Updated on March 10, 6:24 p.m. (GMT+8): Added information on Milio, updated introduction.
Updated on January 17, 1:34 p.m. (GMT+8): Added qualifier.
The last Champion Roadmap from Riot Games was published in April 2022. Based on those plans, Bel’Veth, Nilah, and K’Sante were released in the second half of the year.
The game developers has since confirmed that two new League of Legends champions will be making their mark on Summoner’s Rift in the first half of 2023 — the game’s very first male enchanter, Milio, and Darkin assassin, Naafiri.
Gameplay updates to Aurelion Sol have gone live, followed by visual updates to Skarner.
More importantly, and most unfortunately, Lead Champion Producer Lexi “Riot Lexical” Gao also confirmed the number of shirtless new champions for this year, which will disappoint many.
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The two new League of Legends champions will join the roster this 2023
Designing champions for “everyone to enjoy” remains a priority, said Riot Lexical.
“We try to have a diverse champion pool that’s inclusive of all cultures, genders, and in-game skill level for every role,” she said.
Adding to that diversity is Milio, the very first male enchanter in the game — that is, if we consider Taric and Rakan as wardens, for they usually build a combination of tank and enchanter support items. We’re so used to cute, female enchanters like Nami, Lulu, Soraka, Janna, and everyone’s beloved, Yuumi, so he will definitely inject a breath of fresh air into the support lineup.
Hailing from Ixtal, he comes from a very different social and economic class than Qiyana, and will bring a different perspective on what it’s like to grow up in this region, Riot Lexical elaborated in a press conference.
Other Ixtal champions include Malphite, Neeko, Nidalee, Rengar, and Zyra.
The second new champion joining the battlefield is Naafiri, a Darkin melee assassin “made for those who want to focus on the hunt,” especially if you prefer macro play over micro mechanics.
As with all Darkin champions, expect them to be edgy, possessing more than one form.
“Unfortunately, Naafiri is the only champion this year without a shirt,” Riot Lexical confirmed. “We know how much you all love abs, so don’t worry, we’ll be looking for more opportunities next year.”
Viego is the prime example of a popular shirtless champion that players not only enjoy in terms of aesthetics, but also in-game mechanics. Sett, Yone, and Rakan are also on this precious list.
Revamped Arulion Sol will hit live servers this February in patch 13.3.
