Arcane & League of Legends – Characters & Collectibles
One universe, but two different audiences – and the merchandise is not interchangeable.
Techbox, Thessaloniki
Two audiences, not one
This is the single most useful thing to understand about this category, and it catches out most buyers.
League of Legends and Arcane share the same universe. They do not share the same audience.
Someone who loved Arcane may never have played the game at all – and a long-time player may not have watched the series. Ask which one before you buy.
Which Jinx – same name, different look
Here is where the two audiences turn into a practical buying problem.
The characters exist in both the game and the series – but they were redesigned for the series. The animation has its own art style, its own proportions, its own costumes.
So a Jinx from the game and a Jinx from Arcane are recognisably different figures. Same character, different piece.
The question to ask: "the series or the game?" One sentence, and the gift lands.
Who is who in Arcane
The series is set in two cities: Piltover, the wealthy city above, and Zaun, the poisoned undercity below.
Long blue hair, tattoos. The breakout character – and the best-selling figure by a wide margin.
Her older sister – pink hair, huge mechanical gauntlets.
The Piltover enforcer – dark hair, top hat, long rifle.
The young inventor from Zaun – goggles and a hoverboard.
Zaun's ruthless leader – scarred, with one clouded eye.
The two inventors whose partnership drives the whole story.
If you know nothing else: Jinx is the safe answer. She is the most recognisable character of the series and the most requested piece.
The series has ended – and that is not bad news
Arcane is complete. Season one arrived in November 2021, season two in November 2024 – and the creators have confirmed there will be no third season.
The story was always designed to finish there.
Riot has said it is developing further series set elsewhere in the same world – but nothing has been officially announced, and it is worth being realistic about the timescale: the first season took roughly six years to make, and the second another three.
For collecting, the completed story is an advantage: the designs are final. There is no third season coming to redesign these characters and make today's figure the outdated one.
The game, meanwhile, continues as it always has – with new characters added regularly, including some who first appeared in the series.
What age it is for
Arcane is not a children's series. It is animated, but it deals with violence, addiction and a great deal of grief – and the tone is genuinely dark.
It suits sixteen and up. The game is milder and generally rated for younger teenagers.
The products are of course innocent – but the audience for them is teenagers and adults.
What to choose
- Funko POP: the strongest category here – Jinx first, then Vi and Caitlyn.
- Figures: from simple to collector pieces – check series or game.
- Apparel: t-shirts with the series' distinctive art style.
- Posters & art prints: Arcane is visually exceptional – this category does unusually well.
- Gifts: mugs, keyrings, lamps.
A practical note: the game has more than a hundred and sixty characters – no shop can stock them all. Arcane has around six, which makes it far easier to buy for. If you are unsure, choose from the series.
See also Fortnite and World of Warcraft.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between League of Legends and Arcane?
- Same universe, different audiences. League of Legends is a competitive game running since 2009, with more than 160 characters. Arcane is a two-season Netflix series focused on about six of them. Someone who loved the series may never have played the game.
- Why does Jinx look different on different figures?
- Because the characters were redesigned for the series. A Jinx from the game and a Jinx from Arcane are recognisably different pieces. Ask "the series or the game?" before buying.
- Which character sells the most?
- Jinx, by a wide margin – long blue hair and tattoos. Vi and Caitlyn follow. If you know nothing else about the recipient, Jinx is the safe answer.
- Is there an Arcane season three?
- No. The creators have confirmed the story finished with season two in November 2024. Further series set elsewhere in the same world are in development, but nothing has been officially announced – and the first season alone took around six years to make.
- Is it suitable for children?
- Not the series. Arcane is animated but deals with violence, addiction and grief, in a genuinely dark tone – it suits sixteen and up. The game is milder.
