Updated on November 23, 8:14 p.m. (GMT+8): Added new information based on Arcane season 2 Act 3.
Updated on November 20, 12:42 p.m. (GMT+8): Added more background information.
Updated on November 16, 11:42 p.m. (GMT+8): Added new champions from Arcane season 2.
Riot Games’ first ever full length animated series “Arcane”, centered on the backstories of League of Legends champions Jinx and Vi, dropped on November 7, 2021 on Netflix.
In less than a week, it broke records around the globe. Number one in more than 30 countries, Arcane is Netflix’s best rated original series that bested “Squid Game” and “You” on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fans of the MOBA game were especially excited to see Piltover and Zaun come to life, and all the League of Legends champions associated with these two cities, introduced in obvious and not so obvious ways.
Warning: Major spoilers if you haven’t watched Arcane.
Full list of League of Legends champions in Netflix’s Arcane and which episode they appear
Act 1 Episode 1: Welcome to the Playground
Vi and Jinx
The opening scene of Arcane is painted red. Literally and metaphorically.
Like a scene from The Dark Knight, smoke and heavy shadows prevent viewers from making out what’s happening. All you know is that there’s been bloodshed, violence, and regret to come.
Sisters Vi and Jinx, the main protagonists of Arcane, are the first two League of Legends champions to appear.
Two heads taller, Violet establishes herself as the older sister of Powder, which we learn is the name Jinx went by when she was a child.
In League of Legends, Vi is portrayed as a bold, headstrong, and street-smart character known for her fiery personality and massive Hextech gauntlets that pack an explosive punch. She’s often paired with Caitlyn, the Piltover Sheriff, enforcing justice as a Warden.
She is typically played as a bruiser jungler, excelling in initiating fights and locking down enemies with her ultimate, Cease and Desist. Her kit includes powerful crowd control and mobility tools.
Jinx is one of the most iconic and chaotic champions in League of Legends, infamous for her love of destruction and mayhem. She is a hypercarry marksman who excels at dealing damage from the backline.
Her staple ability, Switcheroo, has two forms where she alternates between her minigun (Pow-Pow) for rapid attacks and her rocket launcher (Fishbones) for long-range area damage.
Her global range ultimate, Super Mega Death Rocket, deals massive damage to low-health enemies. It was animated in the last episode of Arcane season one.
Ekko
Who knew the boy who shattered time would look this cute as a kid?
Ekko is first seen in Benzo’s shop fixing the cannon pinion of a grandfather clock, which foreshadows his future abilities to manipulate time. Already wearing a full head of white hair, he’s full of energy and spunk.
This is clearly another of Riot Games’ marketing efforts to get you to buy Chibi Ekko in TFT.
League of Legends players know him well as the “Boy Who Shattered Time,” so this already sets up expectations in Arcane. Ekko’s glowing Z-Drive and bat-like weapon are central to his design.
His characteristic ultimate, Chronobreak, lets him rewind to a previous moment in time, healing him and dealing massive damage to nearby enemies when he reappears.
Singed
Singed came as a bit of a surprise. It wasn’t until the credits rolled when fans noticed that this champion — voiced by Australian actor and singer Brett Tucker — was mentioned, and put two and two together.
Comparing it with his splash art in-game, you can totally see the resemblance. The sunken cheek bones, pointed nose, and large forehead are key features of Singed.
Now the only question is, when will he become the crazy flinging mad chemist we know so well?
In the game, Singed is straight up annoying. He is a tanky, disruptive champion who thrives on causing chaos in team fights, even more than Jinx.
His ability Poison Trail leaves a trail of toxic gas that damages enemies who pass through it. Dying from this feels bad and you’ll be memed. Singed players usually use Poison Trail in combination with his ultimate, Insanity Potion, which boosts his stats, allowing him to outlast and overwhelm enemies.
He even has Fling, which allows him to toss an enemy over his shoulder, disrupting their position. However, it’s very short ranged.
Act 1 Episode 2: Some Mysteries Are Better Left Unsolved
Caitlyn
Her long dark blue hair totally gives her away.
Caitlyn is unmistakable, and part of the upper class of Piltover. Maybe that’s why Katie Leung’s posh British accent was the best choice to bring this AD carry to life.
Walking with Jayce in the opening scene of Episode 2, they are having friendly conversation on their way to his lab moments before things got frisky.
League of Legends players know that Caitlyn is a brilliant marksman known for her precision, intelligence, and dedication to upholding justice. In the game, she’s already a renowned sheriff from Piltover. Arcane, therefore, explores the circumstances that led her to rise to this position.
Similar to Jinx, she is a marksman that excels at dealing damage from the backline. She is one of the longest ranged marksman in the game who requires items to scale. Expect her to deal heavy damage in the late game.
As mentioned, Caitlyn is often shown side by side with Vi, a trademark complementary duo. While Caitlyn relies on strategy and precision, Vi brings brute force and street smarts to their operations. Sexy, right?
Jayce
Due to the intentional direction of this scene, we hear Jayce’s voice way before we’re able to catch a glimpse of his face.
The camera only pans over Caitlyn and Jayce’s bottom half, and it’s only when the Arcane crystal blew up that we finally see him flung onto the other side of the corridor.
Even though he’s completely dazed, he still looks as handsome as ever.
In League of Legends, Jayce is a versatile champion capable of switching between melee and ranged combat, meaning he has a total of seven abilities in the game.
Players tend to poke with his ranged abilities using a combination of Acceleration Gate and Shock Blast, then switch to melee form to finish opponents off. His Mercury Hammer is one of the most recognizable weapons that’s been animated in Arcane.
Heimerdinger
The smallest of champions always make the grandest entrances.
A Yordle who’s barely knee-high, brilliant scientist Heimerdinger is introduced in Act 1 Episode 2 when he visits Jayce in his detention cell. With no hesitation, he starts lecturing the young inventor and instructs him on what to do during the trial.
No sign of the Apex Turret. For now.
Viktor
Treasure these early moments, because this is the last time you’ll see an innocent Viktor.
A bright-eyed intellectual, Viktor decided to take a risk and help Jayce out on his Hextech breakthrough. They bond over science, success, and maybe even a bit of bromance.
League of Legends players however, are much more familiar with his augmented self, and we love how he’s evolved over the course of the series.
In season two act three, it was confirmed that the person who saved Jayce and his mother in season one turns out not to be Ryze, but rather Viktor himself (hence, we’ve removed Ryze from the list).
Through the Arcane he traversed time and space. Managing to see different timelines, he helps Jayce because at the end of the day, the outcome is the same as long as his best friend doesn’t give up on him.
In-game, Viktor is a control mage who uses area damage and crowd control to dominate fights. Colloquially, players associate him with a laser beam that comes from his core ability, Death Ray. It hurts your HP significantly so it’s best to dodge it.
His ultimate, Chaos Storm, summons a damaging electrical storm that Viktor can control, disrupting and punishing enemies.
In Arcane, he finally utters his trademark passive, “Glorious Evolution” in season two. In the final episode, he mentions “chaos,” alluding to his ultimate move, Chaos Storm.
Act 2 Episode 5: Everybody Wants To Be My Enemy
Kindred
What an absolute shocker!
When Caitlyn and Vi enter “the one place all secrets are spilled”, that is, the undercity’s brothel, Caitlyn peeks into various corners along the hallway.
The very first thing she sees on her right are League of Legends champions Lamb and Wolf, collectively known as Kindred, mysterious spirits representing the twin essences of death.
Based on their official biography the “earliest dated appearance of the eternal hunters is from a pair of ancient masks, carved by unknown hands into the gravesites of people long-forgotten”. The masks in this scene clearly bears Kindred’s marks, shape, and color.
Is this pair Kindred before they turned into eternal hunters, or did they temporarily manifest in human form?
Act 2 Episode 6: When These Walls Come Tumbling Down
Teemo
What will League of Legends be without Teemo? Nothing.
The cutest crusader in town made an unlikely appearance in this gritty, dark animated series in Arcane Act 2. When Silco and his crew invade Marcus’ house and threaten his daughter in her own room, one of his men is seen flipping through a book.
When the camera zooms in, we see the swift scout depicted in action, alongside paragraphs of illegible words.
Even though we thought it was a children’s book at first, the handwritten text could be field notes about the elusive Teemo. After all, he’s really good at camouflaging.
Now that Riot Games has featured their favorite League of Legends champions, poster boys Ryze and Teemo, it’s only a matter of time before Katarina shows up, right?
Act 3 Episode 8: Oil and Water
Ambessa Medarda
Ambessa Medarda, a character originally from the series, made her debut as a playable character in League of Legends in November 2024. This comes approximately two years after the premiere of Arcane season 1.
It is the first in League of Legends history where an original character from Arcane is fielded into the MOBA’s roster. Previously, Silco, another original, was only included in Teamfight Tactics but not Summoner’s Rift.
Ambessa is a formidable warlord and stateswoman from Noxus. Notably, she is the mother of Mel Medarda, an aristocrat and a member of Piltover’s ruling council.
Ambessa’s character was first introduced in episode 8, titled “Oil and Water,” offering viewers insights into Mel’s upbringing and showcasing Ambessa’s maternal side in a flashback scene. We get to know more of her in season 2.
Arcane season 2
Act 1 Episode 3: Finally Got the Name Right
Janna
Our beloved support champion Janna is mentioned in the unlikeliest of ways.
Jinx chooses to confront Vi at an underground location in Zaun. Here, a stone sculpture of Janna is shown on the back wall.
“Don’t you remember the old Janna bedtime stories Vander used to tell us,” Jinx said. “Miners trapped underground. Air running thin! But then some wispy wind woman wafts to their rescue.”
At the end of the fight, Sevika uses their last resort — blow up the place with explosives, which destroys the Janna tribute on the wall and causes air to rush out of the tunnel, creating distance between them and Caitlyn and Vi.
Gifted with the winds of Runeterra, Janna is a mysterious elemental spirit who watches over the downtrodden in Zaun. According to official League of Legends lore, some say her existence is owed to the prayers of sailors who once begged for safe passage and fair winds across dangerous seas, which is why Jinx made the reference.
Janna shines as a symbol of hope for those in desperate need, though her appearances are unpredictable, she often emerges just when she’s needed most.
Warwick
Vander transforming into Warwick was already hinted at at the end of season 1. Act 1 Episode 3, Finally Got the Name Right, is the first time we finally get a full glimpse of him, wearing the same gear that the champion does in the game, which confirms his presence in Arcane.
This scene comes right at the end of season 2 episode 2. We know from earlier scenes that Singed has been busy working on him. Check out the similarities with his official splashart!
According to lore, Warwick is a monstrous hunter stalking the dim alleys of Zaun. Once a man, he was twisted by excruciating experiments that melded his body with a complex network of chambers and pumps, flooding his veins with volatile alchemical fury. Arcane provides context to this “man,” who we know as Vander, Vi and Powder’s adoptive father.
Warwick is irresistibly drawn to the scent of blood, driven to madness by it, and none who shed it can evade his wrath.
Act 2 Episode 5: Blisters and Bedrock
Orianna
Singed finally reveals what’s driving his scientific pursuits — his daughter, Orianna, who is kept in a tank.
“Everything I’ve done is to cure her,” he tells Caitlyn in Act 2 Episode 5, Blisters and Bedrock.
“Precisely what are you trying to cure?” Ambessa asks.
“That affliction we all suffer,” Singed replies. “Death.”
League of Legends players already know that Singed won’t succeed. Sort of. The clockwork Orianna we are familiar with is one who is made of intricate mechanical components.
According to her official lore, she suffered a severe illness caused by an accident in Zaun’s lower districts as a young girl. Somewhere along the way, her deteriorating body was gradually replaced with intricate mechanical components and now roams freely in Piltover and beyond.
LeBlanc
The moment Arcane mentioned Black Rose, League of Legends players knew that it’s her. After all, her most iconic line in-game is “The Black Rose shall bloom once more.”
But it’s only in Act 2 Episode 5, Blisters and Bedrock, that LeBlanc finally shows a fragment of her true form.
Before this, we’ve seen her chains and dramatics. One of her skills in-game is called Ethereal Chains, which shackles and chains enemies, and Arcane portrays this literally.
It’s Mel Medarda who is forced to get up close and personal with The Deceiver. Recognizing that Kino isn’t really her brother, she smashes the illusion into the wall.
We see flickers of all the people that LeBlanc has copied, and finally, when she changes her face to Mel, we see her yellow eyes and silver face mark that’s identical to her original splashart. This is the “true” LeBlanc.
Known officially as the “matron of Black Rose” in League of Legends lore, LeBlanc is just one of many aliases for a pale sorceress who has influenced Noxian history since its earliest days.
Wielding magic that allows her to create mirror images of herself, she can appear to anyone, anywhere, and seemingly exist in multiple places simultaneously, as shown in Arcane season 2. Ever scheming from the shadows, LeBlanc’s true intentions remain as elusive as her ever-changing identity.
Act 2 Episode 9: The Dirt under your Nails
Swain
There’s been many hints of Swain’s presence fluttering about certain scenes throughout Arcane, notably in the presence of a crow, but it’s only in the finale Act 2 Episode 9 where we get absolute confirmation.
A black crow flies about the roofs of Piltover, then reveals its three red eyes as it peers into what’s left of the arcane rubbles. A few scenes later, the supposed same crow is seen flying among Noxian ships, hinting at Swain’s story.
The crow perfectly matches Swain’s official splashart in League of Legends. Look to the right by his red glowing hand and you’ll see the exact same three-eyed crow.
Even before this, shrewd Legends of Runeterra players were quick to pick up on an in-game reference from Riot Games’ free-to-play digital collectible card game that’s set in the same universe as League of Legends.
In season 2 episode 3, Ambessa boards a ship and grants an audience with Amara, a Piltover trade merchant. While the ship’s name is never mentioned, it is clearly where the general resides and has a similar appearance to the LoR card, The Leviathan, which summons Swain.
In official lore, Swain is known as the Noxian Grand General, but clearly wasn’t during the events in Arcane where Ambessa was leader while he was exiled.
It’s only after his failures that he gains the power of the Immortal Bastion, an ancient entity that he learned how to wield, which gives him the ability to now command three-eyed crows.
Using his newfound power, he comes back to seize Noxus in a single night, and would station himself on the Leviathan as the Grand General.
Watch Arcane now on streaming platform Netflix.
EXPLORE THE UNIVERSE: League of Legends: Realms of Runeterra (Official Companion) |
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