How to Get Keys in League of Legends (2026)

League of Legends uses Hextech Keys to unlock Hextech Chests, which can contain skins, champion shards, emotes, and other rewards. Riot removed the old system that awarded chests through Champion Mastery, and players now earn keys and chests through the Battle Pass. As of Patch 25.05, players can earn up to eight free Hextech Chests and Keys per Act through the free Battle Pass track, with additional ones available for purchase.

In this article, we'll cover all the methods available in 2026 to earn Keys in League of Legends, so you can start opening those chests sitting in your loot tab.

How to Get Keys and Key Fragments

Key Fragments are no longer a thing. Riot removed them with Patch 25.05, and any fragments players had at the time were converted. Keys are now tied directly to the [Battle Pass](https://loldb.info/battle-pass) and come bundled with Hextech Chests as part of the free track rewards. Players can earn up to 8 free Hextech Chest and Key bundles per Act just by progressing through the free Battle Pass. You can also earn 2 additional Hextech Chest and Key bundles per Act through your Honor level, so keeping a clean record and playing with good sportsmanship adds to your total. You earn Battle Pass XP by playing matchmade games and completing daily and weekly missions. Normal games, Ranked, and ARAM all count, so just playing regularly is enough to work through the free track each Act. The missions that appear in the client are generally straightforward and take only a few games per day to complete. You don't need to buy the premium Battle Pass to earn the chests and keys since all eight are on the free track. If you want more beyond the eight free ones, the only other option is purchasing them directly from the store.e.

Key Limits and Restrictions

The maximum number of free chests and keys any player can earn per year is 60, which works out to 8 per Act across six Acts. That cap is hard, and unused earning potential doesn't carry over once an Act ends, so there's no reason to delay completing your Battle Pass progress before the Act ends.

One thing worth noting is that any chests already sitting in your loot inventory stay there indefinitely. Only the earning potential resets each Act, so there's no rush to open what you already have.

Also Read: How to Increase Honor Level in League of Legends

Should You Buy Keys with RP?

You can buy keys through the store, but the value isn't great. A Hextech Chest and Key bundle costs 195 RP. If you want to stock up, a 5-pack runs 975 RP and an 11-pack costs 1,950 RP.

The problem is that the free system already gives you 8 keys per Act just by playing normally, which means spending RP on keys only makes sense if you have a pile of chests sitting in your inventory with no keys to open them.

Even then, the drop rates don't make it a reliable spend. Hextech chests have a 50% chance to drop a skin shard, 25% champion shard, and 10% emote, with the rest split between ward skins and summoner icons. There's no guarantee you'll land something you actually want, and the randomness adds up quickly when you're paying real money for each pull. The short answer is no, unless you have more chests than free keys and don't want to wait for the next Act.

Final Words

Getting keys in League of Legends is straightforward if you stay active. The free Battle Pass track gives you 8 keys per Act, and your Honor level adds 2 more on top of that. Play regularly, complete your missions, and you'll have a steady supply without spending a thing. Buying keys with RP is rarely worth it. The drop rates are inconsistent, and the free system covers most players just fine. Save your RP for something guaranteed.