The feuding dual-city states of Piltover and Zaun are home to a host of prominent champions from the world of League of Legends, that were further popularized by the hit Netflix series, Arcane. Piltover is known as the City of Progress, while Zaun is the City of Iron and Glass and is regarded as the polluted, criminal underbelly of the former. However, the two are intrinsically linked, in a sort of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde relationship. For example, inventors who failed or feel insulted in Piltover are welcomed with open arms and supported in Zaun.
There is also a classist undertone to this society, as the wealthy nobles of Piltover often look down on the less fortunate and sickly inhabitants of Zaun with palpable condescension. Despite these adversities, legends never die, so let’s look at which champions have beaten the odds and made a name for themselves.
10 Ezreal, The Prodigal Explorer
The son of two famous archeologists, Ezreal loved listening to the stories his parents would tell him between their expeditions and dreamed of joining them in their exploits one day. However, when his parents didn’t come home after their last trip, Ezreal resolved to follow in their footsteps and find them by making a name for himself as a famous explorer.
Having found the lost tomb of Ne’zuk, Ezreal claimed the magical gauntlet he uses as his primary weapon. As a ranged marksman, he fires off Mystic Shots, Essence Fluxes, and Trueshot Barrages at anything that stands in his way. In situations where he needs to make a quick getaway, he will Arcane Shift right to the exit.
9 Caitlyn, The Sheriff Of Piltover
Born and raised in the wealthy upper-class echelons of society, Caitlyn Kiramman is a sniper second to none. She is known as Piltover’s Finest, and delivers the long-arm of the law with her Pilover Peacemaker. Intelligent and cunning, she also sets Yordle Snap Traps and utilizes a 90 Caliber Net to catch criminals.
After delivering a multitude of Headshots, Caitlyn takes to one knee to steady her aim and fire her ultimate, Ace in the Hole. When off-duty, it’s thought she and Vi have a closer relationship than just a professional one.
8 Jinx, The Loose Cannon
No list about the denizens of Zaun and Piltover would be complete without Jinx. Known as Powder in her youth, she became Jinx after getting separated from her sister, Vi, and was raised by a chem-baron named Silco. A deadly ranged marksman on the rift, when Jinx Gets Excited mayhem and destruction are sure to ensue, as she ramps up damage and attack speed over time.
With her slew of weapons, comprised of Pow-Pow, Fishbones, Zap, Flame Chompers, and her global ultimate Super Mega Death Rocket, Jinx is a force to be reckoned with. She also has her own theme song, aptly named “Get Jinxed”, and her original splash art background is a foiled version of Vi’s — presumably having been destroyed by her hands.
7 Seraphine, The Starry-Eyed Songstress
Although thought to be penciled into the world of Runeterra as an afterthought of her K/DA persona, and the heir to Sona’s rework, Seraphine has evoked responses ranging from hatred to love. Rightly so, as she’s a pop star of Piltover that can hear the music in peoples’ souls. She wouldn’t be doing her job right if she didn’t gain reactions with her Stage Presence.
A ranged burst enchanter, Seraphine makes sure she hits her High Notes, and has Surround Sound when she makes the Beat Drop. When her fans cheer for more, Seraphine makes sure to deliver a killer ultimate Encore.
6 Renata Glasc, The Chem-Baroness
Lacking the alchemical touch of her parents, Renata had a penchant for business. She thought her parents were foolish for giving away their life-saving formula to the destitute of Zaun for free, especially since they’d go to bed hungry many nights. Certain elites in Piltover caught wind of the Glascs’ research, and paid off some enforcers to 'take care' of them — which resulted in Renata jumping awake one night to the sounds of screams and her home ablaze.
She lost an arm attempting to save her parents, and with the remains of their research she rebuilt the Glasc name over time. With her Leverage, Renata can Bailout her investments or secure Loyalty Programs with a Handshake, lest she be defied and stage a Hostile Takeover.
5 Ekko, The Boy Who Shattered Time
Having grown up with Jinx and Vi, Ekko also found his calling in tinkering with machinery, and subsequently, time. A melee assassin who can be played in the mid lane or jungle, Ekko hits hard. He has a lot of mobility built into his kit, be it his Phase Dive ability or activating his Z-Drive Resonance passive. Although, if he makes a misstep, he can use his soft reset ultimate Chronobreak to go four seconds back in time and escape most sticky situations.
He can also slow or stop enemies with well-placed Timewinder and Parallel Convergence abilities, but really stops the show as a member of True Damage, having rapped in the hit song “Giants.”
4 Jayce, The Defender Of Tomorrow
Jayce of House Tallis is another prodigal mind of Piltover with an inclination towards invention. Childhood friends with Caitlyn, partners in research with Viktor, and student to Cecil B. Heimerdinger, Jayce crafted his iconic hammer and utilized its two forms — the Mercury Hammer and Mercury Cannon — to protect his city.
As a melee artillery mage equipped with the Hextech Capacitor, Jayce can switch between his weapon’s forms and take To the Skies, or produce a Lightning Field. He can also deliver a Thundering Blow with the hammer form, or utilize the Hyper Charge of the cannon form to create a Shock Blast and Acceleration Gate.
3 Vi, The Piltover Enforcer
Originally a child of Zaun, Violet — more commonly known as Vi — became who she is today through an irrevocable series of events. In-game she is a melee fighting-class diver, who gets to the heart of the matter by punching her way through, well, everything! Vi’s use of Relentless Force, Denting Blows, and her Vault Breaker ability make her a force to be reckoned with when she prowls the jungle.
Additionally, everyone knows that a world of hurt is coming to the unlucky schmuck that gets targeted by her ultimate Cease and Desist, as she barrels past everyone to uppercut her mark and smack them back down to Earth. Vi has her own theme song, entitled “Here Comes Vi”, and may have a burgeoning romantic relationship with her partner, Caitlyn.
2 Camille, The Steel Shadow
Thought to be over 80 years old, Camille is heavily augmented. Having had her human heart replaced with a crystal in her early twenties, she may now be more machine than not. She is a prominent member of the Ferros clan, and can operate just outside the law to ensure order is maintained in both Zaun and Piltover.
A melee diving class fighter, her Adaptive Defenses allow her to enact a Precision Protocol and Tactical Sweep to appraise her quarry. Upon full assessment, she can move in with a Hookshot to then Wall Dive at her target, finally catching them in her ultimate, The Hextech Ultimatum.
1 Dr. Mundo, The Madman of Zaun
This citizen of Zaun forgot who he was after being admitted to an asylum. The chem-baron he worked for subjected him to monstrous experimentation, as an example to those who dared anger him. His physical body grew in strength, but his mind deteriorated. Having no memory of his former life, he reinvented himself as Dr. Mundo, reasoning the remains of his straitjacket was a lab coat.
Now Mundo runs a medical practice in the now empty asylum, “helping” everyone with his lack of medical knowledge. Be it through using Blunt Force Trauma, his Heart Zapper, Infected Bonesaw, or ultimate, Maximum Dosage, Mundo the melee juggernaut Goes Where He Pleases.