How to Use Emojis in League of Legends: A Fun Guide to Expressing Yourself on the Rift

League of Legends, Riot Games’ flagship MOBA, is well-known for its high-stakes gameplay, intense team coordination, and, let’s face it, some salty moments in chat. But did you know there’s a lighter side to communication on the Rift? Emojis—yes, the same expressive little icons we use every day in texts and social media—have found their place in the League client and in-game chat. Here’s everything you need to know about using emojis in League of Legends to bring a little extra flair to your gameplay.

What Are Emojis in League of Legends?

While League of Legends doesn’t support custom image-based emojis (like Discord or Slack), players can use a selection of text-based emoticons and standard Unicode emojis in the game’s chat system—especially in the pre-game lobby, post-game lobby, and even during champion select. They’re a playful way to hype up your team, ease tension, or just drop a well-timed 😀 after a failed gank.

Where Can You Use Emojis?

You can use emojis in several key places:

• Champion Select Chat
• In-Game Chat (All or Team)
• Post-Game Lobby Chat
• Friend Chat in the Client

However, the display of emojis might vary slightly depending on your system and client version. Some Unicode emojis may show as plain text boxes on certain platforms.

How to Use Emojis in League Chat

To drop emojis into your messages:

1. Open the Chat Box
   Press Enter during a match or simply click the chat bar in other parts of the client.
2. Type Your Emoji
   You can use any standard Unicode emoji supported by your keyboard or operating system. For example:
   • Type :D for a classic smiley face
   • Type :D (via emoji keyboard) for the laughing emoji
   • Use Windows shortcut Win + . to open the emoji picker on PC
   • On Mac, press Ctrl + Cmd + Space to access emojis
3. Hit Enter and Send
   That’s it! You’ve just added some personality to the chat.

Note: Not all emojis will render properly in the in-game chat box, depending on font and patch updates. Stick with basic emojis for best results.

Emotes vs Emojis: Know the Difference

Don’t confuse emojis with emotes—the flashy in-game animations that appear next to your champion. Emotes like “Sad Kitten” or “Okay Buddy” are triggered via hotkeys (default: T) and can be set in your Collection > Emotes tab. While both are used for expression, emotes are visual animations, whereas emojis are typed in chat. Keep it friendly! Emojis can lighten the mood and reduce tilt during tense moments.

A Final Word on Etiquette

While emojis are fun, they’re not a substitute for meaningful communication. Don’t spam them—especially in ranked. And avoid passive-aggressive usage (e.g., spamming 😀 after an ally dies) as this can be reported as unsportsmanlike behavior. Use emojis to uplift, not to troll.

Emoji Culture Is Growing

With the increasing overlap between gaming and social media culture, it’s no surprise that emojis have crept into even the most competitive titles. While Riot hasn’t added a full emoji panel (yet), many fans are hoping for richer emoji support in the future—perhaps even themed ones tied to champion personalities or events.

Until then, keep it simple, keep it light, and keep it GG.