All LoL Champions by Release Date: When was each League of Legends champion released?

League of Legends has been since 2009, but it keeps on rolling as one of the most popular games to date. One of the reasons for its continued success is Riot Games’ tradition of releasing new LoL champions. With almost two decades of development, here are all the LoL Champions by release date and patch up to August 2025.

Image: Riot Games

All League of Legends Champions by Release Date

Currently, Riot has released 170 total champions at varying dates, the latest being Zaahen. From what started as a squad of 17 champions back in the Alpha version, the game has come a long way. Riot has worked hard to create the biggest character roster of any mainstream MOBA, and with so many to pick from, any player’s favorite is guaranteed to be somewhere on the pick screen. Newer champions are also much more complex, not to mention their evolved visuals.

Keeping tabs on all the champions (and their release dates for historical purposes) has also become a challenge and has been for a long time. New players are entering a jungle of endless characters to play while old-school players might drift into nostalgia from time to time, thinking about the days when Yuumi and Zeri didn’t terrorize the game.

No matter who you are, getting a refreshed overview of all champions and their release date can be a good idea. League of Legends has a long and storied history and player base, so some might remember exactly where they were when these characters debuted.

Here’s a dive into all playable LoL characters sorted by release date starting from the 2009 LoL Champs:

League of Legends champions released in 2009

1. Alistar (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
2. Annie (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
3. Ashe (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
4. Fiddlesticks (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
5. Jax (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
6. Kayle (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
7. Master Yi (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
8. Morgana (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
9. Nunu & Willump (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
10. Ryze (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
11. Sion (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
12. Sivir (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
13. Soraka (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
14. Teemo (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
15. Tristana (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
16. Twisted Fate (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
17. Warwick (Alpha Week 2 – February 21, 2009)
18. Singed (April 18, 2009 Patch — Closed Beta’s first champion)
19. Zilean (April 18, 2009 Patch)
20. Evelynn (May 1, 2009 Patch)
21. Tryndamere (May 1, 2009 Patch)
22. Twitch (May 1, 2009 Patch)
23. Karthus (June 12, 2009 Patch)
24. Amumu (June 26, 2009 Patch)
25. Cho’Gath (June 26, 2009 Patch)
26. Anivia (July 10, 2009 Patch)
27. Rammus (July 10, 2009 Patch)
28. Veigar (Patch 0.8.22.115 – July 24, 2009)
29. Kassadin (Patch 0.9.22.7 – August 7, 2009)
30. Gangplank (Patch 0.9.22.15 – August 19, 2009)
31. Taric (Patch 0.9.22.15 – August 19, 2009)
32. Blitzcrank (Patch 0.9.22.16 – September 2, 2009)
33. Dr. Mundo (Patch 0.9.22.16 – September 2, 2009)
34. Janna (Patch 0.9.22.16 – September 2, 2009)
35. Malphite (Patch 0.9.22.16 – September 2, 2009)
36. Corki (Patch 0.9.25.21 – September 19, 2009)
37. Katarina (Patch 0.9.25.21 – September 19, 2009)
38. Nasus (Patch 0.9.25.24 – October 1, 2009)
39. Heimerdinger (Patch 0.9.25.34 – October 10, 2009)
40. Shaco (Patch 0.9.25.34 – October 10, 2009 — the final champion of the Closed Beta)
41. Udyr (Patch 1.0.0.61 – December 2, 2009 — Riot Games’ first champion after public release)
42. Nidalee (Patch 1.0.0.63 – December 17, 2009)

League of Legends champions released in 2010

1. Poppy (Patch 1.0.0.70 – January 13, 2010)
2. Gragas (Patch 1.0.0.72 – February 2, 2010)
3. Pantheon (Patch 1.0.0.72 – February 2, 2010)
4. Mordekaiser (Patch 1.0.0.75 – February 24, 2010)
5. Ezreal (Patch 1.0.0.79 – March 16, 2010)
6. Shen (Patch 1.0.0.81 – March 24, 2010)
7. Kennen (Patch 1.0.0.82 – April 8, 2010)
8. Garen (Patch 1.0.0.83 – April 27, 2010)
9. Akali (Patch 1.0.0.85 – May 11, 2010)
10. Malzahar (Patch 1.0.0.86 – June 1, 2010)
11. Olaf (Patch 1.0.0.87 – June 9, 2010)
12. Kog’Maw (Patch 1.0.0.94 – June 24, 2010)
13. Xin Zhao (Patch 1.0.0.96 – July 13, 2010)
14. Vladimir (Patch 1.0.0.97 – July 27, 2010)
15. Galio (Patch 1.0.0.98 – August 10, 2010)
16. Urgot (Patch 1.0.0.99 – August 24, 2010)
17. Miss Fortune (Patch 1.0.0.100 – September 8, 2010)
18. Sona (Patch 1.0.0.101 – September 21, 2010)
19. Swain (Patch 1.0.0.102 – October 5, 2010)
20. Lux (Patch 1.0.0.103 – October 19, 2010)
21. LeBlanc (Patch 1.0.0.104 – November 2, 2010)
22. Irelia (Patch 1.0.0.105 – November 16, 2010)
23. Trundle (Patch 1.0.0.106 – December 1, 2010)
24. Cassiopeia (Patch 1.0.0.107 – December 14, 2010)

League of Legends champions released in 2011

1. Caitlyn (Patch 1.0.0.108 – January 4, 2011)
2. Renekton (Patch 1.0.0.109 – January 18, 2011)
3. Karma (Patch 1.0.0.110 – February 1, 2011)
4. Maokai (Patch 1.0.0.111 – February 16, 2011)
5. Jarvan IV (Patch 1.0.0.112 – March 1, 2011)
6. Nocturne (Patch 1.0.0.113 – March 15, 2011)
7. Lee Sin (Patch 1.0.0.114 – April 1, 2011)
8. Brand (Patch 1.0.0.115 – April 12, 2011)
9. Rumble (Patch 1.0.0.116 – April 26, 2011)
10. Vayne (Patch 1.0.0.118 – May 10, 2011)
11. Orianna (Patch 1.0.0.119 – June 1, 2011)
12. Yorick (Patch 1.0.0.120 – June 22, 2011)
13. Leona (Patch 1.0.0.121 – July 13, 2011)
14. Wukong (Patch 1.0.0.122 – July 26, 2011)
15. Skarner (Patch 1.0.0.123 – August 9, 2011)
16. Talon (Patch 1.0.0.124 – August 24, 2011)
17. Riven (Patch 1.0.0.125 – September 14, 2011)
18. Xerath (Patch 1.0.0.126 – October 5, 2011)
19. Graves (Patch 1.0.0.127 – October 19, 2011)
20. Shyvana (Patch 1.0.0.128 – November 1, 2011)
21. Fizz (Patch 1.0.0.129 – November 15, 2011)
22. Volibear (Patch 1.0.0.130 – November 29, 2011)
23. Ahri (Patch 1.0.0.131 – December 14, 2011)
24. Viktor (Patch 1.0.0.131 – December 29, 2011)

League of Legends champions released in 2012

1. Sejuani (Patch 1.0.0.132 – January 17, 2012)
2. Ziggs (Patch 1.0.0.133 – February 1, 2012)
3. Nautilus (Patch 1.0.0.134 – February 14, 2012)
4. Fiora (Patch 1.0.0.135 – February 29, 2012)
5. Lulu (Patch 1.0.0.136 – March 20, 2012)
6. Hecarim (Patch 1.0.0.138 – April 18, 2012)
7. Varus (Patch 1.0.0.139 – May 8, 2012)
8. Darius (Patch 1.0.0.140 – May 23, 2012)
9. Draven (Patch 1.0.0.140b – June 6, 2012)
10. Jayce (Patch 1.0.0.142 – July 7, 2012)
11. Zyra (Patch 1.0.0.143 – July 24, 2012)
12. Diana (Patch 1.0.0.144 – August 7, 2012)
13. Rengar (Patch 1.0.0.145 – August 21, 2012)
14. Syndra (Patch 1.0.0.147 – September 13, 2012)
15. Kha’Zix (Patch 1.0.0.148 – September 27, 2012)
16. Elise (Patch 1.0.0.150 – October 26, 2012)
17. Zed (Patch 1.0.0.151 – November 13, 2012)
18. Nami (Patch 1.0.0.152 – December 7, 2012)
19. Vi (Patch 1.0.0.153 – December 19, 2012)

League of Legends champions released in 2013

1. Thresh (Patch 1.0.0.154 – January 23, 2013)
2. Quinn (Patch 3.03 – March 1, 2013)
3. Zac (Patch 3.5 – March 29, 2013)
4. Lissandra (Patch 3.6 – April 30, 2013)
5. Aatrox (Patch 3.8 – June 13, 2013)
6. Lucian (Patch 3.10a – August 22, 2013)
7. Jinx (Patch 3.12 – October 10, 2013)
8. Yasuo (Patch 3.15 – December 13, 2013)

League of Legends champions released in 2014

1. Vel’Koz (Patch 4.3 – February 27, 2014)
2. Braum (Patch 4.7 – May 12, 2014)
3. Gnar (Patch 4.14 – August 14, 2014)
4. Azir (Patch 4.16 – September 16, 2014)
5. Kalista (Patch 4.20 – November 20, 2014)
6. Rek’Sai (Patch 4.21 – December 11, 2014)

League of Legends champions released in 2015

1. Bard (Patch 5.5 –  March 12, 2015)
2. Ekko (Patch 5.10 – May 29, 2015)
3. Tahm Kench (Patch 5.13 – July 9, 2015)
4. Kindred (Patch 5.20 – October 14, 2015)
5. Illaoi (Patch 5.23 – November 24, 2015)

League of Legends champions released in 2016

1. Jhin (Patch 6.2 – February 1, 2016)
2. Aurelion Sol (Patch 6.6 – March 24, 2016)
3. Taliyah (Patch 6.10 – May 18, 2016)
4. Kled (Patch 6.16 – August 10, 2016)
5. Ivern (Patch 6.20 – October 5, 2016)
6. Camille (Patch 6.24 – December 7, 2016)

League of Legends champions released in 2017

1. Rakan (Patch 7.8 – April 19, 2017)
2. Xayah (Patch 7.8 – April 19, 2017)
3. Kayn (Patch 7.14 – July 12, 2017)
4. Ornn (Patch 7.17 – August 23, 2017)
5. Zoe (Patch 7.24 – November 21, 2017)

League of Legends champions released in 2018

1. Kai’Sa (Patch 8.5 – March 7, 2018)
2. Pyke (Patch 8.11 – May 31, 2018)
3. Neeko (Patch 8.24 – December 5, 2018)

League of Legends champions released in 2019

1. Sylas (Patch 9.2 – January 25, 2019)
2. Yuumi (Patch 9.10 – May 14, 2019)
3. Qiyana (Patch 9.13 – June 28, 2019)
4. Senna (Patch 9.22 – November 10, 2019)
5. Aphelios (Patch 9.24 – December 11, 2019)

League of Legends champions released in 2020

1. Sett (Patch 10.1 – January 14, 2020)
2. Lillia (Patch 10.15 – July 22, 2020)
3. Yone (Patch 10.16 – August 6, 2020)
4. Samira (Patch 10.19 – September 21, 2020)
5. Seraphine (Patch 10.22 – October 29, 2020)
6. Rell (Patch 10.25 – December 10, 2020)

League of Legends champions released in 2021

1. Viego (Patch 11.2 – January 21, 2021)
2. Gwen (Patch 11.8 – April 15, 2021)
3. Akshan (Patch 11.15 – July 22, 2021)
4. Vex (Patch 11.19 – September 23, 2021)

League of Legends champions released in 2022

1. Zeri (Patch 12.2 – January 20, 2022)
2. Renata Glasc (Patch 12.4 – February 17, 2022)
3. Bel’Veth (Patch 12.11 – June 9, 2022)
4. Nilah (Patch 12.13 – July 13, 2022)
5. K’Sante (Patch 12.21 – Nov. 3, 2022)

League of Legends champions released in 2023

1. Milio (Patch 13.6 – March 22, 2023)
2. Naafiri (Patch 13.14 – July 20, 2023)
3. Briar (Patch 13.18 – September 14, 2023)
4. Hwei (Patch 13.24 – December 6, 2023)

League of Legends champions released in 2024

1. Smoldr (Patch 14.2 – January 31, 2024)
2. Ambessa Medarda (Patch 14.22 – October 23, 2024)

League of Legends champions released in 2025

1. Mel Medarda (Patch 25.S1.2 – January 23, 2025)
2. Zaahen (Patch 25.23 – November 19, 2025)

Now that you know when each champion was released, explore which role each champion excels in with our detailed guide on champion roles in League of Legends.

How many Champions are in League of Legends as of 2025?

As you can see from our League Champions by release date list, as of December 2025, there are 170 playable champions in League of Legends.

The latest champion introduced in League of Legends is Zaahen, the Unsundered. A Darkin who chose to be sealed to stave off madness, Zaahen now returns with Xin Zhao’s body as his host. The Darkin’s release concludes the 2025 League of Legends story arc as he kills Atakhan and removes him from the game. Mel and Ambessa, the two champions released before him, both came from the television show Arcane.

Riot has significantly lowered the number of champions released at a time since the early years. 2023 only saw four new champions introduced, then both 2024 and 2025 received only two new champions each. The latest champion, Zaahen, joined the roster at the very end of the year, in patch 25.23.

With an already large roster and following player feedback, Riot is focusing more on champion reworks instead. 2025 brought five gameplay or visual updates, while 2024 had a whole 20 in one year alone.

Fortunately, the Public Beta Environment (PBE) allows developers to show off upcoming champions weeks ahead of their premiere. This is a change from earlier years when champions were teased in mystery, letting the community speculate for months. Everyone who’s played at the time will remember Jinx vandalizing Vi’s information page, Jhin painting Garen and Sona’s murders, or content creators being “visited” by Vel’Koz’s.

Early access and footage of a champion before their official release 124 heroes and Smite’s 130 gods. Very few games can claim to have that big of a roster. build hype just as well, though. 170 is a lot of characters even for a MOBA, outpacing Dota 2’s.

Image: Riot Games

However, having that many characters is a double-edged sword. It can take a very long time for new players to get comfortable with the game. Each champion has at least four abilities along with various passives and unique quirks to learn. While this can intimidate some, others find it makes League of Legends incredibly rewarding to learn over time. Riot has also taken steps to ensure new players don’t get overwhelmed. MOBA games are difficult no matter how many characters they have, and the sheer number of champions in League of Legends makes it endlessly replayable.

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