2XKOhas a difficult tightrope to walk with almost every character the game can add.League of Legendsmay have a few characters that lend themselves well to a fighting game, but there are many more that seem much more difficult to design or adapt. Moreover, diversity on a roster is key, so2XKOdoes need a hefty amount of fighters on launch and beyond.
Generally speaking,League of Legendssplits its roster into five roles, and it’s understandable that players would want to see each of them represented in2XKO. It would be easy to stuff the game by cherry-picking Top Laners and ADCs, but this runs the risk of making the roster feel stale. On the other hand, Support characters are simply difficult to adapt into a game that’s all about trading blows. Despite this,2XKOseems ready to have its cake and eat it thanks to characters like Braum.
Braum’s Design is a Perfect Fit for a League of Legends Fighting Game
2XKO’s Current Roster Has Yet to Reach Its Full Potential
It wouldn’t be entirely accurate to say that2XKO’s roster leaves something to be desired. After all, the game likely has many more characters to announce before it launches next year. For now, its most recent playable state featured only six characters to choose from. While some aspects of the roster’s makeup could have fed existing concerns, Braum’s design proves that2XKOis moving in the right direction.
Jinx was revealed while2XKOwas still in its infancy, but hasn’t been playable in recent builds since. Other characters like Vi seem like a shoo-in, considering theupcoming release ofArcaneseason 2and her talent for brawling. Braum may seem like a less obvious pick by comparison, but he’s one of the best2XKOhas to offer so far.
Braum is 2XKO’s Best Inclusion So Far
Braum is considered a Support inLeague of Legendsand was historically a Tank. Likewise, he certainly has one of the beefiest builds among his peers, which makes him uniquely suited to a fighting game roster. Of course, a muscular build isn’t enough to justify a character’s inclusion, or Riot could have pulled any other number of characters. Thankfully, Braum’s design has already heard this message loud and clear.
Braum’s design in2XKOtakes advantage of everything that makes him great as a character. Better yet, he is well integrated into the game’s systems and could help players get familiar with features like the Fuse System. Braum has a unique install state, which allows him to freeze opponents, often extending his combos and dramatically increasing his damage. Braum is a heavyweight by all means, but his softhearted nature was not lost in translation, with his use of Poros providing the cutest attacks in the game so far.
Ekko is a prominent character inArcane, and Darius is one of the first champions players get access to inLeague of Legends. Ahri and Yasuo are very popular in their own right and are distinct enough from others to justify their inclusion. Illaoi is similarly distinct from other tank characters, and her chemistry with Braum has already sparked some wonderful interactions. While Braum may not seem as obvious as the others, it’s this fact that makes his inclusion so valuable.
2XKO’s roster seems to be moving in the right direction, and none are as representative of that as Braum. His inclusion allows2XKOto add another tanky fighter while givingLeaguesupports some much-needed representation. Braum’s massive stature and well-designed kit make him a perfect inclusion in2XKOand prove he is as well-suited to the game as each of his counterparts, despite how easily they could fit the fitting game bill in comparison. More importantly, it is hopefully a signal that the best is yet to come and that2XKOis just getting started.
League of Legends
WHERE TO PLAY
League of Legends is one of the best MOBAs in the world, allowing players to duke it out against each other or bots in a variety of game modes. There are tons of champions to choose from in LoL, with favorites like Yasuo, Graves, Nasus, Poppy, and more, with new champions like Vex and Viego recently joining the crew.
