If you binged all of Arcane and found yourself obsessed with Vi’s no-nonsense attitude, Jinx’s chaotic energy, or Caitlyn’s relentless pursuit of justice, you’re definitely not alone. One of the first questions most new Arcane fans have is which characters from Arcane are in League of Legends, since the show is directly tied to Riot’s hit MOBA. As someone who’s played LoL for over 8 years and rewatched Arcane three times, I’ve put together everything you need to know about crossover characters, lore differences, and tips for playing your favorite show character in the game.
All Confirmed Characters From Arcane That Are In League of Legends
Riot built Arcane entirely around the existing Piltover and Zaun champion roster from LoL, so most major named characters from the show are already playable. A few have been around since the game first launched, while others were added in the years leading up to Arcane’s first season premiere. Below is a full list of every confirmed crossover champion:
If you’re looking to play any of these characters from Arcane that are in League of Legends, you can unlock them either with blue essence earned through playing games, or with premium currency if you want to get them right away. You might be wondering about popular characters like Silco, Mel, or Powder’s young friend Claggor? None of those are playable in LoL as of now, though Riot has teased that fan-favorite Arcane original characters may join the roster in future updates. Minor characters like enforcer Marcus are only referenced in LoL lore but aren’t playable either.
Key Differences Between Arcane and In-Game Champion Lore
Most of the core character traits you see in Arcane carry over to LoL, but there are a few small differences that long-time fans have noticed. For example, in the original LoL lore, Vi and Jinx’s sibling connection was hinted at for years, but it was never officially confirmed until Arcane’s first season aired. Riot actually retconned small bits of existing lore to match Arcane’s storyline, because the show was so overwhelmingly well received by both long-time fans and new viewers.
Another big difference is Jayce and Viktor’s relationship. In old LoL lore, they were bitter rivals from the very start, with no history of working together. Arcane shows their slow falling out over differing views on how technology should be used, a change that Riot has now made official for all future LoL lore content. You don’t have to worry about missing key context if you only watched Arcane first, though. Riot has said that Arcane is now the official core canon for all Piltover and Zaun champion lore, so anything you see in the show is 100% accurate to current LoL storylines.
What to Know If You Want to Play Your Favorite Arcane Champion in LoL
If you’re coming to LoL for the first time because you loved Arcane, you might be tempted to jump straight into playing Jinx or Vi as your first champion. But it’s important to know that not all Arcane characters are beginner-friendly, and picking a champion that’s too hard to master can make your first few weeks of playing frustrating.
For example, Jinx is one of the hardest ADCs to master for new players, because she has no built-in mobility abilities and relies heavily on perfect positioning to avoid getting killed in team fights. If you love her chaotic energy, try practicing her in co-op vs AI games first before jumping into PvP matches, so you can get used to her ability range and attack speed without worrying about losing to more experienced players.
Vi, on the other hand, is a great beginner-friendly pick. Her kit is straightforward, she has a built-in gap closer to get to enemies quickly, and her ultimate ability lets you lock onto high-priority targets easily, even if you’re still learning how to aim skill shots. Caitlyn is also a solid beginner ADC pick, because her long attack range lets you stay far away from danger while you learn the basics of laning and team fighting.
One thing to note: if you’re expecting to play through Arcane’s story in the game, you won’t find that exact linear story content. LoL doesn’t have a dedicated single-player story mode, but you can find short story snippets on the official LoL universe site, fun voice line interactions between Arcane champions in matches, and even Arcane skins are regularly available in the in-game shop to make your gameplay feel more connected to the show. These skins often go on sale around Arcane season premieres, so it’s worth waiting for a discount if you don’t want to pay full price.
Upcoming Arcane Characters That May Join League of Legends
Riot has already confirmed that they plan to add more Arcane characters to the LoL roster as the show releases new seasons, to keep the two properties tied closely together. The most heavily teased character right now is Silco, Jinx’s father figure from season 1 of Arcane. Leaks suggest he will be a support champion focused on zone control and buffing his allies, but there’s no official release date announced as of now.
Mel Medarda, the Piltover council member from season 1, is also a very popular fan request, and Riot employees have mentioned in past interviews that they are actively considering adding her to the game if fan demand stays high. There are also rumors that Vander, even though he is already Warwick in the current LoL timeline, may get a separate younger, pre-experiment skin so players can play as the version of Vander they saw in Arcane’s first few episodes.
Just remember that all leaks are unconfirmed, and Riot often changes development plans last minute, so don’t get your heart set on a specific character until they make an official announcement. So far, Riot has kept all Arcane-related champion releases tied to the show’s season launch windows, so we’ll likely see any new crossover characters drop around the same time as future Arcane seasons.
Whether you’re a long-time LoL player re-watching Arcane to spot hidden lore Easter eggs, or a new fan curious which characters from Arcane are in League of Legends, the crossover between the show and the game is one of the best parts of Riot’s expanding universe. You don’t have to be a pro player to enjoy playing as your favorite Arcane character, and even if your top pick isn’t playable yet, there’s a very good chance they’ll join the roster in the next few years. If you’re just starting out in LoL, take your time learning the basics, and don’t be afraid to try out a few different Arcane champions to find the one that fits your playstyle best.