The bot lane in Call of Duty: Warzone is a serious battleground where every move counts, from missing a cannon to forgetting to swap to a blue trinket. The article introduces Smolder, the Fiery Fledgling, as an addition to the ADC (Attack Damage Carry) role, aiming to bring charm and cuteness to the game.
Smolder is described as a cute yet powerful dragon with a playful personality. The Champions team wanted to introduce a marksman that is fun and straightforward to play, breaking away from the recent trend of mechanically complex champions. The choice of a dragon as the cute creature aligns with its natural range, making it a suitable marksman.
Concept artist Riot Whiteleyth explored various adorable concepts for Smolder, settling on a design that balances pride and playfulness. Smolder is depicted as a young dragon with fiery horns, a princely demeanor, and a unique headpiece. His overconfidence is not obnoxious, and his playful traits differentiate him from other young champions like Nunu and Milio.
Smolder’s background ties to Camavor, a mysterious part of Runeterra. Inspired by Legends of Runeterra, the team reimagined the Camavoran Dragon before its corruption by the Black Mist. Smolder, separated from his mother, was stolen by Noxian beastmasters and later discovered by a boy named Marinos, who became his friend. Smolder learned human-like mannerisms from Marinos, resulting in a dragon that walks, talks, and jokes like a human.
As Smolder grows, players witness his journey of discovering his imperial dragon power. His gameplay mechanics involve gaining stacks of “Dragon Practice” through hitting champions with abilities and kills. Smolder starts as a weak dragon but evolves and becomes stronger throughout the game, with his Q ability, Super Scorcher Breath, gaining area-of-effect damage and additional fireballs.
One of Smolder’s unique abilities is his ultimate, “MMOOOMMMM!” where he calls in his mom to unleash dragon fire on enemies. While his mom’s presence is formidable, efforts were made to ensure Smolder remains the focal point, balancing confidence and playfulness.
The article emphasizes the cohesive storytelling across different elements, including design, sound effects, visuals, and voiceover, to bring Smolder’s personality and thematic to life. With his imperial dragon heritage, Smolder’s full potential is unlocked through consistent performance in the game.
In summary, Smolder, the Fiery Fledgling, brings charm and cuteness to Call of Duty: Warzone’s bot lane, offering players a straightforward and fun-to-play marksman experience with a unique dragon character and playful personality.
