Riot is updating champion pricing to help newer players acquire the full roster easier.
With the next LoL patch 13.5, nearly all champions will see their prices change. Riot uses Blue Essence (BE) as one of their primary in-game currencies. Blue Essence can be obtained by leveling up, completing missions, opening Champion Capsules awarded by leveling up or by disenchanting champion shards contained within Champion Capsules. BE is the main currency players use to buy champions.
Currently, Riot’s BE pricing is a little bit archaic. As new champions get released, older champions move down a tier. But how much a champion costs doesn’t necessarily reflect anything about its gameplay, which can make it hard for new players to decide which champions they should unlock. To help with this problem, and overall make it easier to unlock all champions in a shorter time, Riot announced an overhaul of their BE pricing system.
The new system will still use the champion’s age as the primary deciding factor on how much BE it will cost, but from now on it won’t be tied to new champion releases. After patch 13.5, champions will be priced based on how many seasons ago they were released, at least that will be the biggest factor.
In the Reddit thread about the upcoming update, Rioter Tim ‘Truexy’ Jiang commented that the fun factor is one of the big considerations. The biggest example of this was Yasuo. Considered by many as a hard-to-pilot champion, Yasuo will now be 1350 BE which is on the cheaper side. According to Truexy, this is because Yasuo-like champions can help newer players “experience what League of Legends can be.”
450 Blue Essence
Champions that are awesome for new players. These have a strong fantasy and an approachable kit that our data suggests helps folks find success early.
- Amumu
- Annie
- Ashe
- Brand
- Caitlyn
- Darius
- Diana
- Dr. Mundo
- Garen
- Leona
- Lux
- Malphite
- Master Yi
- Miss Fortune
- Nunu & Willump
- Poppy
- Sejuani
- Sivir
- Sona
- Soraka
- Teemo
- Warwick
- Yuumi
1350 Blue Essence
Champions that are a bit more complex than the lower tier, but still approachable for interested folks. These will have more nuanced skill checks in their play patterns, but maintain reasonable skill floors and have proven to be fan favorites.
- Alistar
- Blitzcrank
- Cho’Gath
- Evelynn
- Ezreal
- Fiddlesticks
- Fizz
- Janna
- Jax
- Kai’sa
- Lee Sin
- Lucian
- Mordekaiser
- Morgana
- Nasus
- Pantheon
- Rammus
- Sett
- Sion
- Taric
- Tristana
- Tryndamere
- Udyr
- Veigar
- Vi
- Volibear
- Xerath
- Xin Zhao
- Yasuo
- Zed
- Zilean
3150 Blue Essence
Champions that have a larger degree of difficulty or specialization in their play. These will often have steeper learning curves to climb before one sees consistent success with them.
- Ahri
- Akali
- Anivia
- Braum
- Corki
- Ekko
- Galio
- Gangplank
- Gragas
- Heimerdinger
- Illaoi
- Irelia
- Jarvan IV
- Jinx
- Karma
- Karthus
- Kassadin
- Katarina
- Kayn
- LeBlanc
- Nami
- Nidalee
- Nocturne
- Olaf
- Pyke
- Samira
- Senna
- Seraphine
- Shaco
- Shen
- Shyvana
- Swain
- Sylas
- Syndra
- Talon
- Thresh
- Trundle
- Twitch
- Urgot
- Vayne
- Vex
- Viktor
- Vladimir
- Wukong
- Yone
- Yorick
- Zyra
4444 Blue Essence
4800 Blue Essence
Majority of the roster will belong in this tier, so it probably means champions that cost 4800 tier won’t be either too hard to play, nor too beginner friendly.
- Aatrox
- Akshan
- Aphelios
- Aurelion Sol
- Azir
- Bard
- Camille
- Cassiopeia
- Draven
- Elise
- Fiora
- Gnar
- Graves
- Gwen
- Hecarim
- Ivern
- Jayce
- Kalista
- Kayle
- Kennen
- Kha’Zix
- Kindred
- Kled
- Kog’Maw
- Lillia
- Lissandra
- Lulu
- Malzahar
- Maokai
- Nautilus
- Neeko
- Orianna
- Ornn
- Qiyana
- Quinn
- Rakan
- Rek’sai
- Rell
- Renekton
- Rengar
- Riven
- Rumble
- Ryze
- Singed
- Skarner
- Tahm Kench
- Taliyah
- Twisted Fate
- Varus
- Vel’Koz
- Viego
- Xayah
- Zac
- Ziggs
- Zoe
6300 Blue Essence
Champions that have come out in the past two seasons, after which they will move to the tier above after the next season starts. The newly released champions will be priced at 7800 BE during their first week of release.
- Bel’veth
- K’sante
- Nilah
- Renata Glasc
- Zeri
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