Elderwood Rakan

Elderwood Rakan completely changed how I play this champion after maining him for two seasons straight. The skin transforms his abilities in ways that actually matter during teamfights, not just pretty particles that distract you from landing combos.

His W feels incredibly smooth compared to base skin, with the nature effects making the dash distance clearer for both you and enemies. The Q animation has this satisfying swoosh that makes it easier to track in messy fights, and I've noticed my accuracy went up around 10% just from the visual clarity. But the real game changer is his ult. The forest spirits swirling around you make it obvious when you're about to charm someone, which sounds bad but actually helps teammates follow up better. During a baron fight yesterday, my ADC said they could finally tell who I was targeting because the green glow stands out so much against the purple pit.

Comparing this to my previous favorite Star Guardian, Elderwood wins for competitive play every time. Star Guardian's flashy animations sometimes blend together when you're trying to combo fast, while Elderwood keeps each ability distinct. The recall animation where he summons that mystical deer is probably the best in his collection too. Worth the 1350 RP if you're serious about climbing with Rakan, though it's purely cosmetic advantage through better visual feedback, not actual pay to win.

After 80+ games with Elderwood Rakan, I can't go back to other skins. The responsiveness alone makes it essential for anyone who wants to pop off in ranked. My experience with Elderwood Rakan convinced three duo partners to grab it too, and none of them regret it.