Riot “Outplays” the League of Legends Community with the New Champion Yunara
On April 14th, Riot officially unveiled Yunara – the new champion from Ionia, shrouded in mystery within the cinematic “Flower Spirit: The Song of the Soul.” As the 171st champion in League of Legends (LoL), Yunara quickly became a focal point of attention across various social media platforms, from X to Reddit, Facebook, and even Weibo. However, this was a clever “outplay” by Riot, as initial information suggested that this champion would be a Marksman. But the details later revealed that Yunara will be the third Mage champion from Ionia, following Jhin and Xayah.
The League of Legends Community Divided on Yunara
In Asia, particularly in China and Vietnam, Yunara received a wave of praise for her design, which embodies the essence of the Flower Spirit event – an event that has garnered intense affection. On Weibo, the account @LPLFan2025 did not hide their enthusiasm: “Yunara looks stunning! This design truly captures the essence of the Flower Spirit event; it’s certain that there will be an amazing skin.” Another user, @IoniaLover, chimed in: “I love Yunara’s Ionia vibe so much; I will definitely buy her skin as soon as it’s released!” Fans from China are eagerly speculating about her abilities related to flowers or lanterns, hinting at visuals from the cinematic.
Moreover, many opinions revolve around the hints Riot has been dropping regarding the relationship between Yunara and Xin Zhao. According to the lore, Xin Zhao refers to Yunara as the “Young Lady of the Spirit Realm,” exciting Weibo fans who ask: “What’s the backstory between Yunara and Xin Zhao? I hope the new comic will reveal more!”
However, the League of Legends community in the West seems less than impressed. In recent years, Riot has consistently released female champions instead of male ones. Including Yunara, there have been four female champions that have “debuted” in League of Legends. A prevailing sentiment is: “It’s clear that Riot is biased towards selling skins.”
Yunara, with her enchanting design and lore closely linked to Xin Zhao, is currently the focal point of League of Legends in 2025. The Asian community is celebrating her arrival, while the Western community remains skeptical amid debates and discussions. Nevertheless, the League of Legends community is hopeful that this new champion will bring fresh breakthroughs, rather than the same formulas that Riot has been following for the past.
