The most popular League of Legends skin was released nearly 10 years ago
Recently, a ranking of the most popular League of Legends skins according to statistics from Op.gg was published, and the results were not surprising to many. Specifically, names like Spirit Blossom Yasuo, Cowboy Lucian, and Void Reaver Zed occupy the top spots. While the absolute accuracy of this ranking is still a topic of discussion, many opinions agree that the top 1-2 positions are indisputable.
Ranking of the top 5 most popular skins.
Looking at the list of top skins, a core commonality is evident: they are all Legendary skins designed for champions with large player bases. However, these skins were released a long time ago. Specifically, Spirit Blossom Yasuo debuted in 2017, while Cowboy Lucian was released in 2018, with these two skins occupying the top two positions.
Spirit Blossom Yasuo Skin.
Of course, since the voting is based on subjective feelings, it has to rely on players’ perceptions. And certainly, many players admit that when using the Spirit Blossom Yasuo or Cowboy Lucian skins, the feeling of “power” and smooth effects are distinctly superior. In fact, these two skins are often used when these champions appear in professional tournaments.
But it also shows a regression factor from Riot in creating League of Legends skins
Nevertheless, the ranking also indicates that the skins released later, which Riot invested more in, are not as popular as expected. In fact, there are no skins from after 2020 in the ranking, even those that are of the same Divine tier as Spirit Blossom Yasuo or Cowboy Lucian.
Many players admit that Cowboy Lucian feels the “coolest” and has the smoothest effects among Lucian’s skins.
The success of these skins is not coincidental. It is the result of a formula combining: choosing a champion with high popularity, investing quality in Legendary tier to drastically change the gaming experience. But it also shows how much Riot used to invest in their skins back in the day.