Riot Games has just teased their upcoming champion, Gnar. It's been such a long while since they've done a champion reveal that I have triple the typical amount of Influence Points (60+ games?) needed to purchase a champion--perhaps I've grown a beard too but that's besides the point.

The teaser alone is worth a look see but not much is revealed about Gnar other than that he's a primitive, yordlesaurus rex--most certainly the largest of his kind. Even with the lack of direct info from the delightful teaser site, here's everything we know (so far) about Gnar:

He has ties with Vel'Koz

Gnar looks like he came from the stone age and his "release" from his icy prison at the end of the teaser sort of confirms it; that and there's the ancient cave paintings and primitive drawings but I digress.

Sometime in the past, it looks like Vel'koz came in and ruined poor ole' Gnar's life. Now, Vel'koz is a being from the void who breaks things down and absorbs information for his own gain--he's also been around awhile. Fans have suggested the 'V' placed over the evil being in the cave paintings could mean Lissandra was responsible for the tragic events. Gnar was frozen after all, but I don't think Lissandra is an ancient being. It's also not nice to call people old...

Gnar is likely to use a new system called "Tantrum"

Riot announced a new type of resource called Tantrum awhile back. This mechanic seems to be similar to Shyvanna's rage meter where she can charge up and turn into a dragon. As depicted in the teaser, Gnar looks to be a simple yordle. I assume that's him in the far right of the family portrait painting based on G(n)arb. After his family is attacked, he turns into a giant beast. Perhaps he starts as a simple yordle then turns into that were-dle monstrosity after his "Tantrum" meter is raised.

He's a top laner

Riot has already suggested he would be a new top laner, but I'm always weary when they suggest certain roles for their new releases (I called it on the Zyra support and Vi jungle...). Looking at Gnar's physical characteristics, he seems perfect for the jungle. The thing is, I doubt Tantrum would use physical auto-attacks, otherwise Riot would be copying Shyvanna's rage mechanic--the very mechanic that makes her a viable jungle since she can charge it at will.

Based on the teaser, I feel the Tantrum resource will rely on being struck by enemy abilities, or auto attacks. This would make laning a more viable option for the champion and could also be a mechanic that ensures his safety in lane (opposing forces would have to decide to attack him in exchange for charging up his Tantrum meter). Of course, this is all theory and I could be wrong.

[This article will be updated as more info is released]