History YMMV / LeagueOfLegends

** Only a handful of Summoner Spells have rotated in and out of play in the game's history (most now-removed ones only existed for [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness a short period in the game's formative years]]), but there's one that inexplicably lasted longer in spite of how terrible it was: Revive. Its ability? If you die, [[BackFromTheDead you instantly revive back at the fountain]]. The cost? A ''[[TooAwesomeToUse nine minute cooldown]]'', the longest cooldown of any ability in the game's history by a wide margin. Aside from a few extremely niche meme strategies (namely involving Karthus to pair up alongside with Teleport), the option was considered a massive waste of a Summoner Spell slot, with just about any other option providing more benefit in keeping you alive in a more regular basis. Due to it being so impractical to use yet also potentially risky to buff in any way, it was eventually removed in early season 5 -- Riot wouldn't end up bringing a revive mechanic back until 2021 with Akshan, who implements the concept in a substantially different way.

** Another pairing that is quite popular in the Japanese fanbase is for reasons unknown Lulu X Kog'maw.

** [=LeBlanc=] also slowly developed this reputation among lore-heads due to how despite her being portrayed as [[TheChessmaster a frightening chessmaster slowly controlling the course of Noxian history]], a lot of her more present-day operations have failed in ways that are highly unlikely as [[AllAccordingToPlan being part of the plan]]: on top of her gambit to have Swain sent to die in Ionia only resulting in him [[CameBackStrong coming back with demonic powers and becoming the new Grand General of Noxus]], the attempt at claiming the Chalikar resulted in Xerath, Renekton, and Azir's return and [[ResurgentEmpire the resurgence of the ancient Shuriman empire]], and the attempts [[TykeBomb to raise living weapons from childhood]] like Rell, Annie, and Briar have resulted in the former two escaping and destroying [[AcademyOfEvil the Black Rose academies]] they were raised in, and Briar became a colossal AxCrazy liability that failed two missions before being sealed up by Swain, later also escaping. With that track record, many lore nerds question [[KnowNothingKnowItAll if LeBlanc is actually as intelligent as she thinks she is]], and that somewhere, [[AncientEvil Mordekaiser]] is laughing at all the measures intended to keep him at bay going awry at once.

** On the similar lines to above, post-relaunch Kayle is a very contentious character. While she isn't portrayed as [[KnightTemplar a particularly]] [[JudgeJuryAndExecutioner nice character]] in canon, even by standards of other Demacian champions, many of her detractors tend to reduce [[BlackAndWhiteMorality her heavily law-centric thinking]] and warlike personality as her being a LawfulStupid LightIsNotGood villain, filing down the nuance to said judgement and the quiet moments [[BeneathTheMask where her mask falters]] to indicate that [[GodIsFlawed her flaws and self-dishonesty are intentional]]. Conversely, this interpretation is often paired [[DracoInLeatherPants with making Morgana and her more sympathetic personality far less flawed than she actually is]].

** Only a handful of Summoner Spells have rotated in and out of play in the game's history (most now-removed ones only existed for [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness a short period in the game's formative years]]), but there's one that inexplicably lasted longer in spite of how terrible it was: Revive. Its ability? If you die, [[BackFromTheDead you instantly revive back at the fountain]]. The cost? A ''[[TooAwesomeToUse nine minute cooldown]]'', the longest cooldown of any ability in the game's history by a wide margin. Aside from a few extremely niche meme strategies (namely involving Karthus to pair up alongside with Teleport), the option was considered a massive waste of a Summoner Spell slot, with just about any other option providing more benefit in keeping you alive in a more regular basis, and it was eventually removed in early season 5.

* ScrappyWeapon: Many items come and go in various metas, but many longstanding ones have received reputations of just being plain bad:

** Smolder got off to a very contentious start right out of the gate for a few reasons, one of which being his face (both for his in-game model and supplementary arts), which was criticized for looking too human-like for what was supposed to be a cute ''dragon'', an effect compared to that of [[Film/SonicTheHedgehog2020 Sonic the Hedgehog's first live-action design]]. Fortunately, Riot responded almost immediately to the backlash and adjusted his face to look less unnaturally smooth and baby-like while emphasizing his draconic features, nudging him out of the valley.

** Smolder got off to a very contentious start right out of the gate for a few reasons, one of which being his face (both for his in-game model and supplementary arts), which was criticized for looking too human-like for what was supposed to be a cute ''dragon''. Fortunately, Riot responded almost immediately to the backlash and adjusted his face to look less unnaturally smooth and baby-like while emphasizing his draconic features, nudging him out of the valley.

** Sett and Aphelios ended up a surprisingly popular ship despite never interacting in canon, largely due to being released around the same time (only a month between one another) and unintentionally forming an OppositesAttract dynamic with Sett the big, loud brawler vs. Aphelios the quiet, graceful assassin. [[AscendedMeme Riot later took notice of this]] for the two's Spirit Blossom incarnations, where [[ShipTease Aphelios is apparently Sett's "mooncake"]]. It got even ''more'' attention in ''Legends of Runeterra'' where Sett noticeably softens up around Aphelios and promises to protect him.

* EvilIsSexy: ''League'' as a game is deliberately packed with attractive characters, and it's little wonder many of them are evil.
** Evelynn is a succubus who weaponizes her attractiveness to lure men into her clutches and wears nothing but black mist around her body.
** Katarina is a scantily-clad assassin from Noxus who balances her ruthlessness with a gorgeous appearance, her scarred face detracting nothing.
** [=LeBlanc=], head of the Black Rose conspiracy, is evil to the core but also heavily made-up in a gothic style, attractive, and not wearing much.
** Qiyana may be an AlphaBitch who's DrivenByEnvy, but it's hard to deny that she's very pretty and has a domineering attitude.
** Elise, despite being partially a spider, is nonetheless quite the looker, particularly with a large bust she makes little effort to cover.
** Renata Glasc may not be scantily-clad, but her charisma and business-like demeanor, alongside being one of the few older women in the game who looks her age, marks her as uniquely attractive and charming.
** For a given measure of "evil" considering his [[DependingOnTheWriter oscillating depictions]] as either an AntiHero or AntiVillain, Sylas comes off as extremely attractive thanks to being extremely buff and having a relationship with Lux that, while probably intended to be tragic and disturbing, instead comes off to many fans as outright FoeRomanceSubtext.
** Khada Jhin is a vicious, perpetually masked serial-killing MadArtist, but his sashaying SupermodelStrut and smooth voice mean he still comes off as attractive.
** Shieda Kayn, a very pretty WalkingShirtlessScene, is even considered attractive InUniverse by Akali due to his ripped appearance.
** Viego, the surprisingly young Ruined King, turns out to be a romantic villain who's practically [[WalkingShirtlessScene allergic to shirts]] and is simultaneously shredded and a PrettyBoy in looks, with a perpetually brooding demeanor and a desire to revive his dead wife.
** While Thresh is normally nowhere near "sexy" thanks to his being fully-armored and having a SkullForAHead, his Spirit Blossom skin (Which also recontextualizes him as a {{Yandere}} trying to put people's soul into his lantern to "protect them," which [[FetishizedAbuser only plays further into this]], his later stage as Unbound Thresh, a WalkingShirtlessScene with a surprisingly slim face and athletic build is quite the looker. Even in the "Night at the Inn" short which instead plays him as older and creepier, his nature as AManOfWealthAndTaste makes him come off as something of a SilverFox.

** [=LeBlanc=] also slowly developed this reputation among lore-heads due to how despite her being portrayed as [[TheChessmaster a frightening chessmaster slowly controlling the course of Noxian history]], a lot of her more present-day plans have failed in ways that are highly unlikely as being part of the plan: on top of her gambit to have Swain sent to die in Ionia only resulting in him [[CameBackStrong coming back with demonic powers and becoming the new Grand General of Noxus]], the attempt at claiming the Chalikar resulted in Xerath, Renekton, and Azir's return and [[ResurgentEmpire the resurgence of the ancient Shuriman empire]], and the attempts [[TykeBomb to raise living weapons from childhood]] like Rell, Annie, and Briar have resulted in the former two escaping and destroying [[AcademyOfEvil the Black Rose academies]] they were raised in, and Briar became a colossal AxCrazy liability that failed two missions before being sealed up by Swain, later also escaping. With that track record, many lore nerds question [[KnowNothingKnowItAll if LeBlanc is actually as intelligent as she thinks she is]], and that somewhere, [[AncientEvil Mordekaiser]] is laughing at all the measures intended to keep him at bay going awry at once.

** [=LeBlanc=] also slowly developed this reputation among lore-heads due to how despite her being portrayed as [[TheChessmaster a frightening chessmaster slowly controlling the course of Noxian history]], a lot of her more present-day plans have failed in ways that are highly unlikely as being part of the plan: on top of her gambit to have Swain sent to die in Ionia only resulting in him [[CameBackStrong coming back with demonic powers and becoming the new Grand General of Noxus]], the attempt at claiming the Chalikar resulted in Xerath, Renekton, and Azir's return and [[ResurgentEmpire the resurgence of the ancient Shuriman empire]], the attempts [[TykeBomb to raise living weapons from childhood]] like Rell, Annie, and Briar have resulted in the former two escaping and destroying [[AcademyOfEvil the Black Rose academies]] they were raised in, and Briar became a colossal AxCrazy liability that failed two missions before being sealed up by Swain, later also escaping. With that track record, many lore nerds question [[KnowNothingKnowItAll if LeBlanc is actually as intelligent as she thinks she is]], and that somewhere, [[AncientEvil Mordekaiser]] is laughing at all the measures intended to keep him at bay going awry at once.

** [=LeBlanc=] also slowly developed this reputation among lore-heads due to how despite her being portrayed as [[TheChessmaster a frightening chessmaster slowly controlling the course of Noxian history]], a lot of her more present-day plans have failed in ways that are highly unlikely as being part of the plan: on top of her gambit to have Swain sent to die in Ionia only resulting in him [[CameBackStrong coming back with demonic powers and becoming the new Grand General of Noxus]], the attempt at claiming the Chalikar resulted in Xerath, Renekton, and Azir's return and [[ResurgentEmpire the resurgence of the ancient Shuriman empire]], the attempts [[TykeBomb to raise living weapons from childhood]] like Rell, Annie, and Briar have resulted in the former two escaping and destroying [[AcademyOfEvil the Black Rose academies]] they were raised in, and Briar became a colossal AxCrazy liability that failed two missions before being sealed up by Swain, later also escaping. With that track record, many lore nerds question [[KnowNothingKnowItAll if LeBlanc is actually as intelligent as she thinks she is]], and that somewhere, [[AncientEvil Mordekaiser]] is at bay laughing at all the measures intended to keep him at bay going awry at once.

* EthnicScrappy: Nidalee has drawn increasing scrutiny over the years for her JunglePrincess design in ''League'', which is evocative of [[HollywoodNatives generic Mesoamerican "native" stereotypes]] (including bestial nature, FurBikini, and greatly flirtatious dialogue), with arguments pointing to her character being rooted in racist and misogynistic tropes towards indigenous women. For what it's worth, [[https://playruneterra.com/en-us/news/dev/heart-of-the-huntress-nidalee-deep-dive/ Riot has grown aware of the more uncomfortable implications of her design]] and [[AuthorsSavingThrow has done more to distance the character from outdated concepts]], including redesigning her in subsequent appearances like ''Legends of Runeterra'' and redoing her voice work, including the removal of racier lines.

* EthnicScrappy: Nidalee has drawn increasing scrutiny over the years for her JunglePrincess design in ''League'', which is evocative of [[HollywoodNatives generic Mesoamerican "native" stereotypes]] (including bestial nature, FurBikini, and greatly flirtatious dialogue), with some arguing that her character is rooted on racist and misogynistic tropes towards indigenous women. For what it's worth, [[https://playruneterra.com/en-us/news/dev/heart-of-the-huntress-nidalee-deep-dive/ Riot has grown aware of the more uncomfortable implications of her design]] and [[AuthorsSavingThrow has done more to distance the character from outdated concepts]], including redesigning her in subsequent appearances like ''Legends of Runeterra'' and redoing her voice work, including the removal of racier lines.

* EthnicScrappy: Nidalee has drawn increasing scrutiny over the years for her JunglePrincess design in ''League'', which is evocative of [[HollywoodNatives generic Mesoamerican "native" stereotypes]] (including bestial nature, FurBikini, and greatly flirtatious dialogue), with some arguing that her character is rooted on racist and misogynistic tropes towards indigenous women. Riot appears to have become increasingly aware of the uncomfortable implications of her design and have done more to distance the character from outdated concepts, including redesigning her in subsequent appearances like ''Legends of Runeterra'' and redoing her voice work, including the removal of racier lines.

* EthnicScrappy: Nidalee is a champ that's drawn scrutiny over the years for problematic elements of her design; being a dark-skinned woman from a Mesoamerican-inspired region, she draws on a lot of signifiers of HollywoodNatives like her bestial nature, FurBikini, and very provocative voice lines[[note]]including a "mating season" joke[[/note]] that reinforce some pretty racist and misogynistic tropes about indigenous women. Riot themselves seem to be taking steps to distance the character from her original design, including redesigning her in subsequent appearances like ''Legends of Runeterra'' and redoing her voice work, including the removal of racier lines.
-->'''WebVideo/TBSkyen:''' "The "savage, sexy jungle woman" trope has a troubling, problematic and ''extensively documented'' history in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gpnfGsNimI colonialist and racist propaganda]], and it's honestly just '''''toe-curlingly''''' cringeworthy to see it reproduced so uncritically in ''[League]''.
--->"[[https://youtu.be/8gpnfGsNimI?t=961 Design Hot Take: Nidalee ]]"

-->'''WebVideo/TBSkyen:''' "The "savage, sexy jungle woman" trope has a troubling, problematic and ''extensively documented'' history in colonialist and racist propaganda, and it's honestly just '''''toe-curlingly''''' cringeworthy to see it reproduced so uncritically in ''[League]''.
--->"[[https://youtube.com/shorts/kuzhQm6W2Bo?feature=share Design Hot Take: Nidalee ]]"

* UnexpectedCharacter:
** During K/DA's second major live concert in 2020, they debuted a new song, MORE, with all of them showing off their talents as part of their solos. As they finish their solos, a '''''fifth''''' solo starts, as a guest vocalist joins the group, social influencer and K/DA superfan ''Seraphine'', several months before she made her in-game debut!
** The main champion roster of ''Ruined King'' drew lots of surprised reactions upon announcement. While Miss Fortune and Illaoi were expected to a degree based off the Bilgewater/Harrowing setting, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4L0OkSrsI8 "Kin of the Stained Blade"]] short not only built up to Yasuo and Ahri entering the mix, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Q3RE3GH1s the official reveal trailer]] introduced both ''Braum'' all the way from the Freljord and ''Pyke'' [[EnemyMine on the side of the heroes to fight the Ruined King.]]

** Despite the Japanese League of Legends community is known to be ''really'' small (since [[AmericansHateTingle PC gaming in Japan requires being rich or geeky enough to have two square meters to spare for a desktop computer]]); "cute" champions such as Fizz, Ahri, Sona, Lux, Annie, many yordles (such as Teemo, Tristana, Lulu, Kennen, and Veigar), and [[UglyCute lesser extent]] Kog'Maw have gotten a lot of popularity among the Japanese playerbase. In fact, it's common for Japanese League of Legends fanart to depict the said "cute" characters more than [[RatedMForManly manlier champions]] such as Darius and Garen; and it wouldn't be a surprise that if Japan gets their own League of Legends servers, the said cute champions will be the most played champions among the casual Japanese playerbase. Competitively speaking however, the Japanese meta is relatively similar to the Korean meta because the Korean servers is where most professional Japanese players look at.