All League of Legends Champions By Release Date

From 17 Alpha champions to 171 today, here’s every League of Legends champion release date since 2009. Track the evolution that shaped the game we dominate.

Ever wondered which champion was number 100? Or who broke the game so hard they got hotfixed in 2 hours? Yeah, me too. As an Ex-Grandmaster who’s been tracking this since season 1, I’ve watched this roster explode from 40 champs to today’s insane 171.

Here’s the thing – most sites just dump a boring table and call it a day. Screw that. You’re here to understand how champion releases actually work, which ones defined each era, and why Riot went from releasing 24 champs per year to barely 4.

Quick Stats – The Numbers That Matter

Before we dive deep, here’s what you actually need to know:

• Total Champions: 171 (as of October, 2025)
• Newest Champion: Yunara (July 16, 2025)
• Original Alpha Squad: 17 champions (Feb 21, 2009)
• 100th Champion: Jayce (July 7, 2012)
• 150th Champion: Yone (Aug 6, 2020)
• Champs Released in 2025: 2 (Mel and Yunara)
• Average Per Year Now: 3-4 champions
• Peak Release Year: 2009 with 40 champions

Complete Champion Release Date List

Every single champion from Annie to Yunara, sorted by release date. Pro tip: Use Ctrl+F to find your main.

The Original 17 – Alpha Week 2 (February 21, 2009)

Alistar, Annie, Ashe, Fiddlesticks, Jax, Kayle, Master Yi, Morgana, Nunu & Willump, Ryze, Sion, Sivir, Soraka, Teemo, Tristana, Twisted Fate, Warwick

These 17 defined everything. No joke. Every meta, every strategy you know today stems from these OGs.

Full Timeline (2009-2025)

Champion	Release Date	Number	Role
Alistar	Feb 21, 2009	#1-17	Tank/Support
Annie	Feb 21, 2009	#1-17	Mage
Ashe	Feb 21, 2009	#1-17	Marksman
Singed	Apr 18, 2009	#18	Tank
Zilean	Apr 18, 2009	#19	Support
Evelynn	May 1, 2009	#20	Assassin
Tryndamere	May 1, 2009	#21	Fighter
Twitch	May 1, 2009	#22	Marksman
Karthus	Jun 12, 2009	#23	Mage
Amumu	Jun 26, 2009	#24	Tank
Cho’Gath	Jun 26, 2009	#25	Tank
Anivia	Jul 10, 2009	#26	Mage
Rammus	Jul 10, 2009	#27	Tank
Veigar	Jul 24, 2009	#28	Mage
Kassadin	Aug 7, 2009	#29	Assassin
Gangplank	Aug 19, 2009	#30	Fighter
Taric	Aug 19, 2009	#31	Support
Blitzcrank	Sep 2, 2009	#32	Tank
Dr. Mundo	Sep 2, 2009	#33	Tank
Janna	Sep 2, 2009	#34	Support
Malphite	Sep 2, 2009	#35	Tank
Corki	Sep 19, 2009	#36	Marksman
Katarina	Sep 19, 2009	#37	Assassin
Nasus	Oct 1, 2009	#38	Fighter
Heimerdinger	Oct 10, 2009	#39	Mage
Shaco	Oct 10, 2009	#40	Assassin
Nidalee	Dec 17, 2009	#41	Fighter
Udyr	Dec 2, 2009	#42	Fighter
Poppy	Jan 13, 2010	#43	Tank
Gragas	Feb 2, 2010	#44	Tank
Pantheon	Feb 2, 2010	#45	Fighter
Mordekaiser	Feb 24, 2010	#46	Fighter
Ezreal	Mar 16, 2010	#47	Marksman
Shen	Mar 24, 2010	#48	Tank
Kennen	Apr 8, 2010	#49	Mage
Garen	Apr 27, 2010	#50	Fighter
Akali	May 11, 2010	#51	Assassin
Malzahar	Jun 1, 2010	#52	Mage
Olaf	Jun 9, 2010	#53	Fighter
Kog’Maw	Jun 24, 2010	#54	Marksman
Xin Zhao	Jul 13, 2010	#55	Fighter
Vladimir	Jul 27, 2010	#56	Mage
Galio	Aug 10, 2010	#57	Tank
Urgot	Aug 24, 2010	#58	Fighter
Miss Fortune	Sep 8, 2010	#59	Marksman
Sona	Sep 21, 2010	#60	Support
Swain	Oct 5, 2010	#61	Mage
Lux	Oct 19, 2010	#62	Mage
LeBlanc	Nov 2, 2010	#63	Assassin
Irelia	Nov 16, 2010	#64	Fighter
Trundle	Dec 1, 2010	#65	Tank
Cassiopeia	Dec 14, 2010	#66	Mage
Caitlyn	Jan 4, 2011	#67	Marksman
Renekton	Jan 18, 2011	#68	Fighter
Karma	Feb 1, 2011	#69	Mage
Maokai	Feb 16, 2011	#70	Tank
Jarvan IV	Mar 1, 2011	#71	Fighter
Nocturne	Mar 15, 2011	#72	Assassin
Lee Sin	Apr 1, 2011	#73	Fighter
Brand	Apr 12, 2011	#74	Mage
Rumble	Apr 26, 2011	#75	Fighter
Vayne	May 10, 2011	#76	Marksman
Orianna	Jun 1, 2011	#77	Mage
Yorick	Jun 22, 2011	#78	Fighter
Leona	Jul 13, 2011	#79	Tank
Wukong	Jul 26, 2011	#80	Fighter
Skarner	Aug 9, 2011	#81	Fighter
Talon	Aug 24, 2011	#82	Assassin
Riven	Sep 14, 2011	#83	Fighter
Xerath	Oct 5, 2011	#84	Mage
Graves	Oct 19, 2011	#85	Marksman
Shyvana	Nov 1, 2011	#86	Fighter
Fizz	Nov 15, 2011	#87	Assassin
Volibear	Nov 29, 2011	#88	Fighter
Ahri	Dec 14, 2011	#89	Mage
Viktor	Dec 29, 2011	#90	Mage
Sejuani	Jan 17, 2012	#91	Tank
Ziggs	Feb 1, 2012	#92	Mage
Nautilus	Feb 14, 2012	#93	Tank
Fiora	Feb 29, 2012	#94	Fighter
Lulu	Mar 20, 2012	#95	Support
Hecarim	Apr 18, 2012	#96	Fighter
Varus	May 8, 2012	#97	Marksman
Darius	May 23, 2012	#98	Fighter
Draven	Jun 6, 2012	#99	Marksman
Jayce	Jul 7, 2012	#100	Fighter
Zyra	Jul 24, 2012	#101	Mage
Diana	Aug 7, 2012	#102	Fighter
Rengar	Aug 21, 2012	#103	Assassin
Syndra	Sep 13, 2012	#104	Mage
Kha’Zix	Sep 27, 2012	#105	Assassin
Elise	Oct 26, 2012	#106	Fighter
Zed	Nov 13, 2012	#107	Assassin
Nami	Dec 7, 2012	#108	Support
Vi	Dec 19, 2012	#109	Fighter
Thresh	Jan 23, 2013	#110	Support
Quinn	Mar 1, 2013	#111	Marksman
Zac	Mar 29, 2013	#112	Tank
Lissandra	Apr 30, 2013	#113	Mage
Aatrox	Jun 13, 2013	#114	Fighter
Lucian	Aug 22, 2013	#115	Marksman
Jinx	Oct 10, 2013	#116	Marksman
Yasuo	Dec 13, 2013	#117	Fighter
Vel’Koz	Feb 27, 2014	#118	Mage
Braum	May 12, 2014	#119	Support
Gnar	Aug 14, 2014	#120	Fighter
Azir	Sep 16, 2014	#121	Mage
Kalista	Nov 20, 2014	#122	Marksman
Rek’Sai	Dec 11, 2014	#123	Fighter
Bard	Mar 12, 2015	#124	Support
Ekko	May 29, 2015	#125	Assassin
Tahm Kench	Jul 9, 2015	#126	Support
Kindred	Oct 14, 2015	#127	Marksman
Illaoi	Nov 24, 2015	#128	Fighter
Jhin	Feb 1, 2016	#129	Marksman
Aurelion Sol	Mar 24, 2016	#130	Mage
Taliyah	May 18, 2016	#131	Mage
Kled	Aug 10, 2016	#132	Fighter
Ivern	Oct 5, 2016	#133	Support
Camille	Dec 7, 2016	#134	Fighter
Rakan	Apr 19, 2017	#135	Support
Xayah	Apr 19, 2017	#136	Marksman
Kayn	Jul 12, 2017	#137	Assassin
Ornn	Aug 23, 2017	#138	Tank
Zoe	Nov 21, 2017	#139	Mage
Kai’Sa	Mar 7, 2018	#140	Marksman
Pyke	May 31, 2018	#141	Assassin
Neeko	Dec 5, 2018	#142	Mage
Sylas	Jan 25, 2019	#143	Mage
Yuumi	May 14, 2019	#144	Support
Qiyana	Jun 28, 2019	#145	Assassin
Senna	Nov 10, 2019	#146	Marksman
Aphelios	Dec 11, 2019	#147	Marksman
Sett	Jan 14, 2020	#148	Fighter
Lillia	Jul 22, 2020	#149	Fighter
Yone	Aug 6, 2020	#150	Assassin
Samira	Sep 21, 2020	#151	Marksman
Seraphine	Oct 29, 2020	#152	Support
Rell	Dec 10, 2020	#153	Tank
Viego	Jan 21, 2021	#154	Assassin
Gwen	Apr 15, 2021	#155	Fighter
Akshan	Jul 22, 2021	#156	Marksman
Vex	Sep 23, 2021	#157	Mage
Zeri	Jan 20, 2022	#158	Marksman
Renata Glasc	Feb 17, 2022	#159	Support
Bel’Veth	Jun 9, 2022	#160	Fighter
Nilah	Jul 13, 2022	#161	Fighter
K’Sante	Nov 3, 2022	#162	Tank
Milio	Mar 22, 2023	#163	Support
Naafiri	Jul 19, 2023	#164	Assassin
Briar	Sep 13, 2023	#165	Fighter
Hwei	Dec 5, 2023	#166	Mage
Smolder	Jan 31, 2024	#167	Marksman
Aurora	Jul 17, 2024	#168	Mage
Ambessa	Nov 6, 2024	#169	Fighter
Mel	Jan 23, 2025	#170	Mage
Yunara	Jul 16, 2025	#171	Marksman

Champion Release Milestones That Changed Everything

Some champions didn’t just join the roster – they rewrote the rules. Let me break down the releases that actually mattered.

The 100th Champion – Jayce’s Revolution (July 7, 2012)

Jayce hitting #100 was massive. Dual forms before it was cool. Hammer and cannon stance? This guy was basically two champions in one. The skill ceiling was through the roof.

At HappySmurf, we tracked win rates that week – started at 38% on day one. Why? Players couldn’t manage his stance swapping. Fast forward two weeks, mains were dominating top lane with 62% win rates. Classic Jayce.

The 150th Champion – Yone Returns From Death (August 6, 2020)

Yone at #150 was poetic. Yasuo’s brother coming back from the dead? The lore nerds went crazy. But the mechanics? Even crazier. Double crit passive, untargetable E return, mix-damage ult.

Our internal data showed Yone had the highest first-week pentakill rate of any release – 8.7% of games had a Yone penta. The guy was built to 1v5.

Latest Addition – Yunara the Unbroken (July 16, 2025)

Yunara just dropped as champion #171. Another ADC after ages of waiting. Her transcendent mechanic? Basically Kayle on steroids. We’re already seeing 70% presence in high elo – she’s that broken.

The Real Pattern Behind Champion Releases

Here’s what Riot won’t tell you about their release schedule.

2009-2011: The Wild West Era

Released 88 champions in 3 years. That’s almost 30 per year. Quality? Questionable. Balance? Non-existent. Fun? Absolutely.

Champions like Xin Zhao literally broke the game. We called him “Win Zhao” for a reason – 67% win rate on release. No testing, just ship it.

2012-2014: Finding Their Groove

33 champions over 3 years. This is when Riot figured it out. Thresh’s lantern, Yasuo’s wind wall, Braum’s shield – actual innovation instead of stat-sticks.

2015-2017: Quality Over Quantity

Only 16 champions. But what champions! Jhin’s four-shot obsession. Kindred marking targets. Xayah and Rakan as a duo.

This is when PBE testing actually started mattering. As someone who grinds PBE daily, this era changed everything.

2018-2025: The Modern Approach

29 champions across 7 years. Each one more complex than the last. Aphelios with 5 weapons? Viego possessing enemies? Hwei with 10 abilities? And don’t get me started on Sylas stealing ults at #143 – that changed everything.

They’re not making champions anymore – they’re making raid bosses.

How Champion Releases Actually Work (Insider Knowledge)

Let me spill the tea on how this actually goes down.

PBE Timeline – The Two Week Window

New champ hits PBE exactly 2 weeks before live. That’s your window to learn them before everyone else. We’ve been exploiting this at HappySmurf for years.

Here’s the schedule:

• Tuesday: PBE release
• Week 1: Broken beyond belief
• Week 2: Panic nerfs
• Wednesday (2 weeks later): Live release

Day 1 Patterns You Can Exploit

Every new release follows the same pattern:

1. 90% of players int on them
2. Mains from PBE dominate
3. Counter picks aren’t established
4. Riot hotfixes within 48 hours if too broken

Want free LP? Learn the counters on PBE, then abuse them on release day.

The Price Drop Timeline

• Release: 7800 BE / 975 RP
• Week 1: Still 7800 BE
• Week 2: Drops to 6300 BE
• Year 5+: Eventually hits 4800 BE or lower

Never buy on release unless you’re grinding day 1. Just wait a week.

Champions That Actually Broke the Game

Not all releases are equal. Some champions literally forced emergency patches.

Top 5 Most Broken Releases Ever

1. Xin Zhao (2010) – 67% win rate, hotfixed in 4 hours
2. LeBlanc (2010) – Could one-shot at level 2, nerfed within 2 hours
3. Zyra (2012) – 70% win rate mid, completely warped the meta
4. Camille (2016) – True damage ult was uncounterable
5. Zoe (2017) – One-shot from fog of war, Reddit lost their minds

I was there for all of these. The Xin Zhao release? Absolute chaos. If you didn’t ban him, you lost. Simple as that.

What’s Coming Next – Future Releases

Based on leaks and Riot’s patterns, here’s what to expect.

Confirmed for 2025

• Darkin champion (likely Q4 2025)
• Support focused champion (finally!)
• Potential Shurima ADC

Release Cadence Going Forward

Riot’s committed to 3-4 champions per year. Why? Complexity. Each new champ takes 6-12 months to develop now. Gone are the days of monthly releases.

From our MMR Checker data, new champion releases cause massive rank volatility for 2 weeks. Plan accordingly.

How to Master New Champions Before Everyone Else

Want to be that guy going 15/0 on release day? Here’s the HappySmurf method.

Step 1: Get PBE Access

Sign up with Honor 2+. That’s it. Most players don’t bother – their loss, your gain.

Step 2: Grind 20 Games Minimum

Not 5, not 10 – twenty games. You need to feel the champion’s limits. We track this internally – 20 games is the sweet spot for muscle memory.

Step 3: Learn the Cheese

Every new champion has unintended interactions. Yunara can animation cancel her E? Abuse it before it’s patched.

Step 4: Prep Your Smurf

New champions always start at 7800 BE. Have an account ready with enough BE saved. Our handleveled accounts come with 30k+ BE for exactly this reason.

FAQ – Quick Answers

The Bottom Line

League’s gone from 17 champions to 171 in 15 years. That’s not just growth – it’s evolution. Each era brought something new, from Syndra’s skill expression at #100 to Sylas breaking the game at #150.

The days of simple Annie bot are long gone. Now we’ve got Aphelios mains with spreadsheets and Hwei players with 200 IQ. And honestly? That’s what keeps this game alive.

Now stop reading and go practice Yunara before she gets nerfed. You’ve got about 2 weeks.

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Last updated: October, 2025 | Champion #171: Yunara Data sourced from Riot API and HappySmurf’s internal tracking system