March 15, 2025

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Each individual League of Legends Runeterra area reference in Arcane

Each individual League of Legends Runeterra area reference in Arcane

Riot Games’ first Netflix animated sequence “Arcane” gives viewers a peek into the globe of Runeterra, the universe that League of Legends is established in.

As the MOBA game’s winner roster expanded around the years, new races have been released alongside new locations. As it stands, there are at present 13 areas in overall, some of which do not even exist on the exact aircraft.

Though not all of these Runeterra regions had been mentioned in the collection, numerous critical League of Legends factions were, and are starting off to engage in considerable roles in building the story as we master in Season 1 Act 3.

Right here are all the Runeterra areas that were being referenced in the anime so considerably.

Warning: Main spoilers if you have not watched Arcane Act 1, 2, and 3.



List of League of Legends Runeterra areas referenced in Arcane Period 1

  • Piltover and Zaun
  • The Freljord
  • Bilgewater
  • Bandlecity
  • Noxus

Piltover and Zaun

An artist's vision of Piltover, a region in Runeterra, League of Legends
Credit history: Riot Online games

This two-in-one particular area requires no introduction, for they form the backdrop of Arcane.

Even nevertheless Piltover and Zaun are physically section of the very same metropolis, we witness in Season 1 Act 3 that Silco now experienced strategies to establish an impartial nation for his people today.

Irrespective of their shared fascination in science and development, visually and ideologically, these two metropolitan areas could not be additional distinctive.

Piltover was created on a cliff and is actually and symbolically of a better statue than the undercity of Zaun. This globally respected town on the topside is in which prosperity accumulates, craftsmanship and architecture prosper, trade and innovation flourish, and civilization is at its finest. Sharply dressed major figures Mel, Jayce, Heimerdinger, and Caitlyn stand for this Runeterra region immaculately.

Arcane Act 1 Episode 1 characters walking into the Runeterra region of Zaun
Credit: Riot Online games, screenshot by Amanda Tan/One particular Esports

In contrast, the undercity is located in the valleys down below Piltover, where the air is greatly polluted, the place sunlight barely reaches.

Explained by Riot Games as a “dark mirror of the metropolis above”, Zaun is household to a large black current market wherever inventors know no bounds. Ekko, Singed, Jinx, Vi, Silco, and Viktor connect with the undercity their home.


The Freljord

Heimerdinger's Poro making an entrance in Arcane Act 2 Episode 4
Credit: Riot Video games, screenshot by Amanda Tan/One Esports

Heimerdinger’s pet Poro astonished viewers when he appeared in Act 2 Episode 4: “Happy Development Day”. He (or she?) is a direct reference to The Freljord location the place this species originates.

A further wintery reference was built in the exact same act in Episode 5: “Everybody Wishes to Be My Enemy” when Mel spoke to Jayce about his new placement as councilman in the opera house.

Arcane Act 3 Episode 5 in the opera theatre where a scene of The Freljord is set
Credit: Riot Game titles, screenshot by Amanda Tan/One Esports

The solo violinist on phase played a melancholic tune from a frosty blue backdrop that depicted warships and houses lined in snow. Only just one League of Legends region in Runeterra sits that much north — The Freljord.

Official notion artwork for The Freljord region by Riot Game titles reflect these pointed roof wooden homes, which are created this way so that the snow doesn’t accumulate and crack them.

A typical Freljord home, a concept art by Riot Games
Credit rating: Riot Game titles

In addition, considering that Runeterra’s The Freljord is completely ice-locked, its citizens are known to get close to around snow-capped land as much as they do on ships that sail from its harbors.


Bilgewater

Arcane Act 1 Episode 1 where a cutlass was used by traders in The Last Drop
Credit: Riot Online games, screenshot by Amanda Tan/1 Esports

The to start with time we discover The Past Fall in Act 1 Episode 1: “Welcome to the Playground” is from Vander’s stage of watch. Following he noticed that an Undercity patron was finding shortchanged by overseas traders, he sticks his nose out to help him.

Of study course, this did not occur without retaliation from the two traders. The intimidating feminine with glowing eyes threatened by pulling out her weapon, which lo and behold, is a cutlass.

Riot Games official concept art showing Bilgewater weapons
Credit history: Riot Game titles

A cutlass is a shorter blade for slashing made use of by pirates and is typically straight or marginally curved. As seen in Riot Games’ official notion art of Bilgewater, the cutlass is a standard weapon wielded by its inhabitants as well. Even even though the traders in no way expose where by they are from, this is a neat clue.

The second key reference to the port city of Bilgewater is discovered in Act 2 Episode 5: “Everybody Would like to Be My Enemy”. Right after Caitlyn breaks Vi out of jail, a person of the very first points Vi does now that she’s back in Zaun is dine at Jericho’s (dis)tasteful foodstuff stall.

As the digital camera cuts scenes, viewers get glimpses into the style of dishes served in this article. A single body shown a thick-headed carnivorous fish that seemed awfully related to League of Legends Bilgewater winner, Tahm Kench.

Dead catfish shown at Jericho's food stall in Arcane Act 2 Episode 5
Credit rating: Riot Video games, screenshot by Amanda Tan/One particular Esports
League of Legends champion Tahm Kench
Credit: Riot Game titles

The form of the head and its enamel are so comparable! What’s the river king executing on a chopping board though?

Perhaps Jericho can reveal, but he scarcely speaks any language. With pointed ears, fins at the leading of his head, a pirate eye patch, fish-like eyes, pointed teeth, and blue skin, the amphibious stall operator himself looks like he walked correct out of Bilgewater into Zaun.

Arcane Act 2 Episode 5 featuring Jericho who owns a food stall in Zaun, who possibly comes from Bilgewater
Credit: Riot Video games, screenshot by Amanda Tan/Just one Esports

Bandlecity

According to League of Legends lore, the origin of Yordles is unclear, but their most probable origin is Bandlecity, “a place of unfettered magic”, Riot Online games describes.

Our first experience with a Yordle in Arcane Act 1 Episode 1 occurs when the digital camera passes in excess of Babette, whom we later study runs 1 of the major brothels in the undercity. A lot like Poros, these very small, pointed-ear humanoids have extensive considering that migrated out of Bandlecity and settled across Runeterra.

Babette's debut in Arcane Act 1 Episode 1
Credit history: Riot Game titles, screenshot by Amanda Tan/Just one Esports

Fellow Yordles and popular League of Legends champions Heimerdinger and Teemo, are afterwards introduced.

Even although Heimerdinger, the father of Piltover, is no lengthier affiliated with his race’s authentic Runeterra region, the presence of Yordles provides fat to the existence of Bandlecity, which is not even positioned on the map.

Teemo appearing in a book in Arcane Act 2 Episode 6
Credit score: Riot Online games, screenshot by Amanda Tan/Just one Esports

Noxus

“Am I to convey to the Noxians their up coming cargo of wine will be vinegar?” councilman Hoskel cried out.

The quite to start with Noxus reference came up in Arcane Act 2 Episode 4: “Happy Development Day” when the council was speaking about closing the Hexgates for the safety of Piltover. Hoskel was from the idea, for he surely did not want his shipping and delivery trades with Noxus to be impacted.

Later on in Act 3, Mel’s mom from Noxus, Ambessa Medarda, arrives with her battalion to check out her daughter, amid other items.

Mel's mother, Ambessa Medarda, from Noxus making her first appearance in Arcane Act 3 Episode 8
Credit: Riot Online games, screenshot by Amanda Tan/A person Esports

The unique blood purple colours of Noxus is a reflection of what this Runeterran location stands for: war, violence, and bloodshed.

In Act 3 Episode 8: “Oil and Water”, the title not only refers to the dichotomy of Caitlyn and Vi, but also among Mel and her mom. Ambessa desires to send Piltover and Zaun into war as a testbed for Hextech technologies, although Mel strives for peace.

Riot Games official concept art of Noxus, a region in Runeterra
Credit rating: Riot Game titles

Substantially like Piltover and Zaun, you can not have Noxus without Demacia, the empire’s largest rival in Runeterra that shares the exact continent.

How did Mel’s brother die? Who is the “wrong man” that he crossed? Could it be a Demacian?

Only League of Legends Arcane Period 2 will tell.

Examine Extra: Here’s what occurred off-stream at Riot’s invite-only Undercity Evenings party