Tanir, the Trifarian Duelist
Champion Overview
Tanir is a versatile fighter from Noxus who embodies the Trifarian discipline of adaptability. Trained in the ancient arts of both offense and defense, he can seamlessly switch between shield and sword stances to counter any threat on the battlefield. As a former member of the Trifarian Legion's elite guard, Tanir learned that true strength comes not from overwhelming power, but from the ability to adapt and respond to any situation. He trades blows and keeps his enemies on edge with his dual mastery of offense and defense, making him unpredictable and dangerous in equal measure.
Design Goals
Stance-Based Adaptability
I wanted to create a champion that rewards players for reading the battlefield and adapting their playstyle accordingly. Players should feel empowered to switch between defensive and offensive approaches based on the situation, creating dynamic and engaging gameplay patterns.
Noxian Tactical Excellence
Every ability reinforces the Trifarian military fantasy through disciplined combat techniques and tactical versatility. The kit should feel like commanding a well-trained soldier who can handle any combat scenario with precision and tactical awareness.
Ability Kit
Tanir switches between two distinct ability sets based on his current stance. Click on any ability icon to view it in more detail.
Core Abilities
Passive: Trifarian Training
Unbreakable: Tanir takes 5% less physical damage.
Instead of having an ultimate ability, Tanir can switch stances between shield and sword, granting him different abilities based on his stance. Switching stances does not reset cooldowns.
R: Art of War
Tanir switches between shield and sword stances, changing his abilities. This ability has a short cooldown to prevent rapid stance switching and encourage strategic decision-making.
🛡️ Shield Stance - Defensive Abilities
Q: Shield - Guardbreaker
Tanir slams his shield into the ground in front of him, dealing damage. He then pulls it back out of the ground, knocking back all enemies hit. This ability excels at creating space and disrupting enemy positioning.
W: Shield - Bulwark
Tanir raises his shield, reducing his movement speed by 25% and gaining 5-18 bonus armor (scaling with level) for 4 seconds. Perfect for surviving burst damage or tanking objectives.
E: Shield - Veilbreaker
Tanir throws his shield in a target direction, stunning all enemies hit for 1 second. If the ability is recast within 3 seconds, he lunges towards the shield and pulls it from the ground, knocking up any surrounding enemies.
⚔️ Sword Stance - Offensive Abilities
Q: Sword - Sword Thrust
Tanir lunges forward, thrusting his sword in a straight line, dealing damage to all enemies in the path. This ability offers strong engage potential and gap-closing capabilities.
W: Sword - Parry and Strike
Tanir raises his sword and braces it with his fist, reducing incoming damage from the direction he's facing by 15% for 2 seconds. Afterward, he brings the sword down in front of him, dealing damage to enemies in a small area.
E: Sword - Lacerate
Tanir performs a wide, sweeping strike in front of him, damaging all enemies and applying a bleed effect over 4 seconds. Enemies hit by the first strike are slowed by 30% for half the duration of the bleed. If the ability is recast within 3 seconds, Tanir strikes again with increased range and damage, refreshing the bleed.
Roster Gap & Target Audience
Tanir fills the gap between pure tanks (like Malphite, Shen) and high-damage bruisers (like Riven, Fiora), offering a unique stance-switching mechanic that allows players to adapt their approach mid-fight.
Primary Audience: Top lane players who enjoy tactical decision-making and want to outplay opponents through smart stance management. Players who appreciate champions with high skill ceilings and multiple build paths, similar to fans of Jayce, Nidalee, or Gnar.
Secondary Audience: Players looking for a versatile champion that can fulfill multiple roles depending on team composition and game state. Those who want to master complex ability rotations while maintaining the satisfaction of both tanky survivability and aggressive damage dealing.