Lissandra, the newest champion for League of Legends, has been out for the public to play with for a while now. Her damage output and emphasis on movement impeding effects are a unique touch to the current meta game, but is it worth getting a hold of her? Does her ability set ravage the mid lane or is it simply a touch of frost on your computer screen? Let’s have a look and find out.
First let’s have a look at her portrait and how she looks in game. Lissandra’s art work is truly awe inspiring, a great addition to the line up of other great portraits. She really brings her personality into her look, showcasing how she wishes to freeze the world of Runeterra. You can tell through her pose that she is dedicated to the very end to bring about a new ice age.
Now about her alternate skin, bloodstone Lissandra. It is okay to say the least. I was impressed with Zac’s alternate skin because it changed him but not a lot. This is a quality that needs to be kept when having an alternate skin on release. However in Lissandra’s case it is a reskin with attitude. Normally I wouldn’t be as complaisant with the alternate skin but in this case I will. Her particle effects and everything else that goes with the skin is great to watch, but there’s no change in her personality. I think that her alternate skin would be better if it made different emotes and general voice responses. This would make the skin more unique and more desirable by fans.
Now, let’s put the aesthetics to one side and get down and dirty with her ability set.
Passive: Iceborn
Cooldown: 18
Every 18 seconds, Lissandra’s next ability costs no mana. Cooldown reduction does not affect Iceborn, but the cooldown is reduced by 1 second whenever Lissandra impairs an enemy’s movement with an ability (does not apply to movement-impairing effects from items).
Lisssandra’s passive was initially the one reason why I was not looking forward to her release. I thought that the cooldown on the passive would make it way too over powered, being able to use an ability for free every eighteen seconds does sound a little too overpowered. However in game it doesn’t feel overpowered at all. Her abilities are not as powerful early game as other mid lane mages, so her passive is just a helping hand to put more damage out there. This actually makes her more fun and easier to play for new players, which is a very nice touch since a lot of new champions have a high difficulty curve.
Q: Ice Shard
RANGE: 725 COOLDOWN: 6 / 5.5 / 5 / 4.5 / 4
COST: 85 mana
Magic Damage: 75 / 110 / 145 / 180 / 215 (+ 65% AP)
Slow Percent: 16% / 19% / 22% / 25% / 28%
Active: Throws a spear of ice that travels in a line and shatters when it hits an enemy, dealing magic damage and slowing its movement speed for 1.5 seconds. Shards then pass through the target, dealing the same damage to other enemies hit (but not slowing them).
The ice witch’s first ability, Ice shard, is where the synergy of the champion really begins. It is a great starting ability and initial damage dealer as it both damages those directly ahead and those behind the initial target. This makes for some great minion farming potential as well as harassment and damage dealing potential. The slow also helps with attacking those pesky enemies that run away on low health. So the ability is perfect right? Well it is balanced as its range is severely smaller than other Q abilities owned by other mages. This requires the player to be a little more careful with casting and also brings to the table a new challenge to managing your mid lane potential.
W: Ring of Frost
Cooldown: 18 / 16 / 14 / 12 / 10 Cost: 70 mana
Magic Damage: 70 / 110 / 150 / 190 / 230 (+ 60% AP)
Root Duration: 1.1 / 1.2 / 1.3 / 1.4 / 1.5
Active: Freezes an area around Lissandra, dealing magic damage to nearby enemies and rooting them for a short time.
If you thought her Q had an emphasis on mid to close range combat well here is something else to go with it, her W Ring of Frost. This is the move you use in the mid lane or team fight in order to both deal out damage, help the cooldown of your passive and assist with crowd control effects. Due to the CC effect being a root, this means that the enemy champion cannot move, but can still attack if the target is close enough. This can help with runaway targets, high priority carries and definitely helps with jungle ganks. This may mean you need to get closer to your opponent to pull it off and you might be thinking that is a little bit too challenging. Well look at what her E can do and that can make you believe in the power this lady truly has.
E: Glacial Path
Range: 1050 Cooldown: 24 / 21 / 18 / 15 / 12
Cost: 80 / 85 / 90 / 95 / 100 mana
Magic Damage: 70 / 115 / 160 / 205 / 250 (+ 60% AP)
Active: Casts a claw of ice that moves forward in a line, dealing magic damage to all enemies hit. Reactivating this ability transports Lissandra to the claw’s current location.
Glacial path allows Lissandra to have manoeuvrability in her lane as well as around the map. With this at her disposal, the champion can truly make the most fantastic plays imaginable. Allow me to give you an example. Use this ability when your opponents are trying to capture Baron or Dragon by getting over the wall. When you are over the wall proceed to use all of your other abilities and then flash back over the wall. What this has enabled you to do is the following: Inflict damage or kill an enemy, steal or deny the Baron or Dragon and, if done successfully, get in and out suffering no to little damage. With this as an example, Lissandra players can truly use this ability to truly turn the tide of any battle.
R: Frozen Tomb
Cooldown: 130 / 105 / 80
Cost: 100 mana
Magic Damage: 150 / 300 / 450(+ 70% AP)
Active – Enemy Cast: Freezes target champion solid, dealing magic damage and stunning it for 1.5 seconds.
Active – Self Cast: Lissandra encases herself in dark ice for 1.5 seconds, becoming untargetable and invulnerable but unable to take any actions.
Dark ice then spreads from Lissandra’s target dealing magic damage to all enemies in the area as it expands. The ice lasts for 3 seconds and slows enemy Movement Speed by 20%.
Now Lissandra’s ultimate has to be one of the most well received ultimates in recent times. This ability allows two crucial things to occur, either your enemy’s death or your survivability. Even in a team fight situation, you may find that it is better to pop this ultimate on yourself to damage and slow enemies rather than focus the carry of the enemy team. In conjunction with Glacial Path, Frozen Tomb can be your number one prioritised ability depending on where you are at in the fight.
Overall the champion is a great ton of fun to play as. She brings to the table a lot of play opportunities as well as a great emphasis on crowd control and ability usage. She is not the easiest champion to learn but the challenge will be a welcome to any new and old players of the game looking for something different. A great addition to anyone’s roster.
So what do you guys think of Lissandra, The Ice Witch? Is she the new maiden of the mid lane or is she simply a pillar of ice waiting to melt? Let us know what you think in the comments and be sure to let us know some of your great plays and experiences with and against Lissandra on the forums.
