For years, League of Legends players coveted Gemstones as one of the rarest crafting currencies in the game. These bright-green crystals, earned sparingly through loot, symbolized prestige and persistence. Gemstones powered the Hextech Crafting system, unlocking some of the most exclusive cosmetics Riot Games ever released.
But as of 2022, Gemstones have officially been retired. They’ve been replaced by Mythic Essence, a new currency designed to streamline how players unlock premium content. Still, the question of how Gemstones were once earned — and why they mattered so much — remains a point of fascination for long-time fans.
The Role of Gemstones in League
When Riot introduced Gemstones, they immediately became a cornerstone of collectible prestige. To craft a single Hextech-exclusive skin such as Hextech Annie, Soulstealer Vayne, or Lancer Zero Hecarim, players needed ten Gemstones. Smaller amounts could also be traded for cosmetic wards, exclusive icons, or bundles of keys and chests.
What made Gemstones unique was their scarcity. They weren’t part of the game’s regular reward system. Instead, they served as a slow-burn incentive for players to keep opening loot, leveling accounts, and participating in seasonal events. Collectors chased them not only for the skins but also for the bragging rights.
How Gemstones Were Obtained
Riot offered multiple ways to earn Gemstones — some rooted in gameplay, others tied to spending.
- Hextech Chests: Each chest carried about a 3.6% chance of dropping a Gemstone. These chests were either earned through high in-game performance (S-rank match grades) or purchased with Riot Points.
- Masterwork Chests: With slightly better odds and more valuable loot, these chests became a favorite for collectors looking to maximize gemstone chances.
- Level Milestones: Every 50 Summoner levels after level 150 guaranteed one Gemstone, providing a slow but reliable path for long-term players.
- Essence Emporium: This limited-time shop occasionally allowed players to trade vast amounts of Blue Essence — often 50,000 or more — for a Gemstone bundled with an icon.
- Special Events and Missions: From seasonal milestones to limited event missions, Gemstones were sometimes offered directly as rewards, encouraging players to engage with Riot’s rotating content.
Strategies, Luck, and Spending
Earning Gemstones was always a delicate balance between patience and investment.
For free-to-play players, the most reliable method was to:
- Play consistently to earn Hextech Chests.
- Master multiple champions to ensure chest eligibility each week.
- Farm key fragments through the Honor system to open those chests.
For paying players, the strategy was simpler: buy Masterwork chest bundles. Some also invested heavily during events, purchasing orbs or capsules that carried boosted gemstone drop rates. In either case, luck remained the final deciding factor — one player could open 10 chests and find two Gemstones, while another might go through 50 with none.
The Transition to Mythic Essence
By 2022, Riot recognized the crafting ecosystem needed a refresh. The gemstone system, while exciting, had become fragmented alongside Prestige Points and other currencies. To simplify things, Riot retired Gemstones and introduced Mythic Essence as the new universal loot currency.
Today, Mythic Essence fills the role Gemstones once played:
- Exclusive skins are still locked behind high costs.
- Event passes and loot capsules remain key pathways.
- Players can grind, spend, or both to build their stash.
The difference is clarity — instead of juggling Gemstones, Prestige Points, and other limited tokens, players now focus on a single purple crystal.
A Lasting Legacy
Gemstones may no longer sparkle in loot tables, but their legacy is undeniable. They embodied the thrill of rarity in League of Legends — a mix of skill, luck, and dedication that made finally unlocking a Hextech skin feel special.
For today’s players, Mythic Essence continues that tradition, offering modern versions of the same chase. Yet among veterans, the green Gemstones remain a nostalgic symbol of a different era in League’s history, when every chest opening carried the hope of pulling one of the rarest items in the game.
Written by:
Christian