The story of Netflix’sArcanesurrounds the two nations of Zaun and Piltover, with each possessing its own power establishments, history, and characters based onLeague of Legends' many champions. Since the beginning of the show, the story has not moved beyond the confines of these two cities, focusing entirely onArcane’sLeague of Legendschampionswho hail from Zaun and Piltover. Although some minor changes have been made to these characters from the lore established in the source material,Arcaneseason 2, Act I’s endingmoved them ever closer to their counterparts.
Set in the mythical world of Runeterra, the history betweenArcane’s twin cities has long been brewing into outright war, withArcaneseason 1’s cliffhanger endingpromising exactly that. The forces at work in Zaun struck out against Piltover in the most deadly way yet, bringing to question the reasons why this conflict is even happening in the first place. As is the case with many national disputes, the Piltover-Zaun war centers on the complex history between the two, their respective power bases and what they stand for, and the many figures ofArcane’s cast of charactersat their center.
Piltover Is A Wealthy Nation Of Progess In Runeterra…
Beginning with Piltover, it is safe to say this nation holds the majority of power inArcane’s central conflict.The reason for this stems purely from the fact that Piltover is a wealthy nation that desires progress, trade, and the growth of its social and economic statusabove all else. In bothArcaneandLeague of Legends, Piltover is dubbed a city of progress and innovation, housing the smartest inventors and craftsmen in all of Runeterra. Piltover exists on the continent of Valoran and is heralded as the cultural center of this landmass due to the aforementioned art, craftsmanship, trade, and innovation it possesses.
Hextech gave the people of Piltover the ability to harness the magical elements of Runeterra - known by the titular word of Arcane - into incredible technological marvels…
Although Piltover was always a beacon of these values, it became even more influential due to the development ofArcane’s Hextech inventions. Led by Jayce and Viktor, two ofArcane’s central characters, Hextech gave the people of Piltover the ability to harness the magical elements of Runeterra - known by the titular word of Arcane - into incredible technological marvels. This rocketed Piltover to become everything it was known for thanks to Hexgates, which allowed worldwide travel, trade, and inventions from across the world to be improved via Hextech. From then on, Piltover became known as the City of Progress.
And Zaun Is Its Destitute Undercity
Zaun, on the other hand, is the undercity of Piltover. Located beneath the wealthy city in the canyons and valleys that thread Piltover, Zaun has been both a victim and beneficiary of Piltover’s development. However, Zaun is primarily categorized as the former over the latter. Piltover’s success led many factories to be built above Zaun, with the smog and pollution being redirected underground and, thus, to Zaun. This led toArcane’s thick smog known as The Gray, pollution that has infiltrated Zaun. While Piltover’s inventions filtered The Gray away from Zaun, the undercity remains second-best to its sister nation.
InArcane’s story,the people of Zaun have suffered under Piltover’s innovations. The pollution that saw Piltover’s citizens prosper - combined with drugs like Shimmer - had an adverse effect on Zaun’s citizens, with deformities, poor bodily functions, and cybernetic enhancements becoming commonplace. Moreover, Zaun’s general quality of life is nothing compared to Piltover’s, with the denizens of the former growing to resent the latter and vice versa, as a class war began to develop.
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That said, this troublesome life saw many from Zaun grow to be hardy people. On top of this, the wealth of Piltover and the many inventions of Zaun’s sister city saw it develop too, only as a mirror of Piltover’s supposed light and innovation. The development of Hextech and other creations eventually found their way to Zaun’s black markets, and the genius inventors of the undercity grew equal in intelligence to those above ground. Eventually,the people of Zaun began to find ways to match those of Piltover, leading toArcane’s war growing out of control.
Piltover & Zaun Have Often Been Locked In A Perpetual Class War
The Differences Between The Cities Have Been Slowly Reaching Boiling Point
As alluded to, the success of Piltover and the negative effects this has had on the people of Zaun has led to a perpetual class war being formed. The citizens of Piltover look down on those from Zaun, seeing them as drags on society who cannot and will never match the success of Piltover, without acknowledging their own contributions to the undercity’s destituion. Similarly, many Zaunites despite Piltover and its people, viewing both as big reasons for the undercity’s poor living conditions.
For the most part inArcane’s history, this class divide has mostly been realized as a cold war of sorts. Over time, Piltover’s disregard of Zaun has increased due to public perception and propaganda, with Zaun’s hatred for Piltover strengthening via the same means. That said, asArcane’s story involving Vander and Silcoshowcased, this conflict did boil over once.
Vander and Silco grew up as brothers, wishing for Zaun to be an independent nation that could become more than simply an afterthought of Piltover’s ruling houses.
The duo, dreaming of a better future for Zaun, attempted to lead a revolt against Piltover, resulting in the deaths of many Zaunites. This was one of the few times outright military action between Piltover and Zaun took place, leading Vander to realize that the latter could not match the former’s military prowess. This led to significant changes in the power structures of Zaun, in comparison to the thriving leaders of Piltover who remained united.
Piltover (& Zaun) Is Led By A Council Of Powerful Representatives
Piltover’s Ruling Houses & Influential People Make Decisions For Both Nations
The power of Piltover, and Zaun by extension, is exerted by a council of powerful representatives. These representatives often come from the powerful houses that reside in Piltover, such asArcane’s Kiramman family, for example. Some other representatives can simply be those of great influence. Examples include Heimerdinger, who contributed to building Piltover and whose long life sees his wisdom invaluable to the council, and Jayce, the inventor of Hextech, who gained immeasurable power because of this. This council makes choices for both Piltover and Zaun, but the latter is often disregarded as an afterthought.
Zaun’s Power Is Split Between Gangs & Other Influential People
Piltover’s Disregard Of Zaun Leads The Latter To Find Its Own Powerful Individuals
Zaun is supposed to be ruled by Piltover’s council too, yet the ever-increasing gulf between the sister cities saw other powerful people gain influence over the Zaunites. Some of these have already been mentioned, including Silco and Vander. InArcane, Silco amasses a power base over Zaun’s people by collectively gathering crime bosses known as Chem-Barons under his rule. Vander, on the other hand, was followed due to his decency, but also his equal strength. After the death of both inArcane, Zaun suffered from a power vacuum.
What Happened To Silco In Arcane
Silco had a huge effect on Piltover, Zaun, Jinx, and Arcane as a whole, but what happened to him, and how will he continue to shape Runeterra?
Silco wanted Zaun’s powerful influencers to rule it as an independent nation, a dream that Vander shared once. However, after Vander attempted a revolt, he realized Zaun could not compete with Piltover and made deals with the enforcers of the latter to keep Zaunites from rebelling in exchange for their safety. Silco devolved into extremism, leading to the escalation of the war shown inArcaneseasons 1 and 2. InArcaneseason 2’s story, the power vacuum left by Silco and Vander is somewhat filled by Jinx, the adoptive daughter of both whose goals link to anarchy.
League Of Legends Champions From Piltover
In the source material on whichArcaneis based, the online arena game known asLeague of Legends,many playable champions are said to hail from Piltover. Some of these champions are included inArcane, with their lore-based backgrounds fromLeague of Legendsbeing expanded for the story being told on Netflix. While not all Piltover champions feature inArcane, several of them are key to the show’s story.
“The Sheriff of Piltover”
“The Defender of Tomorrow”
“The Lady of Clockwork”
“The Starry-Eyed Songstress”
Vi’s Arcane Story Explained
Despite being officially linked with Piltover, Vi was born in Zaun. Her parents died in Vander’s revolution, leading the man to take in her and her sister, Powder. Eventually, Vi befriended many people from Piltover, including Caitlyn and Jayce, and disagreed with Silco’s extremist methods of making Zaun independent. InArcaneseason 2, Vi refuses to believe that Powder, now known as Jinx, is still inside, allying with Piltover’s enforcers to end Zaun’s extremist acts.
Caitlyn’s Arcane Story Explained
Caitlyn is the heir to House Kiramman, an influential family of Piltover. After befriending Vi and realizing that Silco, Jinx, and their operation were the key to stopping the conflict with Zaun, she was kidnapped by Jinx. Vi freed Caitlyn before Jinx destroyed Piltover’s council tower, killing Caitlyn’s mother, Cassandra.Arcaneseason 2 sees Caitlyn driven by rage and revenge, becoming more brutal towards the Zaunites and Jinx, driving a wedge between her and Vi. Caitlyn is appointed Piltover’s general, allowed to enact martial law against Zaun in the escalating war.
Jayce’s Arcane Story Explained
Jayce is introduced as a lowly inventor as part of Piltover’s academy inArcaneseason 1, determined to harness magic via science after being saved from a snowstorm by a mage as a young boy. Working alongside Viktor, Jayce eventually developed Hextech, becoming a councilor of Piltover and the figurehead of the city’s innovation. After being embroiled in the class war between Piltover and Zaun, Jayce campaigned for peace before Jinx’s attack on the council saw this rendered pointless. InArcaneseason 2, Jayce discovers that Hextech may be angering the Arcane world.
Heimerdinger’s Arcane Story Explained
Heimerdinger is the 300-year-old inventor, revered for his brains, who sits on Piltover’s council as one of the city’s founders. Eventually, Heimerdinger is removed from his position due to his opposition to Hextech, as he knows the dangers of magic. InArcaneseason 2, Heimerdinger befriends Ekko, a kid from the undercity, and discovers the dangers of Hextech alongside Jayce.
League Of Legends Champions From Zaun
As is the case with Piltover,League of Legendsfeatures several champions who hail from Zaun. Like those from the innovative city, Zaun’s champions are featured heavily inArcane. Some stride the line between the two cities, such as Vi and Viktor, yet others completely represent the destitute undercity and its needs, desires, wants, and goals.
“The Madman of Zaun”
“The Spark of Zaun”
Jinx’s Arcane Story Explained
InArcane, Jinx was initially known as Powder, Vi’s sister who was raised by Vander. After being dubbed a jinx to their missions as children, one that resulted in her accidentally killing her two friends, Claggor and Mylo, Powder was taken in by Silco. Raised to hate Piltover and embrace her growing madness that spawned from her childhood trauma, Powder became Jinx, a wildcard that is leading Zaun’s extremist revolution inArcaneseason 2 in the name of anarchy.
Viktor’s Arcane Story Explained
Viktor was born in Zaun with an illness that saw his body slowly debilitate, but he was a skilled inventor. Eventually being found by Heimerdinger, Viktor joined Piltover’s academy and worked with Jayce to discover Hextech. The inventor also discovered that the Hextech Core was healing his illness, leading intoViktor’sArcaneseason 2 story. Viktor was injured in Jinx’s attack against Piltover’s council, leading to him being placed in a Hextech Core-induced coma that saw his body become a mix of mechanical and biological, imbuing him with powers that could fix the Zaunites’ deformities.
Ekko’s Arcane Story Explained
Ekko was raised in the undercity by a man named Benzo, who was eventually killed by Piltover’s enforcers. Ekko subsequently foundedArcane’s Firelights, a freedom-fighting group that opposed both Silco’s extremist Zaunites and Piltover’s elitist enforcers, operating out of a safe haven surrounding a giant tree in Zaun. InArcaneseason 2, the show’s final installment, Ekko’s tree becomes infected by Hextech, leading him to investigate the dangers of it alongside Heimerdinger and Jayce.
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Singed’s Arcane Story Explained
Singed is a mad inventor inArcanewho worked for Silco. Singed conducted inhuman experiments on living creatures before being hired by Silco, whose funding led Singed to create a drug known as Shimmer. Shimmer greatly enhanced the human body and served as a healing agent, though one that also greatly increased strength and rage. Shimmer became useful to Silco as a result, though adversely affected Zaun’s citizens. InArcaneseason 2, Singed is shown creating awerewolf beast in Zaun’s undercity.
Warwick’s Arcane Story Explained
This werewolf beast is known as Warwick. InArcane, it is heavily theorized that Warwick is being created out of the mutated body of Vander, who took copious amounts of Shimmer inArcaneseason 1.Arcaneseason 2’s final two acts will likely confirm this theory, as Warwick is unleashed. InLeague of Legendslore, Warwick is a lethal protector of Zaun’s citizens, being drawn towards the undercity’s criminals in an insatiable bloodlust.
How The War Between Zaun & Piltover Is Culminating In Arcane Season 2
InArcaneseason 2, all of the aforementioned events between Vi, Jinx, Vander, Silco, and the surrounding characters led to Jinx escalating the war to the point of no return. Characters on the side of both Zaun and Piltover are emblematic of both nations' best and worst aspects, with theexcellent gray-area story ofArcanetelling the complex story of how there are people of good and bad on both sides. How the war will conclude remains to be seen, butArcaneseason 2 will take all of these events and characters and do exactly this, one way or another.
Arcane
Cast
Arcane is an animated series set in the League of Legends universe, debuting in 2021. It explores the conflict between the affluent city of Piltover and the oppressed undercity of Zaun. Central to the story are two sisters whose allegiance to opposing sides of a technological and ideological war strains their bond.
