new trails for his cape and spaulders.
Particles: New particles for his abilities, auto-attack, death and recall.
Animations: New standing idle, auto-attack, critical hit, Decimate, Crippling Strike, Apprehend, high-speed run, emotes, death and recall animation.
Sounds: New sounds for his abilities, auto-attack, death and recall.
Splash Art: An army of barbarians, only suggested under a heavy sky is all the backdrop we get. There’s also an unusually large wolf and shadows near the monarch before us. The wolf is a supernatural companion that seems unnecessarily relegated. The shadows are mostly shapes without form that fill more than tell.
Darius appears with his back to us, defiant and grim. The armour with scratched plates of aggressive design is quite attractive to the eye. At times, it becomes muddy and shapeless and elsewhere it can be emerging from the shadows with another blade. Over the torn cloth that looks like a solidified mass of shadows Darius resembles a wraith. His face is barely visible but the lines follow the dark, aggressive style of the armour. His axe does look like it would benefit from more work: the perspective makes it look smaller than it is, decoration is hardly visible due to the darkness of the colours, the wolf motif looks more like a dragon’s head and the blades seems plastic like; which may be faithful to the in-game counterpart but isn’t a good choice.
All added together, we have a part of a wider picture as the background so unsubtly demonstrated. Fortunately, Darius’ portrayal is evocative and attractive with a rather good use of the grim and gritty even if at times it can appear drab and muddy. Regardless, this is a piece that has its own personality.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Styled as a cartoony high fantasy God King Darius is a warmongering monarch with a familiar dark armour and ghostly visage. The aesthetic is effective but quite stylised with impractical amounts of decoration on armour plates and a faint supernatural touch; thanks for the trails. This last aspect is interesting adding a wraith-like facet to Darius that seems unintentional. The armour always takes precedence so that the warrior-king idea is emphasised to the point that he appears like a king with the battlefield as his only kingdom; which doesn’t seem to be the exact idea of the skin. The axe is decorated with a grim design but it always appears more fanciful than practical. Still, the blades in hues of red are interesting; even if they can resemble plastic.
Particles rely on dark trails which are rather consistent and also uninteresting; Hemorrhage stacks are a good example: suitable but uninspired. It’s when they are highlighted with glowing gold that they are attractive as seen in Decimate and Noxian Guillotine’s hit. The golden glow added to the silhouette of spaulders and axe blade for Hemorrhage and Crippling Strike is another attractive addition. The wolf totem also features prominently in Noxian Guillotine but the transformation from Darius into wolf is abrupt to the point of being a replacement of one for the other and vice versa; which looks rather unprofessional.
Sounds remind of the classic ones but with a higher pitch as if the metal was finer, of higher quality. Auto-attacks do sound more liquid which may imply more blood but that’s nowhere to be seen. Noxian Guillotine’s sound is quite weak and doesn’t have the booming impact expected from an ultimate designed to destroy all opposition. For that matter, Crippling Strike’s wolf howl is more interesting. In fact, the aural landscape is rather unassuming and disappointing.
Animations tend to be modified versions of the classic one when there’s a difference; for most actions, there isn’t. Standing idle Darius appears defiant and stern which is quite fitting. Auto-attacks are wider for a more exaggerated, cartoony feel. This cartoony style is further employed in the few abilities that are changed. Decimate shows the axe’s blade moving back to make use of the, presumably, deadlier internal edge. It’s a little change but one that adds personality to the ability. However, such a technical gimmick seems unfitting in a skin based around magic. Crippling Strike fares better with an inverted grip on the axe before the classic attack. It suits the flamboyant aggressiveness of the skin well. Apprehend is essentially unchanged except for the deformation of the axe blade to make the move have more impact; which is actually a good thing. What isn’t good is the truncated animation of Noxian Guillotine. The ability may aim to transform Darius into the wolf but one disappears and the other appears so that the animation is cut in half and the replacement is all too obvious and crude. Truth be told, such an approach has no place with the technology available and seen in this very skin’s other abilities. Emotes and recall bring the wolf totem to the forefront, which is a good thing for they are the few times where the wolf take central stage; ultimate excepted.
All added together, God King Darius feels quite uneven. At times fluid and at others unfocused it seems like a skin that wanted to rely on the familiar, had the ambition to develop a personality but one that was left spread in burst above the whole spectrum of additions. The skin yet manages to deliver on what it promises but in an unfocused way. If you can excuse how uneven the idea is developed you can find something to like.

Conclusion

Darius has few options in his wardrobe, so far, and they are quite different in concept and quality alike. Woad King Darius is the recommended skin due to its appealing appearance. It’s not an astounding look but it’s convincing enough to be a good choice.

Also worth considering is Bioforge Darius as it delivers an interesting concept with a novel implementation. Unfortunately, the skin is quite polarized as it looks rather dull except when an ability powers it up but that’s what really makes it special.

A particular option is Dunkmaster Darius with its preposterous yet appealing basketball theme. The skin has a clear funny angle but it also makes an effort to adapt Darius to a basketball player in every aspect. The result has its unusual charm so fans of Darius will find that the skin does its best to satisfy.

As a craft-based skin Dreadnova Darius has its appeal. At a glance it’s just another warrior from a grim future but the great use of particles and sounds make the skin very attractive. Such changes aren’t fully used in all abilities which give the skin an uneven feel. Regardless, it’s a rather nice skin to get with some luck but not one that just can’t be missed.

Fans of high school settings may appreciate what Academy Darius has to offer. The student uniform is present but also framed by ridiculous shoulder pads and topped by a huge axe. The combination is evidently fictionalized but works, to an extent, within the possibilities of Darius’ personality. If you like the combination then it’s a viable alternative.

The legendary option is God King Darius a cartoony high fantasy that strikes a balancing act between the familiar a new personality. The result is rather uneven with interspersed bursts of attractive and bland additions. This is the major problem of the skin given how fluid and unfocused it can feel depending on what action is at hand. Only if this can be excused does God King Darius become an option worth considering.

Finally, Lord Darius is a disappointing skin that falters at its core: the design. Because of its obvious inconsistent quality it’s only worth purchasing for dedicated Darius fans or those that want a royal look for Darius.

  70 Responses to “League of Legends: Darius Skins’ Review”

  1. Nicely done with Darius.

    Can i request you a Talon skn review?

  2. Woad King Darius? Opinions?

  3. No offense, but (in your words) your reviews try hard, but fail to attain the lofty goal that you have set forth. You try so hard to make your speech intelligent and eloquent, but you try TOO hard; you end up sounding contrived, silly and phoney. (if you couldn’t understand that, you use too many words like however, but and therefore. Your overall skin reviews are decent, but you don’t seem to understand the purpose of the splash art: to display the champion, not the background. I don’t agree with a lot of your views but that doesn’t mean their wrong. The one big thing, that I really disagree with, is that the reason Lord Darius is bad, is not that it has inconsistent design/ imbalanced look (or whatever other mumbo jumbo you said), but that it is just too similar to his base skin and has a weak design link – it fails to portray a lord well (it is just a basic skin, no voice over or anything).

    I don’t mean for this post to sound like an attack, just some constructive criticism. I appreciate your efforts, its nice of you to offer your opinions. Just remember that in writing, simplicity equates to better quality of writing. In other words, trying to use fancy words does not make yours a better literary work.

    Good luck in the future!

    • No offence taken yet we do try to lay the facts as simple as possible. Therefore, when we use a specific word is to mark how two concepts connect: whether in contrast or as consequences. We understand that our style of writing may seem convoluted or difficult but we do try hard to make the reviews enjoyable and not just a laundry list of pros and cons.

      We agree that the main objective of a splash art is to depict a champion. However, while a great portrayal and a blank background may seem enough there are splash arts that offer fantastic settings that add a lot to the appeal of the piece. In fact, we always try to differentiate splash arts with a good champion portrayal from one where even the champion doesn’t shine as they deserve. We agree that the portrayal is the most important part but a good background adds so much that we simply can’t ignore it.

      With Lord Darius we don’t entirely disagree: the skin manages a minimal air of royalty but it doesn’t consistently present it. A monarch usually astounds in every aspect: from his shoes to his crown. Nevertheless, Lord Darius looks quite polarized with rather nice body armour and axe but only that. Still, the design and colour scheme seem different enough from Classic Darius even if there is a base which both follow. Thus, we agree, for different reasons, that the skin fails to portray an actual lord.

      We appreciate your opinions and we’ll try to write in a more straightforward way. We usually try to contrast ideas so that you can appreciate the best and not so good aspects of a skin so that you can gauge the overall appeal for yourself instead of being told whether the skin is good or bad. So take into consideration that what we offer is simply a guide to help when purchasing a skin. We don’t intend to provide abstract reviews but practical advice that helps people make the best choices they possibly can. Even if they disagree with our opinion it may still help them in making a purchase which is our real aim.

      Thanks for your feedback.

  4. Hi Zero,
    as always i try to help you making your guides as complete as possible, since i make use of them often.
    About Darius’ skins i have found something to add.
    First is Bioforge Darius, you can notice new sounds for all his abilities (except apprehend), it’s something like a liquid sound. Even the ultimate has something added like a whistle or a hiss. I guess it’s related to the bio armour.
    We also have Woad King Darius with a new warcry for his ultimate.
    If it’s not a problem, i would like to keep helping with these minor details.

    • We appreciate it and thank you for your collaboration; we simply couldn’t do it without everyone’s help.

      We’ll give those skins another look and update as necessary.

  5. Dunkmaster Darius, although it is extremely incomplete, what are your thoughts so far?

    • For what little we saw and the concept behind it, seems like a whimsical funny skin that could be either hilarious or a failure. The idea is definitely a stretch so the execution will have to be very good to make the skin be more than a passable joke.

  6. Dunkmaster is finally out, can you review it soon?

  7. Quick First thought on Dunkmaster?

    • Looks nice as it does an effort to transform Darius in a basketball player. The real star are the animations which deliver the theme. In spite of the funny angle it appears to go an extra step to represent its concept and that’s its saving grace.

  8. I was just wondering with the upcoming new ward skins and a good amount already released, if you could do ward skins reviews? I’ve looked around the web and there aren’t many places that have good ward skins reviews besides the forums. Just a cool idea I thought of, keep up the great work with the champ skins though, I really appreciate it!

    • We’ll certainly keep trying to improve.

      Reviewing ward skins is not a bad idea. We haven’t seen much complexity in them and they tend to be similar in features but sometimes there are differences. We’ll give them a look and take it into consideration. It’s a possibility, we’ll have to see how much there is to say.

  9. Always find it a wonderful experience to read your reviews. One thing to factor in with Dunkmaster though that you might have failed to consider is that his Noxian Guillotine Dunk changes in animation with regards to positioning and distance from the enemy champion I think. It’s a neat thing that I really enjoy about the skin cause it makes the ult a different experience every time you use it even though it comes out pretty fast.

    Also, it just seems a little weird to me that your review for Dunkmaster seems a little on the negative side and not much on the positives when it’s one of the few Legendary skins that you guys gave a 4* (which I’m pretty happy about cause I think it’s a pretty cool skin).

    I personally have to give it props though because there’s so little you can do with Darius with regards to particles and animations because his skills come out just way too fast, but Dunkmaster does it pretty well compared to all his other skins. Miles better IMO.

    Just my two cents. Maybe factor in some of my input if you didn’t consider it? But keep up the good work!

    • Glad that you find the reviews useful.

      We didn’t really notice Noxian Guillotine having multiple animations but it’s something that crossed our minds. The thing is that as it’s so fast it’s quite difficult to appreciate. We’ll keep our eyes open to see how many varieties there are.

      Maybe the review makes a little too much emphasis in the negative. Our idea was to explain that despite the issues that a joke skin usually has to put up with, like a preposterous concept, Dunkmaster Darius raises above them. You can appreciate the effort in making the skin work and while it does have some rough edges it still is an appealing option.

      We completely agree that the skin goes an extra step to deliver its theme which is what a good legendary skin should do. That’s why we think it’s a great option worth considering despite the price.

      Your feedback is appreciated and we’ll try to be clearer in the reviews, thanks.

      • Np. I still enjoyed the review. It just seemed a little strange to me that despite being one of Darius’ best skins most of what you talked about were the issues and not much of the positives alongside them. XD

        Also one thing I forgot to mention was that the recall also has multiple animations and the number of hidden taunts he has for different champions is staggeringly huge. Around 36, I think? As well as a lot of different reactions for buying items and also interestingly enough, for simply placing wards. I think those also make nice positives worth mentioning that make the skin worthwhile.

        • Another reason to cover the negatives so much is so that people are well aware of the skin’s weak points. Therefore, when we explain the positives and they make a balance between the two they can get a more useful idea of what the skin offers and how good it is at it. After all, what’s good from a skin is usually easier to see, especially when it’s new, but the bad tends to be ignored; psychology apparently.

          When legendary skins want to get complex they surely can. Those are all good additions and also a lot of trouble to cover. We’ll see what we can do though the skin is good enough and those are nice extras that make it feel better but don’t really make the bulk of what is good.

  10. You might want to take in account that dunkmaster Darius has 40+ special quotes with other champions

    • That would be included under the new quotes for his taunt though it’s not very descriptive. We’ll see how to rephrase it, thanks for the notice.

  11. Woad King Darius also has a new sound for his recall. It is just some axe sounds but they are clear enough to be noted.

  12. Have you updated this review for the darius rework because the new Hemmoridge ( 5 stacks) is green for Bidford but I don’t see a blue particle effect for Woad King.

    • I meant Bioforge sorry

      • You’re right we didn’t check the skins after the re-work. Thanks for the notice we’ll update the reviews.

        You’re right about Hemorrhage, with Bioforge at five stacks the indicator has a new colour but Woad King doesn’t. It’s very strange, especially as both skins are mostly equivalent in terms of changes.

  13. PROJEC : Darius

  14. Will I buy Woad King Darius? 50% sale.

    • Depends on whether you like Darius and his Woad King style. The skin is quite good and while the frost doesn’t make much sense and it isn’t as royal looking as the names implies the result is nice. The Pict warrior look is present and the result is appealing. It’s not a perfect skin but offers enough to be a fine choice. It largely depends on your preferences with regards to gameplay and looks.

  15. I’m guessing 292 rp for bioforge Darius is pretty worth it, right? 😀 (snowdown shop)

    • Quite right, it’s a great price. Bioforge is a somewhat experimental skin that can be rather uneven. Nonetheless, it does have its merits and given the discount, if you are interested in what it has to offer, it’s a small price to pay.

  16. Awsome reviews, I think im gunna save a bit for the dunkmaster himself!

    Also, could you list the top 5 legendary skins (1820) bang-for-buck wise?

    • Glad that you like the reviews; hope you enjoy the dunking.

      You can use the Skin List to check the best skins according to their rating. Click on ‘Rating’ then on ‘Price’ while pressing the ‘Shift’ key and you can see the skins ordered by price and rating.

      That aside, the most recent legendary skins have been the most elaborate and satisfying; except for PROJECT: Yi who was a disappointment. The best legacy skins have received four stars and that exception made were the few last skins released.

      • Yes, I see many legendarys have not made it past 4 stars. What do you think some of them would need to get it to 5?

        • To reach five stars they have to feel legendary in all areas. The skin has to add up to more than the sum of its parts with each addition being something that goes beyond the usual. Five stars is reserved for skins that transcend the boundaries of their category and price. They offer more than a set of changes, they can reinterpret a champion. Legendary skins have been quite good in many aspects but they need something else to be truly excellent.

  17. I’m pretty sure Dunkmaster Darius has new quotes when placing a ward. There is three different quotes.

    • Also I forgot to add. Dunkmaster Darius also has two different recall animations and there’s something else about him that I forgot what it was….oh well I’ll comment again later then

    • You’re right about the new quotes and we should note that there’s more than one recall animation; though most of the animation is shared. Regardless, the more information the better; thanks.

      • I finally remembered what I was going to say 😀
        For his joke, taunt and dance, he has new basketball bouncing sounds each time the ball touches something.

        • You’re right, we forgot to add the new sounds for his emotes. Thanks for the correction.

          • I’m sorry my bad, my bad. Why? Because there’s another recall animation I didn’t notice in my last comment. If you look at the skin release trailer you can see the three recall animations although as you said, most of it looks similar. One animation is him dunking backwards, another is him dunking from the side, and the third being him just doin’ an average dunk from the front.

          • Don’t apologise, corrections are always welcome. If there are differences in each recall we think the should be noted. We could only confirm two dunking animations. Currently we haven’t been able to see the average dunk but as soon as we spot it we’ll add it. We like to verify everything before adding it. Nevertheless, thanks for your help.

  18. dunkmaster has new spawn sounds

  19. Dunkmaster Darius has different animation in his Noxian Guillotine. He even performed a 360 dunk. You might check it out.

    • That’s listed under the unceremonious ‘new animations for his abilities’. Perhaps we should be more clear about the fact that Noxian Guillotine has several animations; though we aren’t unsure how many, at least two. We’ll see how we can better reflect that fact in the review; thanks for the notice.

      • Also WizaKG5 is also right there are three animations for recall, the other one is a simple alley-oop dunk to himself, however, he doesn’t dunk in 360° manner, but rather in a conventional dunk
        I tested it in a custom game then recalling multiple times in succession and I also seen it in-game in PvP. You might check it out. Just another help. XD.

        • We’ll have to take your word for it as we haven’t been able to see the third recall. If you manage to find a video with all the different recalls we’ll be grateful to have some backing evidence. Thanks for the information.

  20. Zero, im debating whether I should get woad king or bioforge darius. Both seem like nice skins. Which one do you think is better? Also is the bleed the same color for the two skin or does it change?

    • The icon when reaching five stacks of Hemorrhage has a different highlight in Bioforge but seems identical to classic in Woad King.

      With regards to which is better it depends on what you prefer. Bioforge is more experimental and original in the way it uses the glowing tubes for abilities. It can look dull when they aren’t lit but when they light up it’s rather nice. Woad King is more conventional, perhaps a barbarian version of Darius. The particles are nice and it all fits nicely but everything seems more familiar.

      Both are good skins, Woad King is a safer purchase while Bioforge can be something novel.

  21. Which among the legendary skin is the best in terms of splash art,in game look,quotes,voiceover,etc.which one i buy i need your opinion before i buy one.

    • We’d recommend you take a look at the Skin List. You can order skins by price and rating to see which are the best legendaries. We’d say that any legendary at four stars is a good option. It depends which champion and concept you like the most. Also, newer skins tend to be more complex than older ones; but not always. There’s some variety so it depends on what you like.

  22. Hey Zero, Lord Darius is on sale this weekend and I was wondering if its worth the 487 RP. I main Darius and nearly have all his skins. His in game model looks nice and seems worth the price on sale.

    • The armour, cape and axe look nice but from the waist down the model disappoints. It’s all a simplistic mess that doesn’t add to the regal fighter concept of the skin. While Lord Darius has some appealing qualities it’s a flawed model and by far the weakest of the Hand of Noxus’ skins.

      If you really like the skin, then the sale is the time to get it. However, we’d advise to give the model a good look, perhaps with a model viewer, on top of checking an in-game video to see what Lord Darius really offers. We’d certainly recommend his other skins over it; like Bioforge or Woad King.

      We understand that Lord Darius has his unique style and that the others don’t fill the same role. However, we have to warn you of the skin’s problems. Be sure that you like it and it won’t disappoint. If you expect it to be anything more than it is then he’ll invariably let down.

  23. Would YouTube do a Death Nova darius review?

  24. Dunkmaster Darius or Woad King Darius?

    • Depends on what you want from the skin. Woad King Darius fits in well in the fantasy of the game. It’s not particularly original but is quite well done. Dunkmaster is a joke skin so it matters for how long dunking enemies to death would stay funny. The skin does make an effort to be interesting but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a joke.

      The price is also an obstacle. Woad King, especially on sale, is a great choice. Dunkmaster is much more expensive though it offers much more. Considering how much you are willing to pay and what you want from the skin you might reach the right decision for you.

  25. Can’t wait for God-King Darius skin review!

  26. God-King skins are here!

  27. I really like God King Darius, but I’m wondering if I should wait for the early sale. What’s your opinion?

    • We see the appeal but we don’t see the skin as something wonderful for Darius. As a legendary we expected a more polished skin. We don’t see a good enough integration and fluid transition with the wolf totem. While Woad King isn’t as elaborate we would recommend it on sale as a valid alternative. At an early sale God King Darius is better but the problems remain. In other words, we expected more from the skin. It isn’t bad but the legendary feel isn’t fully realised.

      In the end, it depends on how much value you see in the skin. If you can wait we don’t think you get any advantage from getting the skin now. Besides, it’s the only discount a legendary skin gets currently so it can be worth it. If you want it right now because you like it a lot then you could justify getting it now. Depends on how much you like Darius and the skin versus other skins you could use instead.

  28. I am wondering if 1350 RP is worth for god king darius because it is on sale for 25%

    • As a legendary skin, God King Darius will only see an early sale; unless Riot changes things in 2019, nothing was announced in that regard. If you like the skin then this is the best time to get it to save a bit on the price. We think that skin has good features but it’s also rather uneven. The sale helps alleviate the price part but check that you like what’s good and aren’t bothered by what isn’t.

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