From 17 Alpha champions to 172 today, here's every LoL 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 172.
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 just 1 in 2026.
Quick Stats - The Numbers That Matter
Before we dive deep, here's what you actually need to know:
- Total Champions: 172 (as of May 2026)
- Newest Champion: Zaahen (November 19, 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: 3 (Mel, Yunara, Zaahen)
- Champs Planned for 2026: 1 (Locke, mid-summer)
- Average Per Year Now: 1 to 3 champions
- Peak Release Year: 2009 with 40 champions
Complete Champion Release Date List
Every single champion from Annie to Zaahen, 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 (2009-2026)
| 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 |
| Zaahen | Nov 19, 2025 | #172 | Fighter |
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 - Zaahen the Unsundered (November 19, 2025)
Zaahen dropped as champion #172, the rare uncorrupted Darkin who actually fights for the right side. Top-lane bruiser with a stacking AD passive that grants him a one-time revive when fully stacked, and a glaive-based kit built around late-game scaling.
Week one win rate sat in the typical sub-50% complexity slump. By the time mains figured out his stack management and revive timing, he was solidly mid-tier in solo queue and a high-priority pick in pro play. He also flexes into jungle for off-meta abusers.
Yunara (#171, July 2025) was the previous newcomer. Another ADC after ages of waiting, with a transcendent mechanic that played like Kayle on steroids. She hit 70% presence in high elo on release before nerfs.
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.
2018-2026: The Modern Approach
30+ champions across 8 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. Zaahen at #172 even has a built-in revive baked into his passive.
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:
- 90% of players int on them
- Mains from PBE dominate
- Counter picks aren't established
- 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
- Xin Zhao (2010) - 67% win rate, hotfixed in 4 hours
- LeBlanc (2010) - Could one-shot at level 2, nerfed within 2 hours
- Zyra (2012) - 70% win rate mid, completely warped the meta
- Camille (2016) - True damage ult was uncounterable
- 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 Riot's roadmap, here's what to expect through 2026 and beyond.
Confirmed for 2026
- Locke - AP mid-lane assassin, the only new champion of the entire year. Targeted for Patch 26.15 in Season 2 Act 2: Pandemonium (around late July 2026, right after MSI).
- Shyvana rework - already shipped in March 2026 with Season 1: For Demacia. New kit, new VFX, new passive interactions, basically a new champion in everything but name.
Release Cadence Going Forward
Riot officially scaled down to 1 new champion per year starting in 2026. The reasoning? They're shifting effort into VGUs (visual and gameplay updates) and core systems, plus each new champion now takes 12+ months to ship.
Gone are the days of monthly releases. Honestly, given how complex Hwei and Aphelios already are, we're not complaining.
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 unranked lol smurfs come with 30k+ BE for exactly this reason.
FAQ - Quick Answers
How many champions does LoL have right now?
172 as of May 2026. Zaahen's the latest, released November 19, 2025.
Who was the 100th champion?
Jayce, released July 7, 2012. His dual-form stance switching marked a new era of complexity.
Who was the 150th champion?
Yone, August 6, 2020. Yasuo's brother returned from death to haunt the rift.
How often are new champions released in LoL?
1 to 3 per year now, with 2026 down to just one (Locke). Used to be 24 per year in 2010-2011. Thank god that's over.
Which champion had the highest win rate on release?
Zyra at 70% in 2012. Absolutely disgusting.
Can I still get the original 17 champions?
Yes, many are only 450 BE now. Cheapest champions in the game.
The Bottom Line
League's gone from 17 champions to 172 in 17 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 start prepping for Locke. He drops mid-2026, and PBE is your 2-week window to learn him before everyone else catches on.
Last updated: May 2026 | Champion #172: Zaahen Data sourced from Riot API and HappySmurf's internal tracking system
