Queen Mary’s College plans LoL schools league following trial, announces separate charity event

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Queen Mary’s College plans LoL schools league following trial, announces separate charity event

Queen Mary’s College (QMC) is planning to host a new League of Legends schools league after a trial match was a success.

They recently held a match between Court Moor School and Basingstoke’s Vyne Community School, which was won by the latter.

Square Enix sponsored the match, giving away a copy of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, with the MVP receiving a Final Fantasy figure.

Stuart Folkes, Lecturer of Esports and QMC Course Lead, told Esports News UK that the goal is to make a Hampshire school league in the next academic year. 

Continue reading Queen Mary’s College plans LoL schools league following trial, announces separate charity event

G2 Esports CEO confirms m0NESY transfer to Team Falcons

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m0NESY leaves G2, joins Team Falcons
Image Credits: Stephanie Lindgren, BLAST.tv

G2 Esports CEO, Alban ‘Stilgar’ Dechelotte, has officially confirmed the departure of its star AWPer, Ilya ‘m0NESY’ Osipov, as the organisation has agreed to transfer him to Team Falcons.

Although m0NESY’s contract was set to expire in December, G2 opted to release him early to ‘maximize their chance of rebuilding the team.’

In the historic move, the Russian prodigy will reunite with his former teammate, Nikola ‘NiKo’ Kovač, who recently lifted the PGL Bucharest 2025 trophy after a dominating victory against G2.

Fans will be able to see m0NESY’s debut under the Falcons banner at the upcoming BLAST.tv Austin Major, scheduled to begin on June 6th.

“I’m very sad to see Ilya go but I wish him the best and thank him for the magic moments he gave us,” Stilgar tweeted.

As per multiple reports, Team Falcons had been trying to sign m0NESY for quite some time. However, both parties were unable to reach an agreement, resulting in uncertainty about his future.

“It was obvious that he was becoming a bit disconnected from the rest of the team due to his situation and it was very difficult to have meaningful conversations with potential talents without the clarity around his future,” Stilgar wrote.

“Now that the decision has been made we are gonna make the best of the last three events of the season and work in parallel to prepare for the next season with ambition.”

m0NESY will be replacing Abdul ‘⁠degster⁠’ Gasanov on Team Falcons, who was named MVP of PGL Bucharest 2025.

“Sorry, that’s it. Thank you to everyone who supported G2 and me all this time. This was a chapter that made me stronger. People who will stay in my memory forever. A team that was my home, my second family. Thank you for everything. The story ends here. The story inside — never,” said m0NESY on leaving G2 Esports after three years.

G2 Esports is yet to announce m0NESY’s replacement, but according to a report by HLTV, the organisation is in advanced talks to loan Aleksander ‘hades’ Miśkiewicz from Monte.

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Awards, Suits and Upsets – Recap of Team Regen’s final Ultimate event

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Awards, Suits and Upsets – Recap of Team Regen’s final Ultimate event

Photo credit: Verd Photo

The weekend of March 22nd 2025 saw over 200 competitors from all over the UK and Ireland travel to Birmingham for Team Regen’s final event for Super Smash Brothers Ultimate – Gala.

The event also saw a Rivals of Aether 2 tournament and the third Annual Smash UK Awards.

The main bracket for Gala saw 128 entrants for the Smash Ultimate Singles event battling for a prize pool of £1,280.

Continue reading Awards, Suits and Upsets – Recap of Team Regen’s final Ultimate event

VALORANT ranks explained: Full tier list & ranking system

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A gaming setup displays Valorant ranks and placements
Image credit: Riot Games

TL;DR

  • There are 25 VALORANT ranks split between nine different tiers.
  • You’re eligible to play VALORANT ranked after playing 20 unranked games. 
  • There is no VALORANT rank decay; however, placement matches are part of keeping rank.

If you’ve ever wondered how VALORANT ranked works, we’re here to give you all the information you need. We’ll discuss the different tiers, how to improve at the game, how the rating system works, and all there is to know about matchmaking and maintaining rank in 2025. 

The VALORANT ranking system is slightly more in-depth than some other competitive games. While progression can seem more linear, the steps needed to move up the rungs of the ladder can be intense. 

We’re reviewing the VALORANT ranked requirements needed to play and what to expect when you get started. You must be level 20 first and foremost. 

VALORANT ranks & tiers 

So, what are the VALORANT ranks? 

There are 25 VALORANT ranks in the game in 2025, which are divided into nine distinct tiers named after metals and concepts. 

It goes as follows: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Ascendant, Immortal, and Radiant, with three tiers to each section except for the final ranking. 

That means the lowest VALORANT rank is Iron, where everyone will start once they begin playing Riot Games’ tactical shooter competitively. Depending on how well you do in each game, you’ll slowly start to climb the ladder, but it can take longer than some other esports games to push through the various tiers. 

All VALORANT ranks in order 

Rank Percentage of players in each rank
:rock: Iron 1 1.02%
:rock: Iron 2 2.21%
:rock: Iron 3 3.17%
🥉 Bronze 1 6.30%
🥉 Bronze 2 6.58%
🥉 Bronze 3 5.36%
🥈 Silver 1 9.06%
🥈 Silver 2 7.73%
🥈 Silver 3 6.18%
🏅 Gold 1 8.81%
🏅 Gold 2 7.11%
🏅 Gold 3 5.22%
💠 Platinum 1 6.70%
💠 Platinum 2 4.80%
💠 Platinum 3 3.31%
🔷 Diamond 1 4.18%
🔷 Diamond 2 3.06%
🔷 Diamond 3 2.13%
💚 Ascendant 1 2.75%
💚 Ascendant 2 1.81%
💚 Ascendant 3 1.03%
🔴 Immortal 1 0.98%
🔴 Immortal 2 0.28%
🔴 Immortal 3 0.16%
💎 Radiant 0.05%

Source: Vstats, as of April 11, 2025

Valorant ranks and placements
Valorant ranks and placements / Image credit: Riot Games

How the VALORANT ranking system works 

VALORANT’s ranking system is based on your in-game win rate, how well you play, and how consistently you perform. It takes some time to climb through the ranks, as the system takes the rank rating (RR) points into account every time you win (or lose) a game. 

By winning more consistently, you’ll gain a higher amount of RR, but losing in competitive modes will still get you a small amount of it, too. Consistency is the key to steadily ascending the ladder, rather than a few good matches here and a couple of failures there. 

VALORANT ranking is faster at the lower ranks and then slows down the higher up the chain you go, which is to be expected. 

  • You start with 50RR and then need 100RR to be promoted from Iron 1 to Iron 2
  • With each promotion, you’ll need a minimum of 10 RR, which is consistent from Iron to Ascendant
  • Things change with Immortal and Radiant, where more than 100 RR is needed for progression, and only the top 500 players per region can hold the top rank. 

Rank distribution in VALORANT

The VALORANT rank distribution is quite surprising when analyzing the game’s current meta. According to Vstats, Silver 1 is the most populated rank in the game, with 9.11%, with Gold 2 making up 8.7%. That means most gamers are in the earlier stages of the competitive scene, and we see a major fall-off with the higher tiers. 

The spread of VALORANT’s ranking thins out as you look into the percentage of players with Gold and Platinum ratings. 

With Diamond, players dwindle from 4.1% to 2%, and this gets even slimmer with Ascendant, with a range of just 2.6% to less than 1% holding this rank. 

This is the trend seen with all Immortal tiers, but especially with Radiant. It’s reported that only 0.04% of players are in this category of high-level play. 

Valorant rank distribution across all regions
Valorant rank distribution across all regions / Image credit: Vstats

How to rank up faster in VALORANT 

There are a few ways of how to rank up in VALORANT, but few methods are fast or easy. The biggest thing is to improve your fundamentals with your skill development. This means practising your aim and movement skills on the firing range. 

VALORANT has slower and more deliberate movement and aiming mechanics, similar to CS2/CSGO, than most FPS games, with every weapon having a heavy amount of recoil. You must fire in slow and controlled bursts, with the highest amount of accuracy possible when stationary or crouching. 

There are 27 VALORANT agents available in the game in 2025, which are divided into four categories: Duelists, Initiators, Controllers, and Sentinels. 

  • Duelists are best in direct combat
  • Initiators are useful for disrupting enemies and gathering intelligence
  • Controllers have mastery of the environment to restrict enemy visibility and movement
  • Sentinels are all about defensive options, such as creating chokepoints 

With mastery of agents, movements, and aiming, you can also improve at VALORANT by understanding every VALORANT agent’s abilities. Some of the best VALORANT agents include Tejo, Clove, Raze, Vyse, Yoru, Deadlock, and Cypher, and they’re praised highly in tier lists for their versatility and options out on the map. 

Jett - Valorant agent - with silver hair holds a gun in one hand and a knife in the other, set against a vibrant red background.
Jett is one of the best Valorant agents in the game / Image credit: Riot Games

Abilities are mapped to Q, E, C, and X on the keyboard alongside the standard shooting, which helps the game stand out from the competition. 

Strong communication is key to getting better at VALORANT. Being a tactical shooter, maintaining responsive voice chat, and being prompt with in-game commands will help you to become a more well-rounded player. This could mean alerting the rest of your team about a threat around the corner or taking out a Sentinel, keeping the team safe; this is fundamental to building strategies and a good team dynamic. 

Also crucial to being a better player is to keep a can-do and positive attitude instead of becoming hostile to your teammates or taking the game too far. 

Once you’ve understood this, playing VALORANT ranked matches is the only way to move up the ranks from Iron to Bronze, to Silver, and beyond. 

After going through 20 unrated matches, you’ll be eligible to start on your ranked journey. 

Naturally, it’s important to prioritize winning matches while being a team player instead of just trying to go for the most kills as you go along. Equally vital is learning from your mistakes and improving from each loss to prevent these things from happening again. 

Playing with friends instead of joining with strangers can also make cooperation more natural. 

VALORANT rank decay & placement matches 

Unlike many other competitive games, no VALORANT rank decay can occur where you’ll lose your position from inactivity. However, while your rank will not be docked, the hidden Matchmaking Rating (MMR) can shift, which means the types of matches you’ll be placed into can be different from what you are used to. 

The MMR determines your skill level and will place you into a bracket of similarly (or identically) capable players. 

That’s where VALORANT placement matches can occur, which are five provisional matches that you’ll have to perform to adjust your MMR. In addition to inactivity, placement matches happen with each season (formerly episode) change to keep the game-balancing consistent. 

If you win all five matches you participate in, you’ll confidently retain your position, but losing a few more could see you drop rank with particularly poor performance. You can prevent getting rusty by consistently playing a little instead of jumping in and out every few months if you want to take things seriously. 

Conclusion

Ranking in VALORANT can be intimidating at first because of the number of ranks and the time it takes to progress. Once you’re ready to put a foot on the ladder, you will begin at Iron 1, and (with enough time, practice, and effort) you may be able to rise through the ranks to Immortal or even Radiant. 

While most players are comfortable at the Silver and Gold tiers, you can advance if you focus. Learn how to play your favorite agents and put the hours in, and you could make it pro someday. 

If you’re interested in how the pros play the game, we recommend checking out our VALORANT Esports coverage, which goes over new competitive map developments, the teams competing, the events being held, and all the latest news. If you want to take VALORANT seriously, then having more knowledge outside of just playing the game is a good way to get ahead. 

FAQs 

What ranks can play together in VALORANT?

The different VALORANT ranks playing together depend on the party size. With parties of two or three, Iron and Bronze can play with up to Silver, Silver can play with Gold, and Gold can play with Platinum. However, there are no restrictions with parties of five players. However, parties of four cannot play ranked VALORANT together. 

Is rank 1 or 3 better in VALORANT?

Each VALORANT tier (except Radiant) has three levels, with 1 being the lowest (and worst) and 3 being the highest (and best).

What rank is the top 10% of VALORANT players? 

Just shy of 10% of competitive VALORANT players are in the Silver 1 tier. 

Can Bronze 2 play with Gold 1 VALORANT?

No. Bronze players cannot play with Gold players, but they can play with Silver players. 

How do I calculate your MMR in VALORANT?

You cannot see or calculate your MMR in VALORANT, as it’s a hidden figure, but you can best guess your skill level by looking back at your rank rating (RR) gains and losses. 

What is the average VALORANT rank?

The two biggest VALORANT ranks by percentage are Silver 1 (9.11%) and Gold 1 (8.76%), with the two tiers holding the highest averages. 

What level do you have to be to play ranked in VALORANT?

To unlock ranked (competitive) mode in VALORANT, you must have a level 20 account and win 10 unrated matches.

References

  1. https://www.vstats.gg/ranks (Vstats)

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FragPunk to launch on console in April

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FragPunk agent in title-card for console release 2025
Image credit: NetEase Games

New tactical hero shooter FragPunk has announced that it will launch on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 on April 29th, 2025.

After launching on PC in March and being featured in events such as a recent Twitch Rivals, we explore whether FragPunk has the potential to foster an esports scene.

The official FragPunk account announced the release on X on April 10th, 2025. The long-anticipated news comes some time after NetEase Games and FragPunk developers Bad Guitar Studio announced a delay back in March.

The post went on to share that the console versions will include cross-play, cross-progression, and a variety of in-game rewards available to claim for players on those platforms.

The post reads: “As a token of our gratitude and to make up for the delay, we will be issuing plenty of gifts to console players. These gifts will be sent to all newly registered console game accounts and include exclusive time-limited event rewards from the start of Season 1 up to April 29th.”

The announcement went on to share that those who purchased the Pioneer Bundle on console will receive additional rewards. The full list of rewards and distribution will be revealed closer to launch.

Could FragPunk See an Esports Scene?

With a steady PC launch back in March 6th, 2025, the question of whether this tactical hero-shooter could become an esports title has entered discussions.

NetEase is known for being quite active within the esports scene, with top esports titles such as Honor of Kings, and it’s latest smash hit Marvel Rivals.

A YouTube video was published on September 23rd, 2024 where content creator Timothy ‘iiTzTimmy’ An spoke with Xin Chang, Creative Director and Producer for FragPunk. During the discussion, thoughts were shared about the potential for a competitive esports scene.

During the interview, iiTzTimmy said: “From my personal experience, I think any 5v5 tactical shooter can be an esport even with the randomness. I think the way the genre is alone, it just creates a lot of room for competition even in casual play and ranked.

“So I do think there will 100% be a competitive aspect of it. The main thing is just figuring out what type of game mode is competitive, and finding that balance between the cards. In a competitive environment I do think that is very important to find that balance.”

We’ve already seen NetEase push FragPunk into a more competitive scene with recent events such as Twitch Rivals 2025. Featuring top content and esports streamers, Tyson ‘TenZ’ Ngo‘s team managed to win over Michael ‘Shroud’ Grzesiek‘s, ending the tournament 2-0. Though only time will tell if FragPunk will be able to create an exciting and successful esports ecosystem.

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This is how Activision is tackling cheating in competitive Call of Duty

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A hacker in a dim room, coding a cheat tool for Call of Duty, with screens showing code and a game scene

TL;DR

  • The issue of cheating in COD started getting more attention in 2020, following a post by Ninja on X.
  • Activision claims its new anti-cheat efforts for Season 3 have banned 23% of cheaters before they enter a match.
  • There has been a mixed response from the fanbase to the new methods with some lamenting the false bans that have resulted.
  • Other games, such as Rainbow Six Siege, have utilized different methods, including a reputation system to reward upstanding R6 players while presenting punishments for bad behavior.
  • While progress is being made, the arms race between cheat developers and anti-cheat methods will likely continue.

Activision has been dealing with cheaters in Call of Duty for decades, but it’s gotten worse as more players gain access to advanced exploitation methods. Some cheaters find ways to shoot through walls, while others exploit precise aimbots that offer perfect aim.

Whether you’re a casual or competitive player, Call of Duty cheating can affect you. Activision and Team Ricochet have been taking new steps to tackle Call of Duty’s cheating problem by issuing bans and implementing ways to detect unfair advantages. Here’s what you should know about cheating in Call of Duty’s competitive scene.

How does cheating affect Call of Duty?

Two Soldiers Fighting in Call of Duty
Two Soldiers Fighting in Call of Duty / Image credit: Activision/Team Ricochet

As technology grows, so do new ways to exploit the gameplay systems in Warzone and Call of Duty multiplayer. Famous streamers, as well as everyday fans, often record clips of opponents cheating in their matches, so there has been more public outrage on the topic.

This phenomenon dates back to April of 2020 when Ninja took to X to call out a hacker he encountered in a Warzone match. Accounts by popular online influencers like Ninja help spread public awareness in the COD community, and posts like this have only increased in recent years.

Ninja’s call to action, along with many others, has been essential in getting Activision’s attention. In the last six months, over 228,000 accounts have seen bans due to cheating, with more to come as Team Ricochet implements advanced detection systems into Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Warzone.

Cheat developers are exiting the marketplace

Team Ricochet isn’t only targeting cheaters in-game, but also the cheat developers. Activision reported that they’ve forced over 20 cheat developers off the market since the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in October 2024.

They also conveyed that the recently released Season 3 will be bringing improvements to Call of Duty’s security systems and detection for common cheats, like aimbot. By expanding their anti-cheat efforts, Activision reported that they’ve managed to ban 23% of cheaters before they even enter a match.

Tackling cheaters in ranked is essential for Call of Duty to stay popular as a competitive multiplayer title, so luckily, Activision is stepping up to face the problem head-on. Proper detection systems will be imperative in identifying actual cheaters, though false bans can be a problem, too.

How are fans reacting to Team Ricochet?

Informational Image about Call of Duty Cheating
Informational Image about Call of Duty Cheating / Image credit: Activision/Team Ricochet

The community response to Team Ricochet and its efforts has been mixed, but in 2025, the relationship has developed positively. There are still many fans who feel that Activision could be doing more to combat cheating Call of Duty players, but any new efforts or improvements are typically received well. However, the public comments on Activision’s social media posts regarding anti-cheat programs can be volatile at times.

The biggest complaint COD players have against the recent anti-cheat efforts lies in false bans. For example, Team Ricochet accidentally banned a handful of Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone accounts in October 2024. Players can be banned for aimbot, triggerbot, or cheats that allow you to see through walls, among many other exploitative hacks.

Overall, anti-cheat efforts in Call of Duty have grown significantly since 2020, and Team Ricochet is constantly finding new ways to detect and immediately ban offending cheaters. However, it’s still an ongoing problem that affects thousands of players every day.

Hardware bans may be necessary

Another problem highlighted by Call of Duty fans is the lack of actual punishment offered through account bans. Banned players can simply make another account, highlighted by COD fans, like Anthony on X.

Many players believe that hardware bans for the cheater’s device need to be issued so that they won’t be able to create a new account. Despite public concern, Activision already confirmed in April 2021 that they do issue hardware bans, though this measure is usually only taken against repeat offenders.

It’s unclear exactly how many hardware bans have been issued for Call of Duty Black Ops 6  cheating or Modern Warfare 3, but it doesn’t appear to be Team Ricochet’s primary punishment for cheaters. Banning an entire device is tricky because it creates a worse situation for victims of false bans, so developers usually only use it as a last resort or for repeat offenders.

How do other esports games handle cheating?

Siege X Logo
Siege X Logo / Image credit: Ubisoft

Call of Duty is doing a lot to combat cheating compared to other first-person shooters, but some games, like Rainbow Six Siege, have gone in different directions with their anti-cheat efforts. In general, all FPS games have issues with cheating, though the way they handle each situation often differs.

In the last year, Ubisoft has introduced new ways to detect cheaters and punish players who participate in non-exploitative, unsavory behavior, like team killing. A reputation system was implemented to reward upstanding R6 players while presenting punishments for bad behavior, including a ban from certain playlists.

The biggest step Ubisoft has recently taken is match cancellation, which cancels a match once a cheater is detected. This effort also utilizes advanced detection systems. By canceling a match, rule-following players won’t be punished or lose their rank.

Rainbow Six Siege now also bans botters permanently following their first offense, a major step up from past action. Though Call of Duty and Rainbow Six Siege offer different ways to tackle cheating, they both take strong action against accounts that have committed an offense.

How does tackling cheating affect esports?

Three Call of Duty characters
Three Call of Duty characters / Image credit: Activision/Team Ricochet

Taking steps to combat cheating in Call of Duty has multiple effects on the esports scene. First off, fans may lose interest in Call of Duty entirely if they regularly face cheaters in their ranked matches, plus it inspires the idea that cheaters may be present in esports as well.

Additionally, implementing more accurate detection systems can help Activision determine if competitive players may be using cheats or exploiting glitches. Much of the casual fan base is interested in the esports scene as well, so keeping it fair is essential if Activision seeks to grow its presence in the competitive gaming industry.

Online tournaments require extra protection

For online tournaments, Team Ricochet is essential in detecting cheaters before they can ruin matches. Cheating may even be found in a match after it’s finished, which can cause the competitor to be disqualified. Review processes are necessary to determine whether an athlete actually used an exploit, but cheats like aimbot are on Activision’s radar for online competitions.

Other competitive FPS games, such as Rainbow Six Siege and Apex Legends, can learn from Team Ricochet’s anti-cheat efforts and could potentially collaborate with Activision to share their methodology. Though cheating won’t disappear in competitive gaming overnight, it could be largely stamped out in esports with advanced detection technology and zero-tolerance policies.

Conclusion: The end of Call of Duty cheating is still far in the future

Soldiers gliding in Call of Duty
Soldiers gliding in Call of Duty / Image credit: Activision/Team Ricochet

Though companies like Activision and Ubisoft are making significant strides to disrupt cheaters, new cheat developers continue to present fresh problems for first-person shooters. Team Ricochet will likely need to target the exploit developers before cheating can completely disappear in Call of Duty.

In the meantime, Activision will continue to punish players who cheat by implementing new detection methods. Call of Duty has remained one of the most popular esports for a decade, so keeping the competitive side fair is essential to its popularity.

FAQs

Does Call of Duty have a cheating problem?

Yes, Call of Duty games have a problem with cheating in 2025. According to Activision, they’ve banned over 228,000 players in the last six months alone. Team Ricochet is constantly finding new ways to combat players with unfair advantages.

How are people cheating in Call of Duty?

There are many ways that players may cheat in Warzone or Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Wall hacks and aimbot are the two main avenues that cheaters use in COD, though in-game bugs can also be exploited to gain an unfair advantage in multiplayer and Warzone.

What percentage of Call of Duty players are cheating?

Though the exact percentage of players who cheat in Call of Duty remains largely unknown, we know that Team Ricochet has issued bans for over 228,000 accounts since the release of Black Ops 6 in October 2024. Additionally, the same report explained that the majority of Call of Duty cheaters are found on PC, not console.

References

  1. https://www.callofduty.com/blog/2021/04/warzone-anti-cheat-progress-report (Call of Duty)
  2. https://www.callofduty.com/blog/2025/03/call-of-duty-ricochet-black-ops-6-warzone-season-three-anti-cheat-update (Call of Duty)
  3. https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/rainbow-six/siege/game-info/discover (Ubisoft)

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Team Spirit withdraws from IEM Melbourne, Complexity joins

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Team Spirit Withdraws From IEM Melbourne, Complexity Replaces It
Image Credits: Team Spirit

Team Spirit has officially withdrawn from IEM Melbourne just a week and a half before the event kicks off, ESL announced.

The Russian organisation will be replaced by Complexity Gaming, which was next in line based on the latest Counter-Strike 2 Global VRS rankings. The team has accepted the invitation.

Although Team Spirit notified ESL of its withdrawal on April 4th, neither the team nor ESL has provided a reason for the same.

“Team Spirit have withdrawn from IEM Melbourne on Friday, April 4th and will no longer be competing in the tournament. Complexity accepted our invitation and we’re excited to see them return down under after their Grand Final appearance at IEM Sydney 2023,” ESL stated in the announcement.

Other CS2 organisations that have opted out of the event include G2 Esports, FURIA and Astralis. Here’s the updated list of participating teams, along with their group distribution:

Group A Group B
MOUZ Team Vitality
The MongolZ Natus Vincere
FaZe Clan Team Falcons
3DMAX Virtus.pro
GamerLegion Team Liquid
paiN Gaming SAW
Complexity MIBR
BIG FlyQuest

Team Vitality defeated Team Spirit to win IEM Katowice 2025 and with its current roster, combined with Spirit’s absence, the team will be aiming to lift its third CS2 trophy of the year.

With one less top-tier opponent, MOUZ also has a great opportunity to focus on taking BLAST Open Spring and ESL Pro League Season 21 revenge against Vitality and become the champions.

ESL has also revealed the opening matchups and brackets for the event:

IEM Melbourne is set to begin on April 21st, with the Grand Final taking place on April 27th. The tournament will be streamed live on ESL’s official Twitch and YouTube channels. For those attending in person, the Rod Laver Arena will host live audience and tickets are already completely sold out.

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How many skins are in League of Legends in 2025? LoL skins guide

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A gaming monitor displays League of Legends skins
Image credit: Riot Games

TL;DR

  • Skins are a way of changing a LoL character’s appearance and sounds.
  • Skins can be free, chargeable, or obtained through special events.
  • Riot Games revealed the most popular skins in 2019 but has refused to do so since.
  • As of April 2025, there are over 1,780 skins, split into nine variants.
  • Championship skins allow players to equip their characters with colors from esports teams and players.
  • Miss Fortune is currently the champion with the most skins, at 22.

Skins in League of Legends (LoL) are a big commodity for players and developer Riot Games. For those unaware, these are in-game cosmetics that can alter the look of characters in several ways. This can range from a straight color swap to a total overhaul that includes new sounds, voices, outfits, and more.

Skins have become synonymous with esports due to their status as the highest honor in the game. To receive your own skin is to enter rarefied air reserved for world champions and Hall of Famers, such as Faker. 

In this guide, we’re going to explain what skins are, how many skins are in LoL, champions with the most skins, and much more.

What are League of Legends skins?

League of Legends skins are digital cosmetics that can change the appearance of a character in League of Legends in various ways. The evolution of skins in League of Legends since their debut in 2009 has exploded in popularity. Skins can be earned via spending in-game currency, called Riot Points (RP), or by taking part in special in-game events to win or unlock rare skins that can change a character’s voice lines, costume, weapons, and more.

As League of Legends is a free-to-play MOBA game, it’s no surprise that there’s an active player base in the millions every month. This is usually a mix of casual players and professional ones who take part in several esports events every year, such as the League of Legends World Championship, held in October annually.

This is where skins have found a role to play, both for pro players and for Riot Games. Championship skins that take inspiration from certain esports teams and players can be bought, allowing players to show their loyalty by equipping their characters. It’s also a source of revenue, as some of the profits made from these skins go directly back to the prize money at several LoL tournaments.

How many LoL skins are there?

Since the game’s launch in 2009, in-game skins have gone from the hundreds to the thousands. As of April 2025, there are 1,781 skins available to earn and buy. These aren’t required for players — the game can be played without them. However, there will be scenarios where some skins will be automatically earned — whether by winning a match or following the latest narrative in the wider LoL story.

All League of Legends skins are split into nine variants, all with their unique appearances and requirements, as listed below.

A comprehensive LoL skin list

Common skins — These offer minor visual changes like colors or small tweaks to character models.

Epic skins — This is the most common type of skins, which usually feature a new model, sound effects, and more.

Legendary skins — A full overhaul that makes a champion look completely different, featuring voice lines, spell effects, and new animations for some skins.

Prestige skins — These are rare variants of other skins that are available for a limited time, which usually feature a gold color scheme.

Mythic skins — Available via crafting systems and rare events, these offer exclusive animations, models, and more. 

Ultimate skins — This variant, while pricey, completely overhauls champions that offer ever-changing animations and sounds, as well as some that have their own music tracks and more.

Championship skins — A special cosmetic line of skins that are released every year when the LoL World Championship is ongoing. A slice of the sales made from these is given to the overall prize pool for the tournament winners.

Hall of Legends skins — This is one of the most special skins in League of Legends as they’re meant to honor pro players like Faker, as well as important storylines related to the game’s narrative.

Exalted skins — Known as the highest tier of skins in League of Legends, these offer exclusive voice lines and visual overhauls that eclipse every other type of skin offered in the game. Exalted variants can only be obtained by spending special types of currency and using game systems like The Sanctum.

Again, it’s important to note that these skins aren’t exclusive to League of Legends. Alongside the ability to earn skins inspired by popular esports players and teams, there are also Arcane skins taken from the Netflix series inspired by the game. It’s these examples that prove how in-game cosmetics like skins are crossing over into other types of media, like Netflix.

What are some of the most popular LoL skins?

The most popular skins in League of Legends can vary from different sources, as Riot Games doesn’t release this data. However, in a 2019 blog post, the company mentioned that “the most popular skins of all time are Elementalist Lux, Star Guardian Jinx, and PROJECT: Vayne.”

However, six years later, there have been a lot of skins released since then, so the three mentioned in Riot’s blog post are now likely to be out of date. Therefore, it is hard to determine the most popular LoL skins in 2025 without new data being released by Riot Games.

Which champions have the most skins?

Players, both pros and non-pros, can own a huge array of League of Legends skins over a number of years. Although there isn’t a number as to who may own the most skins, there are a few champion characters in the game who have more than a few skins that are still sought after.

Miss Fortune

A pirate captain whose role is of a marksman in League of Legends, Miss Fortune has abilities such as Strut, Make It Rain, Bullet Time, Double Up, and Love Tap, all dealing varying amounts of damage.

In regards to her skins, Miss Fortune has 22, the most out of any champion.

Skin name Release date Riot Points (RP) price
Classic Miss Fortune September 8, 2010 Free (Base)
Cowgirl Miss Fortune September 8, 2010 750 RP
Waterloo Miss Fortune September 8, 2010 520 RP
Secret Agent Miss Fortune November 16, 2010 975 RP
Candy Cane Miss Fortune December 14, 2010 975 RP (Legacy)
Road Warrior Miss Fortune May 24, 2011 520 RP (Legacy)
Crime City Miss Fortune November 1, 2011 975 RP
Arcade Miss Fortune August 12, 2014 1350 RP
Captain Fortune July 30, 2015 975 RP
Pool Party Miss Fortune July 13, 2016 1350 RP
Star Guardian Miss Fortune September 6, 2017 1350 RP
Gun Goddess Miss Fortune March 22, 2018 2775 RP
Pajama Guardian Miss Fortune November 21, 2018 1350 RP
Bewitching Miss Fortune October 24, 2019 1350 RP
Prestige Bewitching Miss Fortune (2019) October 24, 2019 Event/Token
Ruined Miss Fortune July 22, 2021 1350 RP
Battle Bunny Miss Fortune March 31, 2022 1820 RP
Prestige Bewitching Miss Fortune (2022) April 1, 2022 Event/Token
Broken Covenant Miss Fortune March 9, 2023 1350 RP
Prestige Broken Covenant Miss Fortune March 9, 2023 Event/Token
Porcelain Miss Fortune February 22, 2024 1350 RP
Battle Queen Miss Fortune August 28, 2024 1350 RP

Lux

Lux is a support champion who can protect other players in the team from an attack, as well as summon light attacks for enemies that can suffer significant damage.

Currently, Lux also has 22 skins, tying for first place with Miss Fortune at the time of writing.

Skin name Release date Riot Points (RP) price
Classic Lux October 19, 2010 Free (Base)
Sorceress Lux October 19, 2010 520 RP
Spellthief Lux October 19, 2010 750 RP
Commando Lux December 14, 2010 520 RP
Imperial Lux November 1, 2011 975 RP
Steel Legion Lux March 15, 2013 975 RP
Star Guardian Lux April 28, 2015 1350 RP
Elementalist Lux November 28, 2016 3250 RP
Lunar Empress Lux February 8, 2018 1350 RP
Pajama Guardian Lux November 21, 2018 1350 RP
Battle Academia Lux May 15, 2019 1350 RP
Prestige Battle Academia Lux May 15, 2019 Event exclusive
Dark Cosmic Lux July 13, 2020 1820 RP
Cosmic Lux July 13, 2020 1820 RP
Space Groove Lux March 31, 2021 1350 RP
Porcelain Lux January 26, 2022 1350 RP
Prestige Porcelain Lux January 26, 2022 Event exclusive
Empyrean Lux November 3, 2022 1350 RP
Prestige Battle Academia Lux (2022) 2022 Event exclusive
Soul Fighter Lux July 20, 2023 1350 RP
Faerie Court Lux March 16, 2023 1350 RP
Prestige Faerie Court Lux March 16, 2023 Event exclusive

Ahri

A nine-tailed fox, Ahri has five attacks that can stop an enemy in its tracks, heal damage, and much more.

Ahri has 19 skins, with the first coming out in December 2011 and the latest, at the time of writing, being made available in October 2024.

Skin name Release date Riot Points (RP) price
Classic Ahri December 14, 2011 Free (Base)
Dynasty Ahri December 14, 2011 975 RP
Midnight Ahri June 12, 2012 750 RP
Foxfire Ahri July 10, 2012 975 RP
Popstar Ahri November 25, 2013 975 RP
Challenger Ahri January 15, 2015 975 RP
Academy Ahri August 26, 2015 750 RP
Arcade Ahri August 24, 2016 1350 RP
Star Guardian Ahri September 6, 2017 1820 RP
K/DA Ahri November 3, 2018 1350 RP
Prestige K/DA Ahri November 3, 2018 Event exclusive
Elderwood Ahri December 12, 2019 1350 RP
Spirit Blossom Ahri July 22, 2020 1820 RP
K/DA ALL OUT Ahri October 29, 2020 1350 RP
Arcana Ahri April 14, 2022 1350 RP
Risen Legend Ahri June 12, 2024 1950 RP
Immortalized Legend Ahri June 12, 2024 32,430 RP (Bundle)
Signature Ahri June 12, 2024 59,260 RP (Bundle)
Coven Ahri October 31, 2024 1350 RP

Conclusion

League of Legends skins are everywhere in the free-to-play game. They can be earned, paid for, and collected by following the story that Riot Games first established in 2009. They’re not required, but they can help give individuality and personality to every player and esports player.

With over 1,780 skins split into nine variants, there’s plenty of variety for every player to choose from. Nevertheless, skins are a valuable commodity in esports tournaments, and they’re inevitably going to grow as the industry gets bigger over the next few years.

FAQs

How many skins are in League of Legends? 

There are 1,781 skins in League of Legends at the time of writing.

Who has the most skins in League of Legends?

Miss Fortune has the most skins, with 22.

What is the rarest skin in League of Legends? 

The PAX skins are the rarest, having only been made available to players at PAX conventions around 2010.

How can you obtain rare skins in League of Legends? 

Rare skins can be earned through special events or promotions, usually when Riot Games rolls out a new storyline.

Which League Champion has the most skins?

Miss Fortune has 22 skins, making her the champion with the most out of everyone.

References

  1. https://rankedkings.com/lol-skins (Rankedkings)
  2. https://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/en-gb/2019/08/ask-riot-most-popular-skin/ (Nexus League of Legends)

The post How many skins are in League of Legends in 2025? LoL skins guide appeared first on Esports Insider.

Saudi Esports Federation launches SEF Arena

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Saudi Esports Federation Launches SEF Arena
Image credit: Saudi Esports Federation

The Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) has officially announced the launch of the SEF Arena, located in Boulevard Riyadh City.

With a total size of 25,000 sqm, the arena will serve as a flexible multi-activity zone for sporting, entertainment and other events.

The venue’s opening was unveiled in the presence of Saudi Esports Federation CEO Turki Alfawzan, Chief Strategy Officer Maha Aloufi, and Esports Executive Director Meshal Alqabbani.

According to a LinkedIn post by the SEF, the arena will have flexible 11,000 sqm esports stages, a broadcast studio for live event coverage, and the SEF Academy, a dedicated section for developing young talents.

Additionally, the SEF arena will be used by the domestic competitive leagues, such as the Saudi eLeague Elites, Women’s League, Fighting League and Challenger League.

Within the venue, the SEF has also opened its Legacy Museum, which highlights the federation’s role in the global gaming and esports industry since its inception in 2017. The museum is open daily from 6 pm until Boulevard Riyadh City’s closing time and can be freely visited.

Driven by Vision 2030, the governmental programme to increase its diversification economically by generating new, non-oil-dependent revenues, Saudi Arabia has been looking to establish itself as an international hub and become a tourist destination across several industries, including gaming and esports.

Aside from investments made in companies such as ESL FACEIT Group and Hero Esports, Saudi Arabia is the hosting country of the Esports World Cup, which recently announced a $70m prize pool for the 2025 edition.

Earlier last year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) partnered up with Saudi Arabia’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) for the first-ever Olympic Esports Games. Set to take place in 2025 initially, the event was later moved to 2027 due to ongoing concerns about the format and a lack of details on key aspects of the programme by game publishers.

Despite its efforts in the industry, the Saudi Arabian government has often been criticised due to the country’s human rights record on women and LGBTQ+ communities, alongside claims of ‘esportswashing‘.

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Interview: Johanna Remy Pollet on the success of Team Vitality’s Philips Evnia partnership

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Johanna Remy Pollet on Team Vitality x Philips Evnia partnership
Johanna Remy Pollet (pictured left) Image credit: Team Vitality

Last month, Team Vitality announced the renewal of its partnership with gaming monitor brand Philips Evnia until 2027.

The French esports organisation has been working with Philips Evnia since 2021, making the brand one of its longest-running partnerships so far. Esports Insider spoke to Johanna Remy Pollet, Director of Partnerships at Team Vitality, to discuss the recipe for successful esports partnerships and Philips Evnia’s transformative potential for athletes and fans.

For more than four years, Philips Evnia has been supporting Team Vitality’s growth and competitive performance of its rosters in VALORANT, Counter-Strike, League of Legends and more. With the latest extension, the brand will continue equipping all of Vitality’s twelve teams with gaming monitors.

Pollet explained why extending the partnership was a natural decision: “Team Vitality’s partnership with Philips Evnia has thrived since 2021 due to a strong alignment in values, mutual commitment to innovation and a shared passion for elevating the esports experience.

“It is a collaboration that works well in terms of the relationship and mutual understanding (which is essential for us) as well as the overall value created through this partnership.”.

Pollet further shed light on Vitality’s partnership strategy, highlighting that it is crucial for her organisation to be able to renew their collaborations over such long-term periods. According to her, all of Vitality’s partnership agreements during the 2023/24 renewal cycle have been continued.

Team Vitality x Philips Evnia: More Than Just a Sponsorship

Throughout the duration of the partnership, Philips Evnia’s involvement has evolved beyond performance to focus on fan engagement and immersive experiences. Together, the two entities have produced several successful interactive activations and high-quality content pieces, such as last year’s Pixel Perfect Challenge and The Unruly Series, which promotes inclusivity in esports.

In addition, Philips Evnia monitors were part of the 1v1 setup at Vitality’s V.Hive during the 2023 Counter-Strike Major in Paris. According to Vitality, the physical initiative generated 1.4m impressions, 807,000 views across teaser and video content and 619,000 impressions from on-site coverage.

This year, Philips Evnia will be at the core of the esports organisation’s brand campaign with activations that aim to ‘transform the perception of gaming by integrating it fully into the daily lives of gamers beyond the screen’.

“We will also continue to unite our fans around the brand through participatory content and interactive activations during key competitive moments…” shared Pollet. “This concept for 2025 is based on the idea that Evnia and Team Vitality empower players, both competitive and casual, to rediscover their way of playing through performance, innovation, and enjoyment. Every activation and message is built upon the following core values.”

Adding yet another layer to the partnership, Philips Evnia will support Vitality’s mental health initiative, KARE. The project promotes mental health awareness and dialogue through resources, original content and merchandise fundraisers for organisations in the field.

Pollet shared: “KARE quests by Evnia will be integrated in our fan engagement app V.Hive. This integration will raise awareness and promote KARE in a fun and interactive way towards our fans.”

The post Interview: Johanna Remy Pollet on the success of Team Vitality’s Philips Evnia partnership appeared first on Esports Insider.