Arcane's Legacy: How Vi and Jinx Reshaped League of Legends in 2026

I still remember the first time I watched Arcane. I had played League of Legends for years, but I had never cared much about Vi. To me, she was just another jungle champion with a punchy kit and a pick rate so low that I almost forgot she existed. Then the animated series dropped, and suddenly everyone I knew was talking about Piltover, Zaun, Jinx, and Vi. That was back in 2021, and now in 2026, I can say without exaggeration that Arcane changed the way I look at League's champions, its lore, and its community.

Video game adaptations have always been a controversial topic. For every success, there are a dozen projects that miss the point of the source material. Riot Games first announced Arcane back in 2019, and the initial release was scheduled for 2020. After pandemic-related delays, the wait finally ended for League of Legends fans. I was one of those fans, and I can tell you the hype was real. Arcane did not just adapt a game; it gave Runeterra a heartbeat.

The Before Times: Vi Was a Ghost in the Jungle

Before Arcane, Vi was one of the least picked champions in League of Legends. I am not exaggerating when I say she was almost invisible in my solo queue games. She averaged around a 3.35% pick rate, which was one of the lowest for the jungle position. The main reason was simple: other champions could do her job better. Champions like Xin Zhao offered stronger engagement, reliable sustain, and a kit that made him one of the most obnoxious champions to deal with when fed. Vi, by contrast, lacked a clear identity in the meta. She was not the best tank, not the best assassin, and not the best bruiser. She was just... there.

That changed the moment Arcane hit Netflix. Vi and Jinx took up a huge amount of screen time, and their childhood relationship became the emotional core of the show. The series confirmed their estrangement and went much deeper into their sisterhood than the game ever had. For me, that was the magic trick. Arcane made me care about a champion I had ignored for years.

The Spike: From 3.35% to 15%

After Arcane released, Vi's popularity went through the roof. In League of Legends patch 11.22, her pick rate spiked over two weeks and reached a staggering 15%. She was slowly climbing her way toward becoming one of the most picked champions in the game. I saw her in almost every other match. Sometimes she was on my team, sometimes she was against me, and sometimes she was banned.

But such a drastic spike in popularity usually comes with a catch. Vi's win rate dumped to 34%, one of the lowest in the game at that moment. Why? Because a big chunk of players had not played her in a very long time. A significant number of new players had also transitioned to League of Legends after watching Arcane, and there was a big chance that the first champions they tried to learn were either Jinx or Vi. I was part of that wave. I locked in Vi, tried to punch my way through the jungle, and fed my brains out. It was embarrassing, but it was also fun.

Champion	Role	Before Arcane	After Arcane
Vi	Jungle	~3.35% pick rate, low priority	~15% pick rate, win rate dropped to 34%
Jinx	AD carry	Already popular	Picked or banned in one out of five games

Jinx Was Already a Star, But Arcane Made Her a Legend

Vi was not the only champion who benefited. Jinx can be considered the main protagonist of the show since the plot mostly revolves around her. She was already a popular AD carry choice for many League of Legends players, but Arcane brought her popularity to a brand new level. At the time, she was being either picked or banned in one out of five games, which was one of the highest in the game. With the new preseason rune changes, she was likely to overtake Jhin, who was then in first place with a 24% pick rate.

After Arcane's second season arrived in 2024, that love only grew. In 2026, I still see Jinx everywhere. She is on skins, in cinematics, in merchandise, and in the hearts of players who discovered League through Arcane. The animated series proved to be a huge success. It attracted a pre-existing League of Legends fan base, but it also brought new players to the game. That is a rare thing. Most adaptations only serve the fans. Arcane served the fans and invited everyone else to the party.

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What I Think in 2026

I think Arcane's biggest lesson is that lore matters. League of Legends features over 150 playable champions, but Arcane chose just a few of them to focus on. Sisters Jinx and Vi became the most important characters in the series so far, and their story made the game feel personal. When I play Vi now, I do not just see a jungle champion with a punchy kit. I see the girl from Zaun who lost her sister and kept fighting. When I play Jinx, I do not just see an AD carry with rockets. I see the tragedy, the chaos, and the pain.

That emotional connection is why pick rates and win rates can only tell part of the story. A champion can have a 34% win rate and still be beloved. A champion can be the least picked in the jungle and still become an icon. Arcane proved that a video game adaptation can be more than a cash grab. It can be art. It can be a gateway. It can be a reason to reinstall League after a long break.

If you are a new player who came from Arcane, welcome. 🎉 Do not worry too much about win rates. Play Vi if you like diving into the fight and punching first. Play Jinx if you like scaling, traps, and chaotic team fights. Watch guides, practice in normals, and mute toxic chat. Most importantly, remember that the game is a game. The story is what brought you here, but the community is what will keep you here.

League of Legends is still free to play on PC in 2026, and the champions are still waiting. So yes, Arcane changed League of Legends. It changed Vi from a forgotten jungler into a household name. It changed Jinx from a popular AD carry into a global icon. And it changed me from a player who ignored the lore into someone who reads every champion bio. In 2026, that legacy is still growing, and I am here for it. 💙