SKT T1 Ekko

First time I saw SKT T1 Ekko load in, I thought it looked cleaner than it had any right to for a Worlds skin. Most esports skins from that era sit in this weird limbo where they’re obviously themed but feel rushed. This one actually lands. Been running this in ranked since around season 8 and it still holds up, which says something considering how many Ekko skins have dropped since.

VFX and the SKT treatment

So the base model puts Ekko in the SKT T1 red and black jacket. Clean look. Not flashy, not trying too hard. The bat gets the SKT logo treatment and honestly thats one of the better weapon model changes in the World Champions line. Simple change – huge impact.

The VFX are where this skin earns its Epic tier status. Q throws out this red-tinted disc that reads well against most Rift backgrounds. Not gonna lie, in lane specifically, the Q return is easier to track than some of his other skins. W drops a red zone instead of the usual blue, and while the color shift is subtle, it helps your team react faster in teamfights. Could be wrong here but I think the W indicator being red actually makes enemies panic more. Placebo or not, I’ve gotten more W stuns with this skin than base.

E keeps the same dash feel but the particles shift to match the red palette. R is the highlight though. The rewind trail goes full SKT red and gold, and in a chaotic teamfight around dragon pit last week, the visual pop of that ult actually made my support flash out thinking it was damage. Worth 1350 RP for that moment alone.

The recall animation shows Ekko lifting the Summoner’s Cup. Standard for World Champions skins but it never gets old watching your champ hoist the trophy after you just solo killed their mid laner. Voice lines stay base, no new VO, which is expected for this tier and era.

The 2016 Worlds line and where Ekko fits

World Champions: 2016 celebrates SKT’s dominance that year. The full set dropped June 27, 2017, which feels like forever ago now. Season 7. Alvin Lee handled the splash and captured the competitive energy well. The splash has Ekko mid-swing with the SKT colors bleeding through his time effects.

Ekko was a flex pick during that Worlds run. Jungle and mid. Might be overthinking it but I think that versatility is why the skin feels natural on him. He’s not forced into the esports aesthetic, it fits his scrappy underdog personality. The World Champions line has some misses across the years but the 2016 batch is solid top to bottom.

No chromas on this one. Zero. Which tracks for esports skins from this period, Riot didn’t start adding chromas to Worlds skins until later. Legacy vault skin, so you cant just grab it whenever. Gotta wait for the vault to open or get lucky with Hextech crafting. Seen maybe two of these in my games all season, and one was me (random aside: the rarity actually makes it cooler when you do lock it in).

Is SKT T1 Ekko worth picking up?

Real verdict: at 1350 RP this sits in a crowded space for Ekko. He’s got PROJECT, Pulsefire, Star Guardian, the Arcane skins. All competing for your wallet. SKT T1 Ekko doesn’t have the visual overhaul of those newer releases. What it has is restraint.

The red and black color scheme reads clean. The VFX changes are noticeable without being distracting. In my Diamond games I actually prefer skins that dont clutter my screen with particles when I’m trying to track cooldowns and cs properly. This delivers on that front.

If you’re an Ekko main who watches pro play, this is a no-brainer when the vault opens. The esports history alone carries weight. Last Tuesday around 2 AM I was watching old SKT VODs and the nostalgia hit hard enough that I queued up three Ekko games back to back with this skin. Won two of them.

For casual Ekko players, I’d say there’s better value in his permanent shop options. But for collectors and one-tricks who want something you rarely see on the Rift? Top pick for Ekko mains who care about the competitive legacy. The skin earns its spot in your rotation. Fair price for the package, assuming you can actually find it in the Legacy pool.