The tragic divide between the shimmering utopia of Piltover and the oppressive undercity of Zaun is driven by characters caught in a web of trauma, ambition, and political warfare.
Jinx, the tragic villain & sister of Vi
Traumatized by a tragic childhood event that claimed her entire family, Powder is raised by Silco, a crime lord who rules Zaun through fear. Everything shifts when her sister Vi, long presumed dead, reappears. Powder finds herself torn between two identities: the fragile little girl Vi once protected, and the powerful, fierce young woman raised by Silco. Broken, she becomes Jinx, the cursed girl who brings bad luck wherever she goes.
Discover the story of Jinx and Ekko!
Vi, the undercity fighter & sister of Jinx
Vi is Powder’s older sister and would go to any length to keep her safe… But everything falls apart when she discovers her little sister has transformed into Jinx, a powerful, tormented young woman who leaves chaos in her wake. Vi is forced to make a choice: try to save the sister she has always loved, or protect Caitlyn, her true love, who is determined to destroy Jinx.
Meet Vi!
Ekko, the Firelight leader of Zaun
A young prodigy from the streets of Zaun, he leads a group united around a secret: they have found a safe, peaceful new home and will do whatever it takes to protect it. Driven by a quest for justice, Ekko finds an ally in Heimerdinger, with whom he works tirelessly to build a better future for Zaun.
Meet Ekko!
Caitlyn, the Piltover enforcer & detective
An Enforcer of Piltover, Caitlyn investigates to expose the corruption decaying both Zaun and Piltover. At some point, her mission takes a drastic turn and she embarks on a relentless hunt to track Jinx down.
Meet Cait!
Mel Medarda, the Noxian councilor
A brilliant political strategist exiled from the violent nation of Noxus, Mel uses her wealth, diplomacy, and influence to become the most powerful member of Piltover’s Council. She champions Jayce and his Hextech innovations, seeking to build a legacy of art and progress rather than brutal conquest. However, when her warlord mother arrives to pressure her into weaponizing Hextech, Mel is forced to choose between her family’s bloodstained heritage and the fragile peace she has fought so hard to cultivate.
Meet Mel!
Jayce, the Hextech inventor of Piltover
Driven by an idealistic vision to harness magic through science, Jayce rises from an ambitious scholar to Piltover’s golden hero and a powerful councilor. As he navigates the political corruption of high society, he struggles to balance the promise of his Hextech breakthrough with the harsh realities of impending war. Caught between political compromise, his relationship with Mel, and his bond with Viktor, Jayce is forced to decide what he is truly willing to sacrifice in the name of progress.
Meet Jayce!
Viktor, the Hexcore scientist of Zaun
A brilliant scientist from the undercity, Viktor works alongside Jayce to unleash Hextech for the betterment of society. Terminally ill and running out of time, his desperate quest to save lives, and cure his own failing body, drives him toward increasingly radical experiments with the Hexcore. As his obsession deepens, Viktor’s tragic evolution threatens to strip away his very humanity and alienate the partner who once shared his dream.
Meet Viktor!
Vander, father of Vi and Powder
The respected leader of the undercity and adoptive father to Vi and Powder, Vander is a former rebel who abandoned violence to maintain a fragile peace with Piltover. Driven by regret over past mistakes, he dedicates himself to protecting his family and shielding Zaun from war. His selfless nature ultimately leads to a heroic final sacrifice to save his daughters, an act whose tragic fallout alters the fate of Zaun forever.
Meet Vander!
Arcane setting: Piltover VS Zaun
Piltover, the city of progress & Hextech hub
Perched on the towering cliffs above the ocean, Piltover is a booming metropolis known for its immense wealth, cultural prestige, and groundbreaking technological advancement. Governed by a powerful ruling Council of elite merchant houses and aristocrats, Piltover serves as the global capital of trade and innovation.
The city’s trajectory changes forever with Jayce and Viktor’s invention of Hextech, a revolutionary technology that harnesses raw magic through scientific machinery. However, Piltover’s pristine golden towers and grand achievements mask a dark reality: its prosperity is built directly on the systematic neglect, political oppression, and economic exploitation of the undercity below.
Zaun, the undercity of outcasts & Shimmer
Submerged in a permanent cloud of toxic industrial runoff beneath Piltover, Zaun is a perilous subterranean metropolis driven by grit, crime, and pure survival. Devoid of Sunlight and ignored by Piltover’s ruling elite, the undercity relies on its own black-market economy, dominated by Chemtech barons, street gangs, and shadow brokers.
Despite its hazardous living conditions, Zaun thrives on intense resilience and radical ingenuity. The widespread distribution of Shimmer, a highly volatile, addictive chemical compound, fuels both an underground criminal empire and a growing rebellion. Driven by decades of topside violence and oppression, the people of Zaun share an explosive desire for independence and equality at any cost.
Discover how the city of Zaun was inspired by Art Nouveau.
