League of Legends has a rich lore that makes everything inside the game quite meaningful, but that doesn’t mean Riot Games releases skins without unique backstories attached to them. Each skin line hits the in-game market with engaging alternate storylines, and it just adds to the overall quality and joy you’d get out of each skin purchase.
When it comes to the best and favorite skins of League players, however, it’s quite hard to make a judgment call. Selecting poorly designed skins is one of the easiest tasks in the world, but a lot of variables get introduced when it comes to picking the best of the best. Most players naturally end up picking the skins that were released for their favorite champions, but we mostly focused on the visual improvements that each cosmetic introduced to its respective champion while compiling the following list.
Taking visual effects into consideration can be a double-edged sword as well, though, since more recent skins will obviously be better than the older ones. Considering Riot improves each skin line, it isn’t really a surprise to see the older skins slowly fade away over time.
Here are the 22 best skins in League that’ll make you feel like you’re playing a completely different game.
Storm Dragon Lee Sin / Aurelion Sol
Including two skins in a single entry may look like cheating, but it’s hard to separate some of the duos that play an essential role for each other.
Both featuring some of the best artwork and in-game animations that the League world has seen so far, Storm Dragon Lee Sin obtained his powers from Storm Dragon Aurelion Sol.
Storm Dragon Aurelion Sol was also teased as Ao Shin back in 2013 only to arrive in 2020, and Lee Sin even criticizes his timing in a reproachful quote: “You’re late, Ao Shin. SEVEN years late.”
While Storm Dragon Lee Sin is priced at 1,820 RP, Aurelion Sol goes for 1,350 RP, and we also recommend checking out the other Dragonmancer if you enjoyed the overall vibe of these two.
Solar/Lunar Eclipse Leona
Riot took steps to introduce more anime-style skins with the Spirit Blossom skin line, but there were already some marks of the art style inside the game prior to its release.
Solar/Lunar Eclipse Leona looks just like your formidable warrior from any medieval-themed anime show. Anyone that fondly remembers the first season of Sword Art Online is guaranteed to fall in love with the skin, and its lore suggests that Eclipse knights are on a crusade against the members of the Coven.
While each version of the skin rocks the same iconic armor, their spell animations’ color scheme is entirely different.
Both versions of the skins retail for 1,850, but buying one of them also makes you eligible for a 45-percent discount for the other, meaning you can get the whole bundle for less than 3,000 RP.
Dunkmaster Darius
Most alternative universes that revolve around League have serious matters that need to be dealt with. The more epic ones drastically outnumber the lighthearted ones, and the Dunkmaster skin line is an excellent breath of fresh air in general.
Dunkmaster Darius is one of the oldest skins on our list, but it definitely aged like a fine wine. The absurd and out-of-character voice lines of the skin are enough to keep him relevant to this day, and he never fails to increase the adrenaline levels of whoever is playing him.
Dunkmaster Darius goes for 1,820 RP in the store and lets you in the journey of an alternate Darius that decided to become the world’s best dunker while he was a promising basketball prodigy.
High Noon Lucian / Senna
Another pair we have on our list is High Noon Lucian and High Noon Senna. It took almost six years for Lucian to reunite with his beloved Senna, and Lucian’s long-lost love quickly accompanied him in one of the most iconic skins of the champion.
Senna joined the High Noon alternative universe as an Angel, and Lucian was already a part of it as a cowboy since 2018. Both skins cost 1,820 RP, and rolling toward bot lane with this duo with your High Noon skin on should be more than enough to strike fear into your enemies’ hearts. Rakan and Xayah players may need to watch out for this duo.
Dark Cosmic Jhin
Jhin has been one of the most sensational AD carry champions released in the last five years. He plays completely differently from any other AD carry champion in the game, and he also has the most flavorful lore of the entire League roster.
We’ve seen some great Jhin skins in the past like the Blood Moon, which allowed his artistic side to shine, or High Noon, which turned Jhin into a Western movie villain. Dark Cosmic Jhin, on the other hand, can be the leading role in an interstellar thriller movie.
Priced at 1,820 RP, Dark Cosmin Jhin features the artistic champion as an interstellar entity that was consumed by the Dark Star. Dark Star turns him into a world-devouring being that’s quite close to Marvel’s Galactus.
Elementalist Lux
There are a few types of collectors in League. The ones who are looking to collect all the skins for their favorite champions and the ones who’d like to have at least one skin for each champion in the game. When it’s the latter, you’ll want to collect the best skins to increase the quality of your collection. The visual quality, effects, even the colors will have a role, and Elementalist Lux is one of the rare skins that has it all.
Elementalist Lux has 10 different alternative looks. From Air to Fire, you’ll be able to switch forms as long as you collect enough energy. You’ll be able to accumulate energy by attacking enemies. With two chances to change your form throughout a match, you’ll also be able to create cool combinations.
- Dark: Nature + Air OR Water + Fire
- Ice: Water + Air
- Magma: Fire + Nature
- Mystic: Water + Nature
- Storm: Fire + Air
Spirit Blossom Thresh
The Spirit Blossom skin line was Riot’s first official attempt to experiment with Japanese aesthetics. Riot also used the occasion to introduce Yasuo’s brother into the game, which turned the Spirit Blossom event into a milestone for the MOBA.
While all the skins that are a part of the skin line are tremendous and have excellent animations, Spirit Blossom Thresh steals the show since it features an unmasked Thresh. You heard right—it’s the first Thresh skin that features the actual human face of the champion. And the sad truth is, the soul demon looks badass.
It quickly became the favorite skin of countless Thresh mains and the majority of the community. With a price tag of 1,820 RP, Spirit Blossom Thresh comes with some unique voice lines that shed light on Yone’s lore.
God-King Garen
Battle of the God-Kings is Riot’s take on one of those epic fantasy war novels. It may sound cheesy, but the storyline definitely has the potential to turn into a TV show. God-King Darius’ side wants nothing more than endless war, while God-King Garen fights for an eternal reign.
Considering both sides seem to be equally bad, we’ll just go with whoever wins the fashion war, and it’s Garen. This is hands down one of the most intimidating skins in the game and makes you think not twice, but thrice before engaging him.
For 1,820 RP, God-King Garen features the top lane veteran as a fearless commander who has thousands of battles worth of experience, and no one would like to mess with that.
DJ Sona
Each skin in League has a certain vibe going for them. Not all of them are lucky enough to change it throughout a match, however. DJ Sona is one of the lucky few and you’ll practically become an actual DJ as you’re playing Sona.
The color and the beats that the skin drops are top notch and your teammates start flooding the in-game chat with song requests. Considering keeping the morale of your team is a top priority in League, if you’re looking to increase your odds of winning, you may need to make a list of what tunes to play next to keep everyone happy.
DJ Sona was released in 2015 and it costs 3,250 RP. Though it’s been a while since her release, DJ Sona is still one of the best skins in League.
Pajama Guardian Cosplay Urgot
When the Star Guardian skins were introduced to League, players welcomed them with open arms and got excited about the cool skins they would add to their collections.
Not everyone was happy, however, since there was a decent-sized majority that also wanted to see Urgot as a Star Guardian. The community demanded a Star Guardian Urgot for years. After countless fan arts and Reddit threads, Riot finally gave in and released Pajama Guardian Cosplay Urgot.
The skin removes Urgot’s dark aesthetics and turns him into a magical Star Guardian who’s taking a break to enjoy a pajama party. Though this skin isn’t entirely a Star Guardian skin, it’s probably the closest thing fans will have to it.
Pajama Guardian Cosplay Urgot was released in 2020, and it sold for 1,350 RP.
Dawnbringer Soraka
It’s no surprise that League skins have become more advanced over the years. The earlier skins in the game also received updates, but the new ones tend to be better in most cases.
Dawnbringer Soraka is a prime example of this. The skin is one of Riot’s finest works since the attention to detail is off the charts. The wings and the overall texture of the skin speak for themselves. Though Dawnbringer Soraka may look all high and mighty, it also has a banana emote, a true part of Soraka’s background.
Dawnbringer Soraka was added to League in 2019 and costs 1,820 RP.
Zap’Maw and Monster Tamer Lulu
One of the most recently added collections to the game is Monster Tamers, and it brought players three unique skins, with Zap’Maw and Monster Tamer Lulu among them.
These vastly colorful skins are as sweet and cute as you can imagine. Their renewed visual look brings new life to the champions, especially to Kog’Maw, who’s usually associated with the dark Void, which features rather cold and creepy colors instead of the lively ones shown above. And due to his gameplay, it’s always best to have a useful utility support by his side, where Lulu and her new Monster Tamer skin fit perfectly.
Zap’Maw and Monster Tamer Lulu were added to the game in August 2022 and cost 1,350 RP each.
Star Guardian Taliyah / Ekko
Riot has added a bunch of skins from the Star Guardian collection in 2022, and Star Guardian Taliyah and Ekko are one of the company’s best works.
It’s no surprise that the devs have released so many skins from the skin line, looking at the enormous event that went along with it. It featured numerous new quests for players, and with so many champions receiving a new skin, practically every player could find something that suited them.
Like many skins in the collection, Star Guardian Taliyah and Ekko are both made with bright, warm colors, like pink, red, and purple. It brings a nice freshness to the champions.
Star Guardian Taliyah and Ekko were added to League in July 2022, and are available for 1,350 RP each.
Snow Moon Caitlyn
Another vastly different skin, when compared to the champion’s original look, is Snow Moon Caitlyn.
Featured alongside new skins from the Snow Moon collection, Caitlyn stands out as the most unique one. Other champs that got a Snow Moon look with Caitlyn, like Illaoi and Kayn, were more or less linked to magical forces. But this wasn’t the case for Caitlyn, and her Snow Moon skin unveiled her in the colors hardly seen before, like gray, white, and blue, with the champ also using a magical-looking rifle instead of the hextech gun.
Snow Moon Caitlyn was added to the game in June 2022 and costs 1,350 RP.
Ocean Song Ashe
Following the trend of reintroducing some of League’s iconic champions in an entirely different setting, we have Ocean Song Ashe.
The Frost Archer, as her title implies, is mostly associated with a huntress-like kit and lore. And while her abilities don’t change at all while using the Ocean Song skin, naturally, seeing her in a more party-like vibe was somewhat refreshing for her.
In the end, players welcomed the skin with open arms, since it’s not the first time that Ashe was featured in a collection that doesn’t exactly suit her lore. Nevertheless, her animations are dynamic, and the colors have never been used previously in Ashe skins. With a warm reception, the skin achieved its goal by making something entirely new and satisfying Ashe players at the same time.
Ocean Song Ashe was added in June 2022 and her price was set at 1,350 RP.
Sea Dog Yasuo
Yasuo is one of the most popular champions in League due to his fun-to-play kit, and in recent years he has received a few of the most interesting skins in the game, like Sea Dog Yasuo.
This skin takes the Unforgiven into uncharted territory, as he battled with Viego of Camavor and became champion for the children of Nagakabouros.
Sea Dog Yasuo not only looks different compared to the previous Yasuo looks but also brings a bunch of new features that definitely freshen up the champ. It has its own voice filter, new SFX and VFX effects, as well as fresh animations for abilities and recall. If you want to experience Yasuo’s gameplay like never before, you should get your hands on his Sea Dog skin as fast as possible.
Sea Dog Yasuo was added to the game in May 2022 and costs 1,350 RP.
Orbeanna
It must take a lot of hard work and input to create a skin that brings so much life and color to a rather sad and gray champion like Orianna. But Riot completed the task and delivered players Orbeanna, which unveils her in an entirely fresh light.
Players celebrated the return of Bees! collection, since it’s one of the most original skin lines in the game and one the most creative and hilarious ones as well. Orbeanna is probably the most interesting skin from the latest release since it takes a champion that would never come to your mind if you thought about making a Bees! skin. In the end, it’s tough to fit a robot into such a lively collection.
Orbeanna was introduced to League in March 2022 and is purchasable for 1,350 RP.
