Elise the Spider Queen: New Champion!

Hailing from a new unknown area of lore called "The Shadow Isles", the queen of the island, Elise shall be the new hero on summoner's rift.

She looks like yet another multi-phase hero, but they're apparently trying to make her phases very unique. Ha.

Official Post:

This patch, we’ll welcome a champion with a lot of history into the League of Legends lineup: Elise, the Spider Queen. Originally concepted over three years ago, Elise proved to be a challenging champion to fully realize. Finally coming together as a transform champion, Elise has the ability to assume the form of either a regal mage or a deadly spider assassin. 

Abilities (Human form):

• Spider Swarm (Passive): Elise’s Human Form spells will ready a spiderling when cast on an enemy.
• Neurotoxin: Elise damages a target based on its current Health.
• Volatile Spiderling: Elise releases a venom-gorged spiderling that explodes when it nears a target.
• Cocoon: Elise fires a skillshot that stuns the first enemy struck.
• Spider Form: Elise transforms into a menacing spider with new abilities. While in Spider Form, Elise deals magic bonus damage on attack and has increased Movement Speed, Armor, and Magic Resistance. Each level of her ultimate allows Elise to summon an additional spiderling.

Abilities (Spider Form):

• Spider Swarm (Passive): Elise summons her spiderlings to fight by her side. Spiderlings deal physical damage and take reduced damage from multi-target abilities.
• Venomous Bite: Elise lunges forward and bites her target, slowing them and dealing bonus damage based on how low its Health is.
• Skittering Frenzy: Elise and her spiderlings gain Attack Speed and heal her on each attack.
• Rappel:
• On enemy cast: Elise and her spiderlings ascend high into the air and descend upon an enemy target.
• On ground cast: Elise and her spiderlings ascend high into the air, becoming untargetable for two seconds. Casting Rappel on a nearby enemy during this time will descend upon your target.
• Human Form: Elise transforms into a human form with new abilities. Each level of her ultimate allows Elise to summon an additional spiderling.

Like all transform champions, successfully playing Elise involves balancing two distinct kits. More than any of her counterparts, however, the Spider Queen’s two forms embody distinct, but complimentary roles. Unlike Jayce, whose kit emphasizes flowing smoothly between ranged and melee skillsets, or Nidalee, who uses her cougar mobility to split push and create distance for her long ranged attacks, Elise’s two ability sets separate definitively into mage and assassin roles. 

In her human mage form, Elise specializes in keeping her distance using low-cooldown nukes and crowd control abilities. Her spells emphasize wearing down high-health targets in preparation for a brutal finish in spider form. At the heart of this gameplay is Neurotoxin which deals damage based on the opponent’s current health. While in this form, she also generates a spiderling each time she casts a spell. Upon transformation into a spider, she summons these spiderlings to fight alongside her. Investing the time to build up your minion count is essential to performing a perfect assassination.

Once she’s switched to her spider assassin form, Elise’s kit takes on an entirely different theme. She gains a number of bonuses to her melee capabilities, and her spiderlings become active to help rapidly damage an opponent. Using Rappel, she can ascend above the battlefield, vanishing from sight and becoming untargetable for a short duration. Once she’s suspended, she can lower herself upon a nearby target, surrounding them with spiderlings. Boosting her minions’ Attack Speed with Skittering Frenzy can quickly burst down a surrounded enemy, leaving them vulnerable to execution with ¬Venomous Bite. 

Using both spider and human form effectively is the key to making the most out of the Spider Queen. Having the good judgment to stay safe in your mage form while you fight to create the opportunity for a clean spider kill will make or break your success on the Fields of Justice.