Here’s all you need to know about the timeline ofArcane, and theLeague of Legendsgame it’s modified from. Created by Riot,Arcaneis the first TV show inspired by theLeague of Legendsgames. It’s an adaptation rather than a straightforward part of the same timeline, although there have been hints Riot intend to makeArcaneand future spinoffs the basis for canon lore going forward.
For now, though, the ambiguous relationship betweenArcaneandLeague of Legendsmeans it can be pretty tricky to navigate the timeline. Given that’s the case, here’s everything we know about the history of Piltover and Zaun inArcane, followed by a brief overview of theLeague of Legendstimeline. Dates forLeague of Legendsuse the Noxian Calendar, the primary way of measuring time in that franchise. Meanwhile, theArcanetimeline will be measured against the founding of Piltover.
Arcane Timeline
The Ancient History of Zaun & Piltover
The story ofArcanebegins thousands of years before the current show, with hints of the Rune Wars - ancient conflicts where the power of the Arcane was used to destroy entire societies and civilizations. The scientist Heimerdinger claims to have witnessed some of these events, suggesting he may be older inArcanethan he is in the main timeline. Whatever the case, in more recent times he moved to the city of Zaun, where its neighboring city Piltover had recently been established.
Piltover prospered, expanding to pretty much swallow Zaun whole; the two cities became known as “topside” and the “undercity.” Although Piltover was known for its technological innovation, Zaun became notable for its poverty, and the relationship between the two frequently erupted into violence. There seem to have been few attempts to establish a harmonious relationship between Piltover and Zaun until the current era.
Vander & Silco’s Backstory
Roughly180 years after the founding of Piltover, Vander and Silco began to dream of changing the status quo. Their close friendship gradually devolved, however, because they disagreed too much about just how to accomplish prosperity for Zaun; they came to blows, and ultimately parted ways, with Silco scarred. It’s reasonable to assume their clash was part of a violent uprising in Piltover, one that ultimately led to the death of Vi and Jinx’s parents; both Vander and Silco cared deeply for their mother, and Vander took the children in.
Events involving other characters are currently impossible to date, but include:
Arcane Season 1
Arcaneseason 1 opens with what is really an extended prologue, setroughly 194 years after the founding of Piltover. Jayce’s pioneering research requires materials only available in the undercity, and he is spotted by Ekko, who tips Vi off that he might be a good man to steal from. The theft kicks off a potential conflict between Piltover and Zaun, and Silco takes advantage of the potential chaos to make a grasp for power. It all ends in tragedy, with Vander’s apparent death, and Jinx winds up in Silco’s care.
The creators ofArcanehave advised that roughly 6-7 years happen betweenArcaneseason 1, episodes 3 and 4; however, they have also noted that time works differently on this world, Runeterra.
The main story ofArcaneseason 1 takes place200 years after the founding of Piltover; it can be dated because the city is celebrating its 200th Progress Day, the anniversary of its founding. Jayce’sHextechhas radically transformed the city into a center of global trade, thanks to a network of teleportation systems. Jinx causes chaos once again, and she kills Silco, who she believes is set to betray her. She then launches a rocket attack on Piltover’s council, ending any prospect of peace between the cities.
Arcane Season 2
Season 2 picks up immediately after the end ofArcaneseason 1, with Ambessa manipulating events to causewar between Piltover and Zaununder Caitlyn’s leadership. Meanwhile, the Undercity devolves into chaos after Silco’s death, and Jinx only emerges when a child she has grown fond of is killed. She and Vi reunite after discovering Vander is alive but mutated, and they approach Viktor for help - only for events to go catastrophically wrong.
The League of Legends Timeline
Fans tend to divide theLeague of Legendstimeline into two sections: BN (Before the founding of Noxus) and AN (After the founding of Noxus). Here are some key events; while details may differ, it’s reasonable to assume something resembling these happened in theArcanetimeline too. We shall only cover events up until the founding of Piltover, as it remains to be seen whether events will play out in the same way.
Arcane
Cast
Arcane is an animated series set in the League of Legends universe, debuting in 2021. It explores the conflict between the affluent city of Piltover and the oppressed undercity of Zaun. Central to the story are two sisters whose allegiance to opposing sides of a technological and ideological war strains their bond.
