With the launch of the Noxus-themed new season, Riot Games finally officialized the first champion of 2025 in League of Legends on Tuesday. It is the character from Arcane, Mel Medarda, who has long been awaited by fans to join the Summoner's Rift. She is set to be released on January 23 on the live servers but is already available for testing on the PBE server.

Mel's Story

Mel Medarda is designed as an artillery mage, intended primarily for the midlane, but with potential viability as support according to early hints from Rioters. Here is her short in-game biography:

"Mel Medarda is the presumed heir of the Medarda family, once one of the most powerful in Noxus. In appearance she is a graceful aristocrat, but beneath the surface lies a skilled politician who makes it her business to know everything about everyone she meets. After encountering the mysterious Black Rose, Mel discovered the depths of her mother's deception and, for once, faced a situation beyond her control. With newly awakened magical abilities though many still seek to temper the light within her, Mel's soul remains forever defiant."

Debuting in Episode 1 of Arcane, Mel Medarda is a Piltover councilor whose complex character is deeply tied to her family's legacy and the power struggles within both Piltover and Noxus. Her sharp wit, strategic mind, and charisma make her a favorite.

Abilities Breakdown

Passive - Searing Brilliance

Allows her next attack to fire extra projectiles after using a skill, with up to nine projectiles at maximum. Additionally, any damage from her attacks or skills marks enemies with Fatal Afterimage, a stackable effect. Once an enemy accumulates enough stacks, Mel’s next hit instantly executes them, consuming the marks.

Q - Radiant Volley

Unleashes a barrage of explosive flares at a target location, dealing repeated damage to enemies in the area.

W - Rebuttal

Mel generates a barrier around herself, making her immune to damage and reflecting projectiles back at attackers while gaining increased movement speed.

E - Solar Snare

Sends out a glowing orb that traps enemies at its center, dealing damage over time and slowing enemies within its radius.

R - Golden Eclipse

Triggers damage to all enemies across the map who are marked with Fatal Afterimage. Additional stacks on a target amplify the damage, with the skill's potency increasing at higher levels.

Mel's base stats: