Remember grinding S-ranks on Yasuo for hours just to get that sweet chest drop? Yeah, those days are gone. Riot nuked the entire free chest system in January 2025, and the community absolutely lost it. Even Caedrel and other pros were flaming Riot on Twitter daily.
The protests got so bad that Riot actually backed down. Patch 25.05 brought chests back, but trust me, it's completely different now. Your sick Katarina pentakills won't get you anything except maybe some honors.
Quick Reference - Chest Earning Methods
| Method | Chests Available | Requirements | Time to Complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Pass (Free) | 8 per Act | Play games, complete missions | 2 months |
| Honor System | 2 per Act | Honor Level 2+, positive behavior | 2 months |
| Direct Purchase | Unlimited | 195 RP per chest+key | Instant |
| Total Free | 10 per Act | Both methods above | 2 months |
The New Reality - How to Actually Get Chests Now
Gone are the days of farming S-ranks for loot. The entire Champion Mastery chest system got axed, and honestly, it hit different when we realized those glory days were over. But here's what we're working with now.
Battle Pass Free Track (8 Chests Per Act)
The main way to get Hextech Chests these days is through the Battle Pass. Yeah, I know what you're thinking - "great, another battle pass system." But hear me out. You don't need to spend a dime on the premium version. The free track gives you 8 Hextech Chests with keys spread throughout the progression milestones.
Playing a few games daily and knocking out those missions will steadily unlock these chests. It doesn't matter if you're an ARAM enthusiast or a ranked grinder - all game modes count toward your progress. The system actually favors casual players now since you're not forced to pop off on specific champions.
Just remember to log in regularly. Those daily missions add up fast, and you've got about two months per Act to collect all 8 chests. Missing a few days won't kill your progress, but consistency pays off.
Honor System Rewards (2 Chests Per Act)
Being a decent human in League finally has tangible benefits beyond avoiding bans. If you maintain Honor Level 2 or higher, you can snag an additional 2 chests per Act through the Honor system.
The trick is simple - don't be toxic, honor your teammates after games, and play for the team rather than padding your KDA. Those "tilt-proof" honors from randoms after you keep your cool during a rough game? They actually matter now.
Fair warning though - one penalty for negative behavior can reset your Honor progress and lock you out of these rewards for weeks. So maybe think twice before flaming that autofilled jungler.
Buying Chests with RP
Look, sometimes you just want to open some chests without the grind. Riot knows this, which is why they kept the option to buy them directly.
Current prices haven't changed much from before. A single Hextech Chest costs 125 RP, but you'll need a key to open it, bringing the total to 195 RP for the bundle. If you're planning to buy several, the 11 chest + key bundle for 1950 RP offers the best value.
During special events, keep an eye out for discounted chest bundles. Riot occasionally throws in bonus chests or improved drop rates during major patches or holidays.
Riot Points Pricing Table (USD)
| RP Amount | Price | Cost per Chest+Key | Chests You Can Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 650 RP | $5 | $1.50 | 3 chests |
| 1380 RP | $10 | $1.41 | 7 chests |
| 2800 RP | $20 | $1.39 | 14 chests |
| 5000 RP | $35 | $1.37 | 25 chests |
| 7200 RP | $50 | $1.35 | 36 chests |
Prices may vary by region. Check the official RP pricing for your area.
What We Lost Forever
Understanding what's gone helps explain why the community went ballistic. The old system had its flaws, but at least dedicated players could farm chests on their main champions.
No More Mastery Chests
This one stings the most. Getting an S-rank used to guarantee a chest on that champion (once per season). Now? That perfect KDA means nothing for loot. Your premade buddy getting an S-rank won't help either - that chest-sharing feature died with the old system.
The "one chest per champion per season" restriction? Gone, because the entire system is gone. Mastery grades now only contribute to Battle Pass XP, which feels like a consolation prize compared to actual loot.
Important clarification: Despite what some outdated guides claim, there are NO "Mastery Milestones" that give chests. The milestone system some sites mention is completely fabricated or based on old, cancelled plans.
Other Casualties
Masterwork Chests vanished into the void. These premium chests had better drop rates for skin shards, but Riot removed them entirely rather than reworking them.
The monthly chest cap of 4 also disappeared, though it's somewhat irrelevant now since we're limited to 10 total per Act anyway. And if you were hoping level-up rewards past 30 might include chests? Nope, that's still just Blue Essence and champion shards.
What's Actually Inside These Chests
At least Riot didn't mess with the drop rates. Opening a Hextech Chest today gives you the same chances as the pre-2025 system, which is honestly a relief given all the other changes.
Hextech Chest Drop Rates Table
| Item | Drop Rate | What You Get | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Shard | 50% base (~57% with bad luck protection) | Random skin (520-3250 RP) | $5-25 |
| Champion Shard | 25% | 2400+ BE champions only | 960-1260 BE on disenchant |
| Ward Skin Shard + 150 OE | 11.5% | Ward skin permanent | 640 RP equivalent |
| Emote Permanent | 10% | Random emote | 350 RP value |
| Bonus Chest + Key | 10% | Another free chest | 195 RP value |
| 10 Mythic Essence | 3.6% base (~4% with bonus drops) | For Mythic Shop | ~500 RP value |
| Summoner Icon Shard + 150 OE | 3.5% | Summoner icon permanent | 250 RP value |
| Mythic Exclusive Skin | 0.04% (1 in 2,500) | Direct skin permanent | 100+ Mythic Essence value |
The bad luck protection still exists too. If you somehow open two chests without getting a skin shard, the third chest guarantees one. It's not much, but it prevents those soul-crushing streaks of champion shards and emotes.
Note: The drop rates shown are for regular Hextech Chests only. Event orbs and capsules have different rates and aren't covered here. Speaking of LoL skins, remember that all cosmetics from Hextech Chests are purely visual and won't affect your gameplay or MMR.
Making the Most of the New System
Since we're stuck with this system, might as well optimize it. Been testing different approaches since March, and some stuff actually makes a difference.
Battle Pass Efficiency
The weekly missions stack, which most people don't realize. Missed two weeks because of exams? No problem, you can complete all those missions when you get back. Just don't wait until the last week of the Act like an idiot (learned that the hard way).
Game mode diversity helps more than you'd think. Playing one ARAM, one normal SR game, and one rotating mode daily maximizes your "first win" bonuses across different queues. It's more XP efficient than grinding 10 ranked games in a row.
Group up with friends when possible. The party bonus isn't huge, but over two months, it adds up to roughly one chest worth of extra progress. Plus, premade games tend to be less toxic, which helps your Honor progression.
Honor Grinding Strategy
This sounds cynical, but being overly positive in chat works wonders. A simple "gj" after successful plays or "no worries, we scale" after mistakes often earns honors from grateful teammates.
Playing support or tank roles tends to generate more honors, especially if you're actively peeling for carries. Nobody honors the 15/3 Katarina, but everyone remembers the Braum who saved them three times.
Never leave games early, even obvious losses. The system heavily punishes AFKs and leavers, potentially costing you weeks of Honor progress. Just play it out and move on.
For a deep dive into Honor optimization, see Riot's official Honor FAQ.
Smart Chest Management
Here's something most players don't realize - new skins take 24-48 hours to enter the Hextech loot pool. If a new skin line drops that you're interested in, wait a couple days before opening chests.
Save your chest openings for events with "double drop" bonuses or improved rates for specific skin lines. Riot doesn't advertise these heavily, but they happen 3-4 times per year.
Consider banking three skin shards you don't want before opening more chests. If you get another unwanted shard, you can immediately reroll for a guaranteed unowned skin permanent. It's better than letting shards collect dust in your loot tab.
The Community Uprising That Changed Everything
The chest removal triggered the biggest shitstorm I've seen since dynamic queue. Unlike those organized Reddit boycotts that fizzle out after a week, this was different. Pure rage across every platform.
My Twitter feed was nothing but players tagging RiotPhreak and other devs with increasingly creative insults. The main Reddit thread had thousands of comments within hours. Content creators who usually kiss Riot's ass were making "League is dying" videos.
Then Caedrel tweeted "HEXTECH CHESTS ARE BACK RIOT BIG W" and everyone knew Riot had caved. First time I've seen them reverse a decision this fast.
The February 26 dev update where Riot announced the return felt like damage control, but credit where it's due - they admitted they "didn't fully grasp how much this mattered" to players. Sometimes it takes a riot to get Riot's attention.
For more context on the protests, check out GameRant's coverage and the official Riot dev blog.
FAQs About the Current System
Do I still get chests for S-ranks on champions?
No, that system is completely gone. S-ranks only contribute to Battle Pass XP now. All free chests come from the Battle Pass progression and Honor rewards.
What about the 50% champion price reduction?
Yes! Starting with Act 2 (March 2025), all champions now cost 50% less Blue Essence. This was announced alongside the Hextech Chest return to address player concerns about progression.
How long is each Act?
Most Acts run around 8 weeks. The 2026 Pandemonium season runs only 6 patches instead of the usual 8, so its Acts are closer to 6 weeks each. When a new Act starts, your chest count resets and you can earn another 10 chests (8 from Battle Pass, 2 from Honor) regardless of Act length.
Can I save chests between Acts?
Absolutely. Any chests in your loot inventory stay there indefinitely. Only the earning potential resets with each Act.
Are the drop rates worse now?
No, drop rates carried over from the pre-2025 system untouched. Skin shards land at 50% base rate, pushed up to roughly 57% with bad luck protection, and that mechanic is still in place.
What happens to my old keys?
They still work normally. Keys from before the system change can open any Hextech Chest, whether earned or purchased.
What Changed in 2026
The 2026 season opened with Patch 26.1 in January and stripped Feats of Strength out of the game entirely. For chest farming this changes little since Feats never gave chests directly, but if you bumped into older guides mentioning Feat-related chest paths, those are dead now.
Pandemonium runs shorter than usual. Season 2 of 2026 spans only six patches instead of eight, which means each Act lands closer to six weeks than two months. You still get the same 8 + 2 chests per Act, the timeline just compresses.
Beyond that the system has barely budged. Drop rates carried over, the 195 RP per chest+key bundle held its price, and the Battle Pass and Honor split is unchanged. Riot built this in March 2025 after the player protest and they haven't touched it since.
Looking Ahead
Will this system last? Who knows. Riot backtracked once already, so anything's possible.
The optimists think we'll get more chests per Act eventually. Some delusional players still hope S-ranks will matter again someday. Meanwhile, the doomers are convinced Riot will monetize it even harder next season.
One thing's clear though. The 2025 chest protests actually worked. If enough players rage about something, Riot listens. So if you hate the current system, keep complaining. Worked last time.
Final Thoughts
Look, 10 free chests every two months isn't amazing, but it beats the zero we had in January. Veterans are salty about losing performance rewards, and I get it. Nothing felt better than earning a chest with a disgusting Irelia outplay.
New players actually have it easier now. No need to own 50 different champs or learn complicated mechanics. Just play the game and collect your welfare chests.
The skins don't make you play better anyway. I've seen plenty of Ultimate skin users get gapped by default skin mains. Focus on your gameplay, treat the chests as a bonus, and pray to RNGesus you don't get another Corki shard.
Last updated: May 2026 | Reflects Patch 25.04, 25.05, and 26.1 changes
