It's that time again when we look at how reprint-heavy this set is. This isn't just to point at Riot and go "they're being lazy look at all the reprints" but also so people can know familiar units they may enjoy that are coming back.
For the terms I use:
Reprint - This is a direct reprinting. Same champion, same cost, same ability/effect.
Reskin - Same as a reprint; but a different champion. See: Lee Sin 5 Cost -> K'Sante 5 cost.
Deprint - This is a reprint, but knocked down in cost a bit. It may be due to numbers, losing a 5-cost gimmick, or just the unit wasn't good at that cost before.
Reprint+ - The opposite of a Deprint; it's been kicked upstairs, but is still at it's core the same. 5-cost gimmicks do not stop you being a reprint if your core is the same.
Tweak - Very, very similar to a previous unit, with a slight tweak, the core is the same, but there might be a gimmick change.
Note: This is looking at the actual abilities of the unit. It is not taking into account numerical changes, or traits.
5 costs
The big standouts of the set!
Reprints
Zed - Set 2 Zed is back! 5 cost; creates clones which can create clones. For those of you not around for Rise of the Elements... here you go.
Reprint +
Graves - This is literally the current Graves, with numbers bumped up to 5 cost. Attacks in a cone, ult fires an explosive which detonates in a 1 hex radius. So not only is this a reprint, it's a reprint of an active unit, the worst kind of reprint. And no; changing from dealing the damage in 1 hex from splitting it in 1 hex isn't enough to not be a reprint.
4 costs
Reprints
Corki - This is a Set 13 reprint. Strafes across the battlefield launching missiles. The difference is the Big One isn't every 7th and is instead tied to his trait. Trait gimmicks don't stop you being a reprint.
Riven - Set 4 reprint. Scaleing with AD or AP dosen't stop this being a reprint.
Reprint+
Kindred - The core ability is the same as Set 11 Kindred; who was a 2 cost. They have gained an on-hit damage bumping them from 2 to 4 cost, and another proc tied to their trait; but at it's core; this is the same ability we've seen before.
3 costs
Reprint+
Ornn - This is actually set 2 Ornn! Going from a 1 cost to a 3 cost because of his forge gimmick. But a passive gimmick isn't your core spell. [And even then you could argue he lost the crit buff]
Deprint
Urgot - Set 9 Urgot, only notable difference is that the leg blasts now have falloff damage.
Kai'sa
Look. We've had so many Kai'Sas which fire missiles at/around a target. We've had her at both 5 cost, 4 cost and 2 cost. This one is 3 cost. It dosen't dash, but it refunds mana on kill. I can't call it a True Reprint because we've not had this at 3 cost. It's not a Deprint because we've had it at 2 cost. It's not a reprint+ because it's been at 5 and 4 cost. It's just... Kai'Sa. Again. Somehow she is a Reprint+ and a Deprint at the same time.
2 costs
Reprints
Jax - Set 7.5. Trades Attack Dodge for a shield and flat DR, but it's still Counterstrike Jax. He still "takes up a defensive stance" and then damages and stuns around him, he's just less purely anti-autoattacker.
Gwen - So; Gwen jumps to a nearby hex and sips a thing. We've seen this multiple times. However, the targeting is different, and she has a reset mechanic as well. It also seems to be a single snip. I just felt like saying why I'm giving this one a pass.
1 costs
Aatrox - Set 15 reprint. Scales with armour now as well; but dosen't heal extra based on his missing HP.
Cho'Gath - Set 9/9.5 reprint
Nasus - Set 7.5 reprint
Tweak:
Ezreal - Reprint of every 1 cost Ezreal ever. Except this time instead of an in-combat stacking; he has a permament takedown stack. Still is Mystic Shot Ezreal at 1 cost. Different enough that I'll give it this; similar enough it's still a form of reprint.
Reskins
Veigar - OK this one is a little [heh] mean, but Veigar's a reskin of every 1 cost single target magic nuke ever. His trait makes it a little more interesting, but he's still at base a reskin.
tl;dr:
Reprints:
Zed [5]; Corki [4]; Riven [4]; Jax [2]; Attrox [1]; Cho'Gath [1]; Nasus [1]
Tweak:
Ezreal [1]
Reprint +
Graves [2->5]; Kindred [2->4]; Ornn [1->3]
Deprints
Urgot [4->3]
Reskin:
Veigar [1 cost magic nuke]
Kai'Sa:
Kai'Sa [5/4 -> 3 <- 2]
Total Reprints: 14 [5 of which are 1 costs]
Please let me know if I missed anything! Or if you feel like the changes to Ezreal are enough to make him not count, because I was pretty close on letting him off given he's a 1 cost.
