Universe:Piltover
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This article contains information that conflicts with the current narrative and may be changed in the near future. For further information on these ongoing changes, see the community article on Canonical inconsistencies. |
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- Buhru
- Demacian (Modern)
- Freljordian (Modern)
- Ionian (Modern)
- Piltovan
- Shuriman (Modern)
- Va-Nox
- Golden Hexes
- Silver Cogs
- Bronze Washers
- For information about the
Teamfight Tactics trait, see
Piltover.
“ | "For Piltover!" |
— | |
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Piltover, also known as the City of Progress, is a thriving, progressive city whose power and influence is on the rise. It is Valoran's cultural center, where art, craftsmanship, trade and innovation walk hand in hand. Its power comes not through military might, but the engines of commerce and forward thinking. Situated on the cliffs above the district of Zaun and overlooking the ocean, fleets of ships pass through its titanic sea-gates, bringing goods from all over the world. The wealth this generates has given rise to an unprecedented boom in the city's growth. Piltover has - and still is - reinventing itself as a city where fortunes can be made and dreams can be lived. Burgeoning merchant clans fund development in the most incredible endeavors: grand artistic follies, esoteric hextech research, and architectural monuments to their power. With ever more inventors delving into the emergent lore of hextech, Piltover has become a lodestone for the most skilled craftsmen the world over.
Lore
Piltover is a thriving, progressive city overlooking the ocean. Fleets of ships pass through its titanic sea-gates, bringing goods from all over the world. Merchant clans fund incredible endeavors, including artistic follies and architectural monuments to their individual power. With ever more inventors delving into hextech, Piltover has become the destination for the most skilled craftspeople from across Runeterra.[1]
Champions of Piltover
Other Related Champions
- , , and have all tried to track down when he was operating in Piltover.
- keeps the streets of Piltover safe.
- Rise of the Sentinels. managed a successful heist of The Clockwork Vaults and came to Piltover for a vacation during the
- is an ancient spirit who protects Piltover from disaster.
- came to Piltover for an assassination job and clashed with along the way.
- is younger sister.
- was once a member of Piltover's ruling council.
- was born in Piltover.
- visited Piltover in the past.
- became more active in Piltover after the Sun Gates were built.
- managed a successful heist of The Clockwork Vaults.
- came to Piltover to secure a fetter for .
- and are bitter enemies.
History
Birth of Progress Day
Zaun finalized its plans to destroy a portion of the isthmus connecting Valoran and the Southern Continent, allowing for safe sea passage between eastern and western Valoran. The plan involved using thousand of chemtech bombs to crack open an area of the land so that a cavern could be created, but the results were catastrophic. In what seemed to be an accident, the bombs triggered a series of earthquakes that completely destroyed the isthmus and sank large districts of Zaun and thousands of its citizens, while also leaking poisonous gas into the city's surviving areas.
, empowered by the prayers of Zaun's people, arrived and blew away the gas, saving many lives and being eternally remembered by Zaun's denizens, converting her from a goddess of faith for sailors to a guardian deity for Zaun. She has yet to leave Zaun following this event.
Eventually, Zaun was rebuilt. In order to regulate the river passage they were built over, the Sun Gates were constructed, forcing all transport through the waters to be regulated by Zaun. This brought immense wealth to the city and likely led to Piltover's construction and elevation from Zaun, as the ruling families were in control of the taxes and trade produced by the Sun Gates, leading to the formation of the actual Mercantile Clans of Piltover.
Construction of the Sun Gates led to great changes in eastern Valoran and the eastern seas, as Noxus was from this point on able to more easily pool together resources from across its empire without needing land travel, and Bilgewater's pirates found the seas brimming with trade ships waiting to be plundered, feeding in to the criminal underbelly of the city.
Discovery of the First Hex Crystals
The Ferros family gained most of its wealth through a rare crystal harvested from a creature native to the sands of a distant valley. These first hex-crystals, or “first crystals,” contained power normally reserved to those born with innate magical ability.
Great-Great Aunt Elicia lost an arm, and nearly her life, during one such early expedition. Her sacrifice was celebrated, and it set an expectation that is still reflected in the Ferros family motto today, “For family, will I give.”The creatures Elicia Ferros found, the Brackern, were not an unending resource, and Camille's family had to look for ways to augment the crystals they had accumulated. Utilizing certain shadow investments in chemtech and runic alchemy, the Ferros family brought to market the less powerful, but easier to procure, synthetic hex-crystals. Such power often comes with consequences, and the production of synthetic crystals is rumored to be a heavy contributor to the Zaun Gray.
Get Jinxed!

Piltover has been known as the City of Progress for the countless technological advancements it has made, but
found a way to halt progress entirely for some time: anarchy! Chaos, buildings crumbling, people dying, painted animals running rampant, and the city in constant gunfire... it was Jinx's dream. Piltover's Finest, and , attempted to track her down to no avail.As Jinx's rampage escalated, Caitlyn declared a city-wide manhunt for her. Jinx responded to this by marking the treasury with a challenge to Vi, saying that she would attack the place at the time and date she had written there. When the time came, she showed up and began to wreak havoc as usual. Vi began chasing her, smashing through every wall along the way. Eventually Jinx was cornered, but she let loose a barrage of rockets, destroying the building. When the officers had awoke, all the gold was intact still remained and Jinx had spelled out something in the sky using the city's lights: "YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME!".
Progress Day
- Main article: Progress Day
- For the celebration, see the Fesivals section of Celebrations. For the
Legends of Runeterra card, see
8 Progress Day!.
Three Noxian spies, Gysbert, Tamara, and Colette, infiltrated Piltover for many months in hopes of placing an agent inside Clan Medarda. They used the annual Progress Day to showcase their technical skills to the clan's masters and apprenta.
Tamara Lautari showcased her Hex-Armillary Amplifier invention. It worked by harnessing the properties of a crystal and exponentially increasing its output. However, the invention itself proved to be dangerous as it almost destroyed the entire hall due to its faulty construction - which was intended to sabotage the proceedings.
Later on, after leaving the Medarda mansion, Tamara was apprehended by
, who had discovered her true identity and purpose in the city. She was subsequently banished and sent back to Noxus.Both Tamara and Gysbert failed to become Medarda apprenta, but Colette succeeded. Some time after, Colette would obtain a Medarda trading map, which she would relay to Noxian intelligence.
History in Arcane
Foundation
Around 790 AN, the city-state of Piltover was founded to be a bastion of enlightenment, with its people standing united against the deadly arcane threats that existed beyond the city's borders.[2] As
Runeterra had cannibalized itself over power and pride, , one of Piltover's founders, helped to guide the City of Progress over the next two centuries, becoming both head of the Council of Piltover and dean of Piltover Academy.[3][4]
Uprising at the Bridge of Progress
Over time, the disparity in wealth between Piltover's topside and its undercity, located across the Bridge of Progress from its capital, culminated in an uprising led by the undercity revolutionaries and , who dreamed to establish their own independent nation of Zaun. The uprising soon turned into a massacre as the rioters fought the
Piltover Enforcers at the bridge, leaving hundreds of Zaunites dead.[2][5]
Having witnessed the civilian cost of war, Vander laid down his gauntlets and eventually struck a deal with the Enforcers, who were led by [6]
. In exchange for allowing the undercity their autonomy under Vander's de-facto rule, Vander would prevent his people from attacking topside.The Era of Hextech
- Main article: Arcane
The Invention of Hextech
Around 983-84 AN, a rogue Academy student named Clan Kiramman, began secretly experimenting with a way to harness magic through science using hex crystals. A break-in by undercity robbers at his workshop caused one of his hex crystals to shatter, blowing up the entire workshop and causing the Enforcers to launch an investigation into his research. Heimerdinger's assistant, , confiscated the student's work, and Jayce was arrested for owning unauthorized materials.
Despite Heimerdinger's warnings, Jayce confessed to everything during the trial, claiming that his experiment was "revolutionary" despite the danger it posed. Unable to let him go without a punishment for violating the Ethos, the Council had Jayce expelled from the Academy. Viktor, however, had stolen back Jayce's research journal,[2] and after partnering up as inventors, the two of them broke into the Academy and completed Jayce's experiment, proving that "hextech" could be safely utilized. After this, Councilor declared her support for Jayce's research,[5] and the rest of the Council eventually followed.
The case to capture the thieves at Jayce's workshop eventually went cold. Grayson was killed under mysterious circumstances in the undercity, and her deputy, [7][8] After a time, Piltover also became aware of an addictive, drug-like serum called shimmer and ran investigations into the crime lords who were distributing it. The investigations were led by Marcus, who secretly covered up the extent of the undercity's rising criminal enterprise.[9]
, eventually replaced her as the new Sheriff of the Enforcers.Piltovan Bicentennial

“ | "We are the City of Progress and our future is bright!" |
— Happy Progress Day! | speech during the celebration,|
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Around 990-91 AN, after the construction of the Hexgates had made Piltover into a hub for global shipping and trade, Jayce was selected by the Council to be the keynote speaker for the celebration of Piltover's bicentennial Progress Day. Jayce and Viktor had invented a brand new hextech gemstone which they had hoped to make public along with number of other prototypes, but Heimerdinger advised them that their inventions still needed more safeguards against misuse, convincing Jayce not to go ahead with the presentation. Later that day, an explosion on the Academy Square caused by an left several enforcers dead or injured, and she stole the gemstone before escaping back into Zaun. In response to the attack, the Piltover Council voted to elevate Jayce to their august body as a councilor so that he would have access to the proper security measures to safeguard the city's hextech operations against any future attack in the brewing crisis.[8]
One of the enforcers who had been caught in the attack on the Academy Square was Stillwater Hold with a number of forged documents, Caitlyn was able to continue her unsanctioned investigation with the help of , a Zaunite criminal she had released to guide her through the undercity.[10]
, the daughter of . Although her mother and the Sheriff resisted her efforts, Caitlyn became convinced of an underground conspiracy led by a secret , who was pulling the strings of a hidden criminal empire. After traveling toUnder Councilor Medarda's guidance, Jayce gradually expanded his influence over the other councilors and important guild merchants. Around the same time, Jayce's partner, Viktor, learned he was terminally ill, and in his efforts to cure himself he invented a device called the [3]
, which had the capacity to augment organic matter. When Heimerdinger saw the hexcore, he believed it to be dangerous and immediately demanded its destruction, after which Jayce utilized his newfound support from the other councilors to convince them to vote Heimerdinger out of office, under the explanation that their leader had been unable to properly protect his people against the recent attacks.Conflict with Zaun
When Caitlyn and Vi returned from their investigation, the Sheriff, Marcus, was killed in another bombing at the Bridge of Progress, and the Council learned from the hidden documents in his office that he had secretly betrayed them. Caitlyn and Vi presented their findings to the Council, revealing the mastermind behind the attacks was an undercity crime lord named [11]
, and that the gemstone thief and terrorist behind the attacks was named . Silco's ultimate goal remained an independent nation of Zaun, and fearing he might weaponize the stolen gemstone to achieve this, Jayce and Vi went on an unsanctioned raid on one of Silco's shimmer factories, armed with the hextech and .
The shimmer raid was a success, and after the dust had settled, Jayce met with Silco personally to discuss their terms for peace. Jayce offered Silco the undercity's independence as "the nation of Zaun" in exchange for the complete dismantlement of shimmer, the return of the hextech gemstone, and the arrest of Jinx, and after laying out his terms, Jayce returned to the Piltover Council so they could approve the treaty. Initially, most of the Council opposed granting Zaun their independence, but with Mel's support, he managed to convince each of them, one by one, until the vote was unanimous. However, at the exact moment it seemed war had been averted, the chamber was suddenly struck by a [4] killing Councilors , , and , and severely injuring most of the others.
fired from Jinx's newly-completed hextech weapon ,In the aftermath, Jayce abandoned his Council duties to tend to a comatose Viktor, leaving Mel, Noxian warband of General for their defense, as Caitlyn Kiramman led a strike team into Zaun to capture Jinx and wipe out the remnants of Silco's collapsing criminal empire.[12] Caitlyn and Vi employed brutal tactics in their fight against the chembarons, such as new hextech weapons and the weaponization of the Zaun Grey, and they posted a bounty on Jinx in hopes that several of Silco's loyalists would turn on her.
However, even as Caitlyn dismantled the chembarons' operations, Jinx remained elusive and when she escaped after their battle, one of her bombs unleashed an enormous, gaseous blast of the Grey from the underground that colored all of topside with splatters of paint, harming civilians in the process. Councilor Salo later arranged a meeting of the mercantile clans of Piltover, and Ambessa used the terrorist attacks and the recent assassination of the guild merchant [13] and with their general appointed, she lent her entire Noxian force to Piltover's disposal, occupying Zaun for the next several months.[14]
as an excuse to declare martial law. Ambessa nominated Caitlyn as the city's commander to rule in the Council's place,Martial Law

Piltover remained under martial law for several months, with the Enforcers establishing checkpoints and continuing their manhunt for Jinx. Meanwhile, Ambessa attempted to perfect the development of hextech weapons, which was hindered by the disappearances of Jayce and Heimerdinger. Even though Jinx herself had vanished from the public eye after her final attack using the Grey, an anarchist rebel group adopted her colors and continued to fight back against the occupation, calling themselves the "Jinxers" and viewing her as a symbol for their liberation.
Rumors of Jinx's return began to circulate, however, and believing one of these "Jinxers" might know where to find her, they busted a Zaunite rally, arresting numerous of her sympathizers and sending them to Stillwater Hold. After this, Stillwater was attacked twice within a short period—first by Jinx, who freed the prisoners, and then by [14] Warwick and Jinx both escaped after the rampage, and to ensure the trail would not go cold, Ambessa recruited the beast's creator, , to track Warwick down.[15]
, who savagely murdered a number of the enforcers and prisoners in the hallways.Caitlyn, Ambessa, and Singed eventually found Warwick in a massive underground commune in the fissures, which was ruled by Viktor, who had been transformed by the hexcore into magic healer. Ambessa intended to capture Warwick and use him as a weapon of war, but when Caitlyn unexpectedly ran into Vi at the commune, she learned that the beast was actually Vi's father, Vander, and that she was trying to save his life. After hearing this, Caitlyn decided to help Warwick and turned on Ambessa, who invaded and destroyed the commune with her Noxian warband.[16] Caitlyn and Vi then reunited with a disheveled Jayce, who had returned after several months and helped them escape back to Piltover. Jinx also turned herself in to the authorities, but she would later be released by Vi.[17]
Battle at the Hexgates
Caitlyn, still the city's commander, received news that Ambessa's warships were mounting an invasion of the Hexgates, and she and Jayce mounted the city's defense by enacting a call to arms and evacuation. Ambessa had joined forces with Viktor, who had "evolved" into a fully biomechanical Herald of the Arcane and amassed an army of sleek, mechanical puppets that he could control directly under his will. Jayce claimed that if Viktor reached the Hexgates, then all of Piltover would be destroyed, so their primary war aim was to kill him.
Although Piltover was betrayed by a member in their ranks, the Enforcers were suddenly rescued by Jinx and , who led a massive Zaunite force from atop a mechanical war balloon. At the steps, Caitlyn and Mel managed to defeat and kill Ambessa, while Jayce and Viktor fought within the Hexgates. At the top of the tower, Ekko managed to subdue Viktor long enough for Jayce to get through to him, and when they destroyed the Glorious Evolution, Jayce and Viktor disintegrated into his acceleration rune, sacrificing themselves to save the city.
After the battle, a funeral was held for everyone who had fallen. Mel Medarda left the city for her homeland of Noxus, and Caitlyn officially ended martial law, instating a new Council with [18]
as the representative for the undercity. Jinx, the most wanted criminal in Piltover, disappeared after the battle, with the authorities presuming her dead after the explosion in the Hexgates. Caitlyn later ran an investigation into the hexgate ventilation schematics, suggesting she doubted if Jinx was truly gone for good.Locations
Piltover is a city-state located on an isthmus between Valoran and Shurima. The current well known locations (not counting Zaun) in Piltover are:
Connected Cities
Dual city-states that control the major trade routes between Valoran and Shurima. Home both to visionary inventors and their wealthy patrons, the divide between social classes is becoming more dangerous.
North Piltover
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Bluewind Court
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Workshop Of The Horological Institute
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Other Workshops
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Sidereal Avenue
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Entrance to Piltover Treasury
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The Ecliptic Vaults
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Zindelo's Incognium Runeterra
- Bluewind Court: The most influential individuals of Piltover live in Bluewind Court, located in northern Piltover. The north of the city is where the bulk of the clans have their mansions and heavily guarded workshop compounds, such as the mansions of clans Arvino, Cadwalder, Ferros, Giopara, Holloran, Kozari, Medarda, Morichi and Torek.
- Jayce's Laboratory: As part of the Giopara Mansion, the lab the work area of the city's famous guardian, . It is the place where he himself made his famous Mercury Hammer, which was later used against .
- Workshop of The Horological Institute: Workshops of hextech researchers are magnificent examples of what a wealthy patron can do for an inventor.
- Count Mei's Menagerie: A type of Zoo, funded by Count Mei, that housed a large assortment of flora and fauna from across Runeterra. It was recently vandalized by .
- Drawsmith Arcade: A vaulted structure of colored glass and ironwork columns containing several theatres.
- Heimerdinger's Pyrotechnic Provisions: The workshop of the yordle inventor; many inventions have been imagined, created, tested, and sold in this establishment.
- Mainspring Crescent: The fashionable promenade of cafes, bistros, and supper clubs. The Drawsmith Arcade contains small theatres.
- Reveck House: Residence of Corin Reveck, the city's famous clockwork inventor. He lived there by selling a collection of clockwork figurines left behind by his daughter, , before she gave into the sickness for the benefit of others and was replaced with hextech.
- Sidereal Avenue: The streets of Piltover are rumored to be paved with gold, but to the disappointment of many a hopeful traveler, that is simply a metaphor. However, the city's most wondrous structures and streetscapes are funded by the merchant clans, who flaunt their wealth as much as possible. Such place is the Sidereal Avenue, home to the Piltover Treasury.
- The Ecliptic Vaults: Located in Sidereal Avenue, were once considered to be Piltover's most secure bank, before breached their heavily reinforced walls.
- Clockwork Vault: Located at the Southern part of the city. This bank was considered secure as well, only to also be broken into, this time by and .
- Zindelo's Incognium Runeterra: Zidelo's Incognium Runeterra is located in the Incognia Plaza, connected to the Sidereal Avenue in southern Piltover. The lifetime's work of Valentina Zindelo, the Incognium Runeterra is a device she claimed was able to locate any individual in the world. Since Zindelo's mysterious death, many believe her alchemical formulae to have been stolen. The contraption is left inoperable.
- The Explorers Guild House: The House of the Official Piltover Guild for explorers, they are tasked at funding, monitoring, and acquiring archaeological artifacts from its guild members from across Runeterra. These artifacts are later used for research or placed in one of many Piltover museums.
South Piltover
- Ezreal's House: One of the cities most famous residence, the house houses a large assortment of artifacts found by the explorer himself.
- Sapphilite Row: A street where Zalie's is located in. Named after the substance harvested from Jaull-fish.
- Zalie's Expeditionary Outfitters & Haberdashery: Subscribed by as one one of the best outfitters in Piltover, the shop is outfitted with a wide range of clothing for every need.
- The Fissures: The giant chasms stretching across the south of Piltover. They were created in an earthquake resulted by the creation of the canal for the Sun Gates. The city of Zaun is located within these fissures, along with some other surface buildings used as conveyors to the undercity.
Hexdraulic Conveyors
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"Rising Howl" Public Hexdraulic Descender
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Private Hexdraulic Descender
Hexdraulic Conveyors are scattered across Zaun, connecting it with Piltover and its numerous city levels. Some conveyors are for public use (those that can afford it), while some for private, used mostly by Chem-Barons and wealthy Piltovans.
- Rising Howl: A large multi-tiered rack-and-pinion Hexdraulic Coveyor supported by three vertical structural beams which span the height of the city, from the Sump to the Boundary Markets. Its ovoid shape and curved top side are constructed of thick glass and an elaborate ironwork baroque latticework frame with ratcheting endless gears. At the top sits a howling wrought-iron wolf, the elevator's namesake, and a set of steam whistles. It's the primary Hexdraulic Coveyor for transporting crowds between the levels of Zaun and Piltover. Conductors' voices are magnified by a flexible speaking tube connected to a bell-shaped sonophone.
The Cliff
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The Sun Gates
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The Sun Gates (Full View)
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The Sun Gates (Other Side)
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The Great Funicular Of Cantexta
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Wharfside Docks
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A History Of Commerce
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The Cliff (Promenade and Entresol Levels)
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The Cliff (Sump Level)
The most important location of all of Zaun and Piltover, it was the epicenter of a massive man made geological disaster that sunk most of old Zaun. Currently, it is the location of massive spires jutting upwards towards Piltover as an arrogant testimony to Zaun's resolve to survive. One such building is the College of Techmaturgy. The Sun Gates are built above The Cliff.
- Boundary Markets: The levels where division between Zaun and Piltover blurs are home to thriving markets and Commercia Halls. Boundary Markets areas are the most cosmopolitan of the city, where people from all walks of life and levels of society can be found for the purchase and sale of goods.
- First Assemblage of the Glorious Evolved: Located at the end of the Boundary Markets in southern Piltover, the Church is the main location where worshipers of the Glorious Evolved from both Piltover and Zaun come to worship their deity, the Gray Lady. Its is also a place where the disenfranchised come to seek refuge, and where the crippled come for techmaturgical miracles.
- The Sun Gates: One of the most important locations in all of Piltover, the construction of these huge accessways made Piltover a hub of mercantile trade between Valoran and Shurima. They were named 'The Sun Gates' to honor the region's Shuriman heritage. They were constructed as a necessity of the city, but unfortunately, an accident during their construction sank large chunks of Zaun into the sea. In Piltover, Progress Day marks the anniversary of the day the Sun Gates opened for the first time, allowing trade to pass easily through the city, bringing unimaginable wealth to the city's rulers. In Zaun, it is a day to remember those lost in the geological upheaval that created the east–west passage and submerged entire districts underwater. It enabled the rapid expansion of the Noxian empire along the coast, although Piltover charges truly staggering hazard rates for the transport of all military assets.
- Wharfside Docks: Located at the lower end of the Sun Gates, the quaysides of Piltover are always busy, with ships from every major port passing through the Sun Gates every day.
Piltover in Arcane


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Piltover in Arcane 1
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Piltover in Arcane 2
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Piltover in Arcane 3
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Piltover in Arcane 4
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Piltover in Arcane 5
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Piltover in Arcane 6
Piltover as shown in Arcane has a considerably different origin as well as city layout from the original
Runeterra Prime lore. The Sun Gates do not exist, instead the Hexgates are the prominent feature of the city as well as the focal point of Piltovan trade supremacy. The river under the Bridge of Progress is more natural, with a canal connecting the easternmost point with the sea to the south.
Zaun lies to the south of Piltover across the bridge, with the fissures being mostly isolated to a separate landmass instead of directly below Piltover. While the scale of Piltover is smaller, its buildings still retain the same distinct visual aesthetics, with golden and ivory architecture inspired by steampunk aesthetics protruding high above the clouds, towering over the rest of the city.
Mid Town
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Mid Town Piltover in Arcane
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The Bridge of Progress in Arcane
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Jayce's Workshop in Arcane
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Academy Halls in Arcane
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Academy Square in Arcane
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Jayce and Viktor's Laboratory in Arcane
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Northern Docks in Arcane
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Talis Forge in Arcane
The central district of Piltover, where the majority of its population, academia, cafes, markets, and law enforcement are located, as well as the city's most notable landmarks. Progress Day celebrations and fairs are hosted in this location, but its proximity to Zaun makes it vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
- Bridge of Progress: One of the main bridges connecting northern and southern parts of the city. It is the primary location where numerous undercity rebellions occurred, as well as a bombing attack from that resulted in the deaths of many enforcers and began city wide lockdowns.
- Piltover Academy: The massive central building in the northernmost part of Piltover, adorned with statues of the City of Progress's founders. It serves as both the city's primary seat of government and its university, with its brightest scholars being brought to this location from across both Piltover and the world.
- Academy Square: A large square located in the heart of Piltover outside the Academy entrance, where Progress Day fairs are usually held. The square was attacked by in a bombing on the bicentennial Progress Day, killing six enforcers and leading to pursue her in an investigation.
- Council Archives: A place where records are kept. These archives are not always complete, with some records of [19] and being withheld or even scrubbed clean without explanation.
- Council Chamber: The Piltovan seat of government, it is a massive circular chamber located at the center of the Academy's top floor, with a circular table at the center of it meant to hold the city's seven councilors. The Piltover Council chamber is used to call assemblies, hold policy discussions and trials, and to vote on motions. The chamber was destroyed in a terrorist attack by , but the table and outer wall were later rebuilt in the months following the bombing.
- Heimerdinger's Laboratory: A large office on the Academy's upper floors, to be used by the Dean of the Academy, hextech. . The professor's lab is equipped with several workbenches, massive bookshelves, mechanical equipment and windows, as well as a desk and staircases next to the tall windows. It was here that and successfully invented
- Jayce and Viktor's Laboratory: A large room in the Academy building where and came up with some of their most famous inventions during the golden era of hextech.
- Statues: Statues of Piltover's most esteemed minds, found near the top of the Academy building. Among them are some of Piltover's greatest teachers, like Stanwick Pididly. and
- Clock Tower: A clock tower by the Bridge of Progress. It is considerably smaller than the clock face near the top of the Hexgates.
- Councilors Memorial: A memorial dedicated to Councilors , , and after they were killed in attack.
- Jayce's Apartment: A
Kiramman workshop located on the Academy grounds where a young began his illegal hextech research. After a robbery by Zaunite thieves, the materials exploded, destroying the apartment's outer wall.
- Northern Docks: Located near the Hexgates. The warships of first docked here, and would dock here again during her invasion of the city.
- Piltover Gazette: A reputable Piltovan newspaper with unexpectedly superb back catalogs.[19]
- Piltover Police Department: Headquarters for the
Piltover Enforcers. The building was equipped with tubes from which scrolls with messages and security requests could be sent to the Sheriff.
- Talis Home: A humble home where and his mother lived. He kept a portrait of his father in his room next to the hexite stones by his window.
- Talis Forge: A massive forge where Jayce would smelt iron and craft powerful hextech devices, including his and rifle.
- Viktor's Home: home during his time as assistant and then an inventor, before he moved back to Zaun. It was located next to the Academy, though Viktor would often sleep in his laboratory instead of going back there.
Upper Piltover (Gold Way)
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Medarda Opera House in Arcane
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Bathhouse in Arcane
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Innovation Park in Arcane
The northeastern part of the City of Progress, it is where many of the city's upper class, nobility, and powerful merchant guilds live.
- Bathhouse: A fancy bathhouse with a mural of soldiers along the wall. hextech. met with here when she urged him to weaponize
- Innovation Park:[20] An high-end arboretum with several benches, an ornate spiral weather vane with wind chimes above the ventilation, and a large tree with purple flower petals falling all around. Next to the spiral is a calm lily pond surrounded by weeping willows. used to visit the park with her mother, .
- Kiramman Manor: The family home of the
Kiramman Clan, one of the wealthiest and most influential in all of Piltover. and her parents live here.
- Kiramman Archives: An extensive library of information contained inside discs, which are accessible from a terminal using the Kiramman Key. came here to acquire information related to the Zaun Grey, and later to learn about past.
- Medarda Opera House: An enormous opera house owned by the
Medardas, where concerts and plays are hosted. would invite many important merchants and nobles to the opera to make backdoor deals and expand her political influence.
Hexgates
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The Hexgates in Arcane
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Airship Dock in Arcane
The Hexgate tower is the tallest in all of Piltover, constructed by Jayce and Viktor at the request of the Piltover Council during the golden era of hextech. The Hexgates are used for realm warping people, vehicles, and cargo to their desired destinations across Runeterra, making it an iconic feature the city's skyline while also revolutionizing trade, commerce, and academia by connecting Piltover to the rest of the world. It charts its course by using a rotatable globe of Runeterra at the top of the tower. Each jump requires hexite batteries to be replaced. Due to its elevation, only airships can utilize it.
- Airship Dock: Airships could dock in the Hexgates, where inspectors would check goods and have them sent to other parts of Runeterra. People could also travel using the airships, but it was also a site of smuggling operations, leading to destructive battles between
Firelights.
and the - Hexheart:[21] An enormous locked chamber located far underground at the very bottom of the Hexgates, which contained the mesh's hexite energy cells within a large, dome-like console at the very center. Overuse of the Hexgates led to the creation of a massive anomaly around the power cells, which became the source of temporal and environmental corruption.
New Piltover
The eastern, more sparsely populated part of Piltover, built across the canal from Zaun.
- The Canal: A canal connecting the river to a sea in the south, splitting Zaun from Piltover. The canal has several gutters that run into Zaun.
City Outskirts
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Cemetery in Arcane 1
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Cemetery in Arcane 2
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Grayson's Memorial in Arcane
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Hunting Grounds in Arcane 1
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Hunting Grounds in Arcane 2
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Hunting Grounds in Arcane 3
- Cemetery: A large burial ground with tombstones to honor the dead. Many of the city's enforcers are buried here, including the late Sheriff, .
- City Walls: A series of walls on the western and eastern borders of Piltover and Zaun. One of these walls, where and met for their negotiation, is decorated with old cannons and overlooks the sea and the Hexgates.
- The Cliff: A tall industrial cliffside towering far above the Sump on the Zaunite side, where polluted water is spilled from the pipes in a series of waterfalls. would often come here to ruminate in the mechanical tunnels.
- Hunting Grounds: A private villa near the forest owned by the
Kiramman Clan, which is located far outside the city walls. The forest is often used as a hunting grounds for the Kirammans, and is equipped with wooden targets for shooting competitions.
Stillwater Hold
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Stillwater Hold in Arcane
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Dungeons in Arcane
A prison located on an island off the southeastern coast of Piltover and Zaun, which holds many of the city's most dangerous criminals. It is accessible either by boat or by taking massive mechanical trams across the water. The prison goes down at least 40 levels, but is known to go even lower, with cells so deep and dark that the light never reaches them. There is a cafeteria where prisoners go to eat together, and the warden was known to send enforcers down to beat them up. The prisoners are also given tasks, such as cleaning the roof, around the prison and have time allotted for mandatory exercise. Prisoners are able to get tattoos and piercings inside.
Wildlife
Cats
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Professor von Yipp and his human assistant
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Von Yipp's Catastrophe Mech
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Von Yipp's Submarine
They are a sentient feline race resembling Felis catus that reside both on Runeterra as well as Bandle City. While they have the physical appearance of regular real world house cats, they possess human or above human intelligence, being able to think of complex ideas and inventions. 4 Professor von Yipp is a cat that is able to create
1 giant mechs and
5 submarines, while possesses magical abilities with the help of .
Pitover Shaddocks
“ | "![]() |
— ![]() | |
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Piltover is home to its own variety of citrus fruit, similar to a real-world Pomelo, a large bitter-sweet fruit with a thick rind. The etymology of the name of these fruit in the Runeterra Prime universe is unknown, as the name 'Shaddock' actually comes from the name of the captain who introduced the Pomelo to Barbados. The fruit are described in decent regard by
6 Citrus Courier.
Poros
- Main article: Poro


Howling Abyss. Poros are equal parts truth, valor, and innocence. The colour of their fur is described as “very light blue, like Freljordian snow”. They have a heart-shaped underbelly because they're made of love. A poro's horns perk up when it's excited and droop down when it's scared. Poros paddle through deep snow with their front paws. Some believe that poros are indestructible. Poros stick their tongue out because they are incredibly warm. This is why they can survive the harsh cold environment of the Howling Abyss. are frosted with Freljordian ice crystals and are a favourite treat of this creature. The leader of the Poros is known as the .
Culture
“ | "Heh! Piltovans! Always think they're the center of the universe." |
— | |
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Trade is the lifeblood of Piltover, and its command of the main sea-route between east and west has seen its coffers swell with gold. A consequence of this has been the rapid expansion of the Noxian empire, whose armies and supplies can now travel the length and breadth of Valoran with relative ease. It has also allowed Bilgewater to prosper as a haven for pirates and reavers who prey on ships traveling to and from Piltover. The climate around Piltover is generally balmy, but when the temperature changes rapidly, sea fogs often envelop the docks and warehouses. The quaysides of Piltover are always busy, and anyone with a strong back and the will to work can easily find employment. A hundred accents are heard on the wharfside streets at any given time, and scores of ships from every port pass through the Sun Gates every day.

Language Slangs
Due to Piltover and Zaun being international trade ports, every type of language can be heard around its docks.
Over the course of its history, Zaunites / Piltovans have formed their own terms and slang:
- All-night bender - Phrase describing one who has spent a long night under the influence. "Bender" is also real-life slang.
- Apprenta - Apprentice.
- Bells - Term for the hour. Example: Eight bells = 8:00
- Burn-off - Smoke from combustion.
- Chem-burnt - Experiencing negative effects from being exposed to toxic compounds too much.
- Chem-fumes - Chemical gas, smoke, or vapor.
- Chem-stunted - Experiencing negative effects from being exposed to toxic compounds too much.
- Crawl-hatch - Opening in the sides of pipes or ducts for maintenance and manual cleaning.
- Chem-punk - Derogatory term used for a trouble maker, or gang member from Zaun.
- Dram-dealer - Person who sells dram.
- First rule of the Sump - Only marks go in through the front door.
- Foundlings - Orphans.
- Foundling home - Orphan Home.
- Go pound a sump - An insult.
- The Gray - Term used to describe Zaun's thick chemical atmosphere.
- The Gray Lady - The holy patron saint of the Glorious Evolved.
- Grayout - Massive pollution of The Gray.
- Grey-pox - Illness caused by The Gray.
- Head up top - Phrase meaning "Go to Piltover".
- Hereabouts - Phrase used to describe a person's current location.
- Hex-mechanics - People who work with hextech.
- Horticulturalists - People that tend to cultivairs.
- Janna's mercy! - A Zaunite exclamation used in cases of extreme danger, a plea for help.
- Lung Blight - Illness caused by The Gray.
- Mark - A thief's target.
- Name day - Birthday.
- Not even a plague rat's brown cough - Basically so silent you could hear a pin drop.
- Orderly - A caretaker.
- Physicker - phyiscian, or doctor.
- Piltie - Derogatory term for Piltover natives.
- Pipework - pipes that make up a network.
- Sawbones - Zaunite doctor.
- Skirl - Term used to describe a shrill, wailing sound from pipes.
- Snipe - A derogatory term for a Zaunite child.
- Stilt-walking sump-scrapper - A salvager who uses stilts to stay above the toxic gases and sludge of the Sump.
- Sump-raker - A derogatory term for a person from the Sump level.
- Sump-scrapping - The act of salvaging items from the Sump level.
- Sump-snipe - A derogatory term for a child from the Sump level.
- Sump-scrappers - People who make a living salvaging items from the Sump level. Also known as a Sumper.
- Sump-sucker - A derogatory term for a person from the Sump level.
- Sure as gray follows day - Phrase signifying certainty.
- Tallyman - Person who sells merchandise on credit, especially from door to door.
- The cliffs are muttering - A reaction to small earthquakes.
- Techmaturgy - Field of study combining technology and magic.
- Trencher - A derogatory term for a person that lives in the Undercity, a.k.a. Zaun.
- Toxic runoff - Poisonous liquid drainage.
- Uppside - Term for Piltover.
- Well-heeled - Phrase used to describe those well off, named for their state of the soles of their shoes not being worn down, or the type of shoes that wouldn't last long in the muck below.
- You ken? - You know?
Writing and Numerals
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System 1
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System 2
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System 3
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System 4
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System 5
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System 6
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System 7
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System 8
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System 9
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System 10
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Piltover and Zaun Numerals
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System in Arcane 1
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System in Arcane 2
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System in Arcane 3
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Piltover and Zaun Writing System in Arcane 4
Being connected, both Piltover and Zaun have formed similar writing systems and numerals used throughout the two cities. While having a common writing system used for general communication, a specific writing system, both elegant and rough, is used for numerous applications. Its symbols are used for alchemical works and scientific equations.
The cities use several different numerical symbols for its mathematical and time measurements. This is due to Piltover and Zaun being key trading hubs for both north and south continents. However, the common numerals used in Piltover and Zaun resemble that of Roman numerals.
In the

Architecture
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Structures of Wonder
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Commercia Halls
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Wealth and Status
Piltover's newer structures are graceful mixtures of polished marble, latticework bronze and shimmering glass that sit alongside older building of hewn stone and weathered timber. Fluted towers inlaid with gold and silver reach for the clear skies, as arching bridges span the chasms between the clifftops. The entrances to mercantile buildings are often incredibly elaborate. Even those dwellings that predate hextech have since been ornamented with elaborate details to further reinforce the impression that Piltover is a city drowning in gold. The interior of Piltover's buildings are no less ornate than outside, and are often marvels of technological ingenuity in their own right.
Clothing
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Residence of The City
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Jago Medarda
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Jae Medarda
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Viado Violante
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Amateur Aeronaut
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Illegal Contraption
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Academy Prodigy
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Eager Apprentice
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Professor von Yipp
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Klas Henwick, Unstable Voltician
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Eminent Benefactor
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Intrepid Mariner
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Astute Academic
Fashions quickly rise and fall in the salons of Piltover, and while most tastes tend toward formal and functional, there are those who push the boundaries of good taste and common sense with their overly elaborate displays of wealth. There are also those that augment their bodies either from necessity or for showcasing their progressive and/or wealthy status in the community. There is a distinct difference between the appearance of Piltover and Zaun augments. Piltover's are more flamboiant in their craftmanship, often adorned with elements of gold and blue arcane crystals, while Zaun's were born more of the neceessity and practicality of its environment and often have crude details, with the elements of toxic green colours heavily featured in the most augmented individuals. For those that live in the city for a very long time, its easy to distinguish true augmented individuals from those that aren't. The non-augmented individuals are referred to as "fleshies" by the followers of The Gloriously Evolved.
Currency

Wile the nation trades with all kinds of currency from all corners of Runeterra, it also mints its own currency within the city region. The main currency of Piltover are Golden Hexes (the name originates from the word Hextech), Silver Cogs (or Silver Gears, both are slang terms for 'money' / 'cash'), and Bronze Washers. Due to the cities importantce as a trade hub, the currency has a very strong economic power around the world.
Merdarda Heirloom
To the wealthy clans of Piltover, sea-borne trade is key to their continued wealth. Detailed knowledge of the ocean's many trade routes and city ports (as well the people who control them) is jealously guarded and passed down only to worthy heirs. Over the many years of his life, Jago Medarda has sailed far and wide to secure Clan Medarda's fortune, and his well-traveled - and oft-amended - map offers many clues to those seeking their fortune upon the high seas.

Technology
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Hextech
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Artifice
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Atlas Gauntlets
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Dusk-Runner
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Dusk-Runner
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Ekalavya's Hexbow
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Hextech Cube Battery
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Hextech Guns
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Pneuma-Tube Conduit
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Star Rods
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Vishlaa's Hexlyene Caliver
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Windmill
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A Piano and A Chandelier
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A Culture Of Innovation
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Crackling Platbot
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Porobot
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Assembly Bot
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Plaza Guardian
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Parade Electrorig
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T-Hex
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Mk0: Windup Shredder
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Mk1: Wrenchbot
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Mk2: Evolution Turret
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Mk3: Floor-B-Gone
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Mk4: Apex Turret
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Mk5: Rocket Blaster
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Mk6: Stormlobber
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Mk7: Armored Stomper
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Piltover Peacemaker
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Flashbomb Trap
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Hydraulic Battering Ram
Piltover and Zaun do not have mass production or factories for their most stellar inventions - hextech in particular is made by talented craftspeople who have studied for years. But not all creations from both cities are genuine in design or function. Some inventions are fraudulent knockoffs designed to extort the naive and gullible.
- Hextech: A is the newly emergent fusion of magic and technology used to create exquisite artifacts that can be wielded by anyone, not just those few with a natural aptitude for the arcane. It harnesses the magical power contained within extremely rare crystals, and its power is limited only by the imagination of their users. It is capable of amazing feats, from powering machinery to creating beams of light capable of cutting the strongest steel. The process of crafting hextech is a closely guarded secret, and no two artificers work to the same methodology. As such, each item of hextech is a unique artifact of rare beauty, a bespoke creation that will likely have taken years to craft.
- Disk-Runner: A one-wheeled vehicle with a built in seat, controls, and lighting.
- Pneuma-Tube Conduit: Used for transporting sealed messages between the Commercia Halls, a tangled network of vacuum pipers threads the city, allowing extremely rapid communication across Piltover.
Tools
- Piano: A musical instrument used for both public and private entertainment.
- Tellstones: A variant of Tellstones called "King's Gambit" is played in
Demacia. It is named after a Demacian King Santon the Great. King Santon of Demacia avoided civil war with a game of Tellstones, saving thousands of lives. Despite the game's popularity across Runeterra, no one seems to know where Tellstones originated. There is a variant of Tellstones played by the
Dauntless Vanguard and they use it to settle disputes within the ranks.
Church of the Glorious Evolved

(by Riot Artist Gabriel Yeganyan)
“ | "Join the glorious evolution." |
— | |
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The Church of the Glorious Evolved is popular in both Piltover and Zaun. The church, views flesh as inferior to steel and metal and advocates the use of techmaturgy to purge the weakness and inefficiency of flesh.
Some members of the church (and Zaun in general) see
as a messianic figure, however he couldn't care less for them, viewing their quasi-religious cult as an aberration and as another reason to eliminate emotional foibles and the belief in that which could not be empirically proven).Although it's unclear if she's a member,
is a respected individual by many in the church, which gives her leeway within it.The Church often takes in the sick, seeing the removal of dying flesh as a key to transforming a person's life and faith through technology.
The Gray Lady is the patron saint of this religion. Her stained glass window is the main focal point of the First Assemblage of the Glorious Evolved; her cloak is a mosaic of ash-violet glass, oxidized cogs, and blackened pistons. Her epithet is often invoked when an inventor feels at a loss. Hers is a blessing that often requires sacrifice. The Glorious Evolved celebrates the old Zaunite tradition of sacrificing something personal for Progress Day in the hopes the next iteration of invention will be better. This is a practice that can be traced back to the old days of the city, when the people of Zaun had to rebuild their lives after the devastation of “the incident.” The wealth and growth of Piltover on top of those scarred ruins served as evidence to many that the tradition had merit.
Camille has adopted the moniker of “The Gray Lady” but she is not to be confused with the figure.
Tahm Kench
Once the Sun Gates opened easy trade from
Jubilee

A local festival dating back several thousand years, the Jubilee has been celebrated every quarter century to give thanks for the sea and the bounty it brings. For modern Piltovans, this is a quaint and happy excuse for traditionally themed feasting. For Zaunites, it has become a more somber observance.
Progress Day
For the story, see Progress Day. For the Legends of Runeterra card, see LoR:Progress Day!.


Progress Day is an annual festival of Piltover and Zaun. The main focus of this event is the celebration of the city's technological progress. On this day, many awards and promotions are given to the brightest minds from all across Runeterra who are willing to contribute to the advancement of the city, as well as the showcase of new innovations all across the city.
In Piltover, Progress Day marks the moment the Sun Gates opened for the first time, allowing trade to pass easily between the east and west of Valoran. It also marks the moment when taxation on that trade turned the trickle of gold entering the city's coffers into a fast flowing river. But below in Zaun, it is a day to remember those lost in the geological upheaval that created the east–west passage and submerged entire districts underwater.
This day is also when Piltover's apprentas are received on auditions in the Mercantile Clans, the best of the best are selected to join the rich positions of the clan, working with the best Piltover can offer.
In the Arcane, Progress Day remains mostly the same Piltovan holiday. However it only marks the day of the cities founding, since the Sun Gates don't exist.
Roguery Night
Roguery Night is a barely tolerated annual tradition where youthful girls and boys throughout Piltover play practical jokes on their family and neighbors.Government
In order to improve the city-state's social and environmental well-being, clans constantly strive to implement their nation's rapid scientific innovations. While a greater flow of traffic and profit may not be their sole motivation, more recently Clan Medarda has convinced them to invest a fortune into harnessing the power of hextech, to speed the opening and closing of the Sun Gates. Since the citizens tend to be keen and idealistic, to date there has been little opposition voiced. Piltover is also one among Valoran's least militarized city-states, and also one of its most trusting. Despite that, the city boasts a warship squadron for the protection of the Sun Gates.
Piltover Council

In Arcane, Piltover is run by a council of the richest and most influential mercantile clans. There had been seven set seats on the Council and some such as have served on the Council since the city's founding. When Zaun stole a Hextech gemstone and Hextech research, the Council feared that Zaun could weaponize Hextech against Piltover. Although irregular, the Council voted to elevate House Talis and grant the eighth seat on the Council—since they believed Jayce's scientific expertise would suffice in securing the city. It's also possible to vote a Council member out of the Council although the motion would have to be unanimous.
Mercantile Clans
- Main article: Mercantile Clans of Piltover
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Lord Arvino's untimely death thrusted his sheltered daughter Sofia into leading one of the richest families in Piltover. She had fallen in love with Marko Volkage, a Zaunite chem-baron trying to gain power in Piltover. They planned an engagement in a Zaun cultivar, but it was cut short when assassinated Volkage. Camille then made a deal with the intelligencer of House Arvino, Adalbert, to keep Sofia out of trouble. |
House Bolbok was a family with business connections to the influential guild merchant . After Irius's death, another member of House Bolbok replaced him as councilor.
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Uberti was the first to design the self-locomotor, but rumor has it that one of Clan Medarda's agents stole some schematics of this project, leading to the creation of a self-locomotor in Clan Medarda's mansion. Clan Torek also tried to convince Uberti to join it, and it is unknown which clan she is in.
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"For family, will I give." Clan Ferros stands as one of the oldest mercantile clans within the city, boasting a lineage that predates even the Rune Wars era, back when the city was known as |
Jayce earned the honor of being the youngest apprenta to ever be offered patronage by Clan Giopara, one of Piltover's most respected ruling clans. He spent most of his early years constructing potential hextech devices and designing transformable multi-tools for Piltover's working class. Ferros would later outbit Giopara and take Jayce as their apprenta. | |
A well known clan that refused a Zaunite boy for apprenticeship, after which Boswell Holloran almost died from a fall from a that launched him off his balcony.
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House Hoskel was a family with business connections to
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The Kirammans are a wealthy and influential family of hextech artificers. They are also known for their lavish lifestyle of hunting in the wilder lands outside of Piltover.
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This section serves only as a brief reference to the Medarda family. For more detailed information, see House Medarda. | |
House Salo held large sway over the mercantile clans of Piltover, with Councilor Salo conspiring with
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House Shoola is a family with a seat on the Piltover Council. By the end of the martial law period, Councilor Shoola was the only remaining councilor from the original batch. | |
In
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Colors: Blue, Gold |
Clan Tariost is a powerhouse in the shipping trade. Lady Aurelie fell in love with Karvyq the Silverhanded during the last Jubilee, but the clan did not approve of his low standing. After Aurelie passed away, Karvyq stole her ashes to honor a promise he made that day.
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Academy of Techmaturgy
The Academy is an institution that formed and controls the College Of Techmaturgy.
Piltover Wardens

The Wardens are the men and women tasked with maintaining the rule of law in Piltover. The organization is funded by trade taxes and 'voluntary' contributions from the mercantile clans, outfitting the Wardens with uniforms and equipment. Many of these donations take the form of unique hextech, such as specialized weaponry or other devices.
Piltovan Bureau of Safety Inspections
This Safety Bureau is tasked at monitoring and regulating all building activities within Piltover. Unregulated hardware is confiscated and the individual is fined and/or imprisoned by the Piltover Wardens depending on the severity of the crime.
Piltover Explorers Guild
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Charming Guildmember
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Creature Cataloguer
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Zalies' Bizarre Bazaar
A guild meant for those Piltovians who hunger to see Runeterra and it's wonders for themselves. In order to get an official membership, one must present great archeology works, long lost artifacts or journals detailing journeys throughout Runeterra most mysterious places.
They are tasked at funding, monitoring, and acquiring archaeological artifacts from its guild members from across Runeterra. These artifacts are later used for research or placed in one of many Piltover museums.
Relations
To the wealthy clans of Piltover, sea-borne trade is key to their continued wealth. Detailed knowledge of the ocean's many trade routes and city ports (as well as the people who control them) is jealously guarded and passed down only to worthy heirs. Over the years, Jago Medarda has sailed far and wide to secure Clan Medarda's fortune, and his well-traveled - and oft-amended - map offers many clues to those seeking their fortune upon the high seas.
Aurma
Piltover trading families have close trading ties with the city-state nation of Aurma, such as Clan Medarda with Mistress Arathmae. One of the nations more well known exports to Piltover are Roes and leathers.
Bilgewater
As Runeterra's biggest black market, Bilgewater trades all manner of illicit hextech pilfered from Piltover. The Sun Gates allowed Bilgewater to prosper as a haven for pirates and reavers who prey on ships traveling to and from Piltover.
Demacia
Piltover and Demacia may have their differences, but the two nations are on relatively friendly terms. Scientists from the City of Progress are usually welcomed inside Demacia. However, should the scientists wish to perform experiments there, they must first get clearance from Demacian officials.
Holdrum
Piltover trading families have close trading ties with the city-state nation of Holdrum, such as Clan Medarda with Lord Brannin of Sea. One of the nations more well known exports to Piltover are pearls and fish sauce.
Ixtal
In recent times, Ixtali have had an unwelcoming contact with the nation of Piltover. The Piltover Explorers Guild has delved into the Jungle in search of arcane treasures, only to vanish without a trace (due to the wildlife, or the Ixtali defending their borders). However, due to the actions of , Piltover has found out about the existence of this hidden nation.
Kumangra
Piltover trading families have close trading ties with the city-state nation of Kumangra, such as Clan Medarda with individual known as Panaris. One of the nations more well known exports to Piltover are Song birds from the famous Kumangra Song-Market District, though trading families have a hard time at holding contracts in this nation due to the fickle nature of Kumangrans.
Mudtown
Piltover trading families have close trading ties with the city-state nation of Mudtown, such as Clan Medarda with individual known as Sallie One-Eye. One of the nations more well known exports to Piltover are materials for red-shale bricks as well as Nirpooti fruit.
Noxus
As the most expansive nation on Runeterra, Noxus heavily relies on the crucial port of Piltover to connect its land in Valoran and its territory in northern Shurima. Due to the neutral city's strategic location, many Noxian shadow agents have infiltrated all levels of Piltover's society in order to prepare the empire for a possible future invasion.
Palclyff
Piltover trading families have close trading ties with the city-state nation of Palclyff, such as Clan Medarda with Foreman Piarre Yaeshiff. One of the nations more well known exports to Piltover are weapons, armor, and .
Shurima
Piltover trading families have close trading ties with the cities of Shurima, such as Kalamanda, Urzeris, Nashramae, Tereshni, and Bel'Zhun. The City itself was built on top of an old Shuriman outpost known as Oshra Va'Zaun. Individuals, organizations, and trading families have frequently exploited the nations natural resources such as Hextech Crystals and Ancient Shuriman Tombs. The Piltover Explorers Guild is infamous for hiring explorers in search of old Shuriman artifacts and relics.
Stonewall
Piltover trading families have close trading ties with the city-state nation of Stonewall, such as Clan Medarda with Councilman Aj Ni Noorin. One of the nations more well known exports to Piltover are Dunpor milk and curds.
Zaun
As the two leading city-states in the development of hextech, Zaun and Piltover have a deep competitive rivalry, both vying to be the ones directing the future of techmaturgy on Runeterra. Smuggling campaigns are frequently orchestrated by Zaunite thieves; the valuable technologies obtained are then later sold on the black market all across Runeterra. The two cities also share deep historical, social, and cultural connections, as Piltover (literally and figuratively) rose from the foundations of Zaun.
Trivia

- Piltover was inspired by Decopunk and Steampunk fantasy genres.
- Most of Piltover's interiors have a distinct Art Deco style to them, while the exterior architecture is a mix between Art Deco and Steampunk. This mix between artistic styles can clearly seen on the crest of The Piltover Police Department as well as the
Arcane series.[22]
- Other video game cities that share the same fantasy genres and similar designs of Piltover are Columbia, in which is from the Bioshock series. The city is a huge inspiration off of 1893 Chicago with its architecture texture and it connection with its Underworld history.
- The Debonair and Hextech skin lines reflect this artistic design choice. It is also noted that follows this trend as well.
- Piltover may be a wordplay on Poltava (variants: Vltava, Ltava, Fuldaha, Moldau, etc.), loaned into Common Slavonic from Old High German wilt ahwa "wild ea" (stream).
- Most of Piltover's interiors have a distinct Art Deco style to them, while the exterior architecture is a mix between Art Deco and Steampunk. This mix between artistic styles can clearly seen on the crest of The Piltover Police Department as well as the

- In Season 2019, the ranked emblems for the League system were redesigned. Piltover represents the emblem for the
Silver rank.
- Piltover has even made huge strides in developing and machines that make life easier. However these contraptions are not quite robotics in the modern sense- these golems aren't programmed with code, and they are each bespoke, one-of-a-kind creations made by expert artisans.
- The clans of Piltover jealously guard their secretes, their supplies and the craft for making machinery around tapping into magical power.
- Residence of Piltover are referred to as "Piltovans" or "Piltovians".
- Some of Zaun's citizens refer to Piltovans as "Pilties".
- The sea level is different on one side of the channel that divides Piltover. For ships to cross from one side to the other an impressive contraption capable of lifting and lowering boats was constructed.
- In an effort to find new wealth in foreign countries the Ferros Clan led by Elicia Ferros (Shurima there they found crystal . Only a few were brought back to Piltover and then used to fuel early Hextech devices. ancestor) went on an expedition to
- Main article: Arcane (Universe)
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Hextech Alistar
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Hextech Amumu
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Hextech Anivia
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Hextech Annie
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Piltover Customs Blitzcrank
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Crime City Braum
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Officer Caitlyn
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Pulsefire Caitlyn
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Arcane: Enforcer Caitlyn
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Arcane: Commander Caitlyn
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Prestige Arcane: Commander Caitlyn
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Hot Rod Corki
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Pulsefire Ekko
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Safecracker Evelynn and Pickpocket Twitch
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Debonair Ezreal
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Debonair Galio
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Hextech Galio
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Steel Legion Garen
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Crime City Graves
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Piltover Customs Heimerdinger
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Aviator Irelia
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Hextech Janna
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Hextech Jarvan IV
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Debonair Jayce
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Arcane: Inventor Jayce
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Crime City Jinx
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Hextech Kassadin
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Hextech Kog'Maw
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Steel Legion Lux
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Arcane: Councilor Mel
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Crime City Miss Fortune
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Secret Agent Miss Fortune
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Hextech Nocturne
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Hextech Poppy
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Hextech Rammus
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Hextech Sejuani
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Hextech Singed
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Hextech Sion
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Hextech Swain
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Hextech Tristana
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Captain Volibear and Constable Trundle
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Crime City Twitch
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Debonair Vi
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Officer Vi
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Arcane: Undercity Vi
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Secret Agent Xin Zhao
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Hextech Ziggs
Media
- Related Music
- Related Videos
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Old Piltover crest
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Old Piltover skyline 1
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Old Piltover skyline 2
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Piltover "CONV/RGENCE" Concept
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Piltover and Zaun "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 1
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Piltover and Zaun "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 2
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Piltover and Zaun "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 3
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Piltover and Zaun "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 4
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Caitlyn "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 1 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Caitlyn "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 2 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Ezreal "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 1 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Ezreal "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 2 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Heimerdinger "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 1 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Heimerdinger "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 2 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Jayce "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 1 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Jayce "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 2 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Vi "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 1 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Vi "Legends of Runeterra" Illustration 2 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Piltover "Legends of Runeterra" Concept 1 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Piltover "Legends of Runeterra" Concept 2 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Piltover "Legends of Runeterra" Concept 3 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Piltover "Legends of Runeterra" Concept 4 (by Riot Contracted Artists Sixmorevodka Studio)
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Piltover Hextech Language 1
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Piltover Hextech Language 2
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Piltover Merry-Go-Round
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Piltover Sentry Bots
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Heimerdinger's Laboratory, Piltover
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The Heist Promo 3 (by Riot Contracted Artist Rachel J. Corey)
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Piltover clock concept art 1 (by Riot Artist Alexandr Pechenkin)
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Piltover clock concept art 2 (by Riot Artist Alexandr Pechenkin)
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Piltover Bobby Concept (by Riot Artist Jonboy Meyers)
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Piltover Gifre Concept (by Riot Artist Jonboy Meyers)
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Piltover "Awaken" Concept 1 (by Riot Artist Efflam 'Du Couteau' Mercier)
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Piltover "Awaken" Concept 2 (by Riot Artist Efflam 'Du Couteau' Mercier)
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Piltover "Awaken" Concept 3 (by Riot Artist Jason Chan)
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Piltover "Awaken" Concept 4 (by Riot Artist Jason Chan)
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Piltover in the Book of Thresholds 1
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Piltover in the Book of Thresholds 2
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Piltover in the Book of Thresholds 3
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Piltover and Zaun Map 1
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Piltover and Zaun Map 2
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Pilt River Map
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Piltover "True Genius" Illustration
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Piltover "True Genius" Concept 1 (by Riot Contracted Artist Roman Chaliy)
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Piltover "True Genius" Concept 2 (by Riot Contracted Artist Roman Chaliy)
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Piltover "True Genius" Concept 3 (by Riot Contracted Artist Roman Chaliy)
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Piltover "The Jubilee Job" Illustration 1
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Piltover "The Jubilee Job" Illustration 2
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Professor Von Yipp "To Herd A Cat" Illustration (by Riot Contracted Artists Grafit Studio)
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Blitzcrank "Ensemble" Illustration (by Riot Contracted Artist Rachel J. Corey)
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Camille "Severed Ties" Cover (by Riot Artist Jason Chan)
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Camille "Lore Patch Notes" Illustration (by Riot Contracted Artists Mitchell Malloy, Forrest Imel, Maddie Julyk)
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Dr. Mundo and Ekko "Do No Harm" Illustration (by Riot Contracted Artist Rachel J. Corey)
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Ekko "Lullaby" Illustration (by Riot Contracted Artist Katherine 'Suqling' Su)
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Ekko "Chronobreak" Cover (by Riot Artist Jason Chan)
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Ekko "Chronobreak" Concept 1 (by Riot Artist Jason Chan)
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Ekko "Chronobreak" Concept 2 (by Riot Artist Jason Chan)
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Ekko "Chronobreak" Concept 3 (by Riot Artist Jason Chan)
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Ekko "Seconds" Concept 1 (by Riot Artist Gabriel Yeganyan)
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Ekko "Seconds" Concept 2 (by Riot Artist Gabriel Yeganyan)
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Ekko "Seconds" Concept 3 (by Riot Artist Gabriel Yeganyan)
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Ekko "Seconds" Concept 4 (by Riot Artist Gabriel Yeganyan)
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Ekko "Seconds" Concept 5 (by Riot Artist Geoffroy Thoorens)
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Ekko "Seconds" Concept 6 (by Riot Artist Alexandr 'LittleDruid' Pechenkin)
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Ekko "Seconds" Concept 7 (by Riot Artist Alexandr 'LittleDruid' Pechenkin)
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Ezreal "An Explorers Journey" Illustration 1 (by Riot Contracted Artist Grace Kum)
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Ezreal "An Explorers Journey" Illustration 2 (by Riot Contracted Artist Grace Kum)
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Ezreal "An Explorers Journey" Illustration 3 (by Riot Contracted Artist Grace Kum)
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Ezreal "The Elixir of Uloa" Illustration 1 (by Riot Contracted Artist Maddie Julyk)
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Ezreal "The Elixir of Uloa" Illustration 2
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Ezreal "The Curator's Gambit" Illustration (by Riot Contracted Artist Maddie Julyk)
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Janna "Deep Breath" Illustration (by Riot Contracted Artist Two Bart)
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Jayce "A Quick Fix" Illustration (by Riot Contracted Artist Megan 'ZeOcelot' O'Rourke)
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Jinx "X WUZ HERE" Illustration 1 (by Riot Artist Katie 'TeaTime' De Sousa)
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Jinx "X WUZ HERE" Illustration 2 (by Riot Artist Katie 'TeaTime' De Sousa)
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Jinx "Mayhem Everywhere You Look" Illustration 1 (by Riot Artist Katie 'TeaTime' De Sousa)
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Jinx "Mayhem Everywhere You Look" Illustration 2 (by Riot Artist Katie 'TeaTime' De Sousa)
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Jinx "The Wedding Crasher" Illustration (by Riot Contracted Artist Katherine 'Suqling' Su)
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Malphite "Roots of a Poisoned Tree" Illustration (by Riot Artist Jason Nguyen)
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Orianna "Fieram" Illustration (by Riot Contracted Artist Katherine 'Suqling' Su)
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Qiyana "Fit to Rule" Illustration 1 (by Riot Contracted Artist Ian Su)
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Qiyana "Fit to Rule" Illustration 2 (by Riot Contracted Artist Ian Su)
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Seraphine "Standing Room Only" Illustration (by Riot Contracted Artists Grafit Studio)
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Singed and Warwick "Engineering the Nightmare" Illustration 1 (by Riot Artist Mitchell Malloy)
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Singed and Warwick "Engineering the Nightmare" Illustration 2 (by Riot Artist Mitchell Malloy)
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Singed and Warwick "Engineering the Nightmare" Illustration 3 (by Riot Artist Mitchell Malloy)
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Singed and Warwick "Engineering the Nightmare" Illustration 4 (by Riot Artist Mitchell Malloy)
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Singed and Warwick "Engineering the Nightmare" Illustration 5 (by Riot Artist Mitchell Malloy)
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Singed and Warwick "Engineering the Nightmare" Illustration 6 (by Riot Artist Mitchell Malloy)
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Singed and Warwick "Engineering the Nightmare" Illustration 7 (by Riot Artist Mitchell Malloy)
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Singed and Warwick "Engineering the Nightmare" Illustration 8 (by Riot Artist Mitchell Malloy)
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Vi "Interrogation 101" Illustration (by Riot Artist Megan 'ZeOcelot' O'Rourke)
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Vi "Child of Zaun" Illustration (by Riot Contracted Artists Grafit Studio)
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Warwick Update Promo Concept 1 (by Riot Artist Gabriel Yeganyan)
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Warwick Update Promo Concept 2 (by Riot Artist Gabriel Yeganyan)
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Warwick Update Promo Concept 3
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Warwick Update Promo Concept 4
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Warwick Update Promo Concept 5
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Warwick Update Promo Concept 6
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Warwick Update Promo Concept 7
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Warwick Update Promo Concept 8 (by Riot Artist Larry 'TheBravoRay' Ray)
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Warwick Update Promo Concept 9 (by Riot Artist Larry 'TheBravoRay' Ray)
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Warwick Update Promo Concept 10
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Ziggs and Jinx "Paint the Town" Cover 1 (by Riot Contracted Artists Fábio Moon and Dave Stewart)
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Ziggs and Jinx "Paint the Town" Cover 2 (by Riot Contracted Artists Fábio Moon and Dave Stewart)
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Piltover "Bridge of Progress ARAM Mode" Concept 1 (by Riot Artist Igor Artyomenko)
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Piltover "Bridge of Progress ARAM Mode" Concept 2 (by Riot Artist Igor Artyomenko)
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Bridge of Progress "Red/Chaos/Piltover's side" Concept (by Riot Artist Igor Artyomenko)
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Bridge of Progress "Blue/Orden/Zaun's side" Concept (by Riot Artist Igor Artyomenko)
See also
References
- ↑ Piltover - LeagueOfLegends.com
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Arcane: Season 1, Episode 2: Some Mysteries Are Better Left Unsolved
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Arcane: Season 1, Episode 6: When These Walls Come Tumbling Down
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Arcane: Season 1, Episode 9: The Monster You Created
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Arcane: Season 1, Episode 3: The Base Violence Necessary for Change
- ↑ Arcane: Season 1, Episode 1: Welcome to the Playground
- ↑ The Council Archives: The Grand Conspiracy
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Arcane: Season 1, Episode 4: Happy Progress Day!
- ↑ Arcane: Season 1, Episode 7: The Boy Savior
- ↑ Arcane: Season 1, Episode 5: Everybody Wants to Be My Enemy
- ↑ Arcane: Season 1, Episode 8: Oil and Water
- ↑ Arcane: Season 2, Episode 1: Heavy Is The Crown
- ↑ Arcane: Season 2, Episode 3: Finally Got the Name Right
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Arcane: Season 2, Episode 4: Paint The Town Blue
- ↑ Arcane: Season 2, Episode 5: Blisters And Bedrock
- ↑ Arcane: Season 2, Episode 6: The Message Hidden Within The Pattern
- ↑ Arcane: Season 2, Episode 8: Killing Is A Cycle
- ↑ Arcane: Season 2, Episode 9: The Dirt Under Your Nails
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Herald of the Arcane
- ↑ Elisabeth Vincentelli, The Art and Making of Arcane - League of Legends. p. 20 (November 2024), San Rafael, California, Editorial Insight Editions, First edition, ISBN: 979-8-88663-335-1.
- ↑ Elisabeth Vincentelli, The Art and Making of Arcane - League of Legends. p. 47 (November 2024), San Rafael, California, Editorial Insight Editions, First edition, ISBN: 979-8-88663-335-1.
- ↑ The Art of Arcane: How the hit series exploded animation’s possibilities for gaming. By Rafael Motamayor - netflixqueue.com/