League of Legends: Spirit Blossom Skins Review

league of legends spirit blossom skins

Exploring the Magic of Spirit Blossom Skin Line

Spirit Blossom skins stand out as League of Legends‘ most visually stunning and culturally rich collection over the last several years. These enchanting cosmetics create a magical experience by blending Japanese mythology with Ionian folklore that goes beyond simple character appearances.

The Spirit Blossom collection has grown from its original release into one of League of Legends’ most popular skin lines. Each skin creates its own narrative within the Spirit Blossom universe, from the ethereal Spirit Blossom Ahri to the haunting Spirit Blossom Thresh.

This article covers everything about Spirit Blossom in League. You’ll learn about their cultural influences, release history, and ways to get them in 2024. We’ll get into the lore, highlight the best skins in the collection, and explore what the future might hold for this beloved skin line.

All Spirit Blossom Skins: Main Info

The Spirit Blossom collection first bloomed in League of Legends back in 2020. A simple pitch transformed into one of the most expensive skin lines that features over 19 unique champions.

Release dates and prices

Spirit Blossom’s experience started with Lillia’s release and grew substantially through multiple waves. The collection expanded in 2022 with nine new skins, as champions like Syndra, Tristana, and Sett joined the lineup.

 Skin Name Price (RP) Release Date
 Spirit Blossom Ahri 1820 July 22nd, 2020
 Spirit Blossom Cassiopeia 1350 July 22nd, 2020
 Spirit Blossom Kindred 1350 July 22nd, 2020
 Spirit Blossom Lillia 1350 July 22nd, 2020
 Spirit Blossom Riven 1350 July 22nd, 2020
 Spirit Blossom Teemo 1350 July 22nd, 2020
 Spirit Blossom Thresh 1820 July 22nd, 2020
 Spirit Blossom Vayne 1350 July 22nd, 2020
 Spirit Blossom Yasuo 1350 July 22nd, 2020
 Spirit Blossom Yone 1350 August 6th, 2020
 Prestige Spirit Blossom Teemo Event Tokens August 6th, 2020
 Spirit Blossom Aphelios 1350 October 5th, 2022
 Spirit Blossom Evelynn 1350 October 5th, 2022
 Spirit Blossom Master Yi 1350 October 5th, 2022
 Spirit Blossom Sett 1820 October 5th, 2022
 Spirit Blossom Soraka 1350 October 5th, 2022
 Spirit Blossom Syndra 1350 October 5th, 2022
 Spirit Blossom Tristana 1350 October 5th, 2022
 Spirit Blossom Yorick 1350 October 5th, 2022
 Prestige Spirit Blossom Master Yi Event Tokens October 5th, 2022

Design and Animations

Each League of Legends Spirit Blossom skin creates unique visual elements that capture Ionian spirituality’s essence. These designs showcase:

  • Ethereal effects with scattered petals and dark blue orbs
  • Traditional Japanese elements like hakama and oni masks
  • Distinctive particle effects including butterflies and spirit orbs

The attention to detail makes these skins exceptional. Thresh appears in a stunning human form with traditional hakama and giant ropes as an obi sash. Yasuo’s design features a fuschia pink tree in his recall animation that captures cherry blossoms’ essence perfectly. The skins represent different aspects of life – from freedom and love to ruin and redemption.

How to get Spirit Blossom Skin in 2024

Looking to add these enchanting cosmetics to your collection? We’ll show you all the ways to get Spirit Blossom skins in 2024.

The quickest way to get Spirit Blossom skins comes through direct purchase from the in-game store. Most Spirit Blossom skins cost 1350 Riot Points, while legendary versions like Spirit Blossom Thresh will set you back 1820 RP.

You can try these other options if you enjoy a bit of chance:

  • Test your luck with Hextech Crafting or Mystery Gifts
  • Collect event tokens during Spirit Blossom festivals
  • Buy special bundles that include borders and icons
  • Join events to earn Prestige editions

Spirit Blossom events bring special rewards through the token system. The last time players could unlock loading screen borders and summoner icons for 250 event tokens, and the prestigious variants need 2000 event tokens.

Bundles give collectors the best value by combining skins with exclusive borders and icons. The in-game shop stays open for several weeks after events end, so you’ll have plenty of time to gather resources and pick your favorites.

Prestige editions like Prestige Spirit Blossom Teemo show up mainly during events. You can still find them through Hextech crafting later, but your chances drop significantly.

The Culture Behind Spirit Blossom

The cultural mixture of Spirit Blossom reveals a beautiful blend of traditional East Asian folklore and Ionian spirituality. This enchanting experience shows how mythology and gaming artistry come together.

Japanese Mythology Influences

Japanese cultural elements run deep throughout the Spirit Blossom universe. The skin line features traditional East Asian instruments and authentic design elements like hakama pants and oni masks. The sort of thing I love is how sound designers added traditional elements like suzu bells to create a spiritual atmosphere in the champions’ abilities.

Ionian Folklore Elements

league of legends ionia

Spirit Blossom’s Ionia is a spiritual place where spirits live within rocks, trees, and every natural element. We have found two distinct types of spirits in this realm:

  • Kanmei: Peaceful spirits who have found eternal tranquility
  • Akana: Passionate spirits still bound by their mortal choices and regrets

Spirit Blossom Festival Traditions and Symbolism

The Spirit Blossom Festival marks a crucial moment as the boundary between living and spirit worlds becomes permeable. People place Spirit Blossoms on tombstones during this celebration. These flowers tell a story – their bloom signals peaceful rest for departed souls, while wilting shows a spirit’s unrest.

This festival builds a bridge between worlds. Ionians connect with their deceased loved ones to celebrate peaceful transitions or mourn those without rest. Each champion’s skin represents oral traditions and theatrical performances during these festivities. They embody different aspects of the spiritual narrative.

The festival does more than celebrate – it expresses the balance between peace and passion deeply. Spirits exist on a spectrum between these two states, creating a meaningful connection to the world beyond.

Spirit Blossom Lore

The way champions transform into spiritual beings in the Spirit Blossom universe is the sort of thing I love. Let me share this mystical experience where mortal warriors become powerful spirits.

From Warriors to Spirits

According to the lore of League of Legends, The Spirit Blossom realm shows spirits aren’t simply good or evil – they exist on a fascinating spectrum. The transformation creates two distinct types of spirits:

  • Kanmei Spirits: These peaceful entities rest eternally and spend their afterlife in tranquil pursuits
  • Akana Spirits: These passionate beings stay bound by their mortal choices and regrets

Spirit Blossom Champions Development

Each champion’s embodiment of spiritual folklore creates an amazing story. To cite an instance, see Sett – a child of both Kanmei and Akana parents who represents the eternal struggle between peace and chaos. His experience as the Spirit of Challenge reveals how past trauma shapes a spirit’s nature.

The path to spirituality takes unexpected turns. Yone and Yasuo’s story stands out as one of the most compelling transformations. Yone became the Spirit of Reflection while Yasuo embodied Heroism. Syndra’s development into the Spirit of Freedom brought liberation to other spirits. Master Yi became the Spirit of Legacy and now passes on his knowledge.

Each spirit keeps elements from their mortal life while representing broader concepts like nature, salvation, obsession, or despair. This transformation goes beyond changing form – it captures the essence of these spiritual concepts in Ionian folklore.

Spirit Blossom Collections Overview

Looking back at the journey of Spirit Blossom skins, I’m amazed at how this collection has evolved from its humble beginnings. Let me walk you through this remarkable transformation that has captured our hearts.

How the Spirit Blossom series began

What started as a simple pitch drawing inspiration from spiritual folklore blossomed into something extraordinary. I remember how the initial concept caught fire when other teams at Riot wanted to be part of this unique thematic set in Runeterra. The collection debuted alongside champion Lillia, featuring iconic skins for champions like Teemo, Vayne, and Yasuo.

Spirit Blossom 2022 Collection

The year 2022 marked a significant expansion with ten new breathtaking skins. Here’s what made this collection special:

  • A legendary skin for Sett (1820 RP)
  • Master Yi’s Prestige Edition
  • Eight standard skins (1350 RP each) for champions including Aphelios, Syndra, and Soraka

Spirit Blossom in 2024

We’ve witnessed the collection’s continued growth, with each release bringing new interpretations of Ionian folklore. The series has now grown to include over 19 skins, making it one of the most extensive and beloved collections in League of Legends. What makes these skins particularly special is how they represent the oral traditions and plays around the Spirit Blossom festival in Ionia.

I’ve noticed how each new addition maintains the collection’s signature blend of ethereal effects and traditional elements while bringing something fresh to the table. From the initial concept art to the latest releases, we’ve seen the Spirit Blossom collection transform into a cornerstone of League’s artistic achievement.

How Riot is developing Spirit Blossom

spirit blossom beyond the garden

The way Riot Games reshaped the Spirit Blossom experience amazes me. Their first cross-title experience has grown from a simple skin line into a multi-game festival that pulls you right in.

Spirit Blossom Stories and Events

Spirit Blossom stands out because of Riot’s approach to storytelling in different mediums. The rich narrative experience goes far beyond traditional skin releases. The development team built their success on these elements:

  • Spirit Bonds that pull you into the story
  • Traditional East Asian instruments that enhance the sound design
  • Detailed animations and effects that tell the story visually
  • Character relationships shown through various animated videos

The way they wove traditional East Asian instruments into all the skins fascinates me. This creates a unique audio signature that perfectly matches what you see on screen.

Spirit Blossom in Wild Rift

Arrival of Spirit Blossom skins in Wild Rift showed how well Riot could adapt the experience for mobile players. The mystical winds brought something special to the mobile version with new features.

Players can gather Spirit Petals in a cozy town system to summon characters. The Spirit Level system adds an exciting twist – your town’s Spirit Level rises as you summon more spirits. This unlocks new ways for characters to interact with each other.

Players get fresh daily challenges that reset at 00:00 UTC in the Wild Rift version. This keeps everyone coming back while staying true to what makes Spirit Blossom special.

Best Spirit Blossom Skins

I’ve spent countless hours studying matches and analyzing details to bring you my picks for the best Spirit Blossom skins in League of Legends. These skins go beyond beautiful cosmetics and become masterpieces that capture the Spirit Blossom universe’s essence.

Here are my top picks that never fail to amaze:

  • Spirit Blossom Aphelios: The razor-sharp sound design and distinctive visual effects impress me deeply. The purple lotus flower blooms during Gravitum ability and creates a breathtaking sight.
  • Spirit Blossom Sett: This skin shows his inner conflict through two spirit wolverines in different colors that represent his Kanmei and Akana heritage.
  • Spirit Blossom Ahri: Her flowing robes look elegant, and she can transform into a spirit fox during homeguard. This might be her finest skin yet.
  • Spirit Blossom Thresh: The stunning visual transformation comes from his human form in traditional hakama with giant ropes as an obi sash.

Best Spirit Blossom Prestige Skins

Prestige editions take the magical essence to new heights. The Prestige Spirit Blossom Teemo shines with luxurious golds instead of pink tones and leaves an enchanting trail of petals in his wake. His mushrooms burst into a mesmerizing shower of petals upon triggering, and his recall animation shows him riding a pink and gold leaf while playing his blowgun like a flute.

These prestige versions stay true to the Spirit Blossom theme and add premium elements that earn their exclusive status. Golden accents and enhanced particle effects create a sophisticated look that makes them distinct from standard versions.

Future of Spirit Blossom Skin Line

reddit spirit blossom
A thread on Reddit after the first Spirit Blossom event

Spirit Blossom skins have amazing potential to grow and bring fresh ideas. Riot’s development patterns suggest we’ll see some exciting new additions to this fan-favorite skin line.

Potential New Champions

So what about the new Spirit Blossom skins in 2025? Riot has a knack for matching champions with themes that capture their true essence. To cite an instance, Lillia was a natural fit for Spirit Blossom because of her deep connection to Ionia’s natural magic. Future champion selections will likely follow these thoughtful patterns.

The core team looks at two main factors to pick new champions:

  • Champions deeply connected to spiritual or natural elements
  • Characters with stories that highlight transformation or duality

Possible Thematic Developments

The sort of thing I love about Spirit Blossom’s future is how it could push storytelling boundaries. Riot has picked up on the anime-inspired direction to create what they call a “League-style love letter to anime”. This opens up some cool possibilities:

Narrative Progress

  • A deeper look into Ionian spiritual traditions
  • Fresh takes on the Spirit Blossom festival
  • Better character interactions and relationships

Previous Spirit Blossom events were a soaring win because players loved the mix of storytelling and visual style. Future developments might expand the festival’s role between mortal and spirit realms. This becomes even more interesting with recent Ionian conflicts leaving battlefields full of unburied warriors.

Conclusion

Spirit Blossom represents League of Legends’ finest achievements by combining cultural heritage with visual excellence. The magical skin line has evolved from its concept into an expansive universe that honors Japanese mythology and Ionian spirituality.

These skins go beyond esthetics to weave tales of transformation, duality, and spiritual growth. New releases bring fresh perspectives while maintaining the collection’s themes. Spirit Blossom Thresh’s haunting elegance and Spirit Blossom Sett’s dual-natured complexity demonstrate the exceptional artistic vision behind each design.

Players can purchase Spirit Blossom skins on Smurfmania to join others who have welcomed this enchanting collection. The skins’ rising popularity hints at future additions to the Spirit Blossom universe, with new champions and stories ready to unfold.

Spirit Blossom transcends mere skin ownership – it creates a rich mixture of narratives that continues to fascinate players worldwide. As this magical collection expands, new stories and spirits will emerge from Ionia’s eternal cherry blossoms.

FAQ

Is Spirit Blossom Sett considered a legendary skin?

Spirit Blossom Sett is indeed a legendary skin for League of Legends PC. It’s priced at 1820 RP, which is the standard cost for legendary skins. However, it’s important to note that this skin is currently exclusive to the PC version of League of Legends and is not available in Wild Rift.

What exactly is Spirit Blossom in League of Legends?

Spirit Blossom is a unique skin line and event in League of Legends that draws inspiration from East Asian folklore and Ionian mythology. It represents stories told during Ionian Spirit Blossom festivals and explores a possible afterlife in Ionian myths. The champions in this skin line embody characters from these spiritual tales, divided into peaceful Kanmei spirits and passionate Akana spirits.

What are the differences between Kanmei and Akana spirits in the Spirit Blossom lore?

In the Spirit Blossom universe, spirits are divided into two main categories:

  • Kanmei spirits are peaceful entities who have found eternal tranquility. Examples include Spirit Blossom Teemo and Lillia, who represent nature and hope respectively.
  • Akana spirits are more passionate beings who remain bound by their mortal choices and regrets. Spirit Blossom Thresh and Vayne fall into this category, embodying obsession and vengeance. This duality adds depth to the Spirit Blossom narrative and reflects the balance between peace and passion in Ionian spirituality.