New player and looking to learn about the lore, but where do I start?

CoyoteSunset·11/12/2019, 7:24:15 AM·11 votes·16,140 views

Hello! I'm a relatively new player and one of the things I'm loving is the long history and world of Runterra. I've gathered bits and pieces from here and there mainly from youtube and Wikipedia and honestly the wiki page just made it a bit confusing. I understand there was a reboot of the timeline in 2014 which starts many of the current story lines?

I know the League website has a Universe section but I'm just not sure how to navigate it and where to start. Any advice or guides/vidoes would be wonderful! Thank you!

36 Comments

RiotRiot Scathlocke11/13/2019, 12:04:55 AM9 votes

I'm appalled that no one has yet recommended you read 'Realms of Runeterra', much of which is geared toward folks who are looking to get into the lore/setting...

[slayer-pantheon-popcorn]

Falrein11/12/2019, 7:38:31 AM8 votes

Short answer? Start with whatever sounds good to you.

Take a look at the champion section, and if someone catches your eye, just go for it. ~~Though start with Morgana or Syndra~~

If you're ever looking for some help, feel from to join the Lore of League discord, it's full of wonderful people passionate about lore who'll happily answer your questions should you have any!

Thailand0511/12/2019, 8:28:57 AM6 votes

Go to Necrit Youtube Channel and Start with this Video first to Understand the 2019 Canon timeline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiCIKcIO-iM

RyzeTheSmurfMage11/12/2019, 9:56:24 AM6 votes

I recommend starting by reading the lore of the region/champ you like the most first. Then Shurima. Then Shurima again. SHURIMA IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD

DerMangoJoghurt11/12/2019, 11:35:17 AM5 votes

I'd recommend you start by familiarizing yourself with the map. Just click on whatever seems interesting. There are a lot of artworks there, so you can really get a feel for each faction. Additionally, there are a lot of links to the universe site; champion biographies, short stories and the like. It's handy to keep the map bookmarked, since most names of towns, mountains, rivers, and regions referenced in short stories are marked on it. Once you feel like you want to read something I'd recommend reading the short stories that aren't specific to a single champions by searching in the region sections of the universe site. A few recommendations are Shadow and Fortune, Turmoil, The Eye in the Abyss, The Principles of Strenght, Progress Day, Where Icathia Once Stood, and City of Iron and Glass.

I know it's a lot, but those stories should give you a summary of the current state of most regions. Of course if something intrigues you, like a specific champion or region, feel free to explore. In fact, I think that is the best way to learn about the lore. Find something that interests you and read everything about it.

I've seen some people recommend watching Necrit. If you decide to watch some of his videos, be aware that he often gets things wrong or is stating theory as fact. You can get quick summaries from his videos, but take what he says with a grain of salt.

RiotWAAARGHbobo11/21/2019, 10:15:28 PM5 votes

I mean a good place to start the lore is the Zed comic. It just came out yesterday. You can get in on the ground floor!
I mean... My totally unbiased opinion is you should read it before ANYTHING ELSE!

[slayer-jinx-wink]

Mianta11/12/2019, 7:27:46 AM4 votes

Necrit on youtube is probably the best at explaining lore content. He does a great job making things clear and concise. Go through his created videos and things'll come together quite easily for you. You could maybe start at one of his vids about the runeterra map to get an idea of each location that the champs are from, and how they're connected geographically. Read content about the Void, maybe. Lissandra and the Watchers. Aurelion Sol can vaguely introduce you to the creation of the world and also introduce some of the Aspects. Can't think of much else, but each champ belongs to a region/faction that you'll see on the map, and each has a deep history behind them..

RiotBioluminescence11/13/2019, 6:46:18 PM4 votes

I put together a Bilgewater (ocean-going monster hunting, bounty hunting, and piratical region) recommended reading guide about a year ago, if that takes your fancy?

https://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/story-art/idaBsEQv-getting-in-to-the-lore-bilgewater-guide-unofficialish

A lot of the other suggestions here are also fantastic. And welcome! :D

CaptainAntiHeroz11/12/2019, 11:34:36 AM3 votes

Ryze 's story gives good world building

Larriet11/14/2019, 3:18:52 AM2 votes

Everyone else has lovely suggestions, but I recommend checking out the characters you, personally are interested in!

Depending on the region, you may want to focus on specific characters to start.

For Shurima, I recommend reading the story "Bloodlines" and then checking out the Champions featured in that story. For Demacia, I recommend reading the Lux comic and branching off from there. For Noxus, I recommend checking out Swain, LeBlanc, Darius, and Mordekaiser. For the Freljord, I recommend reading the Ashe: Warmother comic, then checking out Ashe, Sejuani, and Lissandra. For Ionia, the upcoming Zed comic may be good. For Piltover and Zaun, the (not-yet-released) Arcane animated series will probably be a good place to start! For the Shadow Isles, Lucian, Senna, and Thresh are the best place to start. Kalista's Bio also gives some backstory on the islands.

Bioluminescence did an awesome post for Bilgewater that they already shared! Incidentally, I recommend reading "Burning Tides" and then "Shadow and Fortune" before you read up on the Shadow Isles.

Ixtal doesn't have any major plotlines or "key players" yet because it's an isolationist nation.

ToolooT11/13/2019, 11:58:20 AM2 votes

learn about Vel'Koz. He's the king of balance and needs a new skin.

HonestJohnTheCon11/12/2019, 11:18:35 AM2 votes

My advice is to start by looking at each region's lore page on Universe -- there are quite a few and knowing that base background information is necessary. At that point, you can pretty much look at any champion with both an established bio and a short story on universe - at this point, that's most of them - and take that as canon.

Ashe mage AD11/12/2019, 11:44:56 AM2 votes

There's also some official web comics but those may or may be not be following the lore as they're actually made by 3rd parties.

Dragging Korpsez11/17/2019, 6:37:38 PM1 votes

Search up Necrit on Youtube, or buy the book.

CourtWizardAhri11/23/2019, 12:50:20 AM1 votes

My advice:

Your Favorite Champion
Your Favorite Champion's Region
You'r favorite champions conflicts
Do the everywhere stretch and read about any champions your favorite champion has interactions with.

It's always interesting to see what makes champions 'tick'

Mhihnj11/13/2019, 5:27:52 AM1 votes

I started by just reading the lore of my favourite champs and then slowly branching out from there.

HalfTangible11/13/2019, 5:06:55 PM1 votes

Best place would be to look up whatever champion catches your fancy and start reading up on them. If something about them catches your eye (their region or the mention of another Champ in their story, for example) go read about that.

Hunkmenlordy11/12/2019, 6:44:53 PM1 votes

The lore.. meh. I can come up with better stories than they do, given the fact that riot try to convey a passive world view by officially shipping a noble man with a killer instead of shipping him with an innocent angel, and it's just because the killer is female while the angel is male.

Archlord Aatrox11/13/2019, 10:34:41 PM1 votes

I recommend Targonian and Ionian lore, well written IMO and very poetic