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“Mel was an idea since 2019. She’s an icon!” and more insights on Mel’s game development from Riot Emizery

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As a passionate gamer, I couldn’t help but feel intrigued when I heard about Mel’s captivating work in game development, particularly with Arcane and League of Legends. To quench my thirst for knowledge and satisfy the curiosity of fellow fans, Riot Emizery graciously stepped forward to shed some light on our burning questions.

During a chat with popular League of Legends Twitch streamer MrsChimChim, Riot Emizery, a developer responsible for Mel’s kit and abilities, discussed various aspects of champion development, including inspiration, balance, and more. Let’s delve into the highlights of this enlightening conversation.

The inspiration behind Mel’s design

Riot Emizery pointed out that Mel possesses an individual profile, both in appearance and movement. He emphasized the significance of distinguishing her character from others. To achieve this, Mel dons a red and black gown, diverging from her past attire depicted in Arcane. This costume is more similar to what she wears in the Arcane Councilor Mel skin.

Speaking about Mel’s design, Riot Emizery mentioned that as a non-artist, he can’t discuss the motivations behind it. Yet, he made clear that striving to make her stand out has consistently been a priority for their team.

Regarding potential future Star Guardian skins for Mel, Riot Emizery didn’t mention any recent developments since he doesn’t have a direct role in the decision-making process. Nevertheless, he expressed his personal preference (keep in mind that this is just an opinion, not a guarantee) for Mel to be part of a Star Guardian concept. He believes that Mel would suit the skin line well due to its focus on bright colors, elegant gowns, and overall elegance.

Mel’s game development: Mid or support?

As a gamer, I’ve been asked about where Mel is best suited to make a big impact: mid-lane or support? Riot Emizery suggests that she’s being fine-tuned for the mid-lane, but it doesn’t mean you can’t play her as a support. In fact, she has an impressive kit for peeling like champions such as Janna and Lulu when played in the support role. However, Mel was primarily designed with the mid-lane in mind because her abilities are more effective there.

In Arcane, Mel appeared to be a potential support champion, given her shielding abilities and emphasis on safeguarding Caitlyn during a crucial battle scene. This is because, as the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that she has a protective nature due to her deep connections with many people and complex character traits. Similarly, in League of Legends, Mel is portrayed as a mature woman who has gained significant insight into her powers.

MrsChimChim noted that she’s exceptionally skilled, not only in Arcane but also in League of Legends, drawing comparisons to Beyoncé within the League of Legends community.

An idea since 2019

2019 marked the inception of my dream: making Mel a playable character in League of Legends. As I pondered over this exciting prospect, I envisioned ways to integrate her into the game while preserving her unique charm and abilities. However, with the production of Arcane on the horizon, it became crucial to hold off on developing Mel as a champion to avoid any potential spoilers for the show. The innovative concept of “catching abilities and reflecting them,” which had never before been seen in League of Legends, was born out of this desire to make Mel stand out. This thinking eventually materialized in her W ability’s reflection mechanic.

Why can’t Mel’s W be used on allies like in Arcane?

The question everyone wants to know is why, when we see Mel using her shield to safeguard Caitlyn in Arcane, she can’t do the same for her teammates in League of Legends. Riot Emizery stated that giving her the ability to cast her W spell on allies would make her too strong or overpowered.

According to Riot Emizery, Mel’s special ability, as he sees it, isn’t naturally dominating or unfairly powerful. He believes adding this ability to her allies would make Mel unbalanced in the game, and after testing, it was found to be excessively potent.

In terms of Mel’s challenge, the game creators designed her as a “beginner-friendly character” aimed at both fresh players transitioning from Arcane and experienced ones. The intention was to encourage opponents to be more tactical when engaging with Mel, using their abilities more strategically.

Riot Emizery remarked that her character’s unique feature is the most exciting aspect in the game. They aimed to make her gameplay enjoyable and balanced simultaneously. The ability of Mel to bounce back multiple projectiles simultaneously can be extremely powerful and influential, making the opposing team more cautious about her skills.

Mel’s best overpowered combos and items

Mel’s game development process involved frequent collaboration with Fortiche, an animation studio known for working on the popular series “Arcane.” Riot Emizery expressed his gratitude for this experience. This cooperation proved beneficial in designing Mel’s character and integrating it into the show.

Regarding the top-tier items for Mel, it was proposed that the Shadowflame would be a good choice due to its damage complementing her passive ability particularly well. This pairing is ideal for amplifying Mel’s power in the lane. Similarly, the Arcane Comet rune suits her well as her abilities trigger it effortlessly. Riot Emizery advised emphasizing her passive. In essence, to excel in games and carry your team, you need to utilize Mel’s passive effectively. To learn more about Mel’s full kit and abilities, take a look here.

Are other Arcane champions coming to the game?

The game developer expressed a preference for including characters like Sevika or Smeech in the game, but it’s important to note that this is simply his personal wish and not an official announcement about their inclusion.

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2025-01-25 20:11

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