All League of Legends Champions By Release Date

From 17 to 170 Champions

League of Legends started small but has grown massively. As of 2025, its 170-strong roster spans Champions packed with different designs and skill kits.

Over the years, League of Legends has steadily expanded this champion pool, with each new addition bringing fresh mechanics, play styles, and unique lore to the game.

Below, we break down the game’s evolving champion releases, design shifts, and how 2025’s additions, like Mel Medarda, are rewriting League’s meta.

List of Available LoL Champions By Release Date

The Early Days in 2009-2011

When League launched in October 2009, Riot planned to release under 20 champions. However, by Alpha Week 2, that number had doubled to 40, the largest number of champions Riot had ever released in a year.

By 2010 and 2011, the game had rapidly expanded, with 24 new champions added each year. This period introduced champions like Poppy, Pantheon, Miss Fortune, Caitlyn, and Vayne, each with unique mechanics that later influenced champion design.

At this point, the League of Legends developers were still experimenting with different playstyles, and this time, it laid the foundation for the game’s future evolution.

The Golden Age of 2012-2014

Between 2012 and 2014, League of Legends saw one of its most exciting phases of champion design. This period introduced some of the most beloved and game-changing champions: Thresh, Zed, and Yasuo.

Thresh brought a new level of team play with his lantern mechanic, while Zed and Yasuo became instant favorites due to their high-skill ceiling, high mobility, and outplay potential.

During this time, LoL expanded the game's lore, connecting champions with deeper backstories. Characters like Kalista and Braum introduced new gameplay elements, changing how bot-lane duos functioned.

The game's competitive scene also grew massively along with these new champion releases, with more international tournaments and an expanding esports presence in regions like the Middle East.

A Shift in Strategy During 2015-2017

Rather than focusing on quantity, League started prioritizing champion quality and innovation. Fewer champions were released, but each introduced something special to the game while presenting longer, more challenging development cycles.

Ekko introduced time-based mechanics that allowed for creative outplays. Tahm Kench, with his ability to protect his ADC, provides a unique support playstyle. Jhin was a champion who designed around a strict four-shot mechanic that required precision and patience. Xayah and Rakan became the first duo designed specifically to synergize.

Refinement and Innovation From 2018 to 2024

By this time, Riot had refined its champion release strategy, focusing on deeper lore, impactful mechanics, and game-changing abilities. Champions became more complex, often requiring mastery over multiple abilities or unique resources.

Sylas, the 150th champion, introduced the ability to steal enemy ultimates, making him one of the most unpredictable characters in the game. K’Sante, released in 2022, was a milestone for representation, marking the game’s first Black LGBTQ+ champion, while Ambessa Medarda, the latest champion as of November 2024, continues the trend of pushing champion design in new directions.

With 170 champions, League of Legends surpassed other MOBAs in champion diversity, for example, Dota 2 only has 121 heroes. Riot’s approach ensures constant meta-shifts and strategic variety.

The Latest Champion Addition

• Milio, the Gentle Flame (March 22, 2023)
• Naafiri, the Hound of a Hundred Bites (July 20, 2023)
• Briar, the Unrestrained Hunger (September 14, 2023)
• Hwei, the Visionary (December 6, 2023)
• Smolder, the Fiery Fledgling (January 31, 2024)
• Aurora, the Witch Between Worlds (July 17, 2024)
• Ambessa, the Matriarch of War (November 6, 2024)
• Mel, the Soul's Reflection (January 23, 2025)

How Champion Design and Rework Have Evolved

The complexity of League Champs has increased significantly since the game’s launch. Early champions like Annie and Ashe had simple abilities that made them easy to pick up and play. Over time, Riot began adding more layered mechanics, leading to champions like Aphelios and Viego, who require careful ability knowledge.

Now, each champion has a strong identity in gameplay and story. Riot has expanded its champion designs beyond traditional roles, introducing abilities that allow for more flexible playstyles. These innovations have kept League of Legends fresh and engaging, ensuring players always have new challenges to overcome.

Early Champions vs. Newest Designs

2009-2010 (Foundation Era)

• Simpler kits
• 78% had passive abilities without conditions
• Over 60% received major reworks
   

2023-2025 (Complexity Era)

• Multi-resource systems (Hwei’s paint spells)
• Global map impact (Briar’s blood trails)
• Lore-driven mechanics (Mel’s rebuttal)

The Impact of New Champions on Meta and Gameplay

Each new champion shakes up the game in different ways. Some introduce entirely new strategies, forcing players to adapt and change their playstyles. Others reinforce existing metas, strengthening particular roles or team compositions.

Balancing these champions is also an ongoing challenge. Riot frequently adjusts new releases through patches to ensure no champion is too dominant. For example, Patch 14.6 introduced major changes to items and champion power levels, influencing which champions are favored in competitive play.

Community feedback plays a huge role in how new champions fit into the game, as players constantly test and refine strategies based on each patch’s adjustments.

Milestones in Champion Releases

Some champions mark turning points in League of Legends lore. In 2012, the addition of Draven brought never-before-seen skill-based gameplay through his axe-catching mechanism. Zoe, the 100th champion released in 2017, brought in unpredictable, portal-based mobility that allowed for extremely unpredictable gameplay. Sylas, the 150th champion released in 2019, changed the game by allowing players to turn their opponents' most powerful abilities against themselves.

The Future of League of Legends Champions

League, with its current roster of 170 champions, continues to evolve. New champions come out less frequently, but each one has something new to bring to the game. Riot also focuses on updating champions already released, such as the Skarner rework, introducing new mechanics to old champions.

As the game expands, LoL’s constantly changing champion roster ensures that players never run out of new strategies to learn, and the synergy between new releases, constant updates, and the meta keeps the game fresh and fun for both pros and casuals.

How to Unlock New Champions Faster 2025

• Blue Essence Farming: Daily wins yield 400 BE (50% boost with XP boosts)
• Event Passes: Exchange tokens for champion shards
• Smurf Accounts: Pre-unlocked rosters start at $5

The Legacy of League’s Champion Roster

The Legacy of League’s Champion Roster

League of Legends has progressed a great deal since its launch in 2009. From a modest start with only 40 champions, the game has gradually increased the number of champions to capture demand, with the current figure being an impressive 170 champions. While the early years focused on the number of champions, the following years emphasized depth, quality, and game-changing mechanisms.

LoL has a rosy future as the developers keep advancing in champion design, as new champions introduce new problems, new strategies, and an evolving professional scene for players to enjoy.