After several months in Noxus, players of League of Legends are transitioning to a new season, which brings fresh lore, a new champion, and a revamped Summoner’s Rift. On Monday, Riot unveiled a cinematic introducing season two’s theme: Ionia’s Spirit Blossom festival. By Tuesday, additional details emerged regarding what players can expect from this Spirit Blossom-themed season, named Spirit Blossom Beyond.
Season two will feature a new in-client metagame, akin to the recent release of the card game Demon’s Hand. Players can look forward to a new Ionian champion and a game mode called Brawl. Brawl is a dynamic 5v5 game played on a Bandle City map, emphasizing skirmishing and combat rather than tactics and objectives. The trailer also offered a sneak peek of the upcoming champion, Yunara.
In League of Legends, Spirit Blossom skins reimagine champions within the context of ancient Ionian tales. For example, Thresh transforms from his identity as a skeletal jailer from the Shadow Isles into a demon of obsession, haunting the afterlife and leading curious souls astray from the path of salvation. This season will introduce new Spirit Blossom skins for champions like Ashe, Irelia, Bard, Varus, Zyra, Lux, and Ivern.
Similar to Noxus, Ionia is one of the regions in the fantasy world of Runeterra. It draws inspiration from different aspects of Eastern mythology and is known for its magical essence. The Spirit Blossom festival is an Ionian tradition that invites creatures from the spirit realm during a period when the divide between life and death is at its thinnest. During this festival, Ionians share legendary tales, such as those about the benevolent Spirit of Salvation, who guides newly departed souls to a peaceful resting place.
