Gangplank the Betrayer

First time I saw the Gangplank the Betrayer splash load in, I thought Riot finally gave the pirate king the dark corrupted treatment he deserved. Not gonna lie, the Ruined aesthetic hits hard on Gangplank specifically. Something about a guy who already looks like he crawled out of a Bilgewater tavern brawl getting consumed by the Black Mist just works. Locked this in for ranked the same night it dropped and played maybe 15 games straight on a Tuesday around midnight.

What the Ruined Mist Does to Gangplank

The VFX overhaul is where your 1350 RP actually goes. Gangplank’s Q shoots out with this sickly green-black projectile that reads clean in lane but looks corrupted enough to fit the theme. His barrels, the bread and butter of any Gangplank player’s kit, detonate with Ruined energy now. The chain barrel one-shots in a teamfight look genuinely menacing with the mist particles flying everywhere.

E placement has a subtle Ruined glow to it. Small change – huge impact on how the barrels feel when you’re setting up a triple barrel combo in the bot lane specifically. His W still cleanses and heals but the animation carries that dark mist swirl. Ult rains down corrupted cannonballs across the Rift, and the green-black explosions are distinct enough that your team knows its you providing the global pressure.

The recall animation is new too. Gangplank channels the Ruined power through his blade, kneeling with mist coiling around him. Feels appropriately dramatic for a guy who betrayed everything. Voice lines stay base though, Matthew Mercer’s original VO. Kinda feels like Riot could have added a voice filter at minimum for this Epic tier, but the base Gangplank voice is solid enough that it doesnt hurt.

The Ruined Line and Where This Skin Fits

Gangplank the Betrayer released May 5, 2022. Right in the middle of the Ruined event’s extended content cycle. Edward Chee and West Studio handled the artwork, and they captured the corruption spreading across Gangplank’s armor perfectly. The splash has him mid-betrayal, consumed by the Black Mist with his sword radiating that signature Ruined teal.

The Ruined skinline pulled in a bunch of champions during the Sentinels of Light storyline. Gangplank fits the narrative better than most because he’s already morally grey. Been maining Gangplank with this skin on and off since season 12, and the thematic cohesion between his personality and the Ruined corruption is something I appreciate more than the flashier alternatives like Dreadnova.

8 chromas total if you want to customize. Obsidian turns the whole thing into a darker, almost void-touched version that I think reads better than base in most games. Rose Quartz is the wildcard pick, swapping the mist tones for pink which honestly looks cleaner than you’d expect on a corrupted pirate. Pearl goes light and ghostly. The rest are fine but those three stand out.

(Random aside: the Obsidian chroma on this skin has been my desktop wallpaper since I bought the bundle.)

Is Gangplank the Betrayer Worth 1350 RP?

Real verdict: this is a strong Epic. The barrel VFX alone justify the price if you’re someone who plays Gangplank regularly. Could be wrong here but I think this sits comfortably in the top three Gangplank skins, behind maybe Captain Gangplank for the lore purists. The Ruined theme gives him an edge over skins like Pool Party or Sultan that lean comedic or regional.

Shop has it permanently. 1350 RP feels fair for what you get. New VFX across Q, E, and R. New recall. No VO refresh, which is the only real miss. If you’re climbing with Gangplank this season and want something that matches the splitpush pressure playstyle with a darker tone, this is the one. Spammed this in Diamond during season 13 and I still keep coming back to it over the alternatives. Skip it only if you already own Dreadnova and dont need another dark-themed Gangplank skin competing for the same slot. For everyone else who locks in the orange-eating pirate, Gangplank the Betrayer earns its spot in rotation. Maybe just my experience but the barrel combos feel crispier with these particles. Could be placebo. Probably is. Still worth it.