PROJECT: Ekko

First time I saw PROJECT: Ekko load into my game I actually paused for a second. Not because the splash blew me away or anything like that. More because Ekko in a cybernetic bodysuit with a holographic bat just made sense in a way I wasnt expecting. The PROJECT line has always been hit or miss for me, some champs look forced into the tech aesthetic, but Ekko fits it naturally. Time manipulation and futuristic tech? Yeah, that tracks.

The VFX carry this one hard

So here’s where PROJECT: Ekko actually earns the 1350 RP tag. The Q – Timewinder gets this clean digital trail effect, blue-white particles that read way better than base in teamfights. Honestly not gonna lie, the Q return is easier to track with this skin specifically. Could be placebo but I’ve played maybe 150 games with this thing and I swear the visual clarity is better.

W is solid. The stun zone has this hexagonal grid overlay that looks distinct from other Ekko skins. You can actually see the boundary cleaner which matters when you’re trying to zone in a teamfight around dragon pit. E dash gets the cybernetic treatment with a brief digital flicker on the blink portion. Clean but not distracting.

The ult though. R on PROJECT: Ekko is the highlight. That holographic afterimage trailing behind you as you rewind feels premium. Played a ranked game last Thursday where I ulted back through three enemies in bot lane and my support pinged the thumbs up emote like four times. The trail effect makes the rewind path super visible to your team which is actually useful for coordination.

Recall animation is new too. Ekko does this thing with his sword where he interfaces with some kind of data terminal. Standard PROJECT recall quality. Nothing groundbreaking but better than base. Voice lines stay base, no new VO, which is fine because Antony Del Rio’s performance on default Ekko already slaps.

Where PROJECT: Ekko sits in the lineup

Released August 1, 2016. Mid-season 6. Jojo So nailed the splash, the composition with Ekko mid-leap over a neon cityscape is one of the better PROJECT splashes in my opinion. (Random aside: I had this as my desktop wallpaper for like two months back in 2017.)

The PROJECT skinline is massive at this point. We’re talking one of Riot’s flagship thematic lines alongside Star Guardian and High Noon. Ekko was part of the second wave of PROJECT skins and I think this batch was the strongest. PROJECT sits in that sweet spot where the tech overlay adds to the champion fantasy instead of replacing it.

No chromas on this one. Zero. Which is a shame because I think a red or gold PROJECT: Ekko variant would look incredible. Riot never went back to add them either. Shop has it permanently though, so at least availability isnt an issue. You can grab PROJECT: Ekko any time for 1350 RP.

For context on Ekko’s skin pool, he’s got some competition now. Star Guardian Ekko, Pulsefire, the Arcane skins. Back in 2016 this was basically the premium Ekko skin. Been maining Ekko with this on and off since season 7 and even with the newer options I keep coming back.

Should you lock in PROJECT: Ekko?

Real verdict: PROJECT: Ekko is a strong Epic skin that punches above its tier in the VFX department. The ult visual alone is worth it for Ekko mains. 1350 RP feels fair for what you get. Not the flashiest skin in his catalog anymore but it has this clean, understated quality that the newer skins sometimes miss by trying too hard.

If you’re climbing ranked and want something that reads well without visual clutter, this is the pick. Kinda feels like the “serious” Ekko skin versus Star Guardian being the fun one. I’ve seen maybe five PROJECT: Ekkos in my Diamond games this season, it’s not rare but it’s not overplayed either. Skip this if you already own Pulsefire since they occupy a similar “techy Ekko” niche. But if you’re an Ekko one-trick building the collection, PROJECT belongs in the rotation. Simple change – huge impact on how the kit feels in game.