The Harrowing | League Halloween

The Harrowing is a LoL event that held from 18 to 31 Octrober. Harrowing is a Halloween’s analog in the world of Valoran. World changes during this event, map and items are transformed in their creeper form and Riot Games release a dreadful champion skins.

THE HARROWING | LORE

Let’s go a little deeper in the Lore of The Harrowing in Runeterra. Once in a year, stars of Runeterra align in particular event. All starts with a partial solar eclipse on the 18 of October, and then it accumulating it’s strength until 31 of October, where it transform into a full solar eclipse. 31 of October is one of the greatest holiday all across Runeterra. This is the time of the harvest, and to all Valoran it is known as Harrowing.

Rural folk belive that it is a time of a great foreboding, but for all rest Valoran it is a great time to have some fun. All kids just wear their monstrous costumes and running across the city, begging for sweets. Large parties, where all dressed in costumes of light or dark forces are very popular during this night.

THE HARROWING | CHAMPIONS SKINS

Since 2010 Riot Games release a bunch of Harrowing champion skins every year. The first Harrowing skins (2010 and 2011 years) were Limited Edition, and that’s mean that you can not buy it in the future, but in later’s Harrowing they became Legacy (you can buy it during The Harrowing each year). After a few years dramatic increased in LoL’s community, Riots changed Limited Edition skins to the Legacy skins in October 2013, and put them on sale during this year’s event. 

… overwhelming player feedback has been that this creates an extremely negative experience for players who cannot acquire their favorite skin for their favorite champion. We believe that skins should be more about self-expression and fun than exclusivity, so we are rereleasing them in a limited way

― Harrowing 2013 FAQ

To compensate players that already have those ex limited edition skins Riot Games gifted RP equal to the cost of the original skins they purchased. They did it due to their’s plan for vintage Limited Edition skins.

FULL LIST OF HARROWING SKINS

2010 The Harrowing event skins of LoL (Legacy):

• Lollipoppy
• Pumpkinhead Fiddlesticks
• Nosferatu Vladimir
• Mundo Mundo
• Kitty Cat Katarina
• Zombie Ryze

2011 The Harrowing event skins of LoL (Legacy):

• Bewitching Nidalee
• FrankenTibbers Annie
• Definitely Not Blitzcrank
• Haunting Nocturne

2012 The Harrowing event skins of LoL (Legacy):

• Zombie Brand
• Headmistress Fiora
• Pirate Ryze

2013 The Harrowing event skins of LoL (Permanent):

• Officer Vi
• Haunted Zyra

2014 The Harrowing event skins of LoL (Legacy):

• Ravenborn LeBlanc
• Reaper Soraka
• Underworld Wukong

2015 The Harrowing event skins of LoL (Legacy):

• Zombie Nunu
• Slayer Jinx
• Slayer Pantheon

2016 The Harrowing event skins of LoL (Legacy):

• Bewitching Morgana
• Little Devil Teemo
• Bewitching Tristana

Among with the skins Riot updated the Twisted Treeline map, and add a set of skins to celebrate their mystical map that now named as Shadow Isles.

Shadow isles skins (Legacy):

• Haunted Maokai
• Headless Hecarim
• Underworld Twisted Fate

During the Harrowing almost all consumable items in LoL’s shop was changed into candies:

• Health Potion transformed into Candy Corn
• Mana Potion transformed into Mana-Encrusted Apple
• Elixir of Brilliance transformed into Piece of Blue Candy
• Elixir of Agility transformed into Piece of Green Candy
• Elixir of Fortitude transformed into Piece of Red Candy
• Haunting Guise transformed into Pumpkin Guise
• Frozen Heart transformed into Frozen Brain

HARROWING | ICONS AND WARDS

During the Harrowing of 2012 and 2013 Riot Games released a set of new Summoner Icons and Ward Skins, that players can obtain during this event.

The Harrowing Summoner Icons:

• Spiteful Specter 
• Death Mask
• Vengeful Wraith
• Deadfall Treant
• Baledul Grasp
• Tomb Angel
• Vilemaw
• Iceborn Keeper
• Spirit of the Altar
• Morellonomicon
• Shadow Isles Crest
• Harrowed Puppet
• Mark of the Betrayer
• Doomed Minion
• Evil Pumpkin
• Little Devil Teemo
• Summoning Cauldron
• Seeing Hat

The Harrowing Ward Skins:

• Dreadfall Ward
• Haunting Ward
• Tomb Angel Ward
• Widow Ward
• Bat-O-Lantern Ward

THE HARROWING INGAME GAME MODE

At last, Riot Games are added a new game mode dedicated to one of their holidays. I really hope that Riots continue add various game modes during events. Let’s highlight The Harrowing 2016 game modes.

THE TEEMOING

It is whispered that when the moon rises red and the winds dare not breathe, we will know our darkest hour. For in that time, spellbound minions march to their demise, pulled by the sinister strings of witchcraft. Their lost souls fuel an unspeakable horror; for once he is summoned…. skies help us all.

All you need is to sacrifice minions to redeem a code for the Doomed Minion Icon.

DOOM BOTS OF DOOM

A PvE ingame mode! Gather up with your friends to overcome the cursed Doom Bots of Doom. In this mode you need to survive as long as you can, and in the end defeat a dark lord Devil Teemo with your friends. All players who managed to kill Devil Teemo will be gifted with a Devil Teemo Icon for all eternity!

This mode look as usual 5 vs 5 but with bots, and these bots have additional curses, increased hp and in the end, if they can not defeat you, they will summon their Big Boss – Devil Teemo that will crush all your hopes. Remember that these Doom Bots do not go back to shop or to heal, but when you kill them, they will be back in the blink of an eye. All your team will have a “quest” – kill enemies 10 (can vary) times, and after completing this quest you will receive a huge boost in power, so you need to cooperate to get this buff right before Devil Teemo arrive.

THE HARROWING CHAMPION SKINS AND SPLASH ARTS

So we already know what champions get these fancy skins, so let’s just go and get a closer look at them.

LOLLIPOPPY | HARROWING POPPY SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Lollipoppy skin is made by retexturing her ingame model into a candy theme. Her’s hammer was replaced by a huge lollipop and her’s shield became chocolate, but in combat you can barely see the difference. Also she get a new particles when she use Poppy’s Devastating Blow. In general you will receive a recoloured Poppy skin with a different weapons.

You can buy Lollipoppy skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

PUMPKINHEAD FIDDLESTICKS | HARROWING FIDDLESTICKS SKIN AND SPLASH ART

How to make a Harrowing Fiddlesticks skin – quick guide from Riot:

1. Take Fiddlesticks champion
2. Put a pumpkin on his head
3. ????????
4. PROFITS

His model became mostly unchanged, some minor changes. And that’s all, no further upgrades to his animations, particles or sound.

You can buy Pumpkinhead Fiddlesticks skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

NOSFERATU VLADIMIR | HARROWING VLADIMIR SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Nosferatu Vladimir have a classical vampire form. His head is greatly reworked and became much whiter than it was, and it really great looks in action. But there are no new animations, sound effects or any particles. I think that this skin is overpriced because it has only minor upgrades and a recoloured model.

You can buy Nosferatu Vladimir skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

MUNDO MUNDO | HARROWING MUNDO SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Dr. Mundo decided to wear a costume of himself and beсame Mundo Mundo! Basically it is a Dr. Mundo recolour and minor texture changes of this champion. It is REALLY looks like a Classic Mundo skin and this is confusing. The only big change is a new sound for Mundo’s Infected Cleaver, but i think that this effect do not cost 975 RP. 

You can buy Mundo Mundo skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

KITTY CAT KATARINA | HARROWING KATARINA SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Kitty Cat Katarina looks very sexy in action. Sincerely, who do not like the cat lady? Her new skin is revealing, as all of you wanted, and white colour of this fur look really great with her’s tan skin. But this skin don’t add new features, except new model. No new sound, visual, or any else upgrades, just new champion model. 975 RP if a fair price for this sexy skin.

You can buy Kitty Cat Katarina skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

ZOMBIE RYZE | HARROWING RYZE SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Really a gift to all fans of the undead themes, Zombie Ryze have some moderate texture changes, and new sound for his abilities. So if you are fan of Ryze, zombies or dark arts then it is a definitely your skin. In my opinion that Zombie Ryze looks too dismal to me. 

You can buy Zombie Ryze skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

BEWITCHING NIDALEE | HARROWING NIDALEE SKIN AND SPLASH ART

This skin do not have any good animations or sound effects, but changes of Nidalee model and these new particles for Prowl, Javelin, Toss, Bushwhack, Aspect of the Cougar and Pounce are awesome. So if Nidalee your main, or you playing a lot at this champion, then Bewitching Nidalee is your choice.

You can buy Bewitching Nedalee skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

FRANKENTIBBERS ANNIE | HARROWING ANNIE SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Annie now have white marks on her head in shape of lightnings, and her little Tibbers was remade into some sort of Frankenstein. Annie’s model received major changes, but she did not get any new SFX or VFX. But Tibbers is just cool. So it is not best skin, but if you like Frankenstein theme and Annie, then you know what skin you need.

You can buy FrankenTibbers Annie skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

DEFINITELY NOT BLITZCRANK | HARROWING BLITZCRANK SKIN AND SPLASH ART

You may be shocked, but THIS IS BLITZCRANK! Yeah, it’s hard to belive, but this is true. Definitely Not Blitzcrank is undercover as a ordinary human being, have new model, with moderate changes, but no new sound and visual effects. Due to it’s low cost this skin are worth every RP that you spend on him. Originall and Funny skin, what else do you need?

You can buy Definitely Not Blitzcrank skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

HAUNTING NOCTURNE | HARROWING NOCTURNE SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Well, now Nocturne looks like a REAL ghost. His model changed to the traditional ghost costume with glowing tendrils, that replace arms. Riot also add some new particles for Duskbringer and Unspeakable Horror. All other animations and sound effects became unchanged. Haunting Nocturne is one of the best Harrowing Skins ever made, and it definitely must be in everybody’s collection of champion skin.

You can buy Haunting Nocturne skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

ZOMBIE BRAND | HARROWING BRAND SKIN AND SPLASH ART

First Legendary skin from Harrowing Event. Even if it’s a second zombie skin that was released by Riot Games, this one is really impressive. Green flames, mystical dreadful aura that surround him, all this looks really great in combat. Due to it’s legendary Good Guys Riots changed almost all in him: New zombie model, green flames, new animations for his auto attacks, abilities, death, recall, respawn, event standart idle standing was reworked. And this is not the end of the list of changes. New Voice actor for Zombie Brand, new sound effects for his auto attacks, all abilities, death and respawn. It’s all is quite impressive for me, and i really want this skin, but the cost is too high. But this is Legendary Zombie Brand skin, and really giant work was done to change his design.

You can buy Zombie Brand skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

HEADMISTRESS FIORA | HARROWING FIORA SKIN AND SPLASH ART

This time Fiora is a very strict headmistress, that armed with a ruler. Her long red scarf with classic glasses only emphasizes her image. Headmistress Fiora gets the new model and her’s rapier changed to a ruler. Also, she gets new animation for her’s taunt ability, and new sound effects for auto attacks with a ruler. Interesting skin, with enough changes so 975 RP is the ideal cost for it.

You can buy Headmistress Fiora skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

PIRATE RYZE | HARROWING RYZE SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Cool skin that among the new model upgrades his animations. Pirate Ryze is a classical buccaneer and he fit in that role. His new animations are for next abilities: Overload, Rune Prison, and idle standing. New model, animations all this great potential was wasted, and almost no one liked this skin.

You can buy Pirate Ryze skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

OFFICER VI | HARROWING VI SKIN AND SPLASH ART

This years Harrowing skins became permanent, this mean that they available all over the year. Vi’s ingame model and her’s hextech gauntlets were greatly reworked, Riots add new particles for abilities like Vault Breaker, Denting Blows, even for attack speed buff and Excessive Force. Also new animations, that include new recall, and taunt. Sounds for Assault and Battery were changed too. Even if police uniform on Officer Vi looks funny with the oversized fists, but in combat all this looks really great.

You can buy Officer Vi skin for 975 RP in Riot shop.

HAUNTED ZYRA | HARROWING ZYRA SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Really great, but expensive skin for Zyra – Haunted Zyra. Developers give to Zyra new model, upgraded model of hers plants and Rise of the Thorns ability. All abilities has been upgraded with new visual and sound effects.  All these upgrades made Haunted Zyra must have skin not only for Zyra players, but to all LoL’s skin collectors.

You can buy Haunted Zyra skin for 1350 RP in Riot shop.

RAVENBORN LEBLANC | HARROWING LEBLANC SKIN AND SPLASH ART

This time LeBlanc dressed like an elegant aristocrat. Her model ger moderate changes, but the fanciest thing is hers new Raven topped staff. Ravenborn LeBlanc skin is well done, but most of details are lost in combat. Among new model she get new particles for all abilities and auto attacks. New animations for Distortion and Recall. New SFX for all abilities, auto attack, recall. This skin is a real treasure for all LeBlanc players.

You can buy Ravenborn LeBlanc skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

REAPER SORAKA | HARROWING SORAKA SKIN AND SPLASH ART

And another skin dedicated to the Harrowing festival in LoL. Reaper Soraka have a new scythe as a weapon, and used dark purple colour scheme in hers new texture. With this new skin she was gifted with new animations of auto attacks, new visual effects to all hers abilities among with the auto attack, and completely new sound effects plus processed voice-over. In general Reaper Soraka skin is one of the best Harrowing skins i ever saw.

You can buy Reaper Soraka skin for 1350 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

UNDERWORLD WUKONG | HARROWING WUKONG SKIN AND SPLASH ART

New model of Wukong show him much wilder than he was. Now he sorta of supernatural warrior with new staff, that glows. Underworld Wukong greatly fit into Underworld theme with his new skin. Riots add a lot of details that you can not seen by the first look, but if you play with him for a while you will see how great this skin is. New SFX and VFX, new recall animation. Dark tones works well on this champion.

You can buy Underworld Wukong skin for 1350 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

ZOMBIE NUNU | HARROWING NUNU SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Aaaand another Zombie skin for Harrowing. This time it is Nunu. But to be honest this zombie skin is the best. Just look at these models, Nunu as a mad scientist and his dreadful experiment. Yeti’s model get a great upgrade, all textures was reworked so he really look loke a giant zombie. Zombie Nunu also get new animations, new voice over and sound effects. Of course all his abilities have new particles, and now fit into zombie theme. Quite expensive but high quality product from Riot Games.

You can buy Zombie Nunu skin for 1350 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

SLAYER JINX | HARROWING JINX SKIN AND SPLASH ART

This time Jinx wear a slayer’s outfit, and with it she get new reworked model, all guns have been changed and even her’s ultimate model was remade. Hers new recall animation looks gorgeous, she fights off zombies. Also Slayer Jinx get new SFX and VFX so now abilities look and sounded a bit different.

You can buy Slayer Jinx skin for 1350 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

SLAYER PANTHEON | HARROWING PANTHEON SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Slayer Pantheon obtains a completely new, post-apocalyptical model, new shield as an upgraded stop sign, new spear (if a chainsaw on a stick = spear). Of course with such awesome skin he cannot have previous animations, so Riot Games decided to upgrade them too. Also they completely reworked his abilities and now they have much more particles. As you can think chainsaw does not sound like a spear, so they reworked audio effects as well. 

You can buy Slayer Pantheon skin for 1350 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

ZOMBIE NUNU, SLAYER JINX AND SLAYER PANTHEON GROUP SPLASH ART

This time Riot Games was a little too lazy and draw only one The Harrowing splash art for all 3 champions, i can not say that i appreciate this, but at least this is something new.

BEWITCHING MORGANA | HARROWING MORGANA SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Bewitching Morgana Harrowing skin is made in the dark colour scheme, hers new model represent her like a medieval witch… witch with a bat wings. Yeah than something unique, but Morgana have wings, and Riot just can not made this skin without them. Also with Bewitching Morgana skin Riot add new recall animation and add particles on all hers abilities. I think that this is casual skin, only for Morgana players.

You can buy Bewitching Morgana skin for 1350 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

LITTLE DEVIL TEEMO | HARROWING TEEMO SKIN AND SPLASH ART

I always knew that this Teemo is not who he looks like. In this year this little Devil decided to show his true face – little devil lord. Little Devil Teemo have some moderate model changes: horns, crown that float above his head, and of course Trident. Even with this skin he still looks cute, until he start to cast his recall. Also all his abilities now much grimmer due to the new particles that was added. New voice and sounds reveal his true indentity. Just perfect skin from model to sound effects, totally worth any RP that it cost.

You can buy Little Devil Teemo skin for 1350 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

BEWITCHING TRISTANA | HARROWING TRISTANA SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Bewitching Tristana represent her like she is a with, that will curse anyone on the summoners rift. Her big cannon was changed into a cauldron, from where she fires purple orbs. Traditional witch hat on her head and giant cauldron in hands, who else can think that she do not look like a witch? With new model Riots gifted to Tristana new animation of recall (summon a black cat from cauldron, that drags her away) and death. Any minor changes to Explosive charge – now summons a little pumpkin icon above the enemies head. And of course new sound effects to match her witch nature.

You can buy Bewitching Tristana skin for 1350 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

HAUNTED MAOKAI | HARROWING MAOKAI SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Haunted Maokai represent him as a Ent from graveyard, was available through Mystery Gift from The Harrowing and this skin was released due to the rework of the Twisted Treeline map. Haunted Maokai and his saplings model have moderate changes. All his abilities like Arcane Smash, Twisted Advance and Vengeful Maelstorm was upgraded with new visual and sound effects, also Maokai get new death animation. It was the first skin ever made, that have new re-spawn animation. 

You can buy Haunted Maokai skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

HEADLESS HECARIM | HARROWING HECARIM SKIN AND SPLASH ART

Classical Headless Horseman with a pumpkin instead of head… without rider… and horse… Yeah strange. Interesting fact: he have Warwick and Rengar’s skulls as trophies on his belt. He is a morph of Headless Horseman and a dark, heavy armored centaur. Headless Hecarim cut his enemies with a giant scythe and then run away, looking for another victims, as four legged reaper. Almost all in this skin is new: animations; visual effects; model of champion, and his weapon, flames on his head, hooves and tail.

You can buy Headless Hecarim skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

UNDERWORLD TWISTED FATE | HARROWING TWISTED FATE SKIN AND SPLASH ART

This time Twisted Fate not a casual master of cards. Underworld Twisted Fate wield ghastly cards in his hands, dressed in grim, dark clothes and looks like some kind of Van Hellsing. This skin have new model for Twisted Fate and new glow effect for his arm. All his abilities now have upgraded particles: Auto attacks, Wild Cards, Pick a Card, Stacked Deck and Gate. But this skin left without any SFX and animations.

You can buy Underworld Twisted Fate skin for 975 RP in Riot shop during The Harrowing event.

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