Everything you need to know about the new Volibear rework

Volibear is looking set to be the first reworked champion to be released in League of Legends for 2020, with a new trailer revealing information will be coming soon about upcoming champions accompanied by new concept art of the new Voli.

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Pre-rework Volibear

First released back in 2011, Volibear was the first champion released all the way back in Season 2.

As the physical embodiment of the Great Spirit of the Bear, his addition came after community demands for armoured bears in the game and his namesake is former Producer for Riot Games Travis "Volibar" George.

The primal demi-god leader of the Ursine brought back their warrior ways and restored their fearsome reputation and his previous kit enabled him to be a self-sustaining jungler, a surprisingly mobile top laner and an unusual support pick.
 

Pre-Rework Kit Details:

 Passive - Chosen of the Storm

When Volibear's health drops below 30% of his maximum health he regenerates 30% of his maximum health over six seconds.

 Q - Rolling Thunder

Volibear gains bonus movement speed for the next four seconds, increased when moving towards a nearby visible enemy champion within 1800 units of him.

For the duration, Volibear's next basic attack deals bonus physical damage and flings his target over and behind himself.

Bonus Movement Speed: 15 / 17.5 / 20 / 22.5 / 25% | Bonus Physical Damage: 30 / 60 / 90 / 120 / 150

 W - Frenzy

Passive: Volibear's basic attacks grant bonus attack speed for four seconds, stacking up to three times. At three stacks, Volibear gains the ability to cast Frenzy.

Active: Volibear bites the target enemy, dealing physical damage, increasing by 0% − 100% (based on target's missing health).

Frenzy's cooldown is halved if it is used on a minion or monster.

Bonus Attack Speed Per Stack: 9 / 13 / 17 / 21 / 25% | Minimum Physical Damage: 60 / 110 / 160 / 210 / 260 (+15% bonus health)

 E - Majestic Roar

Volibear deals magic damage to all nearby enemies, slightly Airborne icon knocks them back and slows them for three seconds. Minions and monsters are instead feared and slowed by 100% for the same duration.

Enemies who are dashing or are airborne during Majestic Roar are dealt an additional eight percent of their maximum health as magic damage.

Magic Damage: 60 / 105 / 150 / 195 / 240 (+60% AP) | Slow: 30 / 35 / 40 / 45 / 50%

 R - Thunder Claws

Active: After 0.1 seconds, Volibear deals magic damage to up to eight nearby enemies.

Afterwards, for 12 seconds, Volibear's basic attacks deal the same damage as bonus magic damage that bounces instantly to up to seven nearby unaffected enemies.

Magic Damage: 75 / 115 / 155 (+40% AP)

History of the Volibear rework

Following the fan vote for which champions should be reworked in 2020, Volibear was the Global winner with 24.69% of the vote.

Various members of the creative team at Riot Games expressed how they felt about the upcoming VGU rework in the post for the result back in May 2019. Concept Artist Justin "RiotEarp" Albers explained that there were “a lot of unique ideas” but that his current design would be done justice.

Further quotes from other members of the team can be found below.

“Volibear is one of my most played champions, so I’m thrilled to work on him! My goal is to preserve the spirit of current Volibear, allowing him to do cool bear things like chase down and maul his enemies. I’d also like to integrate his “thunder god” aesthetic into more of his kit while finding new ways to explore the bruiser role. Insert bear pun here.” - Nathan "Riot Lutzburg" Lutz, Gameplay Designer

 

 

“I’m very excited to get to help bring new life to League’s ferocious bear champ. I’ve been thinking about a Volibear VGU for a long time, and I know we’re going to do his current design justice while creating something new and exciting for him. We have a lot of unique ideas that I’m already doodlin’ and noodlin’ on, and I hope Volibear mains follow along and get as hyped as we are. Time to get to work and bring the thunder! The Freljord calls!” - Rayla "Jellbug" Heide, Narrative Writer

Further early rework concept art shows Volibear almost retained some of his distinctive armour while clearly taking on more aspects of lightning, thunder, storms and ancient magic as time went on.

It wasn't under the October Champion Roadmap that Volibear's final reworked look goals were revealed.

The design came after the addition to the lore Silence for the Damned, in which Udyr witnesses the horrific image of Volibear.

The moment the Volibear’s spell broke, when she looked up at the monstrous thing looming over her, she knew its true horror. Its hair stood. Lighting raged from within its flesh. Its scars glowed. Electricity poured from its mouth, as if it would explode.

Instead of taking this approach of Volibear called forth by "the most extreme Ursine," the design instead focuses on his most prime, original, godlike form.

A trailer released on Twitter by Riot Games detailing their 2020 plans that will be discussed soon gave fans a look at some advanced concept art of the reworked Volibear that showed the same frozen lightning on his fur as the previous art while his back legs are now equipped with some sort of armour. Some comparisons were drawn to Rengar due to his braids and Kindred thanks to his long white fur.

No kit changes have been given, but both Volibear's ancient magical essence and primal ursine side are likely to come out if the concept art is anything to go by.

In the 'Champions in 2020' video, it was revealed that the demonic concept seen in lore will live on in a skin given exclusively for free to Volibear owners and those who pick him up during his launch patch.

It will become a normal purchasable skin after this point and it is not expected that skins will be given for free regularly for reworked or new champions in the future.

Later this year, a Champion Roadmap will fully explore all there is to know about new Volibear before his release.

A release date for the Volibear rework is still unknown, but players wanting to cause chaos in the top lane have the newest champion Sett to try out in the meantime.

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