Blackthorn Morgana

Picked up Blackthorn Morgana from a mystery chest last week and honestly wasn't expecting much since I usually run Coven or Bewitching. After about 40 games though, this skin completely changed how I feel about playing her. The dark thorny aesthetic might look dated compared to newer releases, but there's something about how the abilities flow that makes it worth keeping in my rotation.

The Q binding feels way cleaner than base Morgana and even some of her pricier skins. That root animation with the thorny vines spreading out makes it easier to track in teamfights, especially when everyone's popping off at dragon pit. Her W pool has this subtle growth effect that's actually less distracting than Coven's flashy purple flames, which helps me CS better without losing focus. But the real difference is her ult chains looking thicker and more menacing. Had a game yesterday where I flashed into their backline near baron and the enemy ADC literally flashed away before my ult even finished channeling, probably because those thorny tethers look so threatening.

Compared to other Morgana skins like Bewitching which I mained forever, Blackthorn trades flashiness for clarity. The darker particles blend less with Summoner's Rift terrain, making it easier to land those max range Qs through walls. It's definitely not pay to win but the visual clarity gives you a slight edge, especially in lower elo where people struggle to dodge skillshots anyway. Is Blackthorn Morgana worth it if you're buying at full price? Maybe not when Coven exists, but if you get it from a chest or sale, it's absolutely worth using over base skin for the smoother animations alone.