Aurelion Sol, the Star Forger
Overview:
Aurelion Sol's release left as much of an impression as you'd expect from a massive star-forging space dragon - with multiple interesting new tools, new rigging tech for his serpentine body, and a thematic core that was both compelling and novel.
Some of these interesting tools are a bit at odds with each other - specifically, the nature of his orbiting stars encourage Aurelion Sol to jitter back and forth to keep enemies within their range of damage, whereas the rest of his base kit is more about traveling long distances and gracing the enemy team with a larger-than-life Starsurge.
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These changes are meant to push Aurelion Sol in what feels like the more natural direction for his kit and character, foregoing an astral hula hoop for even more of an emphasis on gliding majestically over the battlefield and forging stars.
To keep the astral dragon from becoming a one-note gank bot, he has a few options orbiting the use of his stars - whether that's building them up and throwing them at the enemy team to initiate fights, dotting them throughout the area between lanes to support his team with vision, or burning them out with an explosive Ult in a pinch or if his team is in need of an impressive burst of damage.
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With the main components of Aurelion Sol's kit remaining more or less unchanged (outside of his old Innate and E), further emphasis has been placed on his star cores and their management. For those who liked the engaging skill test that his old orbiting stars brought, they'll be returning in a redesign that's currently in the works - one in which they are more of a central feature than a mere satellite.
All values in blue are meant to give a general idea of the ability's properties, and are subject to change.
Class: Burst
Recommended Positions: Solo Midlane, Duo Sidelane (Support)
Complexity: Low
Innate: From Stardust
While out of combat, Aurelion Sol accumulates (0.15% mana) Stardust every 50 units he travels, up to (15% mana).
Aurelion Sol's abilities will expend Stardust before they spend mana.
Q: Starsurge
Aurelion Sol fires the core of a newborn star in the target direction, which expands as long as it remains within 650 units.
Starsurge can be re-activated after 0.25 seconds to detonate the core, dealing 70/110/150/190/230 + (65% AP) magic damage to all enemies caught within and stunning them for 0.55/0.6/0.65/0.7/0.75 seconds. Starurge's damage is increased by up to 100% and its stun duration is increased by up to 300% over the first 5 seconds it travels.
If the core travels beyond 650 units for over 0.75 seconds, Aurelion Sol will recall it and generate (5% mana) Stardust, increased by up to 300% based on its size.
If Aurelion Sol is faster than the core, its speed will increase to keep up.
Range: ∞ (range), 75 (initial effect radius), ~1000 (approx. max effect radius)
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Line
Cooldown: 11/10/9/8/7
Cost: 80/90/100/110/120 mana
W: Comet of Legend
PASSIVE: Moving in the same direction for more than 1.75 seconds grants Aurelion Sol a stack of Escape Velocity every 0.25 seconds (up to 20) and increases his movement speed by 25/30/35/40/45% over 5 seconds. This bonus movement speed decays over 1 second when he changes direction or stops, and taking damage removes all Escape Velocity stacks.
ACTIVE: Aurelion Sol takes flight towards the target location, traveling at 600/650/700/750/800 movemet speed and becoming silenced and disarmed until he reaches his destination. Aurelion Sol can see through (and be seen through) terrain while traversing over it, and will be knocked back down to earth upon taking damage.
Range: 5500/6000/6500/7000/7500
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Line
Cooldown: 80/75/70/65/60
Cost: 60 mana + 20 Escape Velocity stacks
E: Center of the Universe
PASSIVE: Recalling a star core with Starsurge will turn it into a Sleeping Star (up to 3), which orbits around Aurelion Sol and remembers the size at which it was recalled. Creating a new Sleeping Star beyond this limit will destroy the smallest one.
ACTIVE: Aurelion Sol places a newborn star at the target location which activates after 1.75 seconds, granting vision of the surrounding area. If an enemy champion enters this area, the star will detonate after a 1.75 second delay, dealing 50/80/110/140/170 + (50% AP) magic damage to enemies within and slowing them by 35/40/45/50/55% for 1.5 seconds.
While any Sleeping Stars are orbiting Aurelion Sol, he will instead place the one created
by the largest Starsurge at the target location, increasing its vision and detonation range to 100% of its final size, and refunding 75% of Center of the Universe's cooldown.
Stars placed by Center of the Universe are not obscured by brush.
Range: 350 (placement range), 75 (min effect radius), ~1000 (approx. max effect radius)
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Placement
Cooldown: 20/18/16/15/14
Cost: 70/80/90/100/110 mana
R: Voice of Light
Aurelion Sol exhales a wave of starfire in the target direction, dealing 112/186/260 + (50% AP) magic damage to all enemies hit and slowing them by 49/50/60% for 2 seconds. Enemies within the inner half of Voice of Light's range are knocked back into the outer half.
Voice of Light will expend all Sleeping Stars, gaining 20% increased damage and range per Star.
Range: 1125
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Line
Cooldown: 110/90/70
Cost: 100 mana