On November 23, Netflix wrapped up the second season of the animated series Arcane, created by Fortiche Studio in collaboration with Riot Games. The show explored the stories of sisters Jinx and Vi, the interactions between the cities of Piltover and Zaun, and provided deeper insight into the personas of other LoL characters.

Beyond its storytelling, Arcane has greatly influenced the future of both the League of Legends animation universe and the game itself. Riot has already begun introducing new champions from Arcane into LoL, such as Ambessa Medarda, and it seems inevitable they will do the same with her daughter, Mel Medarda. This article focuses on the latter.

We’ll delve into why Mel Medarda is highly likely to be the next LoL champion set to be released in 2025, speculate on her abilities (hints of which we saw in Arcane Season 2), and consider her role in the game.

Mel Medarda Potential Abilities: Shields, Magic, and Metamorphoses

Credit: Netflix

In Arcane, Mel Medarda is portrayed as a member of the renowned and powerful Noxian Medarda clan. She is one of the central figures in the series and serves on Piltover’s ruling council. As early as the end of the first season, Mel demonstrated untapped potential when she inadvertently saved the Piltover council from what could have been a fatal outcome.

Even back in 2021, during Arcane Season 1, it was hinted that Mel could have at least one defensive ability if she were added to the game. Her storyline expands further in Arcane Season 2, revealing even more skills she develops with the help of the Black Rose, a secret society of Noxian mages led by LeBlanc.

The connection between Mel and the Black Rose suggests that she, unlike her mother Ambessa Medarda, relies on magic rather than brute force in combat. This is evident in her abilities showcased in the ninth episode of Arcane Season 2, “Dirt Under Your Nails,” during her battle with her mother.

From this scene, we can infer several of Mel’s abilities:

1. Shielding Ability: This was already implied at the end of Season 1. Her shield could function similarly to Karma’s or the summoner spell Barrier but with an added effect, such as deflecting projectiles.
2. Rooting Mechanic: One of her abilities may resemble LeBlanc’s Ethereal Chains, providing crowd control and immobilization effects.
3. AOE Light Explosion: During the fight scene involving Mel, Caitlyn, and Ambessa Medarda, Mel uses an area-of-effect light burst to deal damage, which could be another potential ability in her arsenal.

The most intriguing aspect is her potential ultimate ability, which could take one of two directions:

• Transformation: Mel’s glowing golden lines of energy, her illuminated eyes, and empowered state in Arcane strongly hint at a transformative ability.
• Black Rose Magic: In Arcane S2 Episode 8, Mel accepts an offer from the Black Rose to join their order and receives a magical amulet. In the season finale, she uses this amulet to trap her mother in another dimension, where Ambessa encounters a Black Rose member (likely LeBlanc). Mel later releases her mother through this transformation.

Credit: Netflix

Based on her lore and abilities, Mel Medarda appears to resemble Karma but with a unique twist, emphasizing her connection to the Black Rose and her distinct backstory.

Mel Medarda in League of Legends: Potential Role

Having analyzed Mel Medarda’s potential abilities, let’s consider her role in the game. The most likely position for Mel would be as a support champion in the bot lane. Riot Games seems to hint at this in Arcane Episode 9, where Mel supports Caitlyn (a marksman) during combat with shields and other abilities, standing in the backline.

The support role would be an ideal fit for Mel if she becomes the next LoL champion. Recent champions added to the game include Ambessa (a top laner), Aurora (flex pick for top and mid), and Smolder (flex pick for mid, top, and ADC). It’s been a while since Riot introduced a dedicated support or jungler champion, though jungle players may have to wait a little longer.

Aside from being a support, Mel Medarda could potentially play solo lanes, similar to Karma. This will ultimately depend on how players choose to use her kit.

Mel Medarda Release Date in LoL

As of now, there is no confirmed release date for Mel Medarda in LoL. However, it’s clear that she won’t arrive in 2024. A more realistic and logical release window would be the first quarter of 2025.

In the 2025 season, Riot Games plans to introduce significant updates to LoL, dividing the year into three splits. Each split will have its own storyline tied to a specific region or event in the LoL universe. The first ranked split of 2025 is set to focus on Noxus, making it the perfect time to release Mel, who hails from this region.

This is how we envision Mel Medarda as a new LoL champion, likely joining the roster in the early months of 2025. Stay tuned with EGamersWorld LoL to keep up with the latest League of Legends news!