Nunu & Willump, the Boy and His Yeti
Overview:
Considering how close the Nunu & Willump VGU is to my initial redesign* from waaaay back in the day, don't expect too many crazy changes here. Their new kit has just about everything I consider core to a strong design, from mechanics that match the tone and theme of the character, to unique tools to master, to internal synergy, and so on.
If there is one thing I'm a bit cool on regarding their update, it would be a lack of focus and a strategic niche that's not as distinct as it could be. Rolling around a big snowball is pretty neat, but having such a strong ganking presence feels like a lost opportunity to revel in their previous identity as a pair of rambunctious, counter-jungling rascals.
-
Aside from a few changes that are closer in line with my initial redesign (turning the snowball combo into an anti-chase tool, and moving the giant snowball to their ult), this (re)redesign is mostly meant to reign in Nunu's & Willump's more aggressive tendencies and refocus them around being a more friendly variety of counter-jungler, sacrificing lethality in exchange for increasing their potential for shenanigans.
This NEW new Nunu (& Willump!) is equal parts hardy and carefree, shrugging off enemy pursuits while making their merry way. Taking on adventures in even the most dangerous of territories, sneaking a bite out of the enemy's Gromps, or stealing a dragon with a well-timed Ult...There really is nothing you can't do when you're with a friend!
-
The largest changes - Nibbling Frost and Yeti Tracks - are courtesy of the menacing and nefarious Singed...who, by all accounts, probably shouldn't be flipping people around and running away from potential victims.
On top of being very mechanically playful, this chase-and-flip gameplay also fits in very well with Nunu's & Willump's tendency to get themselves in trouble (and their need to get themselves out of it).
*Hell, I had even whipped up some concept art of a more cuddly and antlered Willump since I was not a fan of his old look. Granted, he was more gorilla-like and only had two arms, but I was nonetheless pretty jazzed about the direction Riot took him in.
All values in blue are meant to give a general idea of the ability's properties, and are subject to change.
Class: Vanguard
Recommended Positions: Jungle
Complexity: Low
Innate: Freeze Tag
Nunu's and Willump's next instance of damage dealt to an enemy champion or large monster will Tag them, granting the duo 60% bonus movement speed while moving away from them for 2.5 seconds. Enemies that have recently been Tagged cannot be Tagged again within
10 to 4 (based on level) seconds. Tagging enemies successively will stack the duration.
Tagging a champion will reduce their magic resist by 20% for 4 seconds.
Tagging a monster will grant Willump 20% bonus attack speed and cause his basic attacks to deal 30% damage to additional enemies in front of him.
Q: Nibbling Frost
Nunu and Willump leap towards the target enemy.
If the target is a minion or monster, Willump will take a bite out of them, dealing 340/500/660/820/980 + (5% bonus HP) + (50% AP) true damage and healing himself for 75/110/145/180/215 + (10% bonus HP) + (70% AP). This heal is increased by 50% when below 50% health.
If the target is a champion, Nunu will create a snowspout below them that launches them 550 units behind the duo, dealing 40/55/70/85/100 + (50% AP) + 7% of the target's maximum health as magic damage when they land.
Range: 175
Targeting Type: Targeted
Cooldown: 12/11/10/9/8
Cost: 60 mana
W: Yeti Tracks
TOGGLE: Nunu and Willump create a trail of diamond dust behind them that lasts for 3.25 seconds.
Enemies standing within the trail are chilled for 2 seconds, taking 3.5/5.5/7.5/8.5/10.5 +
(7.5% AP) magic damage every 0.25 seconds and are slowed by 20/25/30/35/40% for the duration.
Range: 125 (trail width)
Targeting Type: None
Cooldown: 1
Cost: 13 mana per second
E: Snowball Barrage
Nunu swiftly throws a volley of 3 snowballs in the target direction over 0.4 seconds, each snowball shattering upon hitting an enemy, dealing 16/24/32/40/48 + (6% AP) magic damage to enemies in a cone.
Enemies hit 3 times have their attack speed reduced by 30/35/40/45/50% for 1.5 seconds. Champions and large monsters hit once are also Snowbound for 4 seconds, resetting on
each hit.
Snowball Barrage can be re-cast up to 2 times at no cost for 3 seconds. After 3 seconds, Willump will fling chunks of ice at all Snowbound enemies within Snowball Barrage's range, knocking them back 350 units.
Range: 690 (range), 175 (cone length), 90° (cone angle)
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Line
Cooldown: 14
Cost: 50/55/60/65/70 mana
R: Biggest Snowball Ever!
Willump breaks free of active slowing effets and conjures a snowball that he begins rolling in the target direction for up to 10 seconds, increasing in power over 5 seconds. Its size radius also increases to 75 to 200 (based on charge time) units. He can steer with a slow turn rate that increases over time; changing directions resets the turn rate.
The duo is slowed by 50% for the first one second, but is immune to other slows and keeps all movement speed buffs at the time of cast for the duration of the charge. After a 1 second delay, the duo gains 14 movement speed every 0.25 seconds, up to 85 to 225 (based on level). The bonus movement speed from Biggest Snowball Ever! ignores the movement speed cap.
The snowball explodes upon colliding with an enemy champion, large pet, medium-large monster, or terrain, dealing 150/225/300 + (60% AP) magic damage to surrounding enemies, increased by 0% to 400% (based on charge time). Enemy champions hit are then shielded for 65/75/85 + (30/40/50% bonus HP), decaying by 7% of their health every 0.5 seconds, and become Snowmen while the shield persists.
Enemy champions that have become Snowmen are disarmed, silenced, and nearsighted.
Biggest Snowball Ever! can be re-activated to release the snowball, causing it to continue rolling in its current direction for 2 seconds.
Range: Self
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Direction
Cooldown: 110/100/90
Cost: 100 mana