Template:C-top
Lore
Karma is a woman of indomitable will and unbound spiritual power. She is the soul of Ionia made manifest and an inspiring presence on the battlefield, shielding her allies and turning back her foes. A strong leader torn between tradition and revolution, Karma seeks to protect the peace of Ionia – by force if necessary.
Karma once lived a tranquil life in a small Ionian village. Led by elder monks, the villagers practiced a tradition of benevolent magic and pacifism. Known for her powerful connection to the spiritual realm and beloved as a just mediator amongst her people, Karma embraced these traditions as an essential aspect of the enlightenment sought by all Ionians.
Her inner peace was tested when the armies of Noxus invaded Ionia. While the village's elder monks insisted their peaceful ways would spare them from violence, Karma had heard enough tales of Noxian cruelty to openly question the elders' wisdom. Stern and unmoving, they told her to trust in tradition. When the invaders marched on the village, the elder monks rode out to negotiate a bloodless end to the battle. The Noxian general was offended by their show of weakness and slaughtered the monks himself as he ordered his soldiers to strike the village.
As the Noxians advanced, the villagers prepared to accept death, bound to their peaceful vows. But Karma would not accept death and instead saw another way: sacrificing a single life to spare many others. To save her people, she drew upon the power within and summoned the full force of her will. A burst of spirit fire emerged from her body and spiraled towards the Noxian general. The flame took the form of twin dragons, the symbol of Ionia itself. It was the first time Karma had ever used her powers to harm instead of protect, and neither she nor the villagers had ever seen anything like it. When the magic subsided, the general had fallen before her and his soldiers had scattered. The opposing forces surrendered to Karma's strength leaving her people, and their traditions, untouched.
While the war raged on, Karma became a formidable leader of the Ionian resistance, but the conflict did not end when Noxus's armies fled the Ionian shores. Ionia became divided between the resistance fighters who craved vengeance and the monks who demanded a return to spiritual tradition. Karma saw a third path, one that combined the strength Ionia found in war with the peaceful traditions the nation still held dear. She now seeks to return her ravaged land to an enduring peace.
| “ | "Your spirit is something no one can take from you. Use it wisely." |
| — Karma | |
 |
Quotes
- Upon Selection
- Upon Selection (Old)
- Attacking
- Movement
- Taunt
- Joke
- Laugh
- Upon casting
Inspire
- Upon casting
Mantra (A dialect of ancient Ionian) (The meaning is according to Marowe, Player Support Escalation Specialist)
- And then, depending upon the spell cast (Note, this was only for pre-rework Karma)
- Q - "Phyla!" (Tranquility)
- W - "Jia!" (Pain)
- E - "Saera!" (Magic)
League Judgement
Candidate: Karma
Date: January 28th, 21 CLE
- OBSERVATION
Karma emerges into sight on the wings of prestige. From the topmost tip of her mantle to the lowest hem of her gown, she is the perfect picture of Ionian class. She pauses, poised at the threshold, admiring the delicate ornamentation that League artisans crafted into the Great Hall. Karma has seen the Great Hall on numerous occasions, but her eyes manage to well with appreciation in every instance. As she crosses the hall, grace drips from every movement, and she wades in an air of distinction.
At the marble doors, she touches the frame delicately. They part gently for her, as if they were trying to match the elegance of her motion. She vanishes through the archway, and the room left behind feels emptier than it had before she entered.
- REFLECTION
The meticulous artistry of the Institute always reminded Karma, by curious contrast, of the chaos of open war. Every inset groove was, to her, the face of a lost friend. She imagined what her fallen comrades might have thought of this comparison when a horribly familiar, acrid stench stung her nose. She turned in time for a brilliant green explosion to fill her view. She swept her steel fans against the blast, piercing a hole in its expanding wave. Her reaction, though immediate, only diminished the force. She focused her senses inward as air whipped past. Her form was steel while her hair and clothes swirled in the chaos. When the blast subsided, her once-immaculate locks hung in limp disarray and her dress was torn and caked with soil.
There was something unusual about the soil – a pungent smell. Blood. She looked up, bracing for the worst. Nonetheless, she was unprepared for what she saw. No, no...not again. In front of her, as far as she could see, lay the strewn bodies of Ionian villagers. Another green explosion in the distance sent cadavers arcing through the air. The taste of salt stung her lips. She didn't even notice the tears tracing down her cheeks. She saw a shoe, much too small for any adult, raised from the ground ahead of her. A small leg extended beneath it, disappearing into the soil.
Karma snapped upright, raking the air around her with both fans. Tears and soil matted with blood flew away from her. When all settled she was transformed, emotions absent, eyes dark but calm. She was powerful, noble, the picture of dignity against a backdrop of unimaginable horror.
She strode with purpose towards a cackling figure in the distance. Its silhouette was one she could not forget: Zaun's insane chemist, Warwick. He stood behind a glowing control panel atop an armored, beetle-shaped vehicle. He gesticulated with zeal as each explosion bit the Ionian landscape. He was human, although the lacking lycanthropy did not register with Karma. She was beyond thought, beyond emotion; ready to do what she must to stop what was happening in front of her.
Zaunite shock troops assembled before her, blocking her path. A wave of her fan and they were gone, their cries muted by the roaring gust. Warwick noticed her with glee. His fingers danced across the controls and a cannon extended from the transport beneath him. It fired a sickly green stream of liquid into the air above her, where it burst like a liquid firecracker. She thrust one fan into the air above her head, blowing back a portion of the falling ooze, though far less than she'd expected. Drops rained down around her. Where the drops touched her skin, they sizzled and burned through it. Karma cried out in agony.
"Delicious isn't it, Duchess?" Warwick exclaimed. "I call it an Aerial Corrosive Mine. The acid is several times heavier than mercury, so your wind techniques won't protect you."
Karma crumpled to the ground, the acid boring into her flesh. She pushed herself up to a cross-legged meditative pose, blinked back the searing pain, and uttered a healing mantra. The pain lessened, although it still consumed her.
"It's not meant to be fired into the air that way. I just wanted you to savor the taste. I'm afraid when I fire it directly at you, your delicate ‘weapons' will be useless."
A tinny voice chirped something indiscernible from the control panel. Warwick listened for a moment, and then nodded his head. "I would truly love to play with you some more, Duchess, but there are more Ionians in need of my services." Warwick fiddled with the controls and the cannon lowered, aimed squarely at her. "This ends now."
Karma blinked. Her mind was sluggish, flooded with frantic damage reports from nerves all over her body. A single thought floated to the surface of her awareness.
I've failed.
Just as she consigned herself to join those scattered around her, a blinding ray of light descended from the heavens, landing squarely on Warwick. He screamed as his skin melted away. His body contorted, muscles bursting outward. His head and limbs stretched, yanking joints apart and forming new ones. Long claws cut through the tips of his fingers and toes. He wrenched forward, then back, and when the spasms ceased his spine was long and hunched. His high-pitched wail suddenly turned to gravel, and blue hair stabbed out from every pore of his body. He fell to the ground in a heap. The light subsided.
Not far from him, a new form lay in the mud. Karma fought her way to her feet, acid still eating into her, and stumbled to the form. There in front of her laid Soraka, the spiritual icon of her people. The Starchild had lost the celestial radiance which characterized her transcendence. She lay staring upward, her expression vacant.
Reason overpowered remorse, and suddenly Karma knew she was seeing an illusion.
Soraka's gaze turned to Karma, her eyes piercing her soul for answers. "Why do you want to join the League, Karma?" The voice was sad, resigned.
"Is this vision not enough?" Karma gestured all around them. The pain was suddenly gone. "This isn't really over. These things never really end. All we can do is remain vigilant and try to protect those we love."
"Always one for a speech." Soraka smirked. "How does it feel, exposing your mind?"
"There is nothing on my mind that I wouldn't happily share with you. How does it feel, knowing what we suffered, what you chose to ignore?"
Karma was suddenly alone in the antechamber of the Institute, the doors ahead opened to the League. She appraised her clothes, which were as pristine and spotless as when she entered. With an imperceptible shift, Karma summoned her composure and marched onward.Development
- Karma was designed by Coronach.
Champion Sneak Peek
Announcement made in the sneak peek by ZenonTheStoic:[1]
Karma concept
Summoners!
If you're a fan of Ionian champions, or just a fan of fans in general, you're really going to take to this next champion. It is my pleasure to introduce, Karma, the Enlightened One, to the League of Legends. Along with a pair of particularly deadly looking fans, Karma brings an elegant look and a particularly level headed disposition to the League of Legends. Keep an open mind. After all… we can all use a little enlightenment.
So, about that Karma leak...
Announcement made by Morello, Grumpy Monkey, RiotRunaan, Scarizard:[2]
Morello:
Looks like our cover's been blown…
Yep, this is new Karma. Yep, this is a big change. We believe Karma needed a reimagining, and we are going to talk to you about why we feel that's the case. But before we dig into it, there's something you should probably know first – anyone who owns Karma before her relaunch will get this Traditional Karma skin for free:
This is important, because we know there are lots of fans (heh) of Karma's existing look, and we don't want to take that for granted.
We actually have been working on a dev diary that talks about our thought process behind Karma's relaunch, but since the cat's out of the bag...we'll share the story and art sections of the dev diary right here, right now. We'll release the full dev diary, including details on her new kit, when she's ready for PBE (which is pretty soon). Without further ado, here's her new splash:
Grumpy Monkey will talk a little about her new visual design, and then Runaan will give you some insight into Karma's reimagined backstory.
Grumpy Monkey:
Why did you change Karma's look and costume?
Karma's original look had a few shortcomings that we'd like to address for her relaunch. For starters, her aesthetic was hard to read and didn't really convey much about her character. Her fans, dress and posture didn't reflect her playstyle or storyline. There was a lot we could change about Karma to bring a more cohesive vision to the character.
First, we made sure that Karma's new look showed off her status as a paragon of Ionia while appearing unique on the battlefield. Her floating fans weren't cutting it as magical conduits, so we replaced them with a powerful manifestation of her Ionian will. Now, Karma carries the draconic symbol of Ionia with her at all times. We also decked her out in Ionian garb to emphasize her allegiance. We also crafted a new set of animations that emphasized her status as a champion of Ionia rather than a matronly diplomat.
This new approach to Karma transforms her into a badass conduit of inner strength that brings Ionia's strength to every battlefield.
RiotRunaan:
In the past, we've created engaging characters that epitomize the ideals of their homeland. Garen as the Might of Demacia or Darius as the Hand of Noxus are good examples. With Karma, we wanted to capture Ionia, a place of wisdom and great spiritual power.
We also wanted to hold onto much of Karma's characterization. She's a strong leader and a mystic who stands apart from other champions.
What were we looking to improve with Karma?
The connection between Karma's motif and playstyle was never as clear as it could have been. She didn't have a distinct theme that tied everything together and brought out the badass spiritual leader she is in her lore.
Ionia is a land that has suffered greatly. The ongoing struggle has taken its toll on Karma's calm, composed demeanor. We wanted to evolve Karma's personality to suit her place in a nation filled with internal strife and awakened ferocity.
What have we done to address these issues?
Karma can now manifest her inner spirit and willpower as powerful magical energy. With her inner flame she can inspire and protect her allies, damage foes and manipulate the spiritual bonds between those around her. We've also taken her Ionian ties a step further: her magic springs from the crest of twin dragons in her mantle, literally and figuratively transforming her into a symbol of her homeland.
The changes we've made have given new life to Karma's title, "The Enlightened One." In the past, her title conveyed her serenity and calm. Now, it represents the enlightened path she's found for Ionia: a new path, merging the spiritual traditions of Ionia with the nation's newfound strength.
Finally, we've given Karma new VO that conveys her internal struggle and intensity. Karma's attempting to unite a wounded and divided nation, which is no easy task! We want you to believe she's got the inner strength—and inner flame—that it takes to persevere.
Conclusion
Karma's now the powerful Ionian leader she was always meant to be. Through her determination and indomitable spirit, she's set to rebuild Ionia and inspire her people to greatness.
Scarizard:
Old Karma had issues. What were they?
Karma's kit was in a weird place, but her ultimate was especially problematic. Her base abilities didn't feel impactful and only felt effective when supercharged by Mantra. On top of that, when Karma had two charges of Mantra, we had to make both of them weaker to compensate for players double casting empowered spells.
The changes we made to Karma's kit focused on making each decision fun and meaningful while giving her abilities the focus they needed to perform her intended role. We kept the "empowering"-type gameplay of Mantra, but instead of waiting around for it to recharge, Karma's basic attacks and abilities now lower Mantra's cooldown. This rewards aggressive play so you can "buyback" her ultimate. Also, we gave Mantra a single charge to pump extra power into each cast. We also made sure Mantra empowers Karma's abilities in drastically different ways, leading to more impactful decision-making and a better feeling of accomplishment when you pull off the right move at the right time.
Why was she hard to place in team comps?
Karma had the offensive tools to support her team in small skirmishes but not the powerful defensive abilities she needed to protect a team. Also, her all-purpose abilities are so broad they never felt like the right choice in any situation. All in all, Karma lacked direction.
Why isn't Karma fun?
The effectiveness of Karma's abilities relied too heavily on your teammates knowing all their nuances. No matter how hard you were carrying with Karma, your teammates had to be just as good with her for you to be super effective. When an ally's confused about whether or not he should run from or pass through your Spirit Bond, we probably made a mistake.
What did we like about Karma?
Despite all the Mantra hate we've got going on, we actually think the concept is pretty kickass. It's unique and character-defining to old Karma, and augmenting her abilities with an immense surge of Ionian will is visually and thematically fun. We also liked how Karma could turn the tables on her opponents with abilities that provided defensive bonuses and had hidden offensive power. Finally, Spirit Bond's "clothesline" gameplay is really cool, but it'd work better on a tank champion that has an easier time jumping into the fray.
Karma's new role
Originally envisioned as a support, Karma's fringe successes actually came from players using her in the top or mid lanes as an AP burst mage with support abilities, much like 
Zilean or 
Morgana. We like this direction and want to encourage you to boost both her offensive and support abilities by building AP. We also want to make sure she can hold her own as a solo or with a lane partner.
Finally, we've updated her skills so allies are reliant on Karma, but Karma's not reliant on them. She's got enough power at her fingertips to feel strong as a mage or as a support without teammates having to work in perfect concert for you to be effective.
So without further ado… here's Karma's new kit:
- Passive: Gathering Fire – Hitting enemy champions with Karma's spells and basic attacks lower Mantra's cooldown.
- R: Mantra – Empowers Karma's abilities, adding an extra effect to the next ability cast.
- Q: Inner Flame – Skillshot that deals magic damage and slows enemies in an area.
- Empowered by Mantra: Soulflare – Increases damage and leaves behind a zone that slows and, after a brief delay, explodes for AoE damage.
- W: Focused Resolve – Enemy-targeted tether that deals damage over time. If the tether is unbroken after a short duration, the tethered target is rooted in place.
- Empowered by Mantra: Renewal – Deals bonus damage and heals Karma for the duration of the tether.
- E: Inspire – Shields an ally and grants them a short speed boost.
- Empowered by Mantra: Defiance – Enemies near the shielded ally are damaged while nearby allies are shielded and granted a short speed boost.
Karma Relaunch
Announcement made by Morello:[3]
We've talked a lot about giving Karma a complete overhaul, and we're ready to discuss her changes. Karma's relaunch is the real deal, covering her art, abilities and lore for a total renovation. We know she's been the source of a lot of contention since her launch, but we also know that she's got a cult following of Karma diehards. Here's an overview of why we think she needs a rework.
Karma's aesthetics are confusing. While she looks cool, it's difficult to read her role at face value. Grumpy Monkey has provided more info for you on Karma's look. We've also seen players eschew her support role for bursty mage gameplay, so we seized this opportunity to give Karma more options in lane. Scarizard has talked more on Karma's evolving mechanics. We also think that Karma needs a new story that suits her updated abilities and aesthetics. RiotRunaan has taken you through Karma's transformation into an unstoppable Ionian leader.
For Karma diehards, we have a special treat – we'll be giving those of you who've unlocked Karma a skin based on her traditional look.
Karma's getting an extended PBE stay so we can thoroughly test her new gameplay and incorporate your feedback.
Previous Lore
Even in her youth, Karma exhibited almost superhuman composure. While her peers explored the torrent of emotions that came with adolescence, Karma meditated in the Lotus Gardens. She was convinced that the true path to enlightenment was a journey inward, to a place within the self, overlooked by most. She exuded such inner contentment that she quickly became a go-to mediator and confidante in her village. Her instructors used to say: That girl can not only weather a storm, but calm it. Karma did not live extravagantly; her parents owned a local business selling antiques in the Navori province and they often struggled to provide for themselves, though they did so with cheery optimism. Her most prized possessions were two exquisite fans taken from her family's shop.
When Noxian troops invaded southern Ionia, her village was one of the first to fall. The villages who survived the assault were captured by Noxian forces. It was then that Karma found her calling. By exploiting the insecurities of the Noxian commander, she negotiated the safe release of the villages to the northern lands. She was present at the Placidium, where the Elders had considered surrender until 
Irelia's impassioned last stand renewed the Ionians' hope. Karma used this hope to solidify the Elders' commitment to remain defiant against the Noxian onslaught. For her devotion and charisma, Karma was made the figurehead of the Ionian resistance. She never compromised, and she shared every hardship with her people, even when it came to combat. By tapping into her inner resilience, she discovered that she could bring great force to bear against her foes on the battlefield. She modified her fans into lethal implements, and was tutored by 
Janna to enhance their effects. The Noxians called her, The Enlightened One, a nickname she embraced, and one which they would come to dread. She joined the League to represent Ionia in the ultimate political arena.
| “ | Her fan technique is a deadly art of grace and poise, but her truest strength lies in the hearts of those willing to die alongside her. |
| — Irelia | |
|
Previous Abilities
These abilities were part of Karma's original kit, in use from her release in V1.0.0.110 until her rework in V3.5.
Patch history
V5.5:
Defiance
- Fixed a bug where allied champions were granted the inspire portion of the shield, instead of half of the defiance damage.
- Soulflare
- Fixed a bug where the ground effect would fizzle on Karma's death.
- Mantra
- Can now be primed while Karma is disabled.
V4.5:
- Stats
- Base armor increased to 14 from 10.
- Inner Flame
- Mana cost reduced to 50/55/60/65/70 from 50/60/70/80/90.
- Explosion radius increased to 250 from 230.
- Focused Resolve
- Now correctly gives vision of the unit while rooted.
- Mantra Bonus - Renewal: Now heals Karma for 20% (+1% per 100 ability power) of missing Health immediately upon casting and another 20% (+1% per 100 Ability Power) of missing health if the leash is not broken, from healing over time for 25% missing health.
- Inspire
- Inner Flame
- Mantra Bonus - Soulflare: slow area now spawns directly under the primary target.
- Inner Flame
- Damage increased to 80/125/170/215/260 from 60/110/160/210/260.
- Focused Resolve
- Cooldown reduced to 16/15/14/13/12 seconds from 16/15.5/15/14.5/14.
- Inspire
- Cooldown reduced to 10 seconds from 12.
- Movement speed bonus increased to 40/45/50/55/60% from 20/30/40/50/60%.
- Mantra
- Cooldown reduced to 45/42/39/36 seconds from 45.
- Gathering Fire
- Mantra cooldown reduction increased to 2 seconds at all levels from 1/1.5/2.
- Inner Flame
- The detonation area now occurs at the actual point of missile impact instead of at the center of the initial target that is hit.
- Focused Resolve
- Mana cost reduced to 70/75/80/85/90 from 70/80/90/100/110.
- Now applies Gathering Fire's effect on each instance of damage dealt instead of only once on initial application, but now deals damage 3 times over the duration instead of 6.
- Inspire
- Bonus movement speed duration increased to 1.5 seconds from 1.25.
- Fixed a bug where the tooltip stated the shield was 80/115/150/185/220 instead of its actual value of 80/120/160/200/240.
- Mantra Bonus - Inspire
- Movement speed bonus is now always 60% instead of 20/30/40/50/60% (based on Inspire's current rank).
- Ally shield/haste range increased to 700 from 600.
V3.5: Rework
- Gathering Fire (Innate)
- Reduce's Mantra's cooldown every time Karma damages an enemy with one of her abilities (Half-effect for Karmas basic-attacks).
- Inner Flame (Q)
- Fires a blast of energy that explodes upon enemy contact, dealing magic damage and slowing all enemies in the area.
- Mantra Bonus: deals additional magic damage and leaves a circle of flame at the impact area (or upon reaching maximum range), heavily slowing all enemies inside the circle. After a brief delay the circle erupts, dealing heavy magic damage to all enemies in the area.
- Focused Resolve (W)
- Links Karma to target enemy champion, revealing them and dealing magic damage over 2 seconds. If the link is not broken, the enemy is rooted.
- Mantra Bonus: Focused Resolve deals bonus magic damage over time and heals Karma for a percent of her missing health while linked to her target.
- Inspire (E)
- Target ally gains a shield, granting movement speed for a brief duration and absorbing damage.
- Mantra Bonus: the shield overflows with energy, dealing magic damage to all enemies around the shielded unit. Allied champions near the shielded unit gain half of that amount as a shield and are hasted.
- Mantra (Ultimate)
- Template:Csi empowers her next ability within 8 seconds for an additional effect.
- Stats
- Base movement speed increased to 335 from 310.
- Mantra
- Fixed a bug where recharge time wouldn't update with new ranks or cooldown reduction until reaching full ammo charges.
- The cooldown before Karma's next Mantra charge and her current stacks are now shown in the same buff.
- Fixed a bug where Heavenly Wave, Spirit Bond, and Soul Shield were not gaining any effect from cooldown reduction.
- Fixed a bug where summoner spells were placing Karma's spells on cooldown.
- Mantra
- Now shows a cooldown timer.
- Fixed a bug where by casting spells in rapid succession you could charge multiple spells with a single cast.
- Heavenly Wave
- Fixed a bug where the visual would occasionally not align with the direction cast.
- Mantra
- Soul Shield now shows an area of effect indicator when your cursor hovers over an ally.
- Spirit Bond
- Leash range increased by a small amount.
- Mantra
- Charge reload time now scales with level, changed to a Error: Parameter '3' is not accepted. second cooldown from 25 seconds at all levels.
- Fixed a bug where the Mantra version of Heavenly Wave was not granting assists for healing allies.
- Heavenly Wave
- Base heal increased to 35/55/75/95/115/135 from 30/45/60/75/90/105.
- Spirit Bond
- Cooldown reduced to 15/14/13/12/11/10 seconds from 20/18/16/14/12/10.
- Soul Shield
- Base shield strength and damage increased to 80/120/160/200/240/280 from 70/110/150/190/230/270.
- Mantra
- Cooldown reduced to 25 seconds from 30.
- Spirit Bond
- It now properly assigns assist markers to allies that receive the haste bonus.
- Fixed a bug where it would break friendly spell shields and not apply the haste bonus.
- Fixed a display bug where its beam would appear at Karma's feet for enemy players.
V1.0.0.110: Added. (Original Stats)
- Inner Flame (Innate)
- Karma gains increased ability power corresponding to her % of missing health.
- Heavenly Wave (Q)
- Karma sends forth hidden blades from her fans, dealing magic damage to units in a cone in front of her.
- Mantra Bonus: In addition to dealing damage to enemies, Heavenly Wave will also heal allies in the cone based on a % of their missing health.
- Spirit Bond (W)
- Karma bonds an ally or enemy creating a beam between them. Allied anchors have increased movement speed and enemy anchors have reduced movement speed. Enemy units that come in contact with the beam take magic damage.
- Mantra Bonus: Karma strengthens the bond to double the effect of the movement speed modifier.
- Soul Shield (E)
- Karma summons a protective shield that absorbs incoming damage.
- Mantra Bonus: In addition to casting the shield, energy radiates out from the shield dealing damage to enemy units around Karma's target.
- Mantra (Ultimate)
- Karma empowers her next ability to do an additional effect. Mantra is available at level 1 and does not require a skill point.
%27%27_OriginalCircle.png){kind=link}
%27%27_OriginalCircle.png){kind=link}
%27%27_OriginalCircle.png){kind=link}
References
Template:C-bot