Images: Riot Games
The Summoner's Rift will bleed red this Season One, bringing a ton of exciting changes and additions in-game and in the Runeterra universe.
The ninth of January marks the beginning of the first season for League of Legends (LoL) in 2025 marking its inaugural themed-season under a new seasonal model. Season One brings players to land of the fearless and the defiant: Noxus.
Alongside this theme, come significant gameplay updates, a new champion, themed cosmetics, and more. Spanning eight patches, Season One will be divided into two acts, each with its own Battle Pass. These passes will feature various Act-themed rewards, including skins, borders, and more.
Gameplay changes which, include new map objectives, like Atakhan the Bringer of Ruin, and Feats of Strength, and changes to Vision, Runes, and Teleport will also be implemented in Season One. The Summoner’s Rift will also transform to align with the theme, Noxian Domination, so slight changes to the map’s look and style will be made.
Here are some other things players can look forward to in Season One: Noxian Domination.
Mel Medarda joins the Summoners Rift
As the story of Arcane Season 2 continues in Season One of 2025 LoL, Mel Medarda takes on a huge role in the story of Noxus. Mel will also be the first new champion to be introduced into the Summoner’s Rift this year. Her Noxian-inspired design reflects her embracing her Noxian roots at the end of Arcane Season 2.
Mel’s gameplay will bring a new twist to the ever-growing LoL roster: projectile reflection. Much like how she reflected projectile attacks during the battle scenes toward the last few episodes of Arcane Seaosn 2, Mel’s signature ability, Rebuttal, allows her to reflect targeted abilities back to their caster, and non-targeted abilities in the enemy’s direction.
Players can unlock Mel for free by completing specific seasonal missions. On top of that, players can look forward to the upcoming novel, Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf, which will further explore Mel and Ambessa’s backstory. The novel will be released in February.
LeBlanc gets a visual update
LeBlanc is looking slightly different in the Season One cinematic, Bite Marks. And in the dev update released on January 9, we are given a quick preview of her new look. Leblanc now dons a less revealing, yet still sexy and more modern-looking outfit: a figure hugging gown with a high slit and a deep V neckline that extends until her mid-torso. Her golden necklace is visibly larger, and her cape still glorious as ever, inlaid with gold.
And instead of a golden staff, she gets a Black one, emitting red magic, mostly shaped like red roses, which perfectly depicts her leadership position in the order of the Black Rose.
LeBlanc’s visual update will be released this season, although an actual release date has yet to be announced. Another champion update will be released later this year.
Narrative expansions: Season thematics and alternate universes
The Reckoning Pits of Noxus will make their debut in Act Two, introducing a Noxian twist to the Arena game mode. This update transforms the battleground into a thematic showcase of Noxian culture, complete with map-specific mechanics that embody the brutal, gladiatorial essence of Noxus.
Beyond gameplay, LoL will continue to deepen its storytelling with new motion comics and mini-games that will give players a richer connection to the world of Runeterra. Finally, the best news for fans of League of Legends lroe: the LoL team revealed that season thematics will be open to alternate universes, in addition to core Runeterra universe. This means there still could be room for alternate universes like Star Guardians and others.
Cosmetics: Masque of the Black Rose, Exalted Skins and more
Season One showcases the Masque of the Black Rose skin line, highlighting Noxian elegance and intrigue through champions like Samira, Renata Glasc, Vladimir, Elise, Ezreal, and Prestige Katarina. Elise will be accessible through the free Battle Pass, while other skins, including Prestige Katarina, will feature in the paid Battle Pass. Prestige Darius and upcoming skins for Cassiopeia and Qiyana will be obtainable via Mythic Essence.
Fans of LoL cosmetics can look forward to the return of beloved thematics such as Cafe Cuties, alongside the debut of entirely new themes. To honour the Year of the Snake, Radiant Serpent Sett will lead the charge as the season’s first Exalted skin, with a Mordekaiser Exalted skin to follow, offering players even more opportunities to customise their champions with striking designs.
Game Modes
Season One breathes new life into LoL game modes, starting with the return of All Random URF in Act One. In Act Two, Arena comes back with a bold Noxian transformation, featuring a gladiator pit-inspired map and unique mechanics. Players will also engage in the Guests of Honor system, allowing them to vote for iconic Noxian figures who will influence gameplay rules in each match.
The Arena update introduces fresh items, innovative augments, and refined map designs, incorporating feedback from the community to ensure dynamic and engaging battles across all maps, including the revamped Koi Pond.
