In League of Legends, Hextech Chests are filled with skins, shards, and other goodies—but there’s a catch: you need keys to open them. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a pile of unopened chests and wondering how to get more keys, you’re not alone.
Unlike other in-game currencies, keys can’t be bought directly. Riot designed them as a reward for consistent, positive gameplay. So, if you want to farm keys efficiently, you’ll need to understand how the system works—and how to work with it.
Play and Win with a Positive Attitude
The primary way to earn key fragments is simple: play games and win. The more you win, the higher your chances of getting a key drop. But it’s not just about racking up wins—it’s also about being a positive contributor to your team.
Riot uses an internal system based on Honor levels to determine who gets key fragments. If you’re playing honorably—communicating well, avoiding toxic behavior, and getting honored by teammates—you’ll increase your odds.
Increase Your Honor Level
Honor is directly tied to how frequently you receive key fragments. You start at Honor Level 2, and by consistently receiving honors from teammates, you’ll climb toward Level 3 and beyond.
To boost your Honor level:
- play consistently and avoid penalties (like chat bans)
- be a team player—ward, help others, shotcall calmly
- accept honors gracefully and give them back when deserved
Higher Honor levels receive more frequent key fragment drops, as well as exclusive Honor Capsules that sometimes contain full keys.
Earn Up to 12 Key Fragments Per Month
Riot caps the number of key fragments you can earn at 12 per month. These are distributed randomly through your post-game rewards. Once you hit the monthly limit, you’ll need to wait for the system to reset.
The fragments drop in pieces—three fragments combine into one full key. So technically, you can earn up to four full keys per month through regular gameplay.
Other Sources of Keys
In addition to Honor-based drops, you can sometimes get keys or fragments from:
- Event missions tied to battle passes or seasonal events
- Hextech crafting milestones, like opening Masterwork Chests
- Honor Capsules, which are unlocked as you rank up in Honor
These bonuses aren’t frequent, but they’re a nice supplement to your monthly limit.
Final Thoughts
Keys in League of Legends are tied to more than just performance—they’re a reflection of your behavior on the Rift. Riot’s system rewards players who play often, win games, and treat others with respect.
If you want to unlock those shiny Hextech Chests sitting in your loot tab, focus on being consistent, communicative, and cooperative. After all, earning keys is just another way the game reminds us: good gameplay isn’t just about kills—it’s about character.
Written by:
Christian