Earning rewards in LoL: Free skins and champions tips

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For the bigger picture and full context, make sure you read our main guide on Rewards League: See New Prizes and Trophies Unveiled.

Want to expand your champion pool or rock those exclusive skins without breaking the bank? League of Legends offers a surprising number of ways to earn rewards in LoL – think free champions, cool skins, and valuable currency – just by playing the game. You might be surprised by how much you can acquire simply through consistent play and smart planning.
At a glance:

  • Unlock champions using Blue Essence earned through gameplay and events.
  • Snag free skins by linking accounts, participating in events, and rerolling shards.
  • Maximize your leveling rewards to acquire essential in-game resources early.
  • Take advantage of free Champion Rotation to try before you buy.
  • Understand and utilize the Arena progression system to unlock unique cosmetic items.

The Blue Essence Bonanza: Unlocking Champions for Free

Blue Essence (BE) is your golden ticket to expanding your champion roster. With over 170 champions available in 2025, accumulating enough BE can feel daunting. But the good news is, Riot Games provides several avenues for earning BE without spending a dime.

Leveling Up: Your Initial BE Goldmine

The early levels of your LoL journey are surprisingly lucrative. Each level grants you champion capsules and shards, which can be disenchanted into Blue Essence. You should expect anywhere from 24000-30000 Blue Essence if you were to break down all of your rewards from levels 1-30. This is a significant boost that can help you unlock a wide variety of champions right from the start. Think of the first 30 levels as absolutely necessary, and try to get them finished as fast as possible.

  • Pro Tip: Focus on completing daily "Win of the Day" missions (approx. 575XP) to level up faster. An average game will give you approximately 200 XP. The lowest amount of XP to level (from 30-31) is 2500xp, while the highest amount of XP to level (from 174-175) is 4600xp.

Missions and Events: Consistent BE Income

Daily and event-specific missions provide a steady stream of BE. Pay attention to the mission objectives and prioritize those that offer BE as a reward. Special events often feature unique missions and reward tracks where you can accumulate tokens to exchange for BE, champion shards, or even skins. Staying updated with new announcements on social media and the official LoL website is vital to claiming all available promotional rewards. See the new rewards! for the latest information on upcoming events that could boost your BE income.

Champion Shards: Discounted Champions or Bonus BE

Champion shards obtained from capsules, chests, and events offer a unique choice. You can use them to unlock champions at a discount compared to buying them directly with BE. Alternatively, disenchant unwanted shards into BE.

  • Decision Point:
  • Need a specific champion? Calculate the BE discount from the shard and compare it to the direct purchase price.
  • Have a large champion pool? Disenchant shards for maximum BE return.

Honor Capsules: Rewarded for Good Behavior

Maintaining a positive attitude and high Honor level in your games isn't just good sportsmanship – it's also rewarding. Honor capsules earned at higher Honor levels contain BE and champion shards, incentivizing positive behavior within the LoL community.

Watching Esports: Earn While You Watch

Believe it or not, you can earn BE (and other drops) simply by watching official League of Legends esports broadcasts. Link your Riot account to platforms like Twitch, and you’ll be eligible for drops during live games.

The Skin Game: Free Cosmetics and Rerolling Strategies

While Riot Points (RP) are the primary way to acquire premium skins, there are several reliable methods for obtaining skins without spending any real money.

Amazon Prime Gaming: Monthly Loot Drops

If you're an Amazon Prime member, linking your account to your LoL account unlocks monthly rewards, including free skins and champion shards. These monthly drops are an easy way to gradually expand your skin collection.

Event Tokens: Trading Up for Skins

Participating in in-game events gives you the chance to earn tokens. These tokens can be exchanged for various rewards, including skin shards, orbs, and sometimes even direct skin purchases.

  • Optimization Tip: Evaluate the event shop. Some events offer better skin-to-token ratios than others.

Skin Shard Rerolling: A Chance at Permanents

Got three unwanted skin shards? Rerolling them gives you a random permanent skin. This is a gamble, but it’s a great way to potentially unlock a high-value skin that you might not otherwise acquire.

  • Risk Assessment: Rerolling is best when you have several low-value skin shards that you don't plan on using.

Social Media Giveaways: Keep an Eye Out

Keep an eye on the official League of Legends social media channels and website for promotional giveaways. Riot occasionally offers free skins or other rewards as part of contests or special promotions.

Maximizing Your Leveling Journey (Levels 1-30)

The initial climb to level 30 isn't just about unlocking ranked play – it's a crucial phase for acquiring the resources you need to thrive in LoL.

Summoner Spells: Essential Tools Unlocked Progressively

As you level up, you unlock crucial summoner spells like Flash. You should highly suggest you try each and every one of them out. These spells are game-changers, offering powerful utility and mobility. For instance, Flash, which should always be placed on your F key binding because Flash starts with F obviously. Mastering these spells is essential for improving your gameplay. By the time you reach level 30, your full potential will be unlocked and you can mix and match these masteries at ease.

Masteries: Customize Your Champion

Masteries, upgraded from the previous rune system, give your character-specific in-game bonuses and traits and can be tweaked and implemented to your liking. Giving you unique variations and bonuses for the champions you play ultimately affects their in-game performance! As you progress towards level 30, more and more of these will be unlocked. Think of it as similar to a talent system from most MMO games.
After reaching level 30, and unlocking 20 unique champions you will be granted access to playing on the ranked ladder.

Arena Progression: Cosmetics for Brawlers

League's Arena mode offers a unique progression system with cosmetic rewards. You earn Fame by participating in Arena matches, with bonuses for winning streaks, playing new champions, and choosing "bravery" augments.

  • Fame Breakdown:
  • +10 Fame per round played (increases by 20% for pre-made parties).
  • +100 Fame for 3+ win streaks (once per game).
  • +30 Fame for choosing "Bravery" options
  • +10 Fame for choosing a "Crowd Favorite"
  • +50 Fame for playing a champion for the first time.
  • +150 Fame for winning with that champion.
  • +200 Fame for getting 1st place with that champion.
  • Arena Tiers: The Arena progression system is split into 9 separate levels which award in-game augments as well as some nice cosmetics. Augments like Overflow, Hat Trick, Slow and Steady, and And My Axe! are unlocked at different levels. For example, transmute: chaos, is a Level 8 (5000 Fame) augment.

Common Questions About Free Rewards in LoL

Q: Can I get every skin for free?
A: Realistically, no. Some rare and exclusive skins are only available through RP purchases or special events with very low drop rates. However, you can acquire a substantial collection through the methods described above.
Q: Is it possible to earn Riot Points (RP) for free?
A: While rare, it is possible. Riot occasionally holds contests or promotions where RP is awarded as a prize. Keep an eye on official channels for these opportunities.
Q: How long does it take to earn enough BE for a champion?
A: It depends on the champion's price and your activity level. A 6300 BE champion can take several weeks of consistent play and mission completion. The more you play, the faster you earn.
Q: What's the best way to spend my Blue Essence early on?
A: Focus on unlocking a diverse champion pool that covers multiple roles. This gives you flexibility in champion select and allows you to adapt to different team compositions.

Your Actionable Takeaways: The Rewards Playbook

Ready to start maximizing your rewards in LoL? Here's a quick-start guide:

  1. Link your accounts: Connect your Amazon Prime account for monthly rewards.
  2. Daily Missions: Prioritize completing "Win of the Day" and other BE-awarding missions.
  3. Event Focus: Fully participate in in-game events, maximizing token earnings.
  4. Shard Strategy: Decide whether to disenchant or unlock champions based on your needs.
  5. Stay Informed: Follow official LoL channels for promotions and giveaways.
    By consistently implementing these strategies, you'll be well on your way to expanding your champion pool and skin collection without spending a fortune. Now get out there and earn those rewards!