League of Legends from Riot Games has remained a popular MOBA title since its release back in 2009. Over the years, Riot developers have continued to add more and more new playable characters, known as champions, to the game. Now, there are 156 champions, each with unique physical traits and abilities. With all these characters, there's plenty of lore that could soon be adapted in a League of Legends cinematic universe.
Just like any other game with a dedicated fanbase, League players have favorite characters they play time and time again. Some have unpopular opinions about specific champions and skins. Others are so passionate about a specific champion that they tattoo the champ on their body, as a permanent tribute to the games they've played.
10 Xayah: The Rebel
This exquisite Xayah tattoo was designed and inked by Gustavo Takazone, a Brazilian artist with a portfolio of many incredible League of Legends tattoos. Xayah is a marksman champion like Samira, the mysterious Desert Rose. But Xayah is unique because her abilities involve feathers that are strewn across the battlefield. Who knew feathers could be so deadly?
This Xayah tattoo has a muted grayscale color scheme with flashes of hot pink, Xayah's signature color, and a hint of gold in her eyes. The shading work is incredible, offering detail and realism to Xayah's features while retaining her spritely look. The linework gives this tattoo a feeling of motion, as though Xayah's in the midst of battle.
9 Vayne: The Monster Hunter
This epic Vayne tattoo is another Gustavo Takazone creation. Shauna Vayne is a monster hunter who tracks and kills demons and other evil creatures. She has a crossbow and silver bolts she shoots from her wrist brace.
This tattoo is a closeup depiction of Vayne in her aristocrat skin, which has steampunk vibes and a sophisticated air. Her hair, sunglasses and collar all make this tattoo unique and epic in its own right.
8 Jhin: The Virtuoso
This large Jhin tattoo by Gustavo Takazone captures the character's darkness and deep-thinking nature. As a marksman champion, Jhin uses his gun to terrorize enemies on the battlefield. His face is a mask, concealing his identity. According to the League of Legends website, Jhin believes that "murder is art."
This tattoo offers heavy shading, and takes a beautifully geometric approach to Jhin and his iconic mask. The mask and villainous demeanor gives him a godlike appearance not unlike Nasus, one of the most powerful tanks in the game.
7 Lulu: Fae Sorceress
What better way to depict the energetic support champion Lulu than with splashes of color? This Lulu tattoo by Zsofi at Dark Art Tattoo in Hungary doesn't shy away from Lulu's bright purple hair or pink and gold robes.
The tattoo even shows Pix, her companion, who acts as Lulu's passive ability on the battlefield. While many League of Legends tattoos feel dark and edgy, this one openly embraces the whimsy that Lulu brings as a character.
6 Akali: Blood Moon
This beautiful Akali tattoo was inked by Leigh Boardman from Octopus Tattoo in Derby, United Kingdom. Like Viego, the Ruined King, Akali is an assassin champion. She's an edgy rogue determined to defend Ionia at all costs. She uses kunai daggers, shuriken and magic to take down enemies and secure victory for her team. Her blood moon skin has her channeling the energy of a forest spirit, giving off Princess Mononoke vibes.
In black ink without color, this tattoo is truly a piece of art in its own right. The linework has the appearance of paint splatters or calligraphy ink, creating the sense that rain (or blood?) is falling around Akali as she peers from behind her mask.
5 Kindred: Eternal Hunters
This Kindred tattoo is the work of Jeff Houston at Iron Mountain Tattoo in Redding, California. For those unfamiliar with League, Kindred is actually two spirits, Lamb and Wolf, in one playable champion. According to Riot, "Kindred represents the twin essences of death." Kindred is ethereal and magical, so it only makes sense that any tattoo adaptation would play into the beauty of Kindred's magic.
On this shoulder and arm tattoo, Wolf wraps around Lamb in a protective manner. Lamb has their bow and arrow poised to take a shot, much like the Mounting Dread ability in-game. This slows enemies and can engage Wolf, if successful multiple times.
4 Ahri: Spirit Blossom
This arm tattoo of Ahri inked by Yuveza in Poland leans in to the beautiful pink, white and blue color scheme from her Spirit Blossom skin. This skin was available during the 2020 Spirit Blossom event in League of Legends and cost 1,820 RP. In this skin, Ahri's tails are blue but her ears and hair are pink.
There were additional chromas available for this skin besides the color scheme shown in this epic tattoo. This Ahri tattoo feels inspired by vintage pin-up girls or retro sailor tattoos, but Ahri's more than just a pretty face. She's fun to play too, with a number of different potential builds.
3 Irelia: Blade Dancer
This close-up portrait of Irelia inked at Dark Art Tattoos in Tunisia showcases Irelia's large eyes and headband. The artist depicts her facial features in detail, including her eyebrows, nose, lips and general resting expression.
As a fighter champion, Irelia has speed and swiftness on her side. She can dash rapidly with Bladesurge, healing herself in the process. She can also charge a strike with Defiant Dance, or send out two blades that combine to damage a target with Flawless Duet.
2 Diana: Scorn Of The Moon
As the goddess of the Moon, Diana is a fighter champion of the Lunari. This tattoo is another work by Gustavo Takazone, and showcases the champion's best aspects. The lunar mark on her forehead glows with power, an indication that Diana is not fully human. She uses her large, scythe-like blade to hack and slash enemies and is a truly fearless warrior.
This tattoo highlights Diana's lunar attributes in blue, while showing her with a fierce expression. It looks like she's about to go into battle. The linework and shading provide detail and the sense of motion, as Diana won't be standing still when the Lunari are in danger.
1 Orianna: Clockwork Lady
This stellar green and black tattoo by Gustavo Takazone captures a somber side of Orianna, a human who lost her body in a tragic accident. As a result, her mind was transplanted into a sleek robotic form that gave her extraordinary new powers. Now, Orianna is a mage champion who uses her magic and a brass sphere in battle to take down enemies.
Her ball acts as a minion of sorts, doing damage to enemies and creating AOE challenges her enemies must dodge or overcome. This tattoo shows Orianna in a variation of her Victorious skin, where she sports a wig, earrings, a dress and a jeweled crown. She keeps a calm and composed demeanor, in tune with her magic.