For many League of Legends players, it’s not just about climbing the ranked ladder or mastering champion mechanics—it’s also about style. Whether it’s sporting an epic skin, showing off an exclusive ward, or flexing a rare chroma, visual customization is a big part of the LoL experience. At the heart of this cosmetic system lies a key currency: Orange Essence.
But what exactly does Orange Essence do in League of Legends? And how can players make the most of it in 2025? Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is Orange Essence?
Orange Essence (often abbreviated as OE) is a non-premium crafting currency used in League of Legends to unlock cosmetic content from the Loot system. Introduced as part of Riot’s Hextech Crafting update, Orange Essence is one of the main ways players can convert random loot drops into permanent cosmetics.
Unlike RP (Riot Points), which are bought with real money, Orange Essence is earned through gameplay and loot disenchanting, making it a grindable—but limited—resource.
What Can You Use Orange Essence For?
As of 2025, Orange Essence is used to unlock the following cosmetic content:
- Champion Skins
Got a skin shard from a Hextech Chest or Event Capsule? You can use Orange Essence to upgrade it into a permanent skin for your account. - Ward Skins
Discovered a glowing ward skin shard in your loot? You can craft it into a permanent cosmetic using OE. - Emotes
Those expressive icons you flash after a pentakill? Yep—unlockable with Orange Essence. - Icons & Other Cosmetics
Event-themed icons and loot-exclusive cosmetic items can sometimes be crafted with OE as well, depending on availability.
Note: You cannot buy champions, chromas, or battle passes with Orange Essence. Those require Blue Essence, RP, or event tokens.
How Do You Get Orange Essence?
There are several ways to earn Orange Essence, but the most common is:
- Disenchanting Cosmetic Shards
When you get a skin shard you don’t want, you can disenchant it to convert it into Orange Essence. The amount varies by shard rarity (e.g., Legendary skins yield more OE than Epic or Standard skins).
Other methods include:
- Hextech Chests
Occasionally, chests themselves may contain small amounts of Orange Essence directly. - Event Missions or Capsules
Special events (like Lunar Revel or Worlds) sometimes offer OE as part of mission rewards or capsule contents.
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How Much Orange Essence Do You Need?
The cost to upgrade a shard into a permanent item varies:
- Standard Skin Shard: ~520–1,050 OE
- Epic Skin Shard: ~1,050 OE
- Legendary Skin Shard: ~1,520 OE
- Ultimate Skin Shard: ~2,450 OE
This scaling reflects the market RP value of the skin. Riot has balanced OE costs to make high-tier cosmetics feel valuable, even when unlocked for free.
Orange Essence vs. Blue Essence: What’s the Difference?
Many newer players confuse Orange Essence with Blue Essence (BE), but they serve very different purposes:
- Orange Essence: For unlocking cosmetics (skins, emotes, wards).
- Blue Essence: For unlocking gameplay content (champions, Eternals, level-up upgrades).
Both are earned via Hextech Crafting and gameplay, but their uses do not overlap.
Tips for Managing Orange Essence Efficiently
- Disenchant duplicates and skins for champions you don’t play. If you’re not interested in a shard, turn it into OE and save for one you truly want.
- Be strategic with events. Some events provide exclusive loot that can yield high-value shards—maximize missions to get the most OE.
- Don’t rush upgrades. Hold onto shards until you’re sure you want them. Riot occasionally introduces mythic crafting and upgrades that could shift values.
Final Thoughts: Cosmetic Power, No Pay-to-Win
Orange Essence is Riot’s way of rewarding League of Legends players with cosmetic customization without forcing real-money spending. It adds depth to the loot system and gives players meaningful decisions about which skins and emotes to unlock. While it’s not the fastest path to a full cosmetic collection, it’s a satisfying and strategic part of the League ecosystem—especially for those grinding for style as well as skill.
So next time you open a chest and see a skin shard you’re unsure about, just remember: with enough Orange Essence, you’re only a few clicks away from a whole new look on the Rift.
Written by:
Christian