Dragonblade Talon

First time I saw Dragonblade Talon was back in season 2, right after it dropped January 10, 2012. Been playing Talon on and off since then and this skin immediately felt like the definitive version of the champion for a long time. Not gonna lie, the Lunar Revel aesthetic just works on an assassin who already looks like he belongs in a wuxia film.

How Dragonblade Talon looks in game

This is a Standard tier skin so dont expect new particles or a fancy recall animation. What you get is a full model swap that trades Talon’s usual Noxian edgelord outfit for red and gold armor with dragon motifs. The blade design is the standout. Instead of the arm-mounted cape blade, you get this curved dao-style weapon that reads way cleaner in teamfights.

Voice lines stay base. No new VFX on Q, W, E, or R. Might be overthinking it but the auto attack animations feel slightly different with the new weapon model, even though Riot says nothing changed mechanically. Played maybe 200 games with this skin across multiple seasons and the W rake especially looks distinct because of how the blade shape catches the light mid-animation.

The splash is clean. Robin Ruan nailed the splash, capturing Talon mid-leap with cherry blossoms and dragon imagery in the background. It’s one of those older splashes that still holds up surprisingly well for being from 2012. The color palette is tight: deep reds, golds, touches of black. In lane specifically the model pops against the Rift’s greens better than base Talon does.

Warring Kingdoms and the Lunar Revel connection

Dragonblade Talon sits in the Lunar Revel: Warring Kingdoms skinline, which is one of Riot’s longest running thematic sets. The line includes champs like Jarvan IV, Katarina, and Nidalee. Talon fits the theme naturally because his kit already revolves around blades and assassination, concepts that translate perfectly into the dynasty warrior fantasy.

Released early 2012, this was one of the first Warring Kingdoms skins period. Season 2 vibes. Back when 975 RP actually got you a solid model change and people wasnt expecting particle effects on every skin. (Random aside: I still use this splash as my Discord avatar during Lunar New Year every year.)

7 chromas available if you want variety. Obsidian is the one I keep coming back to, the dark colorway makes Talon look like an actual shadow assassin instead of a festival warrior. Amethyst hits a nice purple tone that reminds me of the old Talon color scheme from pre-rework days. Most of the others are fine but those two carry the chroma set honestly.

Is 975 RP fair for Dragonblade Talon?

Real verdict: for 975 RP this is a strong pickup if you play Talon at all. No new particles or VO is the obvious downside, but the model quality punches above its price point. Been running this in Diamond games last season around November and I still think it looks better than some of his more expensive options.

Shop has it permanently so no rush. If you’re a Talon one-trick you probably already own this. If you’re picking up Talon for the first time and want something that looks good while you learn to roam and proc your passive in side lanes, Dragonblade Talon is the budget answer. 975 RP feels fair for what you get.

Could be wrong here but I think this aged better than most 2012 skins. The Warring Kingdoms aesthetic is timeless in a way that tech-themed skins from the same era just arent. Skip it only if you already have Enduring Sword or Withered Rose, those are direct upgrades with actual new effects. For everyone else climbing ranked with Talon, Dragonblade is a solid lock-in. Top pick for Talon mains on a budget, no question.