All League of Legends Darkin Champions

League of Legends has a large roster of champions, each with its own lore and playstyle. Among them, the Darkin stand out as one of the most unique groups in the game, corrupted god-warriors sealed inside weapons who possess their human hosts to regain power.

There are currently five Darkin champions in the game: Aatrox, Kayn (Rhaast), Varus, Naafiri, and Zaahen, each with a distinct design and backstory that ties into the broader Darkin lore.

In this article, we'll explore every Darkin champion in League of Legends, their stories, and what makes each of them stand out.

Who Are the Darkin?

The Darkin are a group of corrupted god-warriors who once fought in an ancient war known as the war against the Void. Originally, they were Ascended beings, powerful warriors from Shurima who were transformed by their emperor to fight back the Void. After the war ended, many of them were left broken and consumed by the violence and bloodshed they experienced, slowly losing their minds and turning against humanity.

To stop their rampage, the Aspects of Targon intervened and trapped the Darkin inside their own weapons, leaving them sealed and powerless. However, the Darkin never truly died. They survived inside their weapons for thousands of years, slowly learning how to reach out and influence anyone who touched or wielded them.

Once a host picks up a Darkin weapon, the corruption begins. The Darkin slowly takes over the host's body, bending their will and consuming their identity until nothing is left. Some hosts manage to resist and maintain a level of control, but the struggle is never truly over.

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All Darkin Champions in League of Legends

There are currently five Darkin champions in League of Legends, each with a distinct weapon, playstyle, and story. The first Darkin champion, Aatrox, was released in 2013, followed by Kayn in 2017. Varus was also reworked that same year to become a Darkin. Naafiri came later in 2023, and Zaahen was the most recent addition.

Here's a quick overview of all five:

Each of them represents a different side of what it means to be a Darkin. Aatrox embodies pure rage and tragedy, Kayn and Rhaast are locked in a constant battle for control, and Varus is defined by obsession and a fractured identity split between three beings. Naafiri stands apart from the rest by operating through a pack rather than a single host, making her more focused on coordination than raw power. Zaahen differs from his fellow Darkin in that he actively fights against his own corruption, described as noble of heart and vicious in purpose.

Are There More Darkin in the Lore?

Yes, the lore goes well beyond the five playable champions. There are currently fourteen known Darkin in the League of Legends universe, though not all of them are present in the game.

The ones that exist in the lore but haven't made it to the Rift include some genuinely interesting characters. Xolaani is the Darkin Bloodletters, last seen taking over the body of a Wuju student named Jun. Taarosh is the Darkin Halberd, Naganeka is the Darkin Ballista, and Horazi is the Darkin Lodestone. Ibaaros is a sea-dwelling Darkin described as a titan of immense power, while Anaakca is a Freljordian Darkin known for devastating speed and leaving frozen destruction in her wake.

Xolaani in particular stands out as one of the more developed lore characters. She was a legendary healer in Shurima and the original creator of blood magic, with a backstory closely tied to Taarosh, another potential future champion.

Back in 2013, Aatrox's original release described him as "one of only five that remain," which built the idea that only five Darkin existed. That concept held for years, and a lore note found in The Mageseeker in 2023 still referenced "five known Darkin," hinting at a blade, a scythe, a bow, a howl, and a mandate. Now that all five slots are filled with playable champions, it remains to be seen whether Riot will eventually expand that number or bring any of the lore-only Darkin into the game.

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Final Words

The Darkin are one of the most well-written groups in League of Legends lore. Once noble warriors who gave everything to protect the world, they were broken by war, abandoned by their empire, and sealed inside their own weapons.

Each of the five playable Darkin tells a different story, and that's what makes them worth knowing beyond just their gameplay. With over fourteen Darkin confirmed in the lore and only five currently playable, there's still a lot of story left to tell, and the Darkin remain one of the most compelling parts of the League of Legends universe.