Wukong, the Monkey King
Overview:
I'll be the first to admit that it feels a little awkward to put this (re)redesign up while Riot itself is in the middle of a small-scale redesign of the Monkey King, but while that project is looking to solve some of his smaller-scale gameplay issues, these redesigns are meant to infuse champions with the level of excitement that a fresh champ or full VGU brings.
My initial redesign wasn't perfect either, though - while I wanted to push Wukong over the top as a clone-based fighter (since even with the recent changes, he's still a fairly run-of-the-mill bruiser), the kit itself didn't have much focus and the clones were implemented clumsily.
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This update should provide the aimless ape* with a renewed focus, utilizing his staff, clones, and simian agility to create a mid-ranged fighter who can deftly swing around the battlefield. In addition, this new Wukong is slipperier than ever, with the unique ability to jump out of displacement effects.
Loaded with combos and options, Wukong's trickiness is now dialed up to 11. His fighting style now has more influence from staff-based martial arts, with an emphasis on mid-range positioning and the ability to outmaneuver and trip up his foes. In general, he's a bit more cheeky and mischievous than a wall of stats that dashes at you and does his best Garen impression.
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Considering that current Wukong is cut from the same cloth as many of the other early melee characters (Jax, Xin Zhao, Jarvan IV, old Pantheon, etc.), there wasn't much left to keep. There was an iteration of this redesign's ult that converted momentum from his clone toss into a continuous spin like his current ult, but it wasn't a great fit as it encouraged Wukong to go deep into the enemy team.
There will unfortunately be a few cases like this, but hopefully the promise of swinging from clone-to-clone and being an overall nuisance with a very long stick is enough to make up for it!
*I know Wukong is a monkey and not an ape, please just let me have this.
All values in blue are meant to give a general idea of the ability's properties, and are subject to change.
Class: Diver
Recommended Positions: Solo Sidelane, Solo Midlane
Complexity: Moderate
Innate: Monkey Magic
Wukong's basic abilities can create clones of himself that fight alongside him, attacking the closest enemy within 300 range every 2 seconds. Creating a clone restores 50 energy.
Clones have (30% total HP) health, deal (30% total AD) physical damage with each attack, and last for up to 10 to 25 (based on level) seconds or until destroyed.
Q: Crushing Blows
Wukong channels for 1.75 seconds, performing a 5-hit staff combo in the target direction that deals up to 130/180/230/280/330 + (175% bonus AD) physical damage over the duration to enemies struck and slows enemies near its maximum range by 50%. 40% of the combo's damage is dealt with the final attack.
Crushing Blows can be re-activated before the final attack to launch a clone 900 units in the combo's direction, ending the combo early.
While performing the combo, Wukong is disarmed and moves at 30% reduced speed.
Range: 700 (maximum range), 575 - 700 (sweet spot range)
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Line
Cooldown: 9/7.75/6.5/5.25/4
Cost: 100/95/90/85/80 energy
W: Heavenly Vault
Wukong vaults towards the target location, becoming untargetable for up to 0.75 seconds while balancing on his staff. Wukong then performs a somersaulting attack downwards, dealing 60/100/135/170/205 + (80% bonus AD) physical damage to nearby enemies and enemies struck by his staff in front of him.
Heavenly Vault can be re-activated before he somersaults to summon a clone mid-air that throws him up to 330 units in the target direction and remains at his initial location. This portion of Heavenly Vault can be instantly activated while Wukong is made airborne by any ability.
Range: 330 (target range), 300 (effect radius), 475 (staff strike range)
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Placement
Cooldown: 16/14.5/13/11.5/10
Cost: 80 energy
E: Living Stone
Wukong drops a Monkey Idol at the target location that lasts for 8 seconds. Wukong can destroy the idol with a basic attack or the last hit of Crushing Blows, sending out a reverberation from the opposite side of the idol that disarms and slows enemies by 70% for 1.25/1.5/1.75/2/2.25 seconds.
Living Stone can be re-activated before the idol is destroyed to transform it into a clone.
Range: 575 (placement range), 525 (reverberation range), 90° (reverberation angle)
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Placement
Cooldown: 10
Cost: 30 energy
R: Cyclone
Wukong dashes to the target clone, swinging around it for up to 3 seconds.
While swinging, Cyclone can be re-activated to launch Wukong 600 units in the target direction. If Wukong collides with another clone, he will resume swinging, increasing the range and damage of Cyclone's next re-activation by 30% (up to 90%).
Upon colliding with an enemy champion, Wukong will kick off of them, dealing 125/200/275 + (75% bonus AD) physical damage, and pushing him and his target 300 units away from each other.
Clones that launch Wukong will become dizzy and unable to catch Wukong or attack for 6 seconds.
Range: 600
Targeting Type: Targeted (first cast), Skill Shot - Line (re-activation)
Cooldown: 60/40/20 (first cast), 1.5 (re-activation)
Cost: 50 energy