League Of Legends: 12 Most Intelligent Champions According To The Lore

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Key Takeaways

  • Xerath, one of the most intelligent characters in League of Legends, didn’t start that way and actually steadily rose through the ranks with his kindness, knowledge, and cunning.
  • Aurora, born with incredible spiritual capabilities and intelligence, guides spirits to the afterlife in the Freljord.
  • Heimerdinger, a revered inventor, has key differences in his lore between League of Legends and Arcane but is one of the most intelligent characters in and and all Riot-related universes.

As a scholar who has delved deep into the lore and history of Runeterra, I can confidently say that these champions are nothing short of extraordinary when it comes to intellect. From the cunning Nasus, who amassed knowledge like a hoarder accumulates treasure, to the cosmic entity Aurelion Sol, who created not just one, but an entire universe – their life experiences and accomplishments are truly awe-inspiring.

Due to the overwhelming success of Riot Games and Netflix’s series Arcane, there has been a significant resurgence in interest for League of Legends and its spin-off Teamfight Tactics. This renewed interest is partly due to the games being compatible with various devices, making them easily accessible. Interestingly, this revival has also sparked a growing curiosity among players about the backstories and lore of these characters, particularly the complex tales of the usually villainous champions.

Let’s explore the contrasting origins of the brilliant inventors and scientists depicted in both seasons 1 and 2 of Arcane, as compared to their portrayal in the official lore of League of Legends. Additionally, we’ll examine which other characters from this universe can be considered intellectual equals.

12. Xerath

The Magus Ascendant

Initially, we encounter one of the League of Legends universe’s most cunning and malevolent characters: Xerath. Originally a slave from Shurima, Xerath’s life took an extraordinary turn through a combination of misfortune, good fortune, and his relentless efforts. This transformation led him to ascend to the position of Azir’s right-hand man, one of the Emperor’s sons. In this role, Xerath honed his magical prowess significantly, delved deeper into studies than ever before, and excelled unchallenged in both intellectual acumen and strategic thinking.

In essence, Azir, though intelligent and competent, could achieve his imperial feats mainly because of Xerath’s support. Notably, Xerath managed to ascend to a higher plane by devising a cunning, albeit malevolent, strategy that involved usurping Azir’s position during the Ascension ceremony. Had it not been for the combined efforts of Nasus and Renekton, Xerath would have become an unmatched entity of pure arcane power.

11. Aurora

The Witch Between Worlds

Aurora, a relatively new character in the League of Legends universe, exhibits a blend of intellectual, emotional, and spiritual wisdom. She hails from the Bryni tribe of rabbit-like beings in the remote village of Aamu, nestled within the Freljord. Born with the rare gift to traverse both physical and spiritual realms, Aurora has often found herself set apart from her fellow villagers. Instead of feeling alienated, she immersed herself even deeper into studying spirits, a pursuit that kept her engaged and fulfilled.

In her adult life, Aurora devotes much of her time to assisting spirits in returning to their spiritual homes by addressing the problems that keep them tied to the physical world. This task demands considerable effort, emotional understanding, and overall intelligence. Among the inhabitants of Freljord, she stands out as one of the most intelligent individuals. She has already encountered several guardian spirits of this realm and is still only halfway through her journey, suggesting there’s much more for her to explore, learn, and uncover.

10. Heimerdinger

The Revered Inventor

It may come as a shock to some that many champions in League of Legends do not directly translate into the lore of Arcane. For instance, Heimerdinger exhibits several notable differences. In Arcane, he is depicted as one of the founding members of Piltover, a fact that is true within its canon but not explicitly confirmed or hinted at in the official League of Legends biography. While it’s acknowledged that he has made significant contributions to Piltover and is held in high regard, this is the extent of his connection to the city.

Furthermore, Arcane’s portrayal of this soft Yordle character seems more akin to a comfortable college professor with job security rather than a diligent researcher. However, in every universe where Heimerdinger resides, he is one of the most intelligent beings, despite his Yordle characteristics that perpetually keep him innocent and naive.

9. Jayce & Viktor

The Machine Herald & The Defender of Tommorow

Moving forward in our discussion about Piltover, let’s delve into the contrasting histories of Jayce Talis and Viktor the Machine Herald, whose portrayals in Arcane are quite charming compared to their brash personalities in League of Legends’ core game lore. In this version, Jayce is known for his arrogance, making it difficult for others to work with him due to his overbearing air of superiority and flamboyance. Viktor was the exception, even being responsible for creating Blitzcrank. Their partnership was marked by tension, spanning various projects until a heated argument resulted in Jayce reporting Viktor to the Council, ultimately leading to Viktor’s expulsion from Piltover.

In the world of Riot Games’ Arcane, there seem to be striking parallels drawn between characters Viktor and Jayce, as well as Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. This could very well be a deliberate move on Riot’s part to create intriguing contrasts. While both Viktor and Jayce are exceptionally intelligent, they differ greatly in temperament. Viktor is more reserved but incredibly efficient, whereas Jayce is far more sociable yet less adaptable. Compared to their original game personas, these Arcane characters exhibit distinctly different personalities, a point worth noting.

8. Ekko

The Boy Who Shattered Time

The extraordinary potential of Ekko, the Time-Shattering Boy, surpasses that of most other human Champions in League of Legends (LoL) at present. With a genius-level mind, Ekko is a Zaun native who values his city for its future possibilities rather than its current state. Numerous cinematics suggest Heimerdinger recognizes Ekko’s intellect, but they’ve only truly interacted in Arcane.

If Ekko had formal education, he could potentially outshine legends like Singed, Viktor, or Jayce, known for their intelligence. However, at present, Ekko is simply a zealous resident of Zaun, possessing the unique ability to manipulate time due to his Z-Drive invention. In the game, he’s also recognized as a Champion that’s beginner-friendly.

7. Singed

The Mad Chemist

In the authentic LoL narrative, Singed shares many characteristics with Ekko in terms of their native intelligence and thirst for knowledge about the world. However, unlike Ekko, who was born elsewhere, Singed had the good fortune to be born in Piltover and attended its esteemed university at a young age. While his peers were obsessed with exploring Hextech, Singed favored natural sciences. He viewed magic as a prop, and his unwavering stance on this matter, coupled with poor research outcomes, eventually resulted in him being expelled from the Academy and exiled from Piltover altogether.

From that location, Singed swiftly secured employment in Zaun, a metropolis teeming with opportunities for an astute scientist like him. Over time, Singed morphed into an extraordinarily warped scientist, conducting bizarre experiments, some of which culminated in the birth of Warwick. In the lore of LoL, the workings may differ significantly from what’s portrayed in Arcane, but the fundamental idea remains consistent: Singed is an exceptionally intelligent scientist who ultimately succumbs to madness due to his scholarly endeavors, a theme echoed in both interpretations.

6. Swain

The Noxian Grand General

Up next is Jericho Swain, who governs the entire nation of Noxus. Throughout his life, Swain has been marked by events steeped in death, failure, renewal, and atonement. However, what truly stands out about his tale is his relentless devotion to Noxus as a single entity. For Noxus, Swain was willing to kill his own parents, depose the previous ruler Boram Darkwill, and even strike a bargain with a Demon. All these actions were aimed at improving the lives of the people in Noxus.

It’s been demonstrated that Swain possesses an exceptional strategic acumen, particularly in military matters. This skillset, though different from academic knowledge, carries equal importance.

5. LeBlanc

The Deceiver

In addition, there’s LeBlanc, head of the enigmatic group known as the Black Rose, who resides beneath Noxus’ everlasting fortress, the Immortal Bastion. Swain’s parents initially belonged to her ‘cult’, and LeBlanc was once a member of Mordekaiser’s inner circle during his second reign. However, she later turned against him, pledging to lock away the source of his power within the Immortal Bastion forever.

In essence, LeBlanc and Swain are equally cunning strategists, as they frequently outmaneuver each other with their schemes. However, it remains unclear what her overall objectives are, but it’s clear that a person of exceptional intelligence must be involved in the various situations she manipulates. Her organization, the Black Rose, is connected to the storyline of Arcane’s second season, yet we have only scratched the surface of the terrors that LeBlanc and her group may unleash.

4. Ryze

The Rune Mage

Among the original cast of seventeen Champions, Ryze stands out not only on the battlefield but also in terms of his deeply moving origin story. Essentially, Ryze is over a millennium old, witnessed firsthand the devastation wrought by the Rune Wars, gained sorcery knowledge from the brilliant minds of Helia’s sorcerers, and carries remnants of the World Runes’ magic within his own form.

Ryze possesses an exceptional breadth of global understanding, having engaged in discussions with influential figures, traversed numerous lands, and immersed himself in diverse cultures. This vast knowledge is scarcely matched, and it serves primarily to prevent the World Runes from falling into the wrong hands.

3. Nasus

The Curator of the Sands

Players often overlook the fact that Nasus, a character notoriously disliked for gameplay who resembles Anubis in the Ascended form of Shurima, was primarily admired for his intellect. However, following his exaltation at the Sun Disc, Nasus appears to be immortal, having lived for more than 3700 years. Given his longevity, his Ascended status, and his strategic mind, it’s no surprise that Nasus is among the most legendary warriors in Shuriman history. Interestingly, even when he was human, Nasus’ true strength lay in his capacity to learn.

During the zenith of the Shurima Empire, as Nasus strategized each impending battle, he ensured that the libraries in the territories they seized remained intact. This was so he could peruse their ancient texts and enrich his continuously growing archive.

2. Mordekaiser

The Iron Revenant

This list of Champions has gone from humans to superhumans to god-like beings and, now, it’s moved on to undead Warlords. Mordekaiser, or as he was known in life, Sahn-Uzal, is likely the worst thing to happen to Runeterra, other than possibly the Rune Wars themselves.

This character was a relentless slayer who dominated much of Valoran under the conviction that his conquests would secure him a place in the “Hall of Skulls,” an imaginary afterlife akin to Valhalla. While numerous aspects of his tale remain veiled in enigma, it’s evident he demonstrated exceptional strategic intelligence in warfare, if not outright psychopathic tendencies.

1. Aurelion Sol

The Star Forger

Lastly, everything concludes with Aurelion Sol, the cosmic dragon adorned with galactic patterns. This magnificent creature not only brought forth the sun but also shaped the world of Runeterra, thus serving as the most tangible deity within the League of Legends universe.

Yet, this god was tricked by Ancient Targon into accidentally sealing his own power within his golden crown. But, the mere fact that they did this to gain a glimmer of his vast knowledge on Celestial Magic and the sun itself proves how much Aurelion knows.

On the mystical plane of Runeterra, Aurelion Sol’s intelligence is beyond comparison, perhaps rivaled only by fellow celestial beings. However, as Zoe puts it, he tends to maintain a somewhat cranky demeanor.

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2024-12-02 03:54