embraceyoumagazine

League of Legends forced to immediately redesign its new dragon champ after fans point out its alarm

Published: December 08, 2025 Reading Time: Approx. 8 mins

You know how it goes: sometimes you aim for Spyro and land on Boss Baby. At least, that's how I assume Riot arrived at the initial design for Smolder, newest champion. Announced last week, Smolder is an "" whose design was intended to evoke a kind of mascot-ish, Pixar/Dreamworks-style cuteness that fans and fan-artists could latch onto. 

But it didn't quite work out. Riot announced a Smolder redesign pretty much immediately after the announcement because fans found the little guy's face off putting: less like an adorable dragon and more like someone had used the LA Noire face tech to apply the face of a human baby to a hairless cat. The comparisons to and its worryingly human teeth were immediate and free-flowing.

Which is why, soon after the official LoL Twitter account invited us to meet Smolder, the game's champions team lead Lexi Gao took to the platform to assure fans that Riot had "heard your feedback on Smolder's face and are making some adjustments to highlight his dragon features," attaching a gif to showcase the precious boy's draconic transition.

I [[link]] have to say, the new Smolder is less likely to [[link]] pursue me into my dreams, and all it took was the addition of a few dragon-ly ridges and scales on that smooth, smooth face. Fans seem to agree, with plenty of people chiming in via Gao's replies to remark that Smolder "," and that his new design represented an "" for the little tyke.

I mean, some people would still like him to have a more definitive snout, and I imagine the people drawing of the original Smolder are probably peeved, but you can't have everything.

LoL has form for troubling character designs it later brings up to date. Who among us could forget Poppy, whose still occupies [[link]] a full 10% of my brain at any given moment? That change wasn't as speedy as the Smolder redesign, mind you, and if you want to see how LoL's newest champ actually handles in the field, you can find out when he arrives as part of patch 14.3 on February 7. 

Reader Comments

User Avatar

JackpotHero4399

Customer support has been outstanding whenever I had any issues. They respond quickly and professionally, ensuring that any concerns with deposits, withdrawals, or gameplay are addressed immediately, which makes me trust the platform more. Sometimes I wish there were more ways to earn rewards through loyalty programs or frequent player bonuses. Adding seasonal events or special challenges could enhance the excitement even further.

User Avatar

HighRoller7534

The variety of games is excellent, including table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, in addition to slots. This keeps the platform interesting and allows me to switch games depending on my mood. Sometimes I wish there were more ways to earn rewards through loyalty programs or frequent player bonuses. Adding seasonal events or special challenges could enhance the excitement even further. The mobile interface is smooth and intuitive. I can play all my favorite slots on the go without experiencing any lag or glitches. The design is responsive and user-friendly, which makes gaming on my phone just as enjoyable as on my computer.

User Avatar

JackpotHero8297

I appreciate the themed slot games, especially those based on movies and TV shows. They make the gaming experience more engaging and immersive. The combination of storyline, visuals, and bonus features makes each game feel unique. I love the overall aesthetic of the platform. The animations, visual effects, and sound design make the gaming experience more dynamic and immersive. It's one of the reasons I keep coming back. I really enjoy playing the slot games here. The variety is amazing, from classic reels to modern video slots with interactive bonus rounds. Every spin feels like an adventure, and the graphics and sound effects are top-notch, making the experience immersive and exciting.

Here's an hour of discussion on Jagged Alliance 3's combat

Jagged Alliance 3 continues to roll out more looks at the [[link]] game over the last month, and this week's was a long chat with developers and community about combat in the upcoming sequel to the legendary l...

Fans despair about 'putting your hope in Epic' as the publisher purges all mention of Unreal Tournam

Remember late last year when Epic took a scythe to its back-catalogue, delisting almost [[link]] every single Unreal game? At the time, the blow was softened by the news that Unreal Tournament 3 would become U...

PC gamers in China to get new RTX 4090 cards after all, just not the versions they might have hoped

Back in October, the US Department of Commerce introduced a number of export restrictions for a variety [[link]] of Nvidia's products to countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam...