Inkshadow Volibear

First time I saw Inkshadow Volibear load in, I thought someone modded a boss from a calligraphy scroll into the Rift. The ink wash aesthetic on a champion this massive just works on a level I wasnt expecting. Been running this as my main Volibear skin since it dropped in season 13 and I keep finding small details I missed before.

What Inkshadow Volibear actually brings to the table

The whole concept turns Volibear into a living ink painting. His fur has these brushstroke textures that look hand-drawn, and the new VFX lean into that hard. Q charge-up leaves ink splatter trails on the ground. Actual ink. Not some generic particle effect but visible brushstrokes trailing behind this massive bear as he runs at your backline.

W bite has this satisfying ink splash on contact. Played maybe 150 games with this skin and the W animation still feels crisp every time. E thunderstorm drops with calligraphy-style lightning bolts, which sounds weird on paper but reads cleanly in teamfights. Not gonna lie, the R is where this skin earns its keep. Volibear’s ult slam creates this expanding ink circle on impact that looks like someone dropped a massive brush onto wet paper. The turret disable zone gets the ink treatment too.

New recall animation fits the theme. Volibear does this meditative pose with ink flowing around him. Short and clean. Voice lines stay base, no new VO, which is fine because David Sobolov’s default performance already carries weight. Could be wrong here but I think the base voice actually fits the contemplative warrior vibe better than some forced mystical VO would.

One thing that surprised me during a ranked game last Thursday around midnight: the passive proc lightning has ink-tinted particles. Subtle change. Huge visual payoff when you’re stacking it in a jungle clear or diving someone pre-6.

The Inkshadow line and where Volibear fits

Inkshadow dropped May 3, 2023. Jack Hsu and West Studio handled the artwork, and they cooked on this one. The splash captures the ink wash style perfectly with Volibear mid-roar, brushstroke energy radiating outward. (Random aside: I cropped the splash for my Discord avatar and got three compliments in one week.)

The Inkshadow skinline pulled from East Asian ink painting traditions. Volibear shares the line with Yasuo, Yone, and a few others. Kinda feels like Volibear got one of the better treatments in the set because the contrast between his bulky frame and the delicate ink aesthetic creates something visually distinct. Most Inkshadow skins lean elegant. Volibear leans raw.

9 chromas total if you want variety. Obsidian turns everything dark and moody, basically the edgelord version. Tanzanite shifts the ink to deep purple which pops hard against the Rift’s green. The Inked chroma is the special one with a teal-green palette that I think reads cleanest in actual gameplay. Rest are solid but those three stand out from my experience. Shop has it at 1350 RP, permanent availability.

Should you lock in Inkshadow Volibear?

Real verdict: this is a strong Epic tier skin. 1350 RP feels fair for what you get. The VFX overhaul is thorough, the thematic is unique for Volibear’s skin catalog, and it doesnt clash with gameplay readability. Been spamming this in Diamond for months and the skin never gets old.

If you main Volibear for jungle or top, this competes directly with Duality Dragon for best skin. Duality Dragon has the prestige option and more dramatic model changes, but Inkshadow has cleaner VFX in my opinion. The ink particles dont clutter the screen during engage and disengage the way some flashier skins do. Season 13 or maybe early 14, I remember switching between the two for like 30 games straight trying to decide. Settled on Inkshadow for ranked, Duality Dragon for norms.

Skip it if you only play Volibear occasionally. But for mains and one-tricks? Top pick for Volibear mains. The Inkshadow fantasy is executed well, the chromas give you options, and the price is standard for the quality. Worth 1350 if you main Volibear.