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League of Legends: Nocturne Skins’ Review – StrategyZero
Dec 112012
 
Nocturne, the Eternal Nightmare
Nocturne, the Eternal Nightmare

Nocturne, the Eternal Nightmare embodies the fear of what lurks behind the veil of the human consciousness. Equal parts torment and agony, once Nocturne has set on a target he stays like the memory of a distressing dream. His skins follow his concept in a variety of forms thus producing distinct and interesting results. When bringing dusk with style is essential, there’s no need to get paranoid, just launch yourself at his skins’ review.

Frozen Terror Nocturne
Frozen Terror Nocturne Splash Art Frozen Terror Nocturne Model
Category: Regular
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Nocturne as an icy nightmare.
Model: New model for Nocturne and new colour for his trail.
Particles: New particles for Duskbringer, Shroud of Darkness and Unspeakable Horror.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: What we find for a background is an array of ice shards and blue tones that could pass for a frozen mountain range that fails as an actual setting. Nocturne’s depiction is almost as monochromatic yet shows more details. The elaborate frosted armour looks good even if it has a draft feel. His whole being isn’t exactly like the one displayed in-game. It gives a rough idea of how he looks but there are clear differences; like the cuirass design. His engraved, serrated blades are nice but twisted too much to fit into the intended perspective. The misty effects add some flare to the portrayal; still Nocturne looks a tad unrecognizable. In the end, it’s a splash art that works only to give a general idea of what to expect but is quite inaccurate.
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: Frozen Terror Nocturne is quite a good skin for the Eternal Nightmare. The model exaggerates a little with the size of the blades and the ice theme is mostly hinted at rather than explicit. However, the look is nice and the particles are a great addition to round the aesthetic. In other words, the individual features of the skin aren’t impressive on their own. Nevertheless, when working in tandem they become more than their sum. Therefore, it’s a rather well executed thematic skin that any Nocturne fan will enjoy.

Void Nocturne
Void Nocturne Splash Art Void Nocturne Model
Category: Legacy
Price: 520 RP
Concept: Nocturne as a being from the Void.
Model: New model for Nocturne and new colour for his trail.
Particles: New purple particles for Shroud of Darkness and Unspeakable Horror.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: If we take the brush strokes as a background we should consider it an abstract depiction of the horrors of the Void. On the other hand, we can simply admit that the colours simply fill space. Nocturne’s depiction tries but is unable to escape the unclear technique: his right arm is diffuse, the left blade is almost entirely out of the picture and the lack of detail on his body hardly represents the complex textures of the model. In conclusion, it’s an unclear and imprecise piece that is unable to give more than a faint idea of Nocturne’s look.
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: Void Nocturne is a skin with a model that is as intricate as it is enjoyable to watch. The elaborate design is a good match for the mysteries of the Void. Moreover, the multiple spikes and multi-layered body show an obvious readiness and aptitude for battle. The extra Void trail for Nocturne’s body is a great extra. Unfortunately, there’s no Rift effect for Duskbringer’s trail and his other abilities; which would’ve been awesome. Regardless, it’s a great skin at a good price; fans of the Void or Nocturne will find much to like in it.

Ravager Nocturne
Ravager Nocturne Splash Art Ravager Nocturne Model
Category: Regular
Price: 520 RP
Concept: Nocturne as a solid flame spirit.
Model: New model for Nocturne.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: The setting where the action is placed can be described as abstract at best. There’s some timber, maybe, on the left, a column of smoke on the right and in the centre a cracked floor. Yet, due to the homogeneous and sketchy quality of the background there’s little that can be affirmed. Nocturne’s portrayal is unexpectedly clear though his body isn’t fully visible; thanks to the overhead view. Still, one can get a general idea of his look even if it’s not as faithful as it should be. In spite of the welcome black trail behind him there’s a curious absence of dark tones everywhere. In the end, it’s a piece that modestly manages its basic purpose but that asks for an effort to get a clear idea of what is all about.
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: Ravager Nocturne is a particularly strange skin as its theme isn’t evident at a glance. While there is a flame pattern covering the entirety of Nocturne’s body there isn’t much to solidify a fire theme. In spite of that, the look is quite interesting: a lean body with spiked blades that look, practically, engineered to destroy. In the end, Ravager Nocturne feels like it needs something noteworthy to make it truly interesting. Still, it’s a nice look for a reasonable price so it’s hardly a bad purchase.

Haunting Nocturne
Haunting Nocturne Splash Art Haunting Nocturne Model
Category: Legacy
Price: 520 RP
Concept: Nocturne as a classic ghost.
Model: Moderate model changes for Nocturne and new colour for his trail.
Particles: New particles for Duskbringer and Unspeakable Horror.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: Pumpkins with funny carved faces give some colour to the dark and excessively foggy night. The background provides a setting but in its most basic form: as a suggestion. Fortunately, while Nocturne’s portrayal isn’t impressive it is clear and a reasonable representation of his in-game look. Regardless, it’s not possible to ignore the sketchy outline and the overly simple shading. On the whole, it’s a piece that does its job but nothing more.
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: Haunting Nocturne doesn’t, or even try to, hide it’s obvious re-model nature. On the contrary, it humorously exploits it by turning Nocturne into a traditional sheet ghost. If that were all the skin is, it wouldn’t be very impressive but the excellent particles raise the skin to a whole new level. In particular, the Duskbringer trail is particularly satisfying; especially when hitting multiple targets, each leaving their own trail. The model sure isn’t anything outstanding but the concept is imaginative and the particles a great addition. In conclusion, Haunting Nocturne is a great skin for Nocturne that clearly exposes that it’s much more than a simple collector’s item.

Eternum Nocturne
Eternum Nocturne Splash Art Eternum Nocturne Model
Category: Legendary
Price: 1820 RP
Concept: Nocturne as an armoured extra-planar being.
Model: New model and red glows for Nocturne.
Particles: New particles for his abilities and auto-attack.
Animations: New animations for his emotes, auto-attack, critical hits, recall, death, standing idle, walk and his abilities.
Sounds: New sounds for his abilities, emotes, recall and new voiceover.
Splash Art: The background is made of electricity, neuron-like shapes and some colours. In practice, they are just a few elements to fill the empty space as they neither provide a setting nor even frame Nocturne. At least, the Eternal Nightmare looks quite good with great shading, impressive lines, attractive light effects and dents to provide some depth to the depiction. The stance is interesting but covers a good portion of his body with the left blade or simply occludes it due to the chosen perspective. Furthermore, the overly bright and clear portrayal is a bit too generous with how good Nocturne actually looks in-game. All things considered, it’s a piece that manages to generate interest in Nocturne but with an evident uneven quality.
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: Eternum Nocturne is a skin with a generous array of features: some good and some less so. The model shows a good deal of work, the particles are quite striking, the animations appropriate and the audio suitably incorporated. Nonetheless, each element has issues in varying degrees. Overall, the model can be taken as an armoured lobster: the organic body is too lean and fragile while the armour doesn’t look deadly or impressive enough to compensate. Furthermore, the length of the fingers erodes the relevance of the blades; which also look more flashy than practical. The particles are good but the Duskbringer trail almost looks the same as the classic one; except for some smoke. Some animations are really nice, like those of Shroud of Darkness and especially Paranoia, yet most of them are minor variations on the classic ones; or lack punch. Additionally, the audio is reasonably done but sometimes lacks visceral impact. On top of that, the classic ‘Darkness’ quote for Paranoia is missing; which doesn’t make much sense actually. All things considered, Eternum Nocturne is a skin that shows a lot of work and dedication yet not all of the effort turns out for the better. If you are able to forgive its idiosyncrasies it’s a skin with a good amount of flare, in no small part thanks to Paranoia, but it doesn’t display Nocturne’s implacable nature really well.

Cursed Revenant Nocturne
Cursed Revenant Nocturne Splash Art Cursed Revenant Nocturne Model
Category: Regular
Price: 750 RP
Concept: Nocturne as a damned, spiked spirit.
Model: New model for Nocturne.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: This is a piece that has a distinct style thanks to its coloured lithographic print aesthetic. A closer look reveals that the three subjects seem to acquire colour progressively; perhaps through some mystic process. The result means that the background doesn’t really present a setting. It does, however, give context to the illustration in an evocative manner.
The shading on each champion is soft enough that stands closer to watercolour than oil. The detailed highlights and shadows, the effective transitions to sketch form and the sensible distribution in the piece lets each champion stand out; without ignoring either their personality or their new identity. Whereas Nocturne appears eerily supernatural, Kayle looks penitent in her divinity and Singed practical and ready. Each champion reflects themselves but also appears as different parts of a cohesive whole; perhaps as if they were horsemen of an apocalypse.
Thanks to such a clever presentation, exquisite quality and unique style this is a piece that grabs attention and doesn’t let go. In technical terms, half of it is a draft and the other half only a trio of partial portrayals. However, each element conspires with the others to reveal the different facets of the piece. This makes it a splash art that transcends its limitations by far and clearly stands as one of League of Legends’ best pieces.
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: In concept, half a human body carrying the tombstone it was chained to sounds rather terrifying. Especially if we are talking about a faceless undead that employs the spikes from the graveyard’s gate as blades. The reality is that Cursed Revenant Nocturne delivers its message but not in as exciting a manner as we are led to believe. All the necessary elements are present: the mysterious hood, a terrible end, the integration of the tomb into a new life. However, the skin is too brief and displays only a fraction of all it could. Nocturne’s body isn’t big and the reliance on model changes alone doesn’t leave much space to develop the theme. It’s clear what the skin is about and it’s also attractive. Still, the changes aren’t deep enough to fully transform the Eternal Nightmare. In a way, he’s the same Nightmare but with a clearer, more explicit origin. Therefore, Cursed Revenant Nocturne is a good skin but it needs something else to be special.

Conclusion

Nocturne’s skins don’t always exploit his simpler than usual model and rather flexible concept. Regardless, there are good options available: Frozen Terror, Void and Ravager are the recommended skins. The first offers a nice model and particles while the other two are nicely priced re-models with interesting concepts. Frozen Terror stands out thanks to the particles but both re-models have interesting designs and are also cheaper; Void even has a few new particles. Any of these skins is a good option for the discerning Nightmare.

Another re-model that could be interesting is Cursed Revenant Nocturne. The theme is eloquently presented by the model changes. Unfortunately, there’s a certain familiarity with the classic experience except that the source of the terror has its story clearly on display. Being Nocturne a small champion to adapt the skin needs something extra to stand out but it’s a good option for fans of the Eternal Nightmare, nonetheless.

Eternum Nocturne may cater to the dedicated Eternal Nightmare fans or those that like radical modifications. It alters every aspect of Nocturne but the core personality remains. Additionally, not every change and addition is done in the best possible way but it all adds up to a satisfying extra-planar persona. It’s a skin that offers quite a lot and, despite a few flaws, accomplishes a unique aesthetic.

A legacy option is Haunting Nocturne which disguises the Eternal Nightmare as a ghost with a well placed sheet over him. It’s certainly far from revolutionary but the approach is appealing and the particles are quite pleasing; especially Duskbringer’s trail. With its reasonable price and attractive features it’s a great Harrowing choice.

  44 Responses to “League of Legends: Nocturne Skins’ Review”

  1. Searches up Zilsta. *No skin review* WTF?

  2. Bad review for eternum , 🙁

  3. I already got eternum despite the review, but to be honest eternum is the best for me, i already own the other 4, void and eternum is the best skin for me.

    • It’s true that the review is rather critical but remember that it’s also an expensive skin; so it’s better to know about any issues to avoid disappointments. Nevertheless, as the rating shows, it’s hardly a bad skin. It could’ve been better but it offers a good amount of features and surely is a skin that can be enjoyed.

      We simply aim to show the whole picture so that you can make an informed decision.

  4. Hey could you help me to decide, from a skins quality point of view, whether eternum nocturne or battlecast prime chogath is better? I play both champs quite frequently…

    Thanks

    • To be fair both are rather good skins and the choice should be based on your personal preference: would you prefer a talkative growing mech or a moody being from another dimension? Another aspect to consider is how much emphasis you put on a champion’s ultimate. In Eternum Nocturne’s case his ultimate is very satisfying to use as he shivers in place and then spins to his target. Battlecast Prime Cho’Gath’s ultimate doesn’t receive any additional visual effects but it’s more subtle: new quotes when levelling or acquiring feast stacks. Conversely, in terms of abilities Eternum Nocturne isn’t as flashy as Battlecast Prime Cho’Gath.

      Ultimately, both skins are fine choices and neither should feel like a bad purchase. Still, they have their differences, like the concept and execution, and in those differences you may find the one you prefer.

  5. Do you guys think that eternum nocturne is better than haunting nocturne? haunting nocturne is limited, but which one would you value more?
    thanks

    • Eternum Nocturne is certainly more elaborate so despite Haunting Nocturne having an alluring collector’s air it’s more modest in comparison. In terms of value, that could very well be a personal preference as some would pay more for an exclusive skin while others would rather their money allow for more intricate changes. Both are good skins related to their price and it’s in the execution and concept were their biggest differences lay.

      In the end, Haunting Nocturne is retired, for the most part, so Eternum Nocturne is the only current choice between the two. While a legendary skin may not always feel truly legendary Eternum doesn’t have anything to envy Haunting. They are different and satisfying with reasonable prices so maybe the question is: do you really like Eternum Nocturne? Consider thinking about the pros and cons of the skin and decide whether all that is offered, good and bad, is worth its price.

  6. sry for the countless questions but in all honesty, which in-game model between eternum nocturne and battecast prime chogath do you feel is superior?

    • Don’t worry, we are glad to help.

      It’s difficult to say whether Eternum Nocturne or Battlecast Prime Cho’Gath has a better model. Eternum’s model is certainly smaller so while there’s a lot of detail there’s more to see in Battlecast Prime; even if each part is simpler. Additionally, Eternum’s glows are more visually attractive and clearer than that of Battlecast Prime. You could also say that Battlecast Prime is more traditional while Eternum is more original but that’s also affected by the concept and isn’t just the model by itself.

      At a glance, it seems that Battlecast Prime’s model has many elements distributed in a lot of space. Conversely, Eternum has multiple elements spread over less space and so it looks more elaborate. There doesn’t seem to be a clear way to tell which one is better but they have differences. It also matters what you value more: something brief yet elaborate or something with its complexity spread over more space.

  7. Hi zero,

    As you may know, riot intends to re-release its limited edition skins (which will be considered legacy). Was wondering if, in your opinion, haunted nocturne is a skin worth its price? Also, I have noticed the distinct ghost effects on his duskbringer but is his unspeakable horror just a recolour of his classic one or is there something more added?

    Thanks!

    • Haunted Nocturne is certainly a good skin. In terms of model changes there nothing impressive to note. However, the Duskbringer trail is quite unique and eye-catching as well as suitable. Unspeakable Horror only receives a re-colour so there’s nothing special about it; though it keeps the skin consistent. All in all, it’s a rather nice choice especially considering its low price.

  8. Hey Zero, just wanted to ask if you would be able to update the skin reviews since the in-games remodel of nocturne. The skins and basic look quite different now so they may be worth another look. Love your work and it’s very insightful. You’re the reason I’m a proud owner of Ravager Nocturne. Still not really sure what he is though…

    • We didn’t find much of a difference after the texture rebalance. It’s mostly a layer of polish as the main elements remain. With that in mind, we didn’t notice any noticeable additions that altered the reviews. It’s probable that Classic Nocturne was the one that received the most obvious changes; there’s some new decoration for instance. The rest of the skins seem practically the same because only a few colours were altered.

      One of this days we might discover what Ravager is supposed to be; maybe Nocturne will have to tell. The old, darker pattern was nicer because of the contrast of colours but the essence of the skin remains. Still, hope you enjoy it.

      • Okay, Ravager did look significantly lighter to me, but I guess that’s not all that much of a change to write about. Nocturne in general seems a bit bigger or bulkier since the update so maybe new in-game pictures might be good to add, but the again the haunting Nocturne pic is from season 2 or something… Just a suggestion if you have spare time.

        • We agree, the colour changes to Ravager are somewhat noticeable though he still remains an abstract entity of solid flames or something of the sort. The other skins seem to only have had a few colours changes except for the new classic decoration.

          New images are something that we need. Riot has stopped giving good images when skins are changed which was always useful to know how a skin looks. That’s something we wish they would do again but, in the meantime, we’ll see what we can do with what we’ve got.

  9. Considering Nocturne’s lower body is purely particle effects in all his skins except for Eternum, shouldn’t something be mentioned about that in the Frozen Terror and Haunting skins since they are clearly changed there?

  10. Not entirely certain but I think Eternum Nocturne has new sounds for his recall as well.

    • Yes, there are some minor sounds that are masked by the classic recall sounds. Still, it’s there if one pays enough attention so it should be noted; thanks.

  11. Void Nocturne actually has new particles for his Shroud of Darkness and Unspeakable Horror. Also I think the color of his trail is slightly altered to be a bit purple. I am not certain of Ravager has anything new, but it might be worth a check.

    • We remember checking and they didn’t have any new particles. Perhaps the recent texture update included more than a few colour adjustments. We’ll give it a look and modify the review as necessary, thanks.

      • I noticed you mentioned that Void Nocturne has new purple particles for Duskbringer, but I made a careful examination of classic Nocturne and Void Nocturne using Duskbringer next to each other and the classic seems to have the small shades of purple also.

  12. The Eternum Nocturne also has new animations for his blades – they slightly extend and retract while moving. You could also note the new particles on his hands, or I suppose it is also ok to think of them as part of the red glows for his body. He seems to have those glowing particles around his hands in the other skins as well.

    • If we recall correctly Nocturne’s hands glow when Umbra Blades, his passive, is ready to be triggered in the next auto-attack. That would be included under new particles for his abilities, so to speak.

      The animated blades are noticeable when standing idle or walking so they are part of those animations. However, we agree that they are a rather noticeable extra so maybe we should specifically note it.

  13. How come Haunting Nocturne isn’t mentioned in the conclusion?

    • We used not to mention legacy skins as they were most often unavailable. Now that there’s a certain predictability to their availability we have added the skins to the conclusion little by little. Nocturne’s review has simply trailed behind the updates but we’ll add it; thanks for the notice.

  14. Hi zero, I have a huge problem about some skins. My two jungle mains, Skarner and Nocturne both have epic legendary skins and I am not sure which one to buy. I do play nocturne a little more but the eternum nocturne skin seems really dated and old. I like some of the particle effects though. But battlecast skarner looks like a great skin too. It is a little more new, and the abilities just look better. I have sand skarner, but i honestly do not think that it is as good as battlecast skarner. So which one should I choose? Sadly I cannot buy both of them, since I want to have some self-control. Thanks.

    • Let’s go about your concerns one at a time. Firstly, if you play Nocturne more then perhaps you should get a legendary skin for him. You could also get a non-legendary skin; it doesn’t necessarily have to be legendary to be good. Besides, there’s no rush to get a legendary as the price is set and they don’t go on sale.

      With regards to Eternum Nocturne, we actually find that it hasn’t aged noticeably. It’s a rather good skin with several additions and stands the test of time well. It might not have as many extras, like additional quotes, as newer legendary skins. However, the core of what makes a legendary skin special is present and the theme is well presented.

      Battlecast Alpha Skarner is an interesting skin that we find doesn’t develop its theme as well as it could. It’s more recent yet it doesn’t take advantage of that to make the concept more attractive. That hardly matters if you do like the skin; as you mention. As a legendary it’s evidently more elaborate than a re-model like Sandscourge so there’s more to like.

      We get the idea that you don’t actually like Eternum as much as Battlecast Alpha. In that case, ignore the rating. Even if Eternum is technically a better realised skin it doesn’t matter if you don’t like it. If you like Battlecast Alpha then that’s the one you should get. Just be sure that you like it for what it is and that you don’t find fault in the areas where we find issues. If that’s the case then get the skin you actually like.

      We agree that a legendary skin at a time is enough. They are complex skins and won’t get boring for a good while. Eventually you may want to buy another skin and then you can consider getting the skin you didn’t buy or a completely different one. You may change your mind in the meantime or have a clearer view of what you like in a legendary. Don’t rush your decision and take it as the big purchase it is. Check some videos, see it in action as much as possible and buy the skin you do like.

      • Alright thanks for your opinion. I will decide later today, but I am personally leaning toward the skarner skin. I just see so many things about it that I love, and even though I will probably keep on playing nocturne, I will probably just get a smaller skin, like frozen terror, or haunting nocturne instead. Thanks.

        • It you like Battlecast Alpha Skarner then that’s the one you should get. Eventually you can get a Nocturne skin on sale; it’s a good plan. Just be mindful that you like what you buy. Hope you enjoy the skin.

  15. Just changed my name to CharleMurphyDark, if only there was an all black chrome skin lol

    • The closer you can get is Void Nocturne. You could consider Eternum but it has more hightlights of colour and a legendary is not comparable to a chrome. Perhaps in the future but it seems that chromas for classic skins have been abandoned. Let’s hope they return.

  16. Not considering price or availability, what would be your 2nd best skin for Noc (I would assume Eternum would be 1st in this scenario)? Or are the 3 recommended skins just a matter of preference?

    • Of course, with price out of the question it’s hard to argue against the amount of features that a legendary skin can offer. Undoubtedly, in this case Eternum Nocturne easily becomes the most interesting skin.

      Second best would then go to Frozen Terror Nocturne due to the particle work with Void or Haunting vying for third place. Truth be told, Nocturne doesn’t have bad skins but there are clear differences in how much each one offers.

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