Here's everything we know about Mel Medarda as League of Legends' newest champion.
The newest League of Legends (LoL) champion is arriving! Mel Medarda, The Soul’s Reflection, will be gracing the Summoner’s Rift in Patch 25.S1.2, as revealed by LoL developer Riot Games on Friday (January 10).
According to the devs, Mel is intended to either be a mid laner or support champion. “We expect the shape of her kit to promote mid lane over support in high level play due to its focus on damage, but will work to ensure support is also a viable pick,” Myles Salholm, Lead Gameplay Designer shares in the dev Q&A.
Who is Mel Medarda?
Mel Medarda is one of the most iconic characters in the popular LoL animated Netflix series Arcane. While she was initially an aristocrat and a member of the Piltovan Council in Season 1, her role evolved as her power was unleashed in Season 2. Outwardly, she embodies elegance and sophistication as an aristocrat, but beneath her polished demeanour lies a sharp and calculating political mind. She thrives on knowledge, ensuring she understands everyone she encounters.
She’s also the child of another important character in Arcane, Ambessa Medarda, who also joined the Summoner’s Rift in November 2024.
“The wolf, the fox – both necessary, both unrelenting.” After a harrowing encounter with the Black Rose who kidnapped her in Season 2 of Arcane, she then faced a situation potentially beyond her control. Now armed with newfound magical powers, she remains fiercely defiant against those who seek to dim her inner light.
Behind the Scenes: Developing Mel
Myles shared more about the development as the development of Arcane Season 1 and 2 progressed.
“We first saw Mel in the first season of Arcane, but even before that there were already explorations on bringing her to Summoner’s Rift all the way back during the development of the show.” However, they didn’t know much about Mel’s powers except how she can protect others from a blast — so the project was put on hold until after the reveal in Season 2.
After getting more information in 2023 about how her powers would serve the rest of the Arcane story, the team did some experimentation, which led to her main mechanic: reflecting projectiles. “We saw how fun it was, and while it wasn’t all that simple, we informed the Arcane team of the exciting direction and set down the project with the intent to return in 2024.”
The version of Mel in LoL is set slightly after the events of Arcane, making her somewhat stronger than her portrayal in the series.
Abilities
Passive - Searing Brilliance
Whenever Mel uses an Ability she gains three bonus projectiles on her next Attack, up to nine maximum. When Mel deals damage through an Ability or Attack she applies Overwhelm which stacks up damage to execute the enemy. If the enemy is hit by Mel with enough Overwhelm damage to kill them, the stacks are consumed executing them.
- This grants three stacks per cast, with bonus projectiles on your next basic attack. Also, this can stack up to nine bonus projectiles for a powerful burst. This makes last-htting easier so you can prioritise PvP over farming.
Q - Radiant Volley
Mel fires a barrage of projectiles that explode around a target location dealing damage repeatedly to enemies within the area.
- This fires up to ten projectiles with long range, exploding in an area. You have to aim to hit at least a few projectiles for consistent damage.
W - Rebuttal
Mel gains Move Speed, forms a barrier around herself that reflects enemy projectiles back at the attacker, and prevents taking damage.
- Time this ability to block or reflect high-value enemy spells for maximum impact.
E - Solar Snare
Mel fires a radiant orb, Rooting enemies in the center while dealing damage over time and Slowing in an area around it.
- Even if the root in the center misses, you still apply crowd control and deal damage.
R - Golden Eclipse
Mel strikes all enemies marked with Overwhelm regardless of range, dealing additional damage for each stack of Overwhelm. Ranks of Golden Eclipse increase Overwhelm's damage.
Here are some tips from the devs to succeed with Mel
Mel’s playstyle is “hard to master”, according to Salholm, but she’s easy to play. Here are some things to take note of when playing Mel:
- Aim to land the entire Q for optimal damage.
- Hit the center of E for the root effect.
- Use W strategically under pressure to reflect critical spells.
- Monitor Overwhelm stacks carefully to secure big Ultimate plays.
- Weave in basic attacks after casting abilities to maximise your Passive damage potential.
Mel arrives in the Summoner's Rift in Patch 25.S1.2, which will be released on January 23.
