In League of Legends there are various skin tiers, with prestige skins being some of the most sought after and rarest to obtain. Want to know more about them and which ones Riot has released thus far? Then we've done the research for you!
Skins and League of Legends, name a more iconic duo. Through skin and cosmetic sales, Riot Games makes most of their money and throughout the year's they've added multiple new skin-tiers. One of those are Prestige Skins.
But, what are prestige skins? How are you able to get these golden skins even? Well, that’s what we’re going to be diving into in this article. Everything you need to know about LoL prestige skins right here!
LoL Prestige Skins Explained
Prestige Skins take existing skins and re-imagine them in a whole new 'prestigious' way. Prestige skins will take existing skins and turn them into 'high fashion' looks. This can also make them feel like completely different skins. Some prestige skins even incorporate real-brands like Louis Vuitton and APE.
In 2022 Riot took it even a step further, partnering with Lil Nas X on a prestige skin for K'Sante, creating a completely different look for the champions Empyrean skin with the prestige version.
| 💡When & Why Did Riot Add Prestige Skins? Riot Games introduced Prestige skins to League of Legends in November 2018. These skins offer players a unique and often more elaborate cosmetic option for their favorite champions, typically associated with special events or the completion of in-game tasks. They are considered a high-status cosmetic in the game. |
What Are Commemorative Prestige Edition Skins?
Prestige skins are meant to be exclusive and unique and are some of the rarest skins in the game. Riot had introduced seasonal Prestige skins which were only available for a short amount of time or through loot. In 2022 Riot made some changes to Prestige skins, their presentation and how to earn them.
With the introduction of the Mythic Shop, older prestige skins will always be made available on a rotation basis and anyone can get these rare skins. To reward the players who already owned the Prestige skins before their unvaulting, Riot created commemorative presige versions for those players.
These skins are mere recolored versions of the original, but they are only for players who owned the skin before, giving players the same feel of exclusivity as they had before.
How Do You Earn Prestige Skins?
Earning LoL prestige skins means you’ve got to save up for them. So, if you see your favorite champion getting a new skin, as well as a prestige edition, then you’ll need to earn some Mythic Essence.
Before 2022 players had to use prestige points to get a chance to pick up prestige skins, but to unify all mythic content – since gemstones were also a currency to get mythic content – Riot has decided to create one currency which is now known as Mythic Essence.
What is Mythic Essence?
Mythic Essence is the mythic currency currently being used in League of Legends to pick up mythic skins, content, as well as prestige skins in the Mythic Shop. This was introduced in 2022 and replaced the previous gemstone and prestige point system that had been in place for years.
Can You Earn Prestige Skins Through Loot?
Prestige, as well as mythic skins, will not be available in loot pools, which includes re-rolls, until their debut period ends. This means that when a skin debuts in an event, until the event tokens expire, the skin will not be made available for loot.
The drop rates for prestige and mythic skins is 0.04% though when looking at the drop rates of the Masterwork Chest drops. So it's highly unlikely to get a prestige skin. Therefore, it's better to pay for the League of Legends prestige skin you want once it enters the Mythic Shop.
Are Mythic Variants The Same As Prestige Skins?
In 2023 Riot revealed a new classification for skins called the 'mythic variants' which can be obtained through a Gacha (loot box) system. This was put in place for the small minority of players who want even more exclusive content from even prestige skins.
These skins will come in loot boxes, with a small percentage chance of players actually pulling it. After reaching a specific amount of opened boxes, the skin is guaranteed to drop, but players could pay up to $200 for a skin if they have to open every loot box.
These skins, unlike prestige skins do not require mythic essence, but do require RP, for the player to purchase the loot boxes.
How to Earn Mythic Essence
Buying Masterwork Chest Bundles
One way to earn Mythic Essence in League of Legends is by buying Masterwork Chest Bundles. Masterwork chests are available in the shop under ‘Loot’ and go for 165 RP – Riot Points. Buying just a chest won’t get you any Mythic Essence though.
To get Mythic Essence you’ll have to purchase the Masterwork Chest Bundles. These usually include the chest, a key, and Mythic Essence. Depending on which bundle you buy, you get different amounts of Mythic Essence.
Through In-Game Events
You can also earn Mythic Essence for the prestige edition skin of your dreams through the Riot Games in-client events. By completing missions, players earn event tokens. How do you know which missions you must complete? Easy, just check in the client on the bottom right between your chat and microphone icon.
If you click on that symbol, all missions for the running event will be shown to you. Completing those missions will give you event tokens, which can then be used to exchange for Mythic Essence at the end of the in-client event.
Riot also introduced the new event pass in which players can track their progress and see what they have earned in the event already by completing missions and playing games. It also visualizes how many tokens you've earned throughout the event.
With Event Tokens
You’ll also be able to get event-specific prestige skins by exchanging event tokens. For most events, one champion will receive an event prestige skin. For example, Nightbringer Kayn was released with a prestige edition skin.
By buying the Nightbringer and Dawnbringer event pass, players were able to complete missions – either by winning games or playing a certain number. For each completed mission, they were gifted event tokens, which they could later find in their Loot.
There, players are able to choose what they want to purchase with their event tokens. If you had enough to get the prestige skin edition of Nightbringer Kayn, then congratulations to you!
How To Earn Prestige Skins
With the inclusion of a new currency, Riot has shaken up how players can earn event-exclusive prestige skins. So let's go over the different ways to earn prestige skins and mythic essence!
Showcase Milestones
One way of earning your favorite prestige skin is through showcase milestones. Loot showcase events, like the 2022 Eclipse skins or Ocean Song skins will hold milestone reward tracks which progress as you open event capsules. Skins will be released exclusively at the end of the progression track before being vaulted until made available in the mythic shop at some point.
Masterwork Milestones
Masterwork milestones are an infinitely repeatable rewards track for opening Masterwork chests. So, continue buying them to earn some mythic essence and get those exclusive skins in the future.
Event Pass
Riot will want to continue to have a token shop, but add in a battle pass system. Players will get experience by playing games, earning points through missions and unlocking tokens and other rewards.
Here are some examples of missions and battle pass tracks:
- Free event missions: Converted to free pass track rewards. Still includes 300 total tokens and an Event Orb, among other content. You'll earn all free rewards by level 30.
- Pass token bank missions: Converted to paid pass track rewards at each level. After all 50 event pass levels, there's an infinitely repeatable "51st" level for pass holders that grants tokens.
- Pass milestone missions: Converted to paid pass track rewards.
- Pass weekly wins missions: Now grant XP instead of tokens. Stacks with First Win of the Day missions.
- Free First Win of the Day missions: Earn pass XP for your first win (or 3 played matches) each day. Like the standard First Win mission, this is a use-it-or-lose-it model; you can't accrue multiple First Win missions.
You'll be able to use the tokens in an event shop, just like before. Riot will improve the interface of the shop though, which means you'll have an easier time browsing and finding what you're looking for to purchase.
How Do You Use Mythic Essence?
So you’ve bought a bunch of Masterwork Chest Bundles and are now rich in Mythic Essence? Well, now it’s time to spend those hard-earned bad boys! You’re really eyeing that Duality Dragon Volibear prestige edition skin, eh? Well, to get it you’ll have to go into your LoL client and click on ‘Loot’ in the top right corner.
Once you’re there, you see everything you’ve earned so far, those Masterwork Chests, the keys, a few skin shards, orange essence and, of course, Mythic Essence. Click on the Mythic Essence and every prestige edition skin you can get is shown to you.
So then, you simply press the one you want, click ‘Forge’ and then you’re the lucky owner of a prestige skin.
Does Mythic Essence Expire?
Mythic essence, like gemstones and unlike prestige points previously, will not expire. This means you can hoard as much mythic essence as you want and as long as you want.
What Prestige Skins Exist in League of Legends
We’ve got quite a list of prestige skins already available in League of Legends. Fan favorites are part of the list as well. Here is a full list of all prestige edition skins Riot Games has released thus far:
2018 Prestige Skins
- K/DA Akali Prestige
- K/DA Kai’Sa Prestige
2019 Prestige Skins
- Blood Moon Aatrox Prestige
- K/DA Evelynn Prestige
- K/DA Ahri Prestige
- Firecracker Vayne Prestige
- Arcade Caitlyn Prestige
- Fuzz Fizz Prestige
- PROJECT: Irelia Prestige
- Nightbringer Lee Sin Prestige
- Battle Academia Lux Prestige
- Star Guardian Neeko Prestige
- True Damage Qiyana Prestige
- Valiant Sword Riven Prestige
- Pulsefire Thresh Prestige
- Bewitching Miss Fortune Prestige
2020 Prestige Skins
- Mecha Kingdoms Garen Prestige
- Pulsefire Lucian Prestige
- Dark Star Malphite Prestige
- True Damage Senna Prestige
- Obsidian Dragon Sett Prestige
- Star Guardian Soraka Prestige
- Spirit Blossom Teemo Prestige
- Battle Queen Diana Prestige
- PsyOps Ezreal Prestige
- True Damage Yasuo Prestige
- K/DA ALL OUT Kai’Sa Prestige
- Arcanist Zoe Prestige
- Coven Zyra Prestige
2021 Prestige Skins
- Lunar Beast Fiora Prestige
- Space Groove Lulu Prestige
- Conqueror Jax Prestige
- PROJECT: Sylas Prestige
- PROJECT: Zed Prestige
- Battle Academia Leona Prestige
- Ascended Pantheon Prestige
- Coven LeBlanc Prestige
- Nightbringer Kayn Prestige
- Bewitching Morgana Prestige
- Duality Dragon Volibear Prestige
- Debonair 2.0 Brand Prestige
2022 Prestige skins
- Brave Phoenix Xayah Prestige
- Porcelain Lux Prestige
- Anima Squad Jinx Prestige
- High Noon Talon Prestige
- Eclipse Senna Prestige
- Ocean Song Seraphine
- Star Guardian Ekko
- Star Guardian Syndra
- Cyber Halo Janna
- Spirit Blossom Master Yi
- Empyrean K'Sante
- Space Groove Nami
- Winterblessed Warwick
2023 Prestige Skins
- Mythmaker Sivir
- Porcelain Lissandra
- Broken Covenant Miss Fortune
- Faerie Court Katarina
- Inkshadow Yasuo
- DRX Aatrox
- Soul Fighter Pyke
- Soul Fighter Shaco
- Immortal Journey Sona
- La Ilusión Renata Glasc
- Coven Akali
- Heartsteel Yone
- Winterblessed Camille
2024 Prestige Skins
- Dragonmancer Rakan
- Heavenscale Ezreal
- Porcelain Kindred
- High Noon Evelynn
- Kayle (has yet to be announced)
- Yuumi (has yet to be announced)
- Leona (has yet to be announced)
There are multiple prestige skins in the game. In the middle of the 2022 season, Riot changed the way they make and work on prestige skins, making them more high-fashion, but does this mean we won't get monster champion prestige editions anymore? Only time will tell.