All LoL Champions by Release Date

All LoL Champions by Release Date Complete 2026 List TL;DR

There are currently 172 playable champions in LoL, with the latest being Zaahen, which came out in November 2025
The original 17 champions were released on February 21, 2009 during alpha tests, while 40 were available at official public release on October 27, 2009
Singed is the champion who owns champion ID #1, which means he is technically the first champion ever added to LoL
2009 is the most active year regarding champions' releases - 42 of them were introduced that year
Riot now releases only 1-3 champions a year, focusing on quality instead of quantity
The full list below is sorted oldest to newest and includes each champion's class and release date

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All LoL Champions Sorted by Release Date

Here is every LoL champion ever released, sorted from oldest to newest, with their primary class and exact release date. The list reflects the EUW release date of all LoL champions:

Champion	Class	Release Date
Alistar, The Minotaur	Tank / Support	February 21, 2009
Annie, The Dark Child	Mage	February 21, 2009
Ashe, The Frost Archer	Marksman	February 21, 2009
Fiddlesticks, The Ancient Fear	Mage / Support	February 21, 2009
Jax, Grandmaster at Arms	Fighter	February 21, 2009
Kayle, The Righteous	Fighter / Mage	February 21, 2009
Master Yi, The Wuju Bladesman	Fighter / Assassin	February 21, 2009
Morgana, The Fallen	Mage / Support	February 21, 2009
Nunu & Willump, The Boy and His Yeti	Tank / Support	February 21, 2009
Ryze, The Rune Mage	Mage	February 21, 2009
Sion, The Undead Juggernaut	Tank / Fighter	February 21, 2009
Sivir, The Battle Mistress	Marksman	February 21, 2009
Soraka, The Starchild	Support	February 21, 2009
Teemo, The Swift Scout	Marksman / Mage	February 21, 2009
Tristana, The Yordle Gunner	Marksman	February 21, 2009
Twisted Fate, The Card Master	Mage	February 21, 2009
Warwick, The Uncaged Wrath of Zaun	Fighter / Tank	February 21, 2009
Singed, The Mad Chemist	Tank / Fighter	April 18, 2009
Zilean, The Chronokeeper	Support / Mage	April 18, 2009
Evelynn, Agony's Embrace	Assassin / Mage	May 1, 2009
Tryndamere, The Barbarian King	Fighter	May 1, 2009
Twitch, The Plague Rat	Marksman / Assassin	May 1, 2009
Karthus, The Deathsinger	Mage	June 12, 2009
Amumu, The Sad Mummy	Tank / Support	June 26, 2009
Cho'Gath, The Terror of the Void	Tank / Mage	June 26, 2009
Anivia, The Cryophoenix	Mage / Support	July 10, 2009
Rammus, The Armordillo	Tank	July 10, 2009
Veigar, The Tiny Master of Evil	Mage	July 24, 2009
Kassadin, The Void Walker	Assassin / Mage	August 7, 2009
Gangplank, The Saltwater Scourge	Fighter	August 19, 2009
Taric, The Shield of Valoran	Support / Tank	August 19, 2009
Blitzcrank, The Great Steam Golem	Tank / Support	September 2, 2009
Dr. Mundo, The Madman of Zaun	Tank / Fighter	September 2, 2009
Janna, The Storm's Fury	Support	September 2, 2009
Malphite, Shard of the Monolith	Tank	September 2, 2009
Corki, The Daring Bombardier	Marksman	September 19, 2009
Katarina, The Sinister Blade	Assassin / Mage	September 19, 2009
Nasus, The Curator of the Sands	Fighter / Tank	October 1, 2009
Heimerdinger, The Revered Inventor	Mage / Support	October 10, 2009
Shaco, The Demon Jester	Assassin	October 10, 2009
Udyr, The Spirit Walker	Fighter / Tank	December 2, 2009
Nidalee, The Bestial Huntress	Fighter / Assassin	December 17, 2009
Poppy, Keeper of the Hammer	Tank / Fighter	January 13, 2010
Gragas, The Rabble Rouser	Fighter / Mage	February 2, 2010
Pantheon, The Unbreakable Spear	Fighter / Assassin	February 2, 2010
Mordekaiser, The Iron Revenant	Fighter / Mage	February 24, 2010
Ezreal, The Prodigal Explorer	Marksman / Mage	March 16, 2010
Shen, The Eye of Twilight	Tank / Support	March 24, 2010
Kennen, The Heart of the Tempest	Mage / Marksman	April 8, 2010
Garen, The Might of Demacia	Fighter / Tank	April 27, 2010
Akali, The Rogue Assassin	Assassin	May 11, 2010
Malzahar, The Prophet of the Void	Mage	June 1, 2010
Olaf, The Berserker	Fighter	June 9, 2010
Kog'Maw, The Mouth of the Abyss	Marksman / Mage	June 24, 2010
Xin Zhao, The Seneschal of Demacia	Fighter	July 13, 2010
Vladimir, The Crimson Reaper	Mage / Fighter	July 27, 2010
Galio, The Colossus	Tank / Mage	August 10, 2010
Urgot, The Dreadnought	Fighter / Tank	August 24, 2010
Miss Fortune, The Bounty Hunter	Marksman	September 8, 2010
Sona, Maven of the Strings	Support / Mage	September 21, 2010
Swain, The Noxian Grand General	Mage / Fighter	October 5, 2010
Lux, The Lady of Luminosity	Mage / Support	October 19, 2010
LeBlanc, The Deceiver	Assassin / Mage	November 2, 2010
Irelia, The Blade Dancer	Fighter	November 16, 2010
Trundle, The Troll King	Fighter / Tank	December 1, 2010
Cassiopeia, The Serpent's Embrace	Mage	December 14, 2010
Caitlyn, The Sheriff of Piltover	Marksman	January 4, 2011
Renekton, The Butcher of the Sands	Fighter	January 18, 2011
Karma, The Enlightened One	Support / Mage	February 1, 2011
Maokai, The Twisted Treant	Tank / Support	February 16, 2011
Jarvan IV, The Exemplar of Demacia	Fighter / Tank	March 1, 2011
Nocturne, The Eternal Nightmare	Assassin / Fighter	March 15, 2011
Lee Sin, The Blind Monk	Fighter	April 1, 2011
Brand, The Burning Vengeance	Mage	April 12, 2011
Rumble, The Mechanized Menace	Fighter / Mage	April 26, 2011
Vayne, The Night Hunter	Marksman / Assassin	May 10, 2011
Orianna, The Lady of Clockwork	Mage / Support	June 1, 2011
Yorick, Shepherd of Souls	Fighter / Tank	June 22, 2011
Leona, The Radiant Dawn	Tank / Support	July 13, 2011
Wukong, The Monkey King	Fighter	July 26, 2011
Skarner, The Crystal Vanguard	Fighter / Tank	August 9, 2011
Talon, The Blade's Shadow	Assassin	August 24, 2011
Riven, The Exile	Fighter	September 14, 2011
Xerath, The Magus Ascendant	Mage	October 5, 2011
Graves, The Outlaw	Marksman / Fighter	October 19, 2011
Shyvana, The Half-Dragon	Fighter	November 1, 2011
Fizz, The Tidal Trickster	Assassin / Fighter	November 15, 2011
Volibear, The Relentless Storm	Fighter / Tank	November 29, 2011
Ahri, The Nine-Tailed Fox	Assassin / Mage	December 14, 2011
Viktor, The Machine Herald	Mage	December 29, 2011
Sejuani, Fury of the North	Tank / Fighter	January 17, 2012
Ziggs, The Hexplosives Expert	Mage	February 1, 2012
Nautilus, The Titan of the Depths	Tank / Support	February 14, 2012
Fiora, The Grand Duelist	Fighter	February 29, 2012
Lulu, The Fae Sorceress	Support / Mage	March 20, 2012
Hecarim, The Shadow of War	Fighter / Tank	April 18, 2012
Varus, The Arrow of Retribution	Marksman / Mage	May 8, 2012
Darius, The Hand of Noxus	Fighter	May 23, 2012
Draven, The Glorious Executioner	Marksman	June 6, 2012
Jayce, The Defender of Tomorrow	Fighter / Marksman	July 7, 2012
Zyra, Rise of the Thorns	Mage / Support	July 24, 2012
Diana, Scorn of the Moon	Assassin / Mage	August 7, 2012
Rengar, The Pridestalker	Assassin / Fighter	August 21, 2012
Syndra, The Dark Sovereign	Mage	September 13, 2012
Kha'Zix, The Voidreaver	Assassin	September 27, 2012
Elise, The Spider Queen	Mage / Fighter	October 26, 2012
Zed, The Master of Shadows	Assassin	November 13, 2012
Nami, The Tidecaller	Support / Mage	December 7, 2012
Vi, The Piltover Enforcer	Fighter	December 19, 2012
Thresh, The Chain Warden	Support / Fighter	January 23, 2013
Quinn, Demacia's Wings	Marksman / Assassin	March 1, 2013
Zac, The Secret Weapon	Tank / Fighter	March 29, 2013
Lissandra, The Ice Witch	Mage	April 30, 2013
Aatrox, The Darkin Blade	Fighter	June 13, 2013
Lucian, The Purifier	Marksman	August 22, 2013
Jinx, The Loose Cannon	Marksman	October 10, 2013
Yasuo, The Unforgiven	Fighter / Assassin	December 13, 2013
Vel'Koz, The Eye of the Void	Mage	February 27, 2014
Braum, The Heart of the Freljord	Support / Tank	May 12, 2014
Gnar, The Missing Link	Fighter / Tank	August 14, 2014
Azir, The Emperor of the Sands	Mage	September 16, 2014
Kalista, The Spear of Vengeance	Marksman	November 20, 2014
Rek'Sai, The Void Burrower	Fighter	December 11, 2014
Bard, The Wandering Caretaker	Support	March 12, 2015
Ekko, The Boy Who Shattered Time	Assassin / Fighter	May 29, 2015
Tahm Kench, The River King	Support / Tank	July 9, 2015
Kindred, The Eternal Hunters	Marksman	October 14, 2015
Illaoi, The Kraken Priestess	Fighter	November 24, 2015
Jhin, The Virtuoso	Marksman / Mage	February 1, 2016
Aurelion Sol, The Star Forger	Mage	March 24, 2016
Taliyah, The Stoneweaver	Mage	May 18, 2016
Kled, The Cantankerous Cavalier	Fighter	August 10, 2016
Ivern, The Green Father	Support / Mage	October 5, 2016
Camille, The Steel Shadow	Fighter / Assassin	December 7, 2016
Rakan, The Charmer	Support	April 19, 2017
Xayah, The Rebel	Marksman	April 19, 2017
Kayn, The Shadow Reaper	Assassin / Fighter	July 12, 2017
Ornn, The Fire Below the Mountain	Tank	August 23, 2017
Zoe, The Aspect of Twilight	Mage	November 21, 2017
Kai'Sa, Daughter of the Void	Marksman	March 7, 2018
Pyke, The Bloodharbor Ripper	Support / Assassin	May 31, 2018
Neeko, The Curious Chameleon	Mage	December 5, 2018
Sylas, The Unshackled	Mage / Fighter	January 25, 2019
Yuumi, The Magical Cat	Support	May 14, 2019
Qiyana, Empress of the Elements	Assassin	June 28, 2019
Senna, The Redeemer	Marksman / Support	November 10, 2019
Aphelios, The Weapon of the Faithful	Marksman	December 11, 2019
Sett, The Boss	Fighter	January 14, 2020
Lillia, The Bashful Bloom	Mage / Fighter	July 22, 2020
Yone, The Unforgotten	Fighter / Assassin	August 6, 2020
Samira, The Desert Rose	Marksman / Fighter	September 21, 2020
Seraphine, The Starry-Eyed Songstress	Mage / Support	October 29, 2020
Rell, The Iron Maiden	Tank / Support	December 10, 2020
Viego, The Ruined King	Assassin / Fighter	January 21, 2021
Gwen, The Hallowed Seamstress	Fighter / Mage	April 15, 2021
Akshan, The Rogue Sentinel	Marksman / Assassin	July 22, 2021
Vex, The Gloomist	Mage	September 23, 2021
Zeri, The Spark of Zaun	Marksman	January 20, 2022
Renata Glasc, The Chem-Baroness	Support	February 17, 2022
Bel'Veth, The Empress of the Void	Fighter	June 9, 2022
Nilah, The Joy Unbound	Fighter / Marksman	July 13, 2022
K'Sante, The Pride of Nazumah	Tank	November 3, 2022
Milio, The Gentle Flame	Support	March 23, 2023
Naafiri, The Hound of a Hundred Bites	Assassin	July 20, 2023
Briar, The Restrained Hunger	Fighter / Assassin	September 14, 2023
Hwei, The Visionary	Mage	December 6, 2023
Smolder, The Crown Prince	Marksman / Mage	January 31, 2024
Aurora, The Witch Between Worlds	Mage / Fighter	July 17, 2024
Ambessa, The Matriarch of War	Fighter	November 6, 2024
Mel, The Soul's Reflection	Mage	January 23, 2025
Yunara, The Unbroken Faith	Marksman / Mage	July 16, 2025
Zaahen, The Unsundered	Fighter	November 19, 2025

From 17 to 172 - How the Champion Pool Evolved

Considering all the data in the table, the first thing that catches my eye is the drastic change in the way Riot approached champion releases. It is not only about the quantities, but the entire approach has become different. To me, it can be divided into three main eras.

The Flood Years (2009-2011)

LoL Champions By Release Date: 2009-2011 Sorted

Nothing in modern League prepares you for looking at 2009's release pace. In just one year, Riot put out a total of 42 champions - confirmed by the official LoL Wiki - more than what has been developed over the last five years! And many of those champions had abilities that could be summed up in one sentence: Garen spins, Nasus stacks, Singed runs. Simplicity wasn’t a flaw in the design; it was a strength. They needed a wide range of champions, and Riot gave it to us – by 2011, there were already 90 champions available.

Looking back, the champions designed in this period have become some of the most memorable ones. Twisted Fate, Anivia, Katarina, and Shaco, among others, are some of the permanent bans and must-picks in competitive games that have lasted more than a decade since their release. The unrefined approach to champion design during this time may lack deliberation, but it has its own form of creativity nonetheless.

The Golden Era (2012-2018)

LoL Champions By Release Date: 2012-2018 Sorted

This is where the idea of champion design really found its form. Now we saw fewer champions at a rate of 6-10 per year, but the quality bar increased very rapidly. 2012 brought to us Darius, Zed, and Diana, three of the greatest examples of role-defining champions ever seen. Thresh followed up in January 2013 and quite literally made the support role better than any other champion had before or would after. Then came Jinx and Yasuo, two of the most frequently picked and hated champions in the history of LoL.

Even though Jhin has given me some very frustrating nights back in his early days, the concept of a marksman who was an artistic murderer was truly innovative in 2016. Xayah and Rakan of 2017 were not only the first champions designed for synergy but also the first that required a lot of coordination and strategy during team fights.

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The Modern Era (2019-Present)

LoL Champions By Release Date: 2009-Present Sorted

Riot developed a steady pace of 1-3 champions annually, and one can hardly challenge the quality improvement. Aphelios himself brought along five weapons and a system of upgrades that required weeks of community study to get all of its intricacies figured out. None of the skills of Viego, Bel'Veth, and Hwei would be possible in a time when Riot produced 42 champions a year.

Yunara and Zaahen debuted tied to the storyline of season 2025 - with Riot's own patch 25.23 notes calling out Zaahen’s unique development cycle kept secret until his cinematic reveal - marking yet another milestone of world-building, which was impossible in those days.

The tradeoff is the wait. Six months between Mel and Yunara is a long stretch when you're hungry for something new. Most veterans I know accept it - the releases just hit different now when they do land. Yet it is just fine to me: there are also dozens of different champions to choose from. I’d better wait a year than have a “reimagined” version of some champ that already is in-game.

Also read our other LoL guides:

All LoL Champions by Release Date – Complete 2026 List

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All LoL Champions Sorted by Release Date

From 17 to 172 - How the Champion Pool Evolved

The Flood Years (2009-2011)

The Golden Era (2012-2018)

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The Modern Era (2019-Present)