For newcomers and veterans alike, the allure of League of Legends often lies in its vast roster of champions, each offering a unique playstyle and strategic depth. Building a diverse champion pool is fundamental to enjoying the game, adapting to team compositions, and climbing the competitive ladder. However, in 2025, the journey to unlock these powerful characters has become a topic of significant discussion and, for many, a source of considerable controversy.
Riot Games has continued to evolve its champion acquisition system, leading to both streamlined elements and community-driven backlash. Here’s a comprehensive look at how players are getting their hands on new champions in the current landscape.
Starting Your Journey: Initial Champions and Weekly Rotations
Every new account begins with a starter bundle of 20-30 fundamental champions. This initial roster ensures that new players can immediately dive into the game with a variety of roles and positions covered, providing a solid foundation for learning.
Beyond this, the free champion rotation remains a cornerstone of champion exploration. Each week, a selection of 20-30 champions is temporarily made available to all players, regardless of ownership.
This “try before you buy” system is invaluable for experimenting with different playstyles, understanding champion kits, and deciding which characters genuinely resonate with your preferences before committing resources to unlock them permanently.
Primary Avenues for Champion Acquisition
The core methods for expanding your champion collection revolve around two main currencies and several supplementary systems:
| Method | Description | Cost/Requirement |
| Blue Essence (BE) | The main in-game currency, primarily earned through gameplay. | 450–6,300 BE per champion (varies by release/complexity) |
| Riot Points (RP) | Premium currency, purchased with real money, offers instant unlocks. | 260–975 RP per champion |
| Champion Shards | Fragments obtained from capsules, chests, or event loot. | Shard + reduced BE |
| Event Tokens | Earned during special in-game events. | Exchange in event shops for shards/mystery orbs |
| Champion Bundles | Occasional limited-time offers of multiple champions, sometimes with skins. | RP or BE (when available) |
Blue Essence (BE): The Free-to-Play Grind
Blue Essence is the lifeblood of free-to-play champion acquisition. Traditionally earned through leveling up, disenchanting champion shards, and completing missions, BE allows direct purchase of champions from the in-game store. The cost of champions in BE ranges from 450 for the most basic, beginner-friendly characters to a steeper 6,300 for newly released or more complex champions.
Riot Points (RP): The Premium Shortcut
For those seeking immediate access, Riot Points offer the quickest path. Purchased with real-world money, RP can instantly unlock any champion in the store, with prices typically ranging from 260 to 975 RP per champion. While efficient, this is undoubtedly the most expensive route to building your roster.
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Champion Shards and Capsules: A Discounted Path
Leveling up your Summoner Level rewards you with Champion Capsules, which contain random champion shards. These shards are a crucial component of the current system. You can choose to:
- Upgrade: Combine a champion shard with a reduced amount of Blue Essence to permanently unlock that champion. This method often offers a significant BE discount compared to purchasing the champion outright.
- Disenchant: Convert unwanted champion shards into Blue Essence. This is particularly useful if you receive a shard for a champion you already own or have no interest in playing, allowing you to funnel BE towards desired unlocks.
Following community feedback, Hextech Chests made a welcome return in 2025. These chests, along with various event loot, can also provide champion shards, adding another layer to the acquisition process.
Event Missions and Token Shops: Seasonal Opportunities
Throughout the year, Riot Games hosts numerous in-game events. Participating in these events and completing associated missions rewards players with event tokens. These tokens can then be exchanged in dedicated event shops for a variety of rewards, including champion shards or mystery champion orbs, which can grant a random champion. Both free and paid “event passes” can significantly increase the number of rewards, including champion-related loot, that players can earn during these periods.
Champion Bundles: Bulk Acquisitions
Periodically, Riot offers champion bundles in the store. These bundles group together a selection of champions, sometimes alongside exclusive skins, often at a discounted RP price. While less frequent for Blue Essence, these bundles can be an attractive option for new or returning players looking to rapidly expand their champion pool with a diverse set of characters.
Recent System Changes and the Community Controversy
The year 2025 has seen significant overhauls to League of Legends’ progression and reward systems, sparking widespread debate within the community. A major shift has been the increased integration of Blue Essence and loot rewards into a seasonal battle pass structure.
- Shift in Level-Up Rewards: A key point of contention is the removal of direct Blue Essence rewards from traditional level-ups. BE is now primarily earned through the battle pass, which many free-to-play users argue has significantly slowed down their ability to unlock champions at the previous pace.
- Hextech Chests’ Return: In response to player outcry, Riot did reintroduce Hextech Chests as a reward within the battle pass, allowing players to earn up to ten chests per “act” of the pass. These chests can contain valuable champion shards.
- Slower Progression Concerns: Perhaps the most impactful controversy stems from claims that the new system drastically increases the time required to unlock champions. Viral posts have suggested it could take up to an astonishing 882 hours of gameplay to unlock a single new champion under the new structure, igniting considerable frustration among dedicated players who feel their progression has been unfairly hampered.
Tips for Navigating Champion Acquisition in 2025
For players looking to efficiently build their champion roster amidst these changes, strategic play is more crucial than ever:
- Maximize Free Rotations: Consistently utilize the weekly free champion pool to test out and familiarize yourself with various champions before committing your hard-earned BE or RP.
- Prioritize Event Participation: Events are now a vital source of champion shards, Blue Essence, and other valuable loot. Dedicate time to completing event missions whenever possible.
- Strategic Shard Management: Don’t hesitate to disenchant unwanted champion shards to convert them into Blue Essence, speeding up your progress towards desired champions.
- Evaluate Bundles: If available and align with your interests, consider champion bundles for significant savings on multiple unlocks.
- Stay Informed: Keep a close eye on official Riot Games announcements for any further changes to the reward system, new bundles, or special events that might make champion acquisition more accessible.
Conclusion
Unlocking new champions in League of Legends in 2025 is still achievable without spending real money, but the process has undoubtedly become slower and more demanding for free-to-play players following the recent system overhaul. For those eager to rapidly expand their champion pool, investing in RP or diligently taking advantage of limited-time bundles and events has gained increased importance.
While the community continues to voice its desire for a more rewarding and accessible system, for now, patience, strategic gameplay, and a keen eye on in-game opportunities are paramount to growing your formidable champion collection on Summoner’s Rift.
Written by:
Christian