UPDATED: MASTERY LEVELS 6 & 7!!!!!!

I can't help but notice all of the disapproval from the New Mastery Levels 6 & 7, and the majority of it is CONFUSION! Most of the people complaining about this topic don't have the full information and or are completely wrong/ confused about how the system works. So allow this post to clarify how the system works and I will justify the reasons as to why the system is the way it is. And yes, you can get to mastery 7 without spending a dime, just as it was designed!

There are champion shards, and champion permanents. From a chest, you can receive champion shards, and very rarely some essence (blue or orange). To unlock Mastery level 6 or 7 you need the corresponding number of Champion Tokens, and then you have the options of using:

1. The corresponding Champion shard
2. The corresponding Champion Permanent
3. 500 Blue Essence

I labeled them 1,2,3 in that order because they are the most logical order to upgrade your mastery level. (depending on your situation ofc)

One (1) Champion Shard:

With this option: You will be able to purchase champion shards from the store with IP. Encouraging you to use the IP gained from trying to reach and obtain the level 6 & 7 mastery tokens, to unlock champion shards. (Please understand that this part of the system, this option to buy the shards with IP, hasn't gone live YET. Riot’s focus was to push the system out on live, ASAP, for people to start collecting tokens.)

-This option is the ideal route and what most players should follow. Instead of making an x amount of mastery points a requirement to advance, (like it was for levels 1-5) riot has made an indirect requirement for you to obtain enough IP with your champion in order to purchase the Champion Shards to disenchant them and obtain 500 blue essence. Or get the shard corresponding to the champion and you won't have to disenchant anything at all! This process can be completed 100% without spending a dime

Two (2) Champion Permanent:

With This option: Have a champion permanent of a champion you already own? Trying to get it to mastery level 6 or 7? Congrats..... You wouldn't upgrade a champion shard into a champion permanent (because that's a waste of blue essence and the loot that you disenchanted). However, If you own all champions, you can receive champion permanents for champions you already own, from rerolling 3 champion shards. (still obviously a waste, since it's not guaranteed).

• The main reason this option is available is because there are players who have loot from Hextech that is worthless to them, and therefore giving it a purpose.

You receive a champion permanent (from a champion you don't own ofc) and decide to purchase the champion in store with IP, or it was gifted to you before you unlocked the champion permanent, and liked the champion enough to get it to mastery level 6, congrats your champion permanent was not put to waste. (Although these scenarios seem unlikely, THERE ARE players with champion permanents that have no use for them (own all champions, etc.) and riot wants to have this option available to them (which makes sense).

Three (3) 500 Blue Essence:

This is the only option where you are somewhat "spending something," or sacrificing something of value in order to obtain champion mastery 6 and or 7. Technically you don't even have to spend anything at all while using this option since blue essence can be obtained FREELY with the new hex tech crafting. Essence is a currency, and if you want to spend the essence directly to the mastery, you can sacrifice loot from crafting in order to do just that. However judging from all the negative feedback from this option, I doubt most of you would want to do this. However it is a fair option that's available to all.

If you have any questions go ahead and ask!