When I first got into the world of Runeterra in Teamfight Tactics, I wasn’t prepared for how invested I would be with the characters. Yet every game I played, every set they rotated, I found myself wanting to know the story behind every being that made up the vast universe of Runeterra.
Today, there are over 170 champions in League of Legends– all unique and interconnected. Being an online multiplayer game first, and lore second, I asked myself: where does one go to find more lore?
I was hungry for more, turning to my League homies. Surprisingly, no one knew very much, despite the popularity and age of the franchise.
If you’re starving for Runeterra lore like I was, I’ve got some good news. It exists- you just need to know where to look. Here are a few places to get you started!
TV
Arcane
I’ll get this one out of the way first because it’s the most widely known and perhaps most accessible.
For those who don’t know it though, Arcane is a TV show on Netflix based on League of Legends. The show’s focus is on the conflict between the capital of Piltover, and Zaun, its gritty underbelly. It features champions such as Vi, Caitlyn, Jinx, Ekko and Jayce to name a few; though I promise Ekko isn’t as annoying as he is in the game!
The series is nine episodes a season, with only two seasons so it’s not a particularly long watch. It is an artistic masterpiece, with episodes costing millions to animate. The catchy soundtracks are available on Spotify with millions of plays from hit artists such as Imagine Dragons, Denzel Curry, Bea Miller and Stray Kids.
Also, killer voice acting cast adding so much emotional depth to the characters – Hailee Steinfield absolutely kicks ass as Vi.
Look, the first season does start off a bit slow, but it’s well worth the time investment- better than a toxic game of League at least. Whether you’re a League fan or completely new though, Arcane is sure to impress. There’s plenty of fun action sequences and witty lines. But what makes it one of my favourite shows of all time is that it doesn’t shy away from exploring the deep, psychological wounds that the characters have and how they resolve them.
Riot have confirmed that there will be more TV series on the way- I can’t wait to see what’s next in the ‘League Cinematic Universe’.
Novels
As an avid reader with a soft spot for fantasy fiction, I really hit the jackpot with the League of Legends novels below.
The novels (both stand-alone and by different authors) explore Viego and Ambessa’s origin stories. Two champions, born into families of power, and how the price of their choices are paid for throughout Runeterra.
I think they’re both a fantastic and easy read. Immersing yourself in your imagination of a world is second to none- perhaps only to video games.
Ruination by Anthony Reynolds
I can’t even remember how I came across this novel but you best believe I was telling everyone about it after I discovered it.
Ruination follows the story of the young King Viego in his rule of Camavor. However, it’s told through his niece’s perspective. Kalista sets off on an ambitious mission to save the kingdom (and the king from himself). It’s a grand task; for Isolde, Viego’s beloved, has fallen ill and seeks a remedy that can only be found in the rumoured Blessed Isles.
A tale of great destruction, tragedy and revenge… one can’t help but think of a Shakespearean tale. I found myself so utterly taken with the story of the ruined king that I named my void cat after him.
Even if you don’t necessarily like Viego as a champion in League, I truly think it’s worth appreciating how much history he’s made within the world of Runeterra. It’s basically League Lore 101 at this point.
Bonus: the author is Australian so I was extra happy to support!
Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf by C. L. Clark
This book was very hard to put down. It made my train rides faster, so bless C. L. Clark for being gifted at writing fantasy novels. I’m adding some of her other novels to my wishlist as we speak.
Ambessa Medarda features in Arcane, and although she’s not well liked, I decided to pick up this novel to find out more about the Medarda family history. I’m so glad I did because it was very intriguing and quenched more of that thirst for League lore.
Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf is largely about Ambessa’s ambitions and her family’s conflict over power. It takes the reader on a journey in Noxus to understand the Medarda ways. We see Ambessa as the powerful yet vulnerable woman she is and the sacrifices she makes in the name of family. Mel Medarda is a big part of the story too, which I was pleased about because I had some questions.
The novel’s events take place before Arcane so you’re welcome to read the novel first. I picked it up after finishing Arcane because I wanted more.
Games
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story
If you aren’t a reader, you can also play through Ruined King, although the story has a different perspective than the novel of a similar name. We find ourselves in a Runeterra set a thousand years later from the events of the Ruination.
Once again, Viego features in the game, but the story is not told from his perspective. I’m starting to think Riot just didn’t want to have an Edward in Midnight Sun moment with Viego which is totally valid.
I recently finished this game a few days ago, so stay tuned for a full game review on this at some point. Ruined King is a turn-based RPG. The story starts off in Bilgewater, where Miss Fortune and Illaoi sense that something is amiss. Fearing for the worst, their investigation leads them to discover other deep secrets in the Shadow Isles and ghosts from the past.
Other champions join the fray for their own reasons, each having their own arc in the game which I thought was very neat. Champions hail from regions like Freljord and Ionia, allowing players to learn some lore from far and beyond.
I adored the attention to detail they gave to this game. The voice acting really sold me too, with a great cast like Matthew Mercer and Laura Bailey. It also has classic RPG mechanics including fishing, campfire chats and weapon enchantment. Big ticks there.
Because it’s an older game now too, it periodically pops up on a Steam sale (that’s when I pulled the trigger).
This is all I have for now, but I am always on the lookout for more lore so stay tuned.
Look after yourself,
Elena
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