Warning: "continue" targeting switch is equivalent to "break". Did you mean to use "continue 2"? in /home/strateg1/public_html/blog/wp-content/themes/suffusion/functions/media.php on line 666

Warning: "continue" targeting switch is equivalent to "break". Did you mean to use "continue 2"? in /home/strateg1/public_html/blog/wp-content/themes/suffusion/functions/media.php on line 671

Warning: "continue" targeting switch is equivalent to "break". Did you mean to use "continue 2"? in /home/strateg1/public_html/blog/wp-content/themes/suffusion/functions/media.php on line 684

Warning: "continue" targeting switch is equivalent to "break". Did you mean to use "continue 2"? in /home/strateg1/public_html/blog/wp-content/themes/suffusion/functions/media.php on line 689

Warning: "continue" targeting switch is equivalent to "break". Did you mean to use "continue 2"? in /home/strateg1/public_html/blog/wp-content/themes/suffusion/functions/media.php on line 694
League of Legends: Janna Skins’ Review – StrategyZero
May 242012
 
Janna, the Storm's Fury
Janna, the Storm’s Fury

Janna, the Storm’s Fury doesn’t need a spacious wardrobe; even ignoring her limited attire selection. Fortunately, her clothes are more suggestive than simply revealing and while much skin is exposed it doesn’t end as just fan service. To learn more about Janna’s style and her staff choices, read further on this skin review.

Tempest Janna
Tempest Janna Splash Art Tempest Janna Model
Category: Legacy
Price: 520 RP
Concept: Janna dressed in black clothes with white hair and eyes.
Model: Minor model changes for Janna, new model for her staff.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: This splash art’s background is the complete opposite of the foreground. While the former is simple and blurry the latter is clearly defined and well painted. Janna looks great bathed in the light emitted by her staff: her skin and clothes reflect the light and are nicely lit. The use of colours is particularly well done and the selection generates a general allusion to lightning. Overall, while Janna is very well depicted in this piece the background should’ve been a better frame for her; not a bad piece but a bit disappointing as a whole.
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: Tempest Janna minor changes are a huge contrast to their effectiveness: with a few new textures and minor model changes Janna looks quite different yet maintaining her classic style. The new staff also helps distinguish Tempest from Classic Janna and is a good fit for the skin. Tempest Janna shows that much can be done with little resources and some ingenuity. For a cheap and nice alternate look for Janna there’s no better option than Tempest Janna.

Hextech Janna
Hextech Janna Splash Art Hextech Janna Model
Category: Regular
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Janna as a steampunk machinist.
Model: Major model changes for Janna, new model and sparks for her staff.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: This piece is quite nice as a portrayal of Janna: she’s well drawn and coloured and the background is quite interesting with a city in the distance; at least most of it. Almost one third of the piece is a patch of black and that’s a huge disappointment considering the good quality of what is actually shown. Perspective is well used to display Janna floating but the stance seems capricious. Moreover, part of the staff is out of the picture which is a strange oversight considering it’s relevance. Overall, a nice splash art that ends up being smaller that it should be.
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: Hextech Janna has the unusual quality of providing a different style for Janna by covering her up. Fortunately, the result is quite good and, in spite of the higher quantity of clothes, no less attractive. The skin’s style is consistent all over: from the goggles to the boots and including the staff. The re-use of the same model for her hair isn’t a big problem as it receives a new colour; though it could’ve been a good opportunity to try a new hairstyle. Overall, Hextech Janna is a nice skin able to stand out with a distinct and appealing look.

Frost Queen Janna
Frost Queen Janna Splash Art Frost Queen Janna Model
Category: Regular
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Janna dressed in blue clothes with ice covering some parts as armour.
Model: New model for Janna, her staff and her air elemental, Zephyr. New glow for her staff.
Particles: New blue particles for her abilities and auto-attack. New falling snowflakes around Janna and for her abilities.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: This piece shines with the presence of Janna and is able to evoke the grandiosity of her new look in just a glimpse. The general quality is quite high and jumps to the viewer with great use of colours, lighting and reflections. In particular, the ice as a reflective light source is a great choice to make Janna literally shine. The background, while not overly detailed and a bit blurry, is appropriately used as Janna stands in the middle of a snow storm. The fact that her clothes are mirrored, that is the skin has on the left what is on the right and vice versa, is an insignificant gripe and perfectly ignorable. From the first look at Frost Queen Janna’s splash art it’s obvious that it stands apart and above other pieces being a rotund accomplishment in quality and one of the best splash arts in League of Legends.
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 StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Frost Queen Janna is a skin that deviates from Janna’s classic style but still harkens back to it. The ice theme is aptly displayed: the ice shards decorate the dress without appearing impractical or out of place. The clothes’ asymmetry is a very nice touch that gives the skin a unique even whimsical appearance. However, it seems like a wasted opportunity that her new hairstyle looks so similar to her classic one; nonetheless it doesn’t look bad at all. Additionally, the new particles further the ice theme and the new Zephyr air elemental is a pleasant extra. In conclusion, while it’s possible that Frost Queen Janna could’ve been better the truth is that it’s an awesome skin that realizes its great potential; but not in full.

Victorious Janna
Victorious Janna Splash Art Victorious Janna Model
Category: Promotional (awarded to Gold, Platinum and Diamond ranked players after Season 2)
Price: Not Applicable
Concept: Janna as an armoured warrior mage.
Model: New model for Janna, her staff and her air elemental, Zephyr.
Particles: New particles for Zephyr.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: A battle seems to have finished as warriors lift standards and help each other among powerful gusts of wind. The soldiers are a little too undefined as they seem empty armours. The walls, statues and rocks help build a setting but still not much can be identified. Janna braves, or maybe channels, the winds around as she shines bathed by a mysterious light. Her portrayal is impeccable: there’s enough detail to appreciate the subtle armour engravings and clothes’ seams. Her hair is very nicely drawn and her meditative expression separates the stance from a simple pose. However, crouching isn’t the best way to display a look, just as showing only a portion of her staff isn’t enough. On the whole, it’s a piece that succeeds at being more than a mere spotlight but at the same time forfeits providing a clear look of Janna. It’s a nice splash art but its composition isn’t the best.
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: Victorious Janna gives the Storm’s Fury a reasonable amount of armour and clothes so as to make for a more classic warrior mage look. The result is quite nice and, as far as fantasy is considered, believable: the decorations are sensible plus the armour plates seem sturdy and practical. Her hairstyle is notable as it’s shorter and tied in a ponytail; though it’s fine looking. Overall, Victorious Janna is a good present to receive but hardly a product worth a struggle to achieve.

Forecast Janna
Forecast Janna Splash Art Model
Category: Legendary
Price: 1820 RP
Concept: Janna as a weathercaster.
Model: New model for Janna, her staff and her air elemental, Zephyr.
Particles: New particles for her abilities, auto-attack, joke, taunt, death and recall.
Animations: New animations for her abilities, auto-attack, emotes, standing idle, walk, occasional hover, capture, recall, death and respawn.
Sounds: New voice-over and new quotes for Zephyr, Monsoon, recall, death, respawn, with certain champions, fighting Baron Nashor and map-dependent beginning of match. New sounds for her abilities and auto-attack.
Splash Art: This splash art is quite straightforward: Janna amidst a storm with a Teemo being carried away by the whirlwind behind her. The background is certainly clear but unexciting. In fact, despite filling all available space the storm feels a tad empty. Janna struggles against such inclemencies to continue her report but her expression is more playful than worried. Her depiction is good with nice cloth folds and multiple reflections; perhaps too many considering the absence of direct light sources. At any rate, the piece gets its message across quite well. Besides, it makes for a good portrayal of Janna; even if as a whole she seems to be floating in limbo.
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: Forecast Janna doesn’t make any pretences about what its objective is: it’s a funny skin and it does everything it can to accomplish it. The problem with humour is that repetition removes the novelty of a new joke. Fortunately, Janna isn’t simply comical because she’s also appealing and friendly. The jokes may dry after a while but the general style of the skin manages to keep Janna attractive: not just in visuals but also her journalistic personality.
That’s because the new model, particles and sounds, backed by a distinct voice-over, successfully wrap Janna in the image of a news presenter. Individually, the modifications are good but together they accomplish more than the sum of their parts.
Sadly, the skin isn’t without issues as most of her abilities look quite similar to their classic counterparts. More precisely, Zephyrs rain could stay for the duration of the slow but instead it feels too brief a effect. Eye of the Storm doesn’t stand out as it’s rather similar to the classic aspect. Besides, the auto-attack lacks impact and most of Monsoon’s animation will usually be unseen as it’s habitually interrupted early.
While Forecast Janna isn’t perfect it’s certainly good and despite being unable to stay funny for long it does have lasting appeal. On the whole, Forecast Janna is an improvement over traditional funny skins: she’s humorous but she’s also more than just that.

Fnatic Janna
Fnatic Janna Splash Art Fnatic Janna Model
Category: Legacy
Price: 750 RP
Concept: Janna dressed in casual clothes.
Model: New model for Janna, her staff and her air elemental, Zephyr.
Particles: New particles for Zephyr.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: With some effort, the background could represent the illuminated entrance from which the glorious team emerges. Unfortunately, it’s all so blurry and lacking in detail that it’s only a guess. The champions escape from the diffuse surroundings with effort. Their stances make it all feel quite dramatic but also somewhat exaggerated. In fact, it seems to unexpectedly evoke a poster from the eighties with all the nostalgia and excesses that implies. Moving onto the champions themselves, none make a convincing display of their classic personality. There are hints here and there but, for the most part, they seem to be out of character. Ultimately, this splash art accomplishes its basic premise of providing a dazzling display of the champions but in a confusing and chaotic way.
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: While nicely dressed and charming Janna’s clothing is rather unassuming; which is surprising considering the alternatives. That’s not necessarily a bad thing but the rest of the skin doesn’t add anything to make the look stand out. The only thing that attracts attention is Fnatic’s logo, firmly placed in front of one’s face. Therefore, Fnatic Janna is a good skin with a different casual style but nothing groundbreaking.

Star Guardian Janna
Star Guardian Janna Splash Art Star Guardian Janna Model
Category: Regular
Price: 1350 RP
Concept: Janna as a magical girl wielding the magic of the stars.
Model: New model for Janna and Zephyr plus transparent strips of cloth.
Particles: New glows for Zephyr and her staff. New particles for her abilities, auto-attack, high-speed run and recall.
Animations: New high-speed run and recall animation.
Sounds: New sounds for her abilities, auto-attack, high-speed run and recall plus Zephyr’s appearance.
Splash Art: A starry sky with whirlwinds of clouds sets the tone of the piece. The stars, even the brightest, look a bit dim but the clouds have a soft texture that in their chaotic twists make for an appealing frame. As a setting it doesn’t say much but it’s a good background nonetheless.
In centre stage we find a serious, perhaps even melancholic, Janna accompanied by Zephyr; her Pokemon-like familiar. Zephyr has a fine portrayal that forfeits bright colours in favour of meshing better with the surroundings, perhaps too much. As such the fur almost dissolves on the clouds but the stylized physiognomy manages to convey a presence.
Janna enjoys a mix of bright and darker tones of various colours. At times her clothes shine with starry joy and at others they appear moody like she does. It’s a subtle but welcome touch to convey her disillusioned view on being a Star Guardian. At times the darker parts appear too dull, like her face or legs, especially as the Star Guardian theme lends itself better to a bright display. Besides, her staff is too relegated: not only behind her but also not fully displayed either and, on top of that, dull coloured. Regardless, the solemn approach to the role allows the splash art to stand out in spite of the mute tendencies.
All in all, this is a particularly nice splash art with a refreshing portrayal that takes advantage of the skin’s lore to be unique. The background is merely serviceable and the depictions of Janna and Zephyr are rather good but not something extraordinary. However, the splash art’s heart is in the right place: the subtler touches are what elevate the splash art beyond a simple spotlight. While not enough to make it one of League of Legends’ best it certainly isn’t too far behind.
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: Although charming, Star Guardian Janna strikes as a by the numbers adaptation of the Storm’s Fury. All the usual suspects are present as well as some tiny extras to make the skin more palatable. Unfortunately, there aren’t many changes that fully capture the theme’s appeal. The new model is based on the sailor uniform characteristic of magical girls, which is attractive but doesn’t go beyond the expected. Her staff has a design that looks rather convincing and sturdy without much, feathers on the neck aside, in the way of decoration. It seems more of a blunt weapon than a conduit for magic but still has a delicacy in its simple lines. The transparent strips of cloth and the glow of the staff’s head are the small touches to further the magical girl role. They amount to little as they don’t convey the starry feel they display in the splash art.
The exception is Zephyr. The Espeon-inspired look is a great touch that brings to mind cat familiars with a celestial nature. With flowing, soft ears and tails as well as sparkles left behind the aesthetic is ethereal and attractive. In spite of the small role Zephyr plays the transformation adds a lot to the development of the concept.
Following the same path, the particles and sounds do a great job in presenting the starry magical side. The particles rely on bright dust, stars and swirls of magic that recreate the classic abilities with a brighter, starry feel. The twinkling and chiming sounds support the visuals flawlessly and instil a delicate, magical flavour to the abilities that expose the identity of the skin in a good light. While there aren’t any real standouts, except perhaps for Zephyr’s sound when appearing, they seamlessly present the theme and are a major contributor to the skin’s appeal. The recall is a simple display of star magic that doesn’t say much but suits the general idea.
Overall, Star Guardian Janna is an appealing skin that needs extra work to transcend beyond the basic adaptation it has. Model, particles and sounds are effective and, at their best, charming but there aren’t any extras that further develop the magical girl side so as to define a whole identity for the skin. Therefore, the changes can feel superficial and yet also close to embracing the theme in full; as Zephyr demonstrates. In spite of the high price, Star Guardian Janna is a skin that does a lot right but it needs to do more to fully realise all of its shining potential.

Sacred Sword Janna
Sacred Sword Janna Splash Art Sacred Sword Janna Model
Category: Regular
Price: 1350 RP
Concept: Janna as a Xianxia sword master.
Model: New model for Janna, Zephyr and her staff plus gusts of wind around her.
Particles: New particles for her abilities, auto-attack and recall.
Animations: New animations for Monsoon, high speed run and recall.
Sounds: New sounds for her abilities, auto-attack and recall.
Splash Art: A lake that reflects the sky, with water lilies over the surface and koi underneath; except for one: Zephyr. A sword floats and drips some water at the bottom; with waves a bit too simple. It’s been summoned by the lady floating nearby. Echoing the mythical Lady of the Lake of Arthurian legend this is a splash art with meaning. The background seems a bit too soft but that detail allows the lake to have a magical, unearthly feel that suits the scene very well.
Janna is also depicted in extremely soft shades and saturated colours. The effect this leaves on the curled strips of cloth, folded sleaves and flowing hair is magical; though sometimes a bit confusing. With a toe barely touching the surface of the water it seems like she needs to be connected to the lake but can manifest with heavenly grace above it. The pose is dramatic enough without being exaggerated and while her face looks a bit tired it also communicates peace; perhaps she knows of trials ahead. There’s a certain dimness in the portrayal that, even if it makes the colour palette a bit homogeneous states a clear style and identity for the piece; which the background suits.
There is not much more to say when such a magical portrayal backed by such a well suited background is given. The idea behind the piece is interesting, the setting gives proper context and the portrayal’s exquisite charm give the splash art an identity and personality that is as unique as it is attractive. Without doubt, one of the best splash arts ever seen on League of Legends.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Being a maiden of the winds turning into a master swordswoman with magical powers asks for a dedicated effort to make the transition. That’s why Sacred Sword Janna has trouble adapting the Storm’s Fury, especially as the classic sorceress behaviour doesn’t have room for sword attacks. Janna’s look also isn’t radically different to Classic. She does wear a dress, loose like a tunic, with long sleeves and a fine tiara on her dark, flowing hair. Dress and dye aside it’s the same Janna. The new staff is actually a sheathed, long, two-handed sword which has a blade only seen during part of the recall. For most intents and purposes, it’s still a staff; which begs the question of why a magical staff wasn’t good enough, as it would fit the theme too. There’s a subtle, small display of gusts of wind around Janna that can easily go unnoticed. Zephyr is turned into a koi with a long, transparent, flowing tail which suits the water present in some areas but clashes with the wind present in most.
Speaking of particles, while wind is the base and the theme doesn’t seem to want to change that there’s a dichotomy with the hints of water in the abilities. Auto-attacks look like a streak of lightning surrounded by a few yellow petals that explodes in lightning-coloured petals; which has little to no relation to the theme. Howling Gale’s whirlwind looks similar to classic but bluish, with white petals inside. The base seems re-coloured and the extra touches too shy to give it a distinct look. Zephyr sees the eponymous familiar projected at the target with a trail of wind and yellow petals. White petals explode on impact which is expected and far from extraordinary. Eye of the Storm is a familiar, bluish shield of wind with some petals, yellow and white, inside; again nothing groundbreaking. Monsoon, fortunately, stands out with its blue, watery field as if ripples where formed on a pond by the gusts of wind projected outwards by Janna. Starting with a circular splash around Janna it reaches the border where petals float around. It’s quite a fantastic adaptation with a water-based style that stands on its own mostly because it feels disconnected to the wind present elsewhere; except for Koi-Zephyr.
Sounds are unsurprisingly wind based. Auto-attacks have a soft hush that hits with a puff. Howling Gale keeps the classic sound and adds a metallic vibration on top like a gong. Zephyr has a high-pitched chime on top of the subtle gust of wind. Eye of the Storm has a bell chime when starting and a barely audible metallic vibration when active; different but only the first part stands out. Monsoon supports its distinct visuals with a mystic bell chime followed by a soft metallic vibration afterwards. Given the water and wind elements so present it’s strange even if consistent to find more metal sounds. In fact, for the most part, it could be said that sounds are the familiar windy gusts with a touch of metallic sounds added on top to give the aural landscape some style.
Animations are few and not as remarkable as they should be. The recall sees a pond under Janna, akin but smaller than the ultimate, over which Janna unsheathes her sword, for the only time, and disappears. The pond is nice because it connects with her ultimate and unsheathing the sword has meaning, given the theme. However, it seems like the recall is trying to fill in the blanks more than say something by itself. The new animation for Monsoon doesn’t manage to be more than a different pose. Janna starts as in classic but then spreads her arms out which is a good fit for the effect of the ultimate and leaves her sword floating, slightly unsheathed, before her. It’s different and suitable but not the demonstration of sword mastery the skin needs. For the most part, it would fit Classic just as well.
All things considered, the feeling that Sacred Sword Janna has a concept forcefully imposed can’t be shaken. The idea of a swordswoman wielding the power of wind is possible but not when so much of the classic self is left untouched. Classic is simply too centred on a sorceress style for Janna to be a good base for the skin. What is changed can be hit and miss because there’s a lot of Classic reused and not enough of the hinted Lady of the Lake; whom should know very well how to wield the sword she’s charged with guarding. This means that the clash between magic and sword-wielding is never resolved. Actually, there’s no real sword-wielding because Janna never slashes the air to produce gusts of wind that cut through enemies; as could be an interpretation of the skin. There are things to like in Sacred Sword Janna, even if they aren’t revolutionary, but the end result is a skin that never joins two radically different personalities into a cohesive whole.

Bewitching Janna
Bewitching Janna Splash Art Bewitching Janna Model
Category: Legacy
Price: 1350 RP
Concept: Janna dressed as a witch and Zephyr as her chimeric familiar.
Model: New model for Janna, Zephyr and her staff. New gusts of wind around her, new glow for Zephyr and new cauldron for Monsoon.
Particles: New particles for her abilities, auto-attack and recall.
Animations: New flying animation for Zephyr and new recall animation.
Sounds: New sounds for her abilities, auto-attack and recall.
Splash Art: A full Moon, witches on the air and a goblin ready for mischief. There’s also a stone wall and a wooden construction but, ironically, the blurrier area of the background is the most clear about its contents and vice versa.
Janna and Zephyr, who’s partially visible to her right, show much clearer lines and colours. Clothing is detailed with folds and decoration, skin is smooth, pumpkins have believable surfaces, fire looks solid like embers, hair looks simple in a cartoony way, glasses have subtle reflections and the staff goes from charming to sketchy. Truth be told, there are uneven elements but the problems aren’t serious. Besides, the delicate and appealing shading makes the portrayal more interesting and convincing while highlighting the many details on display. It’s strange, though, that Janna’s left leg is completely absent and that objects around her are so sketchy.
All in all, this is a splash art with a few problems but if we look at what it does well it does serve as an attractive presentation card. Perhaps a layer of polish is in order but the result is rather 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: Bewitching Janna dresses the Storm’s Fury as a witch but in a cartoony way; without forgetting a good dose of cleavage. The costume is nice looking, colourful and has the witch feel that it intends. The straps of cloth styled as bat wings are a nice touch while stockings and hat are eye-catching with their distinct look. The new staff is turned into a whimsical broom with a pumpkin as decoration. It seems more impractical toy than actual broom but as a sort of familiar it works. Zephyr surely works as the chimerical familiar, made up of several different elements. The glow doesn’t communicate the fire seen in the splash art but the flying animation is quite appealing.
Particles rely more on flying leaves and re-colours than they should. They are different and some stand out. Howling Gale is the most interesting with its circling spectres. Eye of the Storm has a nice dégradé of tones but the effect is too subtle. Zephyr’s active is the most disappointing for its simplicity. Monsoon, cauldron and all, seems too timid for an ultimate.
Sounds follow the design of particles. The classic gusts of winds are all present but modified with some eerie but subtle tones. Howling Gale with its, appropriately, howling spectres is the ability that stands out the most. On the other end, auto-attacks lack any supernatural element.
The new recall is a joke at the expense of a rebellious broom. It works for what it is but doesn’t add to the theme. Zephyr doesn’t take part in the animation which is a pity. By integrating the personality of Zephyr as well we could’ve seen the relationship between Janna and her familiars.
All added together, Bewitching Janna is a fine skin. It has charm but it doesn’t make an effort to exploit it. On the contrary, it seems to play it too safe with leaves that could’ve perfectly fit the classic counterpart. The idea isn’t bad but there’s a notorious lack of depth.

Conclusion

Janna has an awesome selection of skins all with very high quality and unique styles. Frost Queen Janna is the unavoidable recommendation because of its incomparable aspect and numerous additions. With her asymmetric dress, re-coloured particles and trails of snowflakes it’s a skin that presents its theme very well with a recognisable yet distinct style.

Hextech Janna is quite good as well for being little more than a re-model. In spite of not providing as much as other skins it makes up for it with an exceptional look that is suitable and attractive. The new sparks for her staff are a small touch that helps set the skin apart, too.

Expensive but interesting, Star Guardian Janna lets her embrace the magical girl role but not in full. The changes cover the basics and while the new model, particles and sounds do a great job the skin needs extras to round the adaptation. The presentation of the theme is attractive so fans will find the skin a nice choice but one with untapped potential.

Another expensive option is Sacred Sword Janna. The concept is quite different from what could be expected of the Storm’s Fury but is certainly interesting. The problem is that the execution never exposes her sword mastery and instead stays on the magical side of things. This leaves a brimming dichotomy between the concept and the classic personality that is never resolved. There are things to like in the skin but the struggle to make the concept work prevents a cohesive result.

Expensive and legacy we find Bewitching Janna. The skin is charming but also shallow. Instead of taking advantage of its theme the skin plays it safe and makes superficial changes that don’t develop the skin’s concept. The result isn’t bad but brims with unexploited potential.

Additionally, Tempest Janna may be the skin with the lowest price and amount of changes but it surely stands out thanks to its clever re-imagining of Janna. The contrast of colours and ornamented staff allow Janna to look a bit darker without stepping away from her classic persona.

Finally, Forecast Janna is a skin for her fans or those that prefer a good dose of humour. The jokes won’t stay funny for long but Forecast Janna has enough personality to stay appealing despite failing to impress. The adaptation is well done and while not impressive the changes add up to an appealing whole that shouldn’t be ignored by fans of the Storm’s Fury.

  76 Responses to “League of Legends: Janna Skins’ Review”

  1. Thanks for the Janna skin review, I like janna quite a lot as support and i wanted a second opinion on her skins.

  2. You’re welcome.

  3. Just wanted to let you know that I enjoy reading your skin reviews! I was wondering which skin to get between Woad and Freljord Ashe, and after reading your review, I think I will get the Woad Ashe. Hope to read more of your reviews.

  4. Thanks for the kind words. Also, Woad Ashe is definitely a good investment if you like the tribal style.

  5. No update for victorius skin yet ?

  6. HI Zero I just wanted to ask what is better? Frost Queen Janna or Blackthorn Morgana. They’re both on sale on our server and I cant buy both. So I just want your opinion Thanks!

    • In that case you should definitely consider how much you like Janna and Morgana and how often you play them or intend to do so. While both have a support component Morgana also allows playing her as a mage so there’s versatility to take into account as well.

      As far as quality goes both skins are superb. If you’d like to see the devil in the details you could complain about the Frost Queen’s lack of clothes or the Blackthorn’s dark colours. Still, you can also say that Janna isn’t exactly a fan of clothes or that bark can only be so colourful.

      In the end, either choice would be good and will probably leave you wanting to also have the other skin. Instead of thinking which one to get try to place an order to the skins: which one would you like first? That way you can eventually save for the other and if you are patient you may also catch it on sale again.

      Sometimes looking at a problem from a different angle can yield an answer you couldn’t get by keeping a strict view of it.

      • Thank you very much for such a detailed answer. I know that both skins are superb I am thinking on buying Frost Queen Janna and just buying a much more cheaper skin for Morgana. Since I saw a Blackthorn Morgana today I didnt like it that much. Thanks again!!

        • Not at all, it’s no problem; hope you enjoy your next purchase.

          Still, all of Morgana’s skins cost 975 RP so there doesn’t seem to be any cheaper alternatives. Regardless, you should trust in what you like. Even if a skin may not seem like much, if you like it, you can enjoy it and have fun with it.

  7. hi zero,
    thanks for the skin reviews 🙂 just wondering, but are you going to review the new forcast janna skin anytime soon?

  8. hi zero,
    i was thinking of getting frost queen janna, but its just that the tornado particles for that skin look like the old tornado particles that she had before her rework, just recoloured blue (or so i’ve heard). In your opinion, do you think that should make much of a different? Because I was also thinking of tempest janna since its particles look more natural, and they were updated along with the classic and hextech skin.

    • As far as we know, Frost Queen Janna has different particles to the classic ones. They do look quite similar, like a re-colour, but they still look good. If you are unsure check some videos of the skin to have a good idea of how it looks in motion.

      If you like the whole of a skin you should consider how relevant a single detail is for you and if you would be able to ignore or accept it if you don’t like it. In this particular case, Howling Gale seems to look good and not outdated across all skins.

      Tempest Janna also is a nice skin but more modest than Frost Queen. Another option is to wait for a skin sale if you are still unsure so as to reduce the weight of the price. It may require patience but it’s a possibility.

      • Thanks!
        I think I’ve decided to get frost queen janna, since i love the look of it and the snowflakes around her are really cool 🙂 thanks for clearing up the bit about the tornado too, it helped a lot with my decision.

  9. forecast janna review?

  10. Thanks for the forecast janna review 🙂
    Is it just me, or does janna’s shirt appear white in the splash art, but light blue for the ingame the model? Seems rather strange…

    • Not at all.

      It could be that the image slightly alters the colour as different media code colours differently. That’s why photographs and videos don’t look exactly like real life: the colours seem marginally different. That’s easily noticeable while comparing the colours of an image on a monitor and on a printed sheet.

      Regardless, it’s also possible that the model simply uses a light blue shirt for Forecast Janna. There are many splash arts that aren’t completely faithful to the in-game look and this wouldn’t actually be out of the ordinary.

  11. Will Forecast Janna ever be on sale?

  12. Excuse me, but I bought Frost Queen Janna, and I have played several games with her and do not see any change to her autoattacks. They are not even blue, they look the same as in her classic skin. I believe you should give it a second look.

    • The projectile is different: it’s a bird like Zephyr instead of a ball of wind in two colours. The wind effect on impact does seem to be the same though; which is inconsistent. We’ll give it another look anyway.

  13. In the FC Janna splash review it says “At any rate, the piece gets its message accross quite well.”
    Typo on across.

  14. Hi Zero,

    Can you give us a quick opinion on the Fnatic skins, especially the Janna one? Interested to hear your take on them.

    This website has a quick view of her: http://www.surrenderat20.net/2014/09/912-pbe-update-first-batch-of-texture.html

    Kind Regards,
    Stranger

    • As with previous champion skins there are some interesting designs but little beyond model changes. From what little we’ve seen, Janna looks alright but nothing impressive. It’s nice set of casual clothes and they suit her but that’s all.

      In general, the Fnatic skins seem to be good but not great. We’ll have a full review when they are released.

  15. In the Conclusion section of Tempest Janna the final sentence says “that” where is should say “then”.

  16. In the Forecast Janna particles section, shouldn’t something be mentioned about her joke and taunt? She summons a lightning cloud that humorously strikes her and a camera to show a screen with her (and Fiddlesticks’ ultimate) ability icons, respectively.

    • Yes we should’ve mentioned something of the sort. Legendary and ultimate skins have so many changes that something is bound to slip by sooner or later. Thanks for the notice.

  17. In the forecast janna skin , there is urf floating arround !

    • In her tornados *

    • Indeed, among several other things. Still, it’s essentially the same tornado with just a few extras added. That’s not to say that we think it’s a bad way of changing the abilitiy but it might not be enough for a legendary skin. At this price, it’s good but one expects something impressive.

  18. Hi Zero,
    Do you think Frost Queen Janna is still worth 5 stars ? I’d like to buy a skin for my janna.
    Thanks for your answer 🙂

    • We certainly do. It might seem like it’s trailing behind newer skins but the model is quite good. Besides, her particles are done in two layers: the re-coloured blue gusts plus the falling snowflakes. It’s still not at the elaborate level of some newer skins but there’s a lot to like about Frost Queen Janna.

      Perhaps in the future when Janna receives a new skin that is evidently superior to Frost Queen we’ll change the rating. For now, it’s her best skin.

  19. Hey,

    LoLWiki says that Forecast Janna’s voiceover is a refference to a famous Romanian news reporter.
    Do you know what’s her name? Or what is the quote that is a refference to her?
    I’m Romanian and I got no idea which one of her quotes is the refference. 😛

    • No idea, there’s no source for the affirmation in the Wiki and a quick search online doesn’t reveal anything obvious at least. Sorry we can’t be of help. If we find out something we’ll report back.

  20. Hey
    I’ve got Forecast Janna from a mystery gift last night,but your reviews dissapoint me.
    She got a new sound and new animation for absolutely everything she’s able to do.
    I do think she deserves four stars,since it is worth its “Legendary” label.

    • She certainly deserves to be legendary that’s why she got three stars. The problem is that the changes aren’t that striking nor are the visuals that different from the classic ones. The sum of its parts is good but individually the changes aren’t astounding. Besides, the jokes can only stay funny for so long. At the level of a legendary skin we simply have to be strict because it’s a lot of money involved.

      Three stars isn’t a bad rating it means it’s a good skin but not great. In the case of Forecast Janna it’s a fine option but more is to be expected at this level. A legendary skin should be a walking or floating marvel. Forecast Janna is appealing and competent at developing its theme but doesn’t impress with the depth of the modifications.

  21. Fnatic Janna has yellow particles in her auto-attack.

  22. I think it is appropriate to mention that Frost Queen Janna also has new particles for her staff. Also, considering how much the Texture Update darkened the blue tones of the skin (which I think look better darker), I think the screenshots deserve to be updated, since many others have after TU’s.

    • She does have a clear new glow on her staff, thanks for the information.

      We don’t find the texture update to have changed things in a very noticeable way. At least the images we have don’t show something too obvious though a comparison side by side reveals a difference. We’ll keep it in mind for when we have chance to update some images but it won’t be high in the priority list.

  23. i would like to purchase forecast janna but i have an anxiousness about purchasing it because i like also other skins.I like forecast janna very much but it so too less armor than the other champions Zero what do you think would be the wise idea in purchasing skins just like forecast janna,please help me to a better decision,thanks reply pls.

    • Forecast Janna, as other legendary skins, are for the real fans of a champion. If you don’t plan to extensively play Janna along her Forecast style then there’s little point in getting into such an expense. It’s a fine skin, no doubt, but isn’t truly impressive and cheaper ones may end up being more satisfying.

      It’s a matter of how much you like Janna and the Forecast skin. There’re very good alternatives for Janna, like Frost Queen, so Forecast is far from the one choice to make. Think about how much you play Janna and whether you would prefer any of her other skins. If playing lots of Forecast Janna ends up being what you prefer then it can be worth getting. If not, it’s a lot of money for something that won’t be used.

  24. There are a few updated splash of skins now! It includes Janna, amumu, annie, MF, Yi and many more xD
    Would appreciate it if the reviews are all pdated cause the splash art are dope a’f and I’m really curious if theres any ingame changes

    • The splash art update encompasses only the art and there would be no in-game changes as part of that update. There could be changes in the meantime but they’d be unrelated. We are updating the splash arts’ assessments progressively but as they are so many it will take a while.

  25. I was just wondering, are you going to update all the splash arts after they finish changing them all?

    • We won’t wait until the finish the update we are already updating the reviews. There are a lot of updated splash arts so it will take some time for us to catch up with all that has changed. We will cover them all though it’ll just be a progressive effort.

  26. Would you ever recommend buying a legendary skin at full price? As far as I know they don’t go on early sales so the only way to buy them is as their full price. You would usually say getting skins at half price is worth the wait, which it is. But since they don’t go on sale which legendary skin do you recommend. If I were to buy one it would have to be newer because it may have more particles and stuff.

    • Newer skins tend to have more features but there are some older ones that have stood the test of time quite well. Also, recent legendary skins do go on early sales as it happened with Dragon Trainer Tristana and will happen with legendaries and ultimates released afterwards; including PROJECT: Ashe.

      Considering legendary skins’ prices, and especially ultimates, we think that they should be reserved to the most dedicated fans of a champion whom really like the concept and execution of the legendary or ultimate. The bad news is that, sans recent early sales, there are no discounts to be found; except for some unique exception that could be made. The good news is that there’s no rush to decide so you can check videos to make an informed decision. We hope the reviews also help in that regard.

      Specifically, we would advise to get a legendary skin only for a champion that you like and play a lot. Also you should prefer the skin’s concept and implementation to the alternatives present. On top of that, what the legendary or ultimate offers should feel worth the price and also worth choosing over possible new skins that could appear in the future. It’s a lot to consider but it’s also a lot of money so you should feel sure enough that the skin you get is worth the effort. That aside, it’s a matter of personal preference.

      • Thanks for the help deciding but I think I have encountered a personal problem which wouldn’t allow me to get legendaries. I feel that buying any skin for a champion I ‘have’ played alot is kind of useless because after getting a champion to mastery level 5/6 I tend to never play them again and in terms of legendaries, thats 1350 or 1820RP wasted on a champion I will hesitate to play. Overall, I think that personally buying legendaries now isn’t such a good idea considering how I only go back to the champion every once in a while when I mained them. Taking project ashe as an example, the skin seems very good and ‘if’ I were to buy it now-main ashe for a while-get a decent mastery then I just wasted RP I think, any way this subject has the potential to be wrong because I love legendaries but as said above, they are incredibly expensive

        • It’s understandable, with so many champions vying for attention it’s difficult to justify such an expense on a single one. If you were to buy a skin before mastering a champion then it could give several hours of playtime which could make the expense worthwhile.

          However, there are many skins at 975 RP that have great concepts and fantastic executions which stand as viable, even if technically inferior, options to legendaries. Given that they cost only a fraction of the legendary price, especially on sale, this becomes a much more reasonable option.

          Legendary skins offer a lot but the price is too high; and let’s not even mention ultimates. In a game inundated with champions and saturated with skins it’s too high an expense if you aren’t going to prefer the skin and champion to the multitude of options. Add to that the never-ending cycle of updates and new content and it’s no wonder that neither champions nor skins manage to stay relevant for long.

  27. Hello, what do you think of the Star Guardian Janna skin? I already have FQ Janna but star guardian is sooo cute :3. I think it’s a very well done skin, I might pick it up at early sale for 975 in a couple months.
    I personally find the animations and visual effects good, but I’d like your personal opinion since you’re better at analyzing; I don’t really care about the loading screen so I’d mostly just like to know your take on her in-game model and animations

    Thanks for your feedback in advance~

    • We like Star Guardian Janna and completely agree that it’s an appealing skin. Unfortunately, while the new model, particles, sounds and few new animations are quite good they don’t add up to define a new identity for the skin. Therefore, it’s a skin that ends up being very attractive but fails to deliver the whole fantasty it propones.

      We agree that getting the skin on sale would be the best option. Sadly, the Star Guardian skins, legendary Jinx excepted, fail to round the theme into a cohesive whole. That’s far from saying that the skins are bad; the complete opposite. Nonetheless, we see all too clearly that with some more work the skins would’ve presented a comprehensive transformation that would’ve been more than an adaptation of the theme to the classic schematics.

  28. Hello, if you were to rank her skins from wow to meh, how would the ranking go?

    • It’d probably follow the rating as stated in the conclusion to the review. The most interesting skin still is Frost Queen Janna with Tempest being a simple but attractive alternative. We like Star Guardian and Forecast but they need something else to fully embrace their themes. Hextech is a nice re-model and Fnatic is alright for a modern take on her.

      Of course, the more expensive a skin is the more bells and whistles it tends to have. However, it also matters how significant those additions are in realising the theme. Surely, Frost Queen is simpler than Star Guardian and Forecast but the result is convincing and satisfying within its limitations.

  29. Hey Zero,

    I would like to thank you again on your assistance on my purchase of Creator Viktor and Braum Lionheart, you have been a great help.

    I have a question, regarding about forecast Janna, and the thing is should I buy it? Since it will never go on sale because it’s a Legendary skin, it will never go on sale, I am thinking of buying it now. I love Janna, she’s my main and I think Forecast will be a great way of expressing it because of it’s legendary status.The matter is, I have some inclination towards fantasy themed skins and I am enjoying using Frost Queen and Star Guardian Janna.Would it be smart to buy Forecast?

    I am sort of a “completionist”, and I would really love to have all of Janna’s skins on my inventory (the thing is, I would never be able to accomplish that since I just started League last at late s4, I will nevr get victorios Janna). Should I continue being like that?

    • Not at all, we are glad to be of help.

      With regards to Janna’s skin, she has many good ones but we don’t see the completionist and other arbitrary reasons to buy skins as useful guidelines. We prefer to ask a simpler question: do you like the skin? If you like it enough, would play it often and the price isn’t a major problem then get it.

      Victorious Janna, like many other skins will be the kind of obstacles for completion and similar objectives that actually aren’t as satisfactory as one thinks. It’s always much better to enjoy something you like that to see yourself reachnig a fabricated goal.

      With that said, Forecast Janna is a nice skin that is a joke but also defines an appealing personality for her. We do prefer the effective, even if modest in comparison, implementation of Frost Queen Janna and it’s attractive concept. Star Guardian is also quite nice though we expected much more from the skin. Overall, they are all good skins but Frost Queen stands out.

      Regardless, there’s no point in getting one skin expecting it to deliver what another does. Specifically, if you like fantasy themed skins then get one. Forecast Janna is good but you should like it for what it is. Getting it just to show that you like the Storm’s Fury doesn’t seem like a compelling argument. What matters is that you enjoy playing with Janna and that you appreciate the skin you got for her. That’s what really matters, the rest is silence.

      Besides, there’s no rush to get Forecast Janna so you can ponder and contemplate on the acquisition without worry. When there’s a sale you can get Frost Queen or Star Guardian to reduce costs and when you are sure about Forecast’s worth get it. There’s little point in adding unnecessary complications to buying skins. Just purchase what you really like and focus on enjoying the skins.

  30. Hello, I have a question regarding Forecast Janna. I see no difference between that skin’s shield and the base skin’s particle effect- is it just me? Because it’s quite visible in Star Guardian and Frost Queen, which are listed, or is the change just too subtle for me to notice?

    • It’s not just you, unfortunately. Sadly, that’s one of our complaints about Forecast Janna: particles are quite similar to Classic. There are visible changes but the core is, in practical terms, the same. The main appeal of the skin is actually the new personality defined for Janna. In visual terms it’s not impressive though it has its moments.

  31. Is a Sacred Sword Janna review coming soon? ^.^

  32. What do you think of Sacred Sword Janna, especially in comparison to Star Guardian?

    • Considering that Sacred Sword Janna aims at placing her as the Lady of the Lake with potential sword wielding we find that neither aspect is well presented. There’s too much wind and too little water and no slashing. The idea is good but we don’t think the execution made the best it could with it.

  33. Hello,

    Sacred Sword Janna has a high speed run animation does it not?

  34. Hey Zero, I really wanted to buy Sacred Sword Janna, because the particle change and the new colors of her abilities are so awesome I liked it, but you just rated 2 stars out of 5. I have hesitations now whether I should buy it or not. Do you think I should get it? Or can you summarize your conclusion, like the main idea… Thanks…

    • Our main problem with Sacred Sword Janna is that she’s presented as a legendary sword-wielder on the one hand and as the mystical keeper of a legendary sword on the other. However, there’s little of either identity on the skin even if they could work together.

      For starters, she has as sword she never actually wields. The idea is that it’s so powerful that barely unsheathing it manifests great power. Yet, that’s only seen in the ultimate and recall while it’s arguable that the power is so huge. Even if we admit it is, she should be able to manage it. Therefore, she could’ve slashed in her auto-attacks and used the sword more instead of leaving it functionally as a staff.

      If we centre on what was changed we can also see that there aren’t any significant changes. The legendary power that the skin intends to communicate is absent. Abilities don’t look that different from blue wind and the Lady of the Lake part is only slightly presented by ultimate and recall. In few words, the skin doesn’t deliver what the concept is capable of. In fact, the skin isn’t as far from Frost Queen Janna as it should be; which is a more modest but also effective skin.

      If you do like the skin then don’t worry about what we think about it. In our view, the skin has flaws but it does have some appeal if you can excuse its problems. If you don’t mind the issues then you can enjoy the skin for what it is. Just be mindful that it isn’t all that it’s supposed to be. In the end, you have to like and be happy with your purchase. We just give you our vision on the skin so that you can make an informed purchase.

      • The idea behind the skin wasn’t to present Janna as a legendary sword-wielder, hence why it’s barely implemented into any of her abilities. It’s clear that she’s only serving as its keeper.

        It’s definitely Janna’s best & most creative skin to date. Its splash art is only surpassed by frost queen (which to be fair, is just too excellent). Though the model & skill effects of SS trumps FQ by a long run, with particles that are much more distinct. I thought the concept was very well executed and easily beats any of her skin, including forecast which is just a pathetic excuse for a legendary skin (that you somehow rated higher..)

        • We know there’s the Lady of the Lake angle to the skin but we also found that aspect weak in the skin. Even as a keeper of the sword she should be able to better embrace the theme without relying so much on the classic wind; which makes little sense in the theme.

          We agree that Frost Queen is a great skin and we like Sacred Sword Janna’s splash art. Still, we find that the Forecast has a more depth not just because it’s a legendary skin but that instead of going for simple jokes it develops a different personality for Janna. Sadly, we don’t find that in Sacred Sword.

Leave a Reply to E-Girl Cancel reply

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

(required)

(required)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.