In one of the most bizarre twists of Riot’s storytelling and marketing history, a meme might’ve just leaked the next League of Legends champion. Yes, really.

A recent social media Iceberg meme posted by Riot—intended to be a lighthearted gag—has sparked a community-wide theory unraveling what may be the identity of the next Darkin champion. But this isn’t just tinfoil hat territory—a massive web of lore, teasers, and game content now seems to support it.

So buckle up. Here’s the full breakdown of how LeBlanc, a mysterious glaive, and a demon-possessed helmet may point to the fifth major Darkin, and possibly the next champion heading to the Rift.

It All Started With a Meme…

Riot’s League of Legends Twitter account posted an “Iceberg” meme featuring various game-related trivia. Most of it was fun, nostalgic, or just plain weird…
But one word caught the community’s eye:

“Glaive”

This hadn’t been mentioned anywhere else. Yet somehow it made it into an official Riot post. Immediately, players started connecting it to the recent Noxian lore updates, minigames, and LeBlanc’s ongoing narrative—and what followed was a full-on lore excavation.

The Trail Begins: Atakan, the Demon Bound to a Helmet

The spark began with Riot’s “Demon’s Hand” minigame, a Balatro-inspired event packed with deep lore and narrative revelations. In it, we learned about Atakan, a once-demonic entity who:

  • Was defeated by Mordekaiser
  • Bound to his slain general Katashi’s body via necromancy
  • Sealed inside a helmet
  • Later freed by LeBlanc in the present day

Importantly, this binding process mirrors the way Darkin are sealed into weapons. Atakan is now wandering Runeterra, his mind fractured like Varus, and the story heavily implies that he was once (or is now becoming) a Darkin-adjacent being.

LeBlanc’s Real Goal: The Art of Binding

Throughout her new voice lines, comics, and interactions in the minigame, LeBlanc reveals her obsession with binding magic—the same kind used by Targonian celestial beings to imprison Darkin inside weapons.

“She’s trying to learn how Darkin were bound… by binding a demon to the Black Rose.”

And that’s where it gets wild: using illusion magic and ancient runes, she suppresses Atakan’s hunger for carnage and ultimately binds him to the Black Rose, extracting crucial info in the process…

And What Did Atakan Reveal?

That the next Darkin weapon is in Ionia.

If you played through The Demon’s Hand, you might have missed this scene (a known comic bug caused many players to skip it), but Riot confirms:

  • The next Darkin is hidden behind the gates near the Placidium of Navori
  • That’s deep in Ionia, home to Varus, Zolaani, and now possibly one more

And this is where that Iceberg meme resurfaces, because…

The Meme Mentioned “Glaive”… But Riot Never Did

Until now, Riot never confirmed the weapon type of this new Darkin. But that meme mentioned “Glaive”, a word that’s never appeared in any teaser, dev blog, or patch note.

Which leads us to two possibilities:

  • Riot leaked the next weapon type on accident
  • Or Riot’s social team is playing 8D chess and seeding narrative teasers through memes

Either way, the new Darkin = glaive theory is now widely accepted.

Who Is the Glaive Darkin? Varus’s Sister?

Here’s where it gets seriously juicy. League lore has long referenced a fifth powerful Darkin, teased with the phrase:

“One mandate declared loud in hate.”

We already have:

  • Aatrox – the blade
  • Rhaast – the scythe
  • Varus – the bow
  • Naafiri – the daggers

And if you remember The Mage Seeker, Varus’s sister has been teased as a potential Darkin for years.

Now it’s all clicking:

  • The next Darkin is a glaive-wielder
  • They’re tied to Ionia, like Varus
  • Riot teased five primary Darkin
  • Varus is still searching for his sister in old lore

It’s likely that this new glaive-wielding Darkin is none other than Valiva—Varus’s long-lost sister, finally making her appearance in the 2025 League of Legends lineup.

Could This Be the Next Champion?

It’s very possible. The storytelling momentum is all there:

  • Major lore tie-ins across multiple mediums
  • Minigames, comics, and cinematics all pointing to this arc
  • Riot explicitly confirming a new Darkin is coming this year
  • A mystery weapon (glaive) linked to Ionia and the Black Rose

If correct, Valiva the Glaive Darkin could be the fifth primary Darkin, and the next champion to hit Summoner’s Rift. And judging by all the pieces, her debut would mark the beginning of a new Ionia-themed season.

Final Thoughts: Riot’s Leak or Next-Level Marketing?

Whether this was an accidental spoiler or a masterclass in viral teasing, the community has now pieced together what could be one of the most important champion reveals of the year.

We’ve got:

  • A mysterious glaive
  • A bound demon
  • LeBlanc’s master plan
  • Ionia as the target
  • And a meme that kicked it all off

So hey, shoutout to the intern who posted the Iceberg meme—you might’ve just spoiled League’s next champion. Or promoted it better than anyone else could’ve.

For more lore reveals, champion leaks, and meme-fueled news breakdowns, visit LoLNOW.gg — where the real spoilers come with runes and context.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions about the Next Darkin Champion

Did Riot leak the next Darkin champion in a meme?

Possibly. A recent Iceberg meme from Riot mentioned a ‘glaive,’ which hadn’t been referenced elsewhere—suggesting it may be the weapon of the next Darkin.

Who is Atakan in League of Legends lore?

Atakan is a demon who was bound to a helmet by Mordekaiser, later freed by LeBlanc. He shares similarities with how Darkin are sealed into weapons.

Is the next Darkin in Ionia?

Yes. Recent lore confirms that the next Darkin weapon is located near the Placidium of Navori in Ionia.

Could the next champion be Varus’s sister?

Many believe so. League lore has long teased Varus’s sister, and all signs now point to her being the new glaive-wielding Darkin.

What is LeBlanc’s role in this story?

LeBlanc frees Atakan and binds him to the Black Rose, hoping to learn about the ancient magic used to bind Darkin and demons.

When will the next Darkin champion be released?

Riot hasn’t officially announced a date, but all signs point to a release later in 2025 as part of an Ionia-themed season.