If you binged every episode of Arcane and immediately found yourself curious about its ties to the game that inspired it, you’re not alone. Thousands of new players hop into League of Legends every month after falling in love with Vi, Jinx, and the rest of the cast from the hit animated series, and the first question most of them ask is who in Arcane is in League of Legends as playable characters. Some characters translate almost exactly to their on-screen counterparts, while others have small tweaks to their lore or abilities to fit the game’s fast-paced gameplay. We’re breaking down every overlapping character, plus key differences you’ll want to know if you plan to pick them up in your next LoL match.
Who in Arcane is in League of Legends: Full Playable Character List
Every character on this list is available to play right now in standard LoL matches, with lore that directly aligns with their Arcane portrayal. Some were added to the game years before Arcane premiered, while others were released shortly after the show dropped to capitalize on fan demand. Here’s the full breakdown of every overlapping character:
- Vi: The Piltover Enforcer is exactly the brash, punch-first brawler you saw on screen, with gauntlets that let her knock enemies across the map. She’s a top lane or jungle main favorite for players who love aggressive, in-your-face playstyles.
- Jinx: The Loose Cannon’s chaotic personality and signature weapons (Pow-Pow, Zapper, and Super Mega Death Rocket) are pulled straight from Arcane. She’s one of the most popular ADC picks in the game, perfect for players who love high-damage, high-risk play.
- Caitlyn Kiramman: The Sheriff of Piltover is a long-range ADC with a sniper rifle that can pick off enemies from across the lane. Her in-game lore ties directly to her Arcane backstory as a wealthy Piltover noble who turned to law enforcement to clean up the city.
- Jayce Talis: The Defender of Tomorrow is a flexible top or mid lane champion who can switch between melee and ranged forms with his iconic Hextech hammer. His in-game abilities reflect his status as the face of Hextech innovation in Piltover.
- Viktor: The Machine Herald is a mid lane mage who trades flesh for steel to unlock human potential, exactly as his Arcane arc teases. He’s a high-damage, area control pick perfect for players who love outplaying opponents with skill shots.
- Ekko: The Boy Who Shattered Time is a jungle or mid lane assassin who can rewind time to undo mistakes, a mechanic pulled directly from his Arcane ability to manipulate Hextech crystals. He’s a favorite for players who love flashy, high-skill plays.
- Cecil B. Heimerdinger: The Revered Inventor is a mid lane or support mage who builds turrets and gadgets to control team fights. His Arcane portrayal as a wise, long-time leader of Piltover’s academy matches his in-game lore almost exactly.
- Singed: The Mad Chemist is a top lane bruiser who poisons enemies and runs straight through team fights without slowing down. His in-game lore ties directly to his Arcane role as the scientist responsible for many of Zaun’s worst atrocities.
- Warwick: The Uncaged Wrath of Zaun is a jungle bruiser who hunts low-health enemies, and confirmed in Arcane season 2 to be Vi and Jinx’s father, Vander. His in-game kit leans into his feral, chemically altered nature.
- Renata Glasc: The Chem Baroness is a support champion who can turn enemies against each other and revive allies, first introduced after Arcane season 1 and featured heavily in season 2 as a ruthless Zaunite power player.
You might notice a few fan-favorite Arcane characters missing from this list, like Powder’s old friend Claggor or Vander’s right-hand man Benzo. Those characters don’t have playable LoL counterparts yet, though Riot has a history of adding new champions tied to popular Arcane story beats, so that could change in the future. If you’re brand new to LoL, we recommend starting with Vi or Jinx first if you want a character that feels familiar from the show, as their kits are relatively easy to pick up for new players.
Key Lore Differences Between Arcane and League of Legends Versions
Riot has stated that Arcane is part of official LoL canon, but there are still small differences between the show’s portrayal of characters and their original in-game backstories, mostly to make the show’s narrative tighter and more emotionally impactful. For example, in early LoL lore, Vi and Jinx were confirmed sisters but their backstory was never fully fleshed out, and there was no mention of Vander or their life in the Lanes before Vi joined the Piltover police. Arcane filled in those gaps, and Riot has since updated the in-game lore to match the show’s version, so most of those old inconsistencies are gone now. The biggest remaining difference is Viktor’s relationship with Jayce; in pre-Arcane lore, the two were bitter rivals from the start, but the show portrays them as former friends who fell apart over ideological differences, a change Riot has now adopted as official canon. It’s also worth noting that some champion abilities are exaggerated for gameplay purposes. For example, Ekko’s time rewind ability in LoL can reset entire team fights, but in Arcane, he can only rewind small, short moments to fix mistakes, a limit that makes the show’s fight scenes feel more tense and grounded. If you’re playing LoL for the lore, you don’t have to worry about conflicting stories anymore, as Riot has aligned almost all existing champion backstories with the events of Arcane. That means any story beats you see in the show will directly tie into what you read in character bios in the game client.
How to Pick Your First Arcane Champion in League of Legends
Now that you know which characters cross over between the two franchises, you might be wondering which one to pick first for your first few matches. Your choice should come down to what playstyle you enjoy most, not just which character you liked best on the show, because even if you love Viktor’s arc, his high-skill kit might be frustrating if you’ve never played a MOBA before. If you prefer playing aggressively and getting up close to enemies, Vi is the best pick for new players. Her abilities are straightforward: you punch enemies, use your gauntlets to dash into fights, and your ultimate ability lets you lock onto a single high-priority target and knock them up for your team to finish off. She’s forgiving for new players and doesn’t require perfect aim to be effective. If you prefer staying back and dealing damage from a safe distance, Caitlyn or Jinx are great choices. Caitlyn has the longest basic attack range in the game, so you can hit enemies without putting yourself in danger, while Jinx has higher burst damage but requires you to pay closer attention to your positioning to avoid getting caught. If you love supporting your team instead of dealing damage, Renata Glasc or Heimerdinger are solid picks. Renata can heal allies and turn enemy carries against their own team, while Heimerdinger can place turrets to defend lanes and help your team push objectives without taking damage. We recommend avoiding Singed, Warwick, or Viktor for your first few matches, as their kits require more advanced game knowledge to use effectively, and you might get frustrated if you keep dying before you can use your abilities properly.
Future Arcane Characters Coming to League of Legends
Riot has already confirmed that they plan to add more Arcane characters to LoL as the show continues to release new seasons, so this list won’t be final forever. The most heavily teased upcoming champion is Ambessa Medarda, Mel’s mother, who was introduced in Arcane season 2 as a ruthless Noxian warlord. Riot has already released concept art for her kit, which will focus on melee combat and leading her team into fights, fitting her on-screen personality as a born leader. There are also rumors that characters like Sevika, Vander’s former right-hand who works for Silco in season 1, could get a playable release in the next few years, though Riot hasn’t confirmed that yet. It’s important to remember that Riot usually takes 6 to 12 months to develop a new champion after they’re first teased, so even if a character appears in Arcane, you might have to wait a while before you can play them in LoL. In the meantime, Riot regularly releases cross-over content between Arcane and LoL, including special skins, in-game events, and lore updates that tie directly to the show’s latest season. If you want to stay up to date on new releases, you can check the in-game news tab for announcements, or follow official Riot social media accounts for early teasers. Even if your favorite Arcane character isn’t playable yet, there’s a good chance they’ll be added to the game eventually, as Riot has made it clear that Arcane is a core part of the LoL franchise moving forward.
At the end of the day, the overlap between Arcane and League of Legends is part of what makes both franchises feel so connected and immersive for fans. Whether you’re a long-time LoL player who wanted to see your favorite champions get a fully animated backstory, or a new fan who fell in love with the world of Piltover and Zaun through the show and wants to try the game, knowing who in Arcane is in League of Legends makes the experience feel that much more personal. Don’t be afraid to test out a few different champions to find the one that fits your playstyle best, even if it’s not the character you expected to love most. You might be surprised by how much fun you have playing a champion you barely noticed in the show, once you get the hang of their kit.