- For information about the
Teamfight Tactics item, see Darkin. - For information about the Teamfight Tactics trait, see Darkin.
- For information about the Legends of Runeterra group, see Darkin.
Darkin are corrupted God-Warriors who were traumatized by the horrors of the Void War as well as self infliction by the use of blood magic. Currently, all known Darkin have been imprisoned in weapons, unable to ever regain their original Ascended forms.
Lore[]
The Darkin[]
| “ | ▶️ "We had another name once... Now, we are Darkin." |
—  Aatrox
| |
 |
The Darkin are believed to be a collection of sentient weapons by Eduard Santangelo[1] and the 
Shadow Order. In truth, the Darkin are corrupted Ascended who were imprisoned within their own weapons.
The nature of their corruption is implied to be self-inflicted after the mental scar left from the horrors of countless wars and those witnessed in the Void War. The death of 
Azir and the subsequent fall of Shurima were the final catalysts that led to them turning their backs to the world they had once swore to protect.
Without an emperor to command them, the Darkin felt forgotten and were left purposeless. They believed themselves to the rightful inheritors of the world and enslaved many races, forcing them to worship them. The Darkin used their knowledge of blood magic to augment their flesh and weapons until they were unrecognizeable from the noble warriors they had once been. The Darkin and their armies would clash with one another, leading to the Great Darkin War.
The Aspects would eventually intervene and aid the mortals in 
2 sealing the Darkin within their own weapons and scattering them across Runeterra, ending the Darkin War. In the centuries since, a handful of these weapons have been recovered by the ignorant and the ambitious alike. More recently, the Darkin have begun to stir and seek out vessels to free them from their prisons.
Darkin Champions[]
Other Related Champions[]
- Azir was previously the ruler of above all Ascended, some of which later became Darkin.
- Kayn wields Rhaast.
- Kai and Valmar are part of the body known as Varus.
- Myisha, a predecessor Aspect of Twilight to Zoe, gave the Runeterrans the knowledge to seal away the Darkin during The Great Darkin War.
- Master Yi is Jun's master. Jun would later become the vessel of the Darkin Xolaani.
- Nasus fought alongside Ascended that later became the Darkin, before Shurima's fall.
- Pantheon fought against the Darkin during The Great Darkin War.
- Renekton fought alongside Ascended that later became the Darkin, before Shurima's fall.
- Tryndamere is the sole survivor of Aatrox's massacre in Freljord.
- Vladimir learned blood magic from a Darkin, who he would later slay to gain his near immortality. He is also the leader of Crimson Circle, a cult of hemomancers, all learn blood magic from the Darkin.
Physiology[]
The Darkin began their story as revered human warriors of Ancient Shurima, Ascended into serving against the threat from the threshold. After finally halting the Void's perverse incursion, the surviving Ascended entitled themselves as "Sunborn", the first witnesses of a dawn of peace they brought to a now safe world.
Centuries after an age of war with the Void, despite their divine makeup, their minds remained as fragile as the mortals they once were. When the light of Shurima finally left the world, many of the immortal Ascended found themselves lost. With no emperor to lead them, these “darkin” eventually fell to warring among their own kind—and the peoples of Runeterra were caught in the middle. The ceaseless warring and the horrors they witnessed slowly took their toll, leading them to fight over who was worthy of taking over the world that forgot them. This started the War of the Sunborn, known better to the world as the Darkin War.
The laws of mortal life held little meaning for the darkin. Over the centuries, they mastered many forbidden forms of primal magic, crafting their own flesh and armor with equal ease, until they were completely unrecognizable as the noble warriors they had once been.
During the Darkin War depictions of the self-corrupted Sunborn, now known as Darkin, as already having a demonic appearance—the result of using blood magic, fueled with each mortal and Darkin life they took, to reshape their own bodies and armor and meld them as one.
Toward the end of the Darkin War, the Darkin were imprisoned within their own weapons and wielded against their brethren until all who remained were likewise trapped. Those who wielded a Darkin weapon would gain a portion of their power, but through a vessel was also the only avenue through which a Darkin could gain a mockery of freedom. Even when able to wrest absolute control of a body, the power of a Darkin is too much for any mortal body to contain - condemning the Darkin to a fate of constantly harvesting life force, eventually completely depleting the mortal's energy and being forced to seek another vessel, lest they be rendered inanimate once more.
To date, a golden-armored warrior queen is the only being known to have held a Darkin and not succumbed to its will. That said, her final act after dispatching all other Darkin was to trap herself and 
the Darkin Bow within a well in Pallas, condemning herself but denying the Darkin freedom as well.
When an Ascended is created, a celestial concept merges with a mortal host body and grants them ascended power. When a Darkin is sealed, that concept is trapped or deleted. The ideal that they represented ceases to exist and it becomes indistinguishable what the Darkin was once the avatar of.[2]
From the moment a darkin weapon chooses a vessel, that mortal will find themselves compelled by a power they can scarcely hope to master—no matter what seductive whispers they might hear in their mind. That power will soon take root in flesh and bone, reshaping them into a new, monstrous amalgam. At the early stages of a darkin infestation, the corruption can be reverted with minimal contact with the weapon, but the darkin will try to entice their host to wield them.
The weapon's wielder and any Darkin trapped within seem to enter a symbiotic relationship, the wielder gaining a portion of the Darkin's power and the Darkin in turn gain some agency and a venue of freedom. However, the Darkin can parasitically dominate their wielder, thereby annihilating the wielder's personality while in turn freely affirming their agency; similarly, the wielder can extirpate the Darkin's persona to gain full access to the weapon's power. In both cases, the dominated other is described as "dying".
Though the darkin's hunger for vengeance is inhuman and eternal, they must overcome the limitations of their new form if they are ever to sate it. Memories of who they once were, what they aspired to be, and what they have become, all now blur together in their flawed, mortal minds.
Aatrox usurped his wielder long ago. 
Rhaast actively seeks to gain control over 
Kayn's body. Varus has yet to fully take control of both 
Valmar and 
Kai in their tri-symbiotic existence.
Kayn asserts that Rhaast will die if Kayn "lets go" of the scythe, while it is implied the Darkin's power is lost if they are killed in this fashion. However, Kayn's statement may simply imply that Rhaast will suffer, much like other known Darkin, complete immobility and sensory deprivation until another takes up the scythe. According to Aatrox, this is a fate far worse than death, for the Darkin remains conscious for the full length of their imprisonment.
Known Darkin[]
Due to the events of the Darkin Saga are not canon,[3] the hosts listed for the Darkin from 
Legends of Runeterra (All Darkin except Aatrox, Naafiri, Rhaast and Varus) are all theoretical and based on what happens in the context of the expansion.
| Notable Darkin | Darkin Weapon | Imprisonment Location | Current Host(s)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aatrox
|
 1 Sword
|
Unknown. Possibly in the  Freljord.[4]
|
Amalgam of multiple hosts. |
| 8 Anaakca
|
2 Spear
|
Eastern Freljord.[5]
|
 Winter's Claw scout.[5]
|
| 8 Baalkux
|
1 Staff
|
 The Bandlewood.[5]
|
A tree from the Bandle Wood.[5] |
| 8 Horazi
|
2 Lodestone / Orb
|
 Mount Targon.
|
Targonian Protector Golem.[6] |
| 9 Ibaaros
|
2 Harpoon
|
Straight of Daray, Serpent Isles. | Unknown. Possibly a Trilobite-like sea monster or Vastaya.[7][8] |
| 5 Joraal
|
2 Aegis / Shield
|
Guarded by House Fortis in  Demacia.
|
Lady Fortis' son.[9] |
 Naafiri
|
 Dagger
|
Temple in  Shurima.
|
Pack of Shuriman Dune Hounds. |
| 8 Naganeka
|
1 Ballista
|
Eastern steppes of  Noxus.
|
Noxian beast.[10] |
| 9 Praa
|
2 Fan
|
Spirit Realm.[5] | 2 Dragonling or another type of Ionian dragon or dragon spirit.[5][11]
|
| Rhaast
|
2 Scythe
|
Vindor, Noxus[12]
|
No vessel, currently wielded by Kayn.
|
| 8 Styraatu
|
2 Harp
|
Caverns of  Zaun.
|
Zaunite miner, possibly a Chirean.[13] |
| 10 Taarosh
|
1 Halberd
|
 Blessed Isles.
|
 Shadow Isles Dragon.[14]
|
| Varus
|
2 Bow
|
Aluxin Cage, Pallas,  Ionia.[15]
|
Amalgam of Valmar and Kai's bodies.[16]
|
 Xolaani
|
1 Bloodletters / Chain-sickle
|
Mistfall, Bahrl, Ionia.
|
3 Jun, a pupil of the  Wuju Order.
|
Trivia[]
- Each Aspect is an embodiment of a concept, if they die, the concept they embody (war, twilight, wandering and etc.) will disappear from reality, changing it as a whole. The Darkin had their celestials/concepts already erased, but the efforts of other ascended and mortals with sealing the darkin prevent them from fading into nothingness.[17][18]
- At the end of Twilight of the Gods, when Myisha had succeeded in tricking the Darkin and by using the Chalicar she trapped many Darkin inside their weapons.
- It was revealed during Aatrox's AMA that all Darkin are essentially "Artificial Aspects": The celestial ideals which they (the souls within the weapons) derived from are long gone, making their ascension difficult to reverse.[20]
- At the end of Twilight of the Gods, when
- The entity known as Aatrox was an elite warrior of Shurima and confidant of Queen Setaka. He fought in the Void War and was traumatized, which led to his self-corruption after Azir's death and the fall of Shurima. Freed after millennia imprisoned, he now seeks the destruction of Runeterra - if only to end his own suffering.
- With Aatrox's initial release, it was believed that the Darkin were a race of demon-like beings. However, in Xayah and Rakan's teaser it was stated that the Darkin were a collection of sentient weapons. With Rhaast's release, a Rioter stated that the Darkin are powerful beings and that only the known Darkin were imprisoned within their weapons. With Varus' lore update that established him as Darkin, it was simultaneously established that the 'powerful beings' were alien refuges that were fleeing the Void's corruption and alien invaders who sought the power of World Runes, with his comic and short story providing different accounts of the Darkin's reason for being on Runeterra. In the refuge account, they were initially revered for their god-like power, but relations eventually turned to war. Both stories culminate in the Darkin's death and/or imprisonment. Aatrox's rework re-established them as having a terrestrial origin, revealing that they were corrupted Ascended before their imprisonment.
- With
- Varus was sealed away inside the Pit of Pallas in Ionia by a golden-armored warrior queen, before he was released by Valmar and Kai during the Noxian Invasion.
- It is speculated that Death's Dance might also be a Darkin infused weapon, in observance that melee based Darkin tend to have life stealing properties in their kit and lore.
- The fate of Rhaast varies from game-to-game: either killing Kayn to become dominant over his body, or being destroyed by Kayn, based on the outcome of The Darkin Scythe Quest.
- Despite it seems that the Darkin's corruption is the result of Void-corruption contracted from exposure during the Void War, commonly those psychologically affected by it (e.g.: Malzahar and Rasho from Into the Abyss) disregard themselves and give in mind and soul to the Void, opposite to the Darkin's intentions of conquering the world for themselves. Rather, their corruption originates as the result of an extreme form of warfare-PTSD for what they witnessed in that war, and what can do to them and the world.
- Other notable Ascended who were referred to as Darkin were: Ta'anari (Panther), Enakai (Tiger), Syphax (Chameleon), Zigantus (Bull), Xuuyan (Turtle), Shabaka and Shabake (Raven twins), Moneerah (Unknown), Valeeva (Unknown), Cebotaru (Wolf).
- Of these Darkin, Valeeva and Ceboratu's current fates are unknown, as they escaped the ritual Ta'anari performed in Twilight of The Gods along with 8 Naganeka. The rest, however, were erased during said ritual, excluding Xuuyan who was slain before hand.
- Of these Darkin, Valeeva and Ceboratu's current fates are unknown, as they escaped the ritual Ta'anari performed in Twilight of The Gods along with
- The two factions within Aatrox's original lore, the Protectorate and the Magelords, were highly likely to be the two factions represented on Summoner's Rift.[21]
- A stone mural can be seen along the north edge of the map that depicts two factions surrounding a crystal, with a small carving of him visible to the left.
- Based on Aphelios' biography, Lunar magic allows things to phase into the spirit realm, which would explain how Lunar magic morphed the Darkin's bodies into spirits that were fused into their weapons.
- Xolaani was the matron ascended host of Xolan, a city of Sai Kahleek.
- During development, Legends of Runeterra's cards of 9 Ibaaros and 6 Xolaani were named Xuuyan and Valeeva: names of other Darkin that already existed.
- 2 Seal In Steel and 3 Corrupted Form are a generalization of the imprisonment of the Darkin and does not depict anyone in particular.[22]
- The name Darkin is probably a play on words "dark" and "kin".
Media[]
- Related Music
- Related Videos
- Main article: Card Back (Legends of Runeterra)
- Main article: Board (Legends of Runeterra)
- Main article: Guardian (Legends of Runeterra)
See also[]
References
- ↑ Darkin are Sentient Weapons
- ↑ Darkin and celestial concept
- ↑ Scathlocke on Darkin Saga
- ↑ He confronted Tryndamere's clan in The Barbarian King and attacked Freljordian barbarians in The Unbreakable Spear.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 fizzNchips on Anaakca, Baalkux, and Praa's Hosts and Prisons
- ↑ fizzNchips on Horazi's Host
- ↑ fizzNchips on Ibaaros' Host
- ↑ Aron Elekes on Ibaaros' Host
- ↑ fizzNchips on Joraal's Host
- ↑ Áron Elekes on Naganeka's design
- ↑ Aron Elekes on Praa
- ↑ The Blade of Millenia
- ↑ Aron Elekes on Styraatu's design
- ↑ Áron Elekes on Taarosh's design
- ↑ Varus: Heartlight
- ↑ As We Fall
- ↑ Aspects and Darkin Concepts 1
- ↑ Aspects and Darkin Concepts 2
- ↑ How Myisha tricked and trapped the Darkin
- ↑ Aatrox AMA
- ↑ Dev Blog: Finding your place on the Rift
- ↑ fizzNchips on Seal In Steel
Sapient Species| Main Sapient Species |
Ascended · Brackern · Celestial · Dragon · Golem · Human · Minotaur · Spirit · Titan† · Troll · Undead · Vastaya · Vastayashai'rei† · Voidborn · Watcher · Yeti | |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser Sapient Species |
Azurite Eagle · Bubble Bear · Cat · Chirean · Coral Creature · Dredge Dredger · Fish Folk · Molediver · Pengu · Plague Rat · Poro · Shellshocker · Squill · Vellox · Whump | |
| Sapient Sub-Species | ||
| Ascended |
Aspect Host · Baccai · Darkin · God-Warrior | |
| Celestial | ||
| Dragon | ||
| Golem | ||
| Spirit |
Demon · Faerie · Fae Fawn · Luonn Kon · Naga · Nixie · Spirit God · Treant · Yordle | |
| Undead | ||
| Vastaya |
Besheb · Canghapi · Chyra · Fauhwoon · Juloah · Lhotlan · Khonlui · Kepthalla · Kiilash · Makara · Marai · Ophelis · Ottrani · Oovi-Kat · Raylu · Shimon · Skard · Sodjoko · Strig · Vesani · Vlotah | |
Sentient Species
Non-Sentient Species| Non-Sentient Species |
Blast Cone · Blue Stargazer · Calasa · Cavernberry · Citrus · Daisy · Duskpetal · Freljordian Grain · Grass · Honeyfruit · Kiwa · Lilie · Lotus · Medicila Elasticas · Mushroom · Naap · Night-Blooming Zychid · Nightbloom · Nirpooti · Parethan Corpse Tulip · Pearl of the Moon · Petricite Tree · Poppy · Raikkon Berry · Rose · Scryer's Bloom · Serpentleaf · Spirit · Sun Apple Tree · Tola Vine · Vlonqo Flower · Xaolan Tree | |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Sentient Sub-Species | ||
| Citrus |
Bilge Bitter · Demacian Tangor · Ionian Citrus Fruit · Noxian Orange · Piltover Shaddock · Shadow Citrus | |
| Lilie | ||
| Mushroom | ||
| Spirit | ||
Alternate Universe Only Species| Sentient Species |
Bantha · Chicken · Firelight · Forest Chameleon · Manatee · Porowl · Yonkeies · Unnamed Species |
|---|
Other Species| Mentioned Species |
These species were only mentioned, but were never elaborated on. |
|---|---|
| Species Alterations |
These alterations are characteristics that multiple different species can have. |
