All League of Legends Worlds anthems ranked

It’s Worlds anthem time, everybody. Worlds 2022‘s offering, STAR WALKIN’ comes to us from rap sensation Lil Nas X.

But where does it rank amongst the other eight tracks released for the tournament in previous years?

We asked our League of Legends staff to rank the nine Worlds anthems to answer that question. We’ll explain our top five choices, then sum them up along with the remaining best songs.

Ranking of the best Worlds anthems and songs

1. STAR WALKIN’ (2022)

Lil Nas X – STAR WALKIN’ (League of Legends Worlds Anthem)

Lil Nas X was a great choice by Riot Game to power the 2022 League of Legends World Championship anthem. Bringing a trippy hip-hop vibe to the table, it’s something different, and that’s a good thing.

The accompanying video features a variety of aspects of what makes the pro League of Legends scene what it is: the fans, the pro players themselves, and the champions the use on Summoner’s Rift. The climactic scene, with pro player sending giant mechanized version of LoL champions at each other in a metropolitan setting, is a fitting visual. It all combines to create something special, which is why it tops our list of Worlds anthems and songs.

2. Burn it All Down (2021)

Burn It All Down (ft. PVRIS) | Worlds 2021 – League of Legends

If you’re looking for more of an electronic vibe, Burn it All Down from the 2021 World Championship is bringing that heat. PVRIS provides the song, and it’s a banger.

The actual video has a great focus on the players themselves. Featured pro players from around the world are empowered with champion abilities and sent into battle with each other in a variety of venues, from boxing rings to downtown landscapes waiting to be torn apart by the ensuing battle.

3. Legends Never Die (2017)

Legends Never Die (ft. Against The Current) | Worlds 2017 – League of Legends

While some later videos, such as those in our top two positions, would focus on the pro players, Legends Never Die from 2017 has to total focus on League of Legends’ champions. Three champions, specifically: Ashe, Garen, and Lee Sin.

It’s a little ironic, considering that Garen is among the rarest champions to be seen in professional play. Lee Sin certainly fits in, as he always seems to pop up from the jungle when the annual World Championship event comes around.

The music itself is pretty good, with another electronic tune that builds to a feisty climax.

4. Rise (2018)

RISE (ft. The Glitch Mob, Mako, and The Word Alive) | Worlds 2018 – League of Legends

Similar to the later 2022 Worlds anthem, Rise gives pro players the abilities of some of their favorite champions, from Jarvan IV, to Vayne, to the appropriately named Ryze. This is also another video that prominently features T1 mid lane star Faker, whose consistent presence on the international stage is reflected by his display in multiple World Championship anthem videos.

The Glitch Mob was brought in to take the lead on the actual music, and it’s solid work. This song definitely puts you in the mood to rise up.

5. Take Over (2020)

Take Over (ft. Jeremy McKinnon (A Day To Remember), MAX, Henry) | Worlds 2020 – League of Legends

Take Over brought a different approach to the video side in 2020, with more of a training montage. Most League of Legends players can definitely relate to the feeling of playing over and over again, being defeated most every time, and still going back for more. In that sense, this might be the most relatable of all of the League of Legends songs and anthems from Worlds.

6, Phoenix (2019)

7. Worlds Collide (2015)

8. Warriors (2014)

The best Worlds anthems offer something unique. The overall collection of Worlds anthems has often been criticized for producing the same song year after year. That’s what sets our top three apart – they offer something different.

STAR WALKIN‘ oozes energy and lets Lil Nas shine. Burn It All Down elevates the empowerment ballad genre we’ve heard numerous times in anthems such as Phoenix and Worlds Collide. Ignite brought an electronic element that sadly we haven’t heard since its 2016 debut.

At the other end of the list, we have the more generic “empowerment ballads” such as Phoenix and Worlds Collide. They are good songs, but that specific genre of Worlds anthem has been done better.

Warriors, simply, suffers from being the first anthem. Imagine Dragons are a great band and have done great work for League of Legends in recent years. But Warriors is a generic alt-rock song that got a far superior cover for the 2020 season cinematic.

STAR WALKIN’, released alongside a music video full of easter eggs, takes the top spot because it is truly a banger.

The first true hip-hop Worlds anthem, the song allows Lil Nas X to shine while also departing through the aforementioned “empowerment ballad” that Riot so often defaults to. It’s something different and it hits oh so hard.