Kalista/Trivia

General

• Kalista is one of 20 champions without a single  ability power ratio on any ability: Aatrox, Camille, Darius, Dr. Mundo, Draven, Garen, Kayn, Kled, Naafiri, Nilah, Olaf, Pyke, Riven, Samira, Sett, Talon, Urgot, Xayah, Yone, and Zed.
• A fully-stacked Rend has the highest AD ratio in the game (5120 / 5752.5 / 6385 / 7017.5 / 7650% AD).
• Kalista's dance references Oberyn Martell's spear dance from Game of Thrones.
  • A side-by-side comparison can be seen here.
• Kalista's 'Champion Spotlight' was the first to feature the updated Summoner's Rift map.
• The Spear of Vengeance resembles the Arrow of Retribution.
• The Black Spear is the third champion-unique item, the first being Prototype Hex Core ( Viktor's) and the second being Bonetooth Necklace ( Rengar's before it merged with Unseen Predator).
• Her way of referring herself in the third person, as well as the echo in her voice, resembles Ermac from Mortal Kombat.

Development

• Kalista is voiced by Misty Lee.
• Over a year ago a 'prototype' of who would later become Kalista appeared on Reddit.
• Kalista was leaked by Redditor 'WhyRenektonWhy' (who also leaked Ultra Rapid Fire, Yasuo, and Gnar, and whose account has since been terminated) a few weeks prior to her reveal.
• Kalista might come from a merging of several inspirations, all from Greek mythology:
  • Hunting goddess Artemis (her weapon of choice being spears) & Callisto, originally Artemis' epithet "the most beautiful", later her devotee deceived by Zeus;
  • The goddesses of vengeance, Erinyes;
  • And Ancient Greeks' siege weapon Ballista;

Lore

• Kalista targeted many betrayers for execution during Harrowing 2014.
  1. Cassiopeia for backstabbing Sivir.
  2. Hecarim for his treachery against her in the Blessed Isles.
  3. LeBlanc for aiding the barbarian invaders against Mordekaiser
  4. Lissandra for murdering Avarosa for her spearheading the rebellion against the Frozen Watchers.
  5. Twisted Fate for abandoning Graves to be imprisoned in the Locker (Kalista is trying to convince the Outlaw to 'give in to his hate' despite being told by the Card Master he and their crew did try to get him out, reconciling their differences and settling the feud)
  6. Xerath for plotting against Azir and laying waste to Ancient Shurima.
  7. Zed for murdering Shen's father Kusho, slaughtering the Kinkou Order, and founding the Order of Shadow over the remains of their monastery.
• 'The Spear of Vengeance' (the specter Kalista became after the Ruination) is a hivemind of betrayed souls (hence she referring to herself as 'we') while Kalista herself is buried deep beneath them all, with every new soul burying her ever-deeper within the entity she has become.

Quotes

• "You toy with powers you do not comprehend, Deathsinger" might be referencing Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade ("You're meddling with powers you can't possibly comprehend")
• "We had a name, once" and "Kalista... yes, that was our name" reference Gollum from The Lord of the Rings
• "Give in to your hate, Graves" might be referencing Palpatine from Star Wars ("Give in to your anger")
• " Serpents are creatures of betrayal"  might be referencing the real-life association of snakes with cunning & treachery, as snakes often stealthily stalk & suddenly bite preys or even large-sized threats.
• Kalista and Kled share the quote "Die".

Skins

Blood Moon Kalista

• This is how Ionian culture sees her.
• She wears a Hannya mask (from Noh theater, ironically referencing her burning hatred for betrayers) resembling Yoshimitsu's (from Soul Calibur, her recalling might be referencing him as well)
• The Black Spear becomes a katana resembling Youmuu's Ghostblade.
• She shares this theme with:
  • Blood Moon Akali
  • Blood Moon Diana
  • Blood Moon Elise
  • Blood Moon Evelynn
  • Blood Moon Jhin
  • Blood Moon Kennen
  • Blood Moon Shen
  • Blood Moon Thresh
  • Blood Moon Twisted Fate
  • Blood Moon Yasuo
  • Blood Moon Zilean

• She was released in celebration of the Season 5 World Championship.
• She shares this theme with:

SKT T1 Kalista

• She was released in celebration of SKT T1 winning the Season 5 World Championship along with:
  • SKT T1 Alistar
  • SKT T1 Azir
  • SKT T1 Elise
  • SKT T1 Renekton
  • SKT T1 Ryze
• She represents Bang and is the first World Championship victory skin for him.
  • This skin was originally going to be made for Sivir, but Bang requested she be swapped for Kalista after the whole set was pulled from PBE back in V6.8 to be updated.
  • It was succeeded by SKT T1 Jhin.
• She shares this theme with:
  • SKT T1 Alistar
  • SKT T1 Azir
  • SKT T1 Ekko
  • SKT T1 Elise
  • SKT T1 Jax
  • SKT T1 Jhin
  • SKT T1 Lee Sin
  • SKT T1 Nami
  • SKT T1 Olaf
  • SKT T1 Renekton
  • SKT T1 Ryze
  • SKT T1 Syndra
  • SKT T1 Vayne
  • SKT T1 Zac
  • SKT T1 Zed
  • SKT T1 Zyra

Relations

• Kalista is the Ruined King's niece (making her royalty) and was one of his generals in life.