Table of Contents

Is the Essence Emporium Retired? Your Comprehensive Guide

No, the Essence Emporium is not retired. After a brief hiatus in patch V12.12 for a necessary restructuring to ensure its long-term viability, the Emporium made a triumphant return in patch V13.17. It was available from September 6th to September 20th, 2023, offering players a chance to spend their hard-earned Blue Essence on a variety of exclusive items. Think of the Essence Emporium as a special pop-up shop that appears a couple of times a year, bringing unique and coveted items to the League of Legends community.

Understanding the Essence Emporium

The Essence Emporium is a recurring, limited-time event in League of Legends where players can spend their Blue Essence (BE) on a variety of cosmetic items. This includes things like chromas, icons, ward skins, and even rare emotes. It’s a great way to use up that stockpile of BE you’ve accumulated while playing the game and unlock some cool customization options. The primary purpose for its temporary removal was to ensure the Emporium was sustainable, meaning Riot wanted to make sure it didn’t negatively impact the game’s economy or their ability to offer exciting content.

The Emporium’s History and Return

The Emporium’s story is a bit of a rollercoaster. It was initially a regular feature that players looked forward to. However, concerns arose about its impact on the game’s economy, particularly concerning champion pricing and the overall flow of Blue Essence. This led to its temporary removal in V12.12.

Riot Games, committed to delivering a positive player experience, took this opportunity to re-evaluate the Emporium’s structure. They wanted to find a way to bring it back in a format that was both exciting for players and sustainable for the game’s ecosystem. The return in V13.17, running from September 6th to September 20th, 2023, signaled that Riot had found a solution. This return was highly anticipated and welcomed by the community, demonstrating the Emporium’s popularity and importance.

What’s Available in the Essence Emporium?

So, what exactly can you snag when the Essence Emporium rolls into town? Here’s a quick rundown:

Chromas: These are alternate color variations for existing skins. If you love a particular skin but want a different look, chromas are a great way to spice things up. You can buy chromas for 2000 BE.
Icons: Show off your personality with unique summoner icons.
Ward Skins: Customize your wards with eye-catching designs.
Emotes: Express yourself in-game with a variety of emotes.
Rare Items: Keep an eye out for special, limited-time items that might pop up, such as the URFWick skin that may be available for 150,000 BE.

It’s important to note that the specific items available in the Emporium can change each time it appears, so be sure to check the shop when it’s open to see what’s on offer.

The Future of the Essence Emporium

While the Essence Emporium has returned, its long-term future remains somewhat uncertain. Riot Games will likely continue to monitor its impact on the game and make adjustments as needed. However, given its popularity and the value it provides to players, it’s likely to remain a recurring event in League of Legends. Keep an eye on official Riot announcements and patch notes for the latest information on upcoming Emporium dates. Games Learning Society remains an important resource for understanding the intersection of gaming and education. You can learn more about the organization at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Essence Emporium to provide even more clarity:

1. When will the Essence Emporium return?

Riot Games typically announces the dates for the Essence Emporium in advance, usually through patch notes and official announcements. Keep an eye on the League of Legends website and social media channels for the latest news.

2. How often does the Essence Emporium appear?

The Essence Emporium typically appears twice a year: once during the mid-season and once during the preseason. This allows players to spend their accumulated Blue Essence at regular intervals.

3. What is Blue Essence used for besides the Emporium?

Blue Essence is a versatile currency in League of Legends. You can use it to:

Purchase champions in the Store.
Upgrade champion shards to unlock champions.
Upgrade a champion mastery to level 6 or 7.
Purchase additional rune pages.
Change your summoner name.
Purchase Starter Series Eternal Pass for 14,750 BE.

4. How do I earn Blue Essence?

There are several ways to earn Blue Essence in League of Legends:

Leveling Up: You receive champion capsules when leveling up between Summoner levels 1 and 30, which can be disenchanted for Blue Essence.
Completing Missions: Special events like Lunar Revel often have missions that reward Blue Essence.
First Win of the Day: You receive 50 Blue Essence for your first win of the day.

5. What are chromas, and how do I buy them with Blue Essence?

Chromas are alternate color variations for existing skins. During the Essence Emporium, you can purchase them for 2000 BE each. These sales usually take place twice a year, featuring chromas released from January–June in the preseason sale, and chromas released from July–December in the mid-season sale.

6. What happens to Mythic Essence? Does it expire?

Mythic Essence does not expire. It’s a premium currency used in the Mythic Shop, which features exclusive Mythic and Prestige skins.

7. How do I get Mythic Essence?

You can obtain Mythic Essence through:

Leveling System: 10 Mythic Essence is granted every 50 levels starting at level 150.
Hextech and Masterwork Chests: Hextech Chests have a 3.6% chance of dropping 10 Mythic Essence, while Masterwork Chests have a 4.2% chance of dropping 5 Mythic Essence.
Event Orbs: Event Orbs has a 4.11% chance of dropping 10 Mythic Essence.

8. What is the Mythic Shop?

The Mythic Shop is an exclusive store where you can spend your Mythic Essence on Mythic tier content, such as Mythic and Prestige skins. Content within the Mythic Shop rotates every few patches.

9. Is there anything else I can buy with Blue Essence if I already have all the champions?

Yes, even if you own all the champions, you can still use Blue Essence to purchase:

Chromas during the Essence Emporium.
Additional rune pages.
Change your summoner name.
Starter Series Eternal Pass for 14,750 BE.
Emotes and Ward skins.
Icons.

10. Why are certain champions and skins prioritized over others?

Riot Games often prioritizes skins for popular champions because they reach a larger number of players, directly funding their ability to create skins for champions with smaller player bases.

11. What was Blue Essence called before?

Before the change, Blue Essence was known as Influence Points (IP).

12. Can you get skins directly with Blue Essence (not just chromas)?

No, you cannot directly purchase skins with Blue Essence. You can only purchase chromas (alternate color variations for skins) during special sales.

13. Do chromas change the color of abilities?

Generally, chromas change the appearance of a skin but do not always affect the color of abilities. However, there can be exceptions where chromas subtly alter ability colors.

14. What patch was the Essence Emporium last available?

The Essence Emporium was last available in LoL Patch 13.17, running from September 6th to September 20th, 2023.

15. Will Riot Games be making changes to the Essence Emporium in the future?

Riot Games is constantly evaluating the game and its features. It is possible that they will make changes to the Essence Emporium in the future to improve its sustainability and appeal to players. Keep an eye on official announcements for any updates.

In conclusion, the Essence Emporium is a returning feature in League of Legends, not a retired one. Stay tuned for future announcements to take advantage of the next opportunity to spend your Blue Essence!

Is Essence emporium retired?