League of Legends started 2020 with the introduction of Sett, the first champion on a list of new characters that will join the game. Following his release, Riot confirmed in a Champion Roadmap that it was getting ready to release two more champions in a “big” summer event named Spirit Blossom.
Riot provided some clues about the new champions. The first clue said one of the champions has already been seen in the official lore before. The official lore has featured dozens of characters from every region in Runeterra. But all teases leading up to now indicated that one of the champions could be Yone.
If Yone is confirmed, the second champion that will accompany him on the Rift is Lillia. Despite not being mentioned in the lore, Lillia has stolen the spotlight with a number of leaks and an official teaser. Yone was finally leaked alongside other skins in the Spirit Blossom line.
Here’s everything we know about Yone so far.
Who is Yone?
Yasuo’s biography introduced Yone to the Runeterra universe. Yone and Yasuo were half-brothers living in a small village. Yone, as the older brother, was the first to join the swordsmanship school. Inspired by his brother, Yasuo followed suit. A talented but arrogant Yasuo caught the attention of Elder Souma, the last master of the wind technique.
Yone gifted his brother with a maple seed, a symbol of humility, and begged him to change his ways. Yasuo left his rebel nature behind and started to learn the wind technique.
When the Noxians invaded, the village tasked Yasuo with the protection of Elder Souma. In a moment of stubbornness, Yasuo abandoned his post. When he returned, he found himself being accused of the murder of Elder Souma. Yasuo ran away and the members of the village swore to chase him. One of his hunters was Yone, his own brother.
Yone and Yasuo met again, but it wasn’t a happy reunion. The brothers fought and Yone was no match for Yasuo. He cut Yone down almost immediately. Yasuo begged Yone for forgiveness, but the absolution never came.
Yasuo continued to run and met characters like Taliyah along the way. Yasuo gifted Taliyah the same maple seed his brother gave him as a token of their partnership.
It was later revealed that Riven killed Elder Souma. Yasuo was found innocent of the crime, but he still felt guilty for the death of Elder Souma and Yone.
Is Yone truly dead?
In the lore, Yasuo believes that his brother is dead. Whether Yone is, in fact, dead is another question altogether, however. This wouldn’t be the first time Riot brought a character back to life. Senna lived inside of Thresh’s lamp for years, but now she’s alive and thriving on Summoner’s Rift.
The new champion hinted at by Riot is a “masked stranger who refuses to die.” A stubborn warrior who refuses to die, even after being fatally wounded, sounds just like Yone.
Voice lines between Yone and Spirit Blossom Thresh indicate that Yone will potentially rise from the dead.
“Worry not Yone,” says the first line. “Your little brother is safe with me, too.”
The second line tries to get under Yone’s skin by mentioning how he could rest in peace while being overshadowed by Yasuo.
What are Yone’s abilities?
Riot officially released all of Yone’s abilities on July 24, showing off champion’s kit prior to his release on live servers.
Passive – Way of the Hunter
“Yone uses two blades, causing every second attack to deal more magic damage. His critical strike chance is also doubled, but his critical strikes deal reduced damage.”
Q – Mortal Steel
“Yone thrusts forward, dealing physical damage to opponents. On hit, he gains a stack of Gathering Storm. At two stacks, Yone can dash forward with a wave that makes enemies airborne.”
W – Spirit Cleave
“Yone cleaves forward in a massive arc, dealing a portion of the target’s maximum health. After successfully hitting an enemy, Yone also gains a temporary shield. The shield’s power increases per champion struck.”
E – Soul Unbound
“Yone can enter his Spirit Form, gaining movement speed and leaving his body behind. When Yone’s Spirit Form expires, he’ll snap back into his body and deal a percentage of all the damage he dealt while in Spirit Form.”
R – Fate Sealed
“Yone strikes all enemies in his path, blinking behind the last enemy hit and knocking everyone airborne towards him.”
When does Yone release on the live servers?
Though Lillia was released with the patch 10.15, which hit the live servers on July 22, Yone skipped the first patch of the Spirit Blossom event. This isn’t anything unusual since Riot occasionally delays champion releases by a couple of weeks to iron out the possible bugs that may arise with a new event.
The recent Ability Rundown of Yone by Riot stated that the champion would become available to play with patch 10.16 that is scheduled for an August 5 release.
