Every Runeterra Region Arcane Could Go To Next (& How It Would Work)

Arcane has a great variety of new locations to explore in future seasons or series, with each distinct region of Runeterra lending itself to a unique narrative brimming with possibility. The ending of Arcane season 2 has brought the story of Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn, Ekko, Jayce, and Viktor to a close (for now) in Piltover and Zaun, marking the end of an era for the critically-acclaimed Netflix animated series. The world of League of Legends is quite expansive, however, with years of long-standing lore to explore next in future incarnations of the series.

Already, it’s been confirmed that the story of Arcane will continue to branch out far beyond the borders of Piltover and Zaun, expanding into three new regions of Runeterra with upcoming stories. So far, the noble Demacia, the warlike Noxian Empire, and the magical realm of Ionia have all been posited as future locales for the world of Runeterra to embark to next. These three new Arcane shows would just be the tip of the iceberg, barely scratching the surface of the possibilities that come with further storytelling in the magical, eccentric fantasy realm.

8 Bandle City

Could be a fun Yordle anthology

One of the most mysterious and seldom-seen locales in the world of League of Legends throughout any of its spin-off games or supplemental material is the whimsical location of Bandle City. Bandle City is the home of the Yordles, small fuzzy creatures represented in Arcane by characters like Heimerdinger and Smeech. Bandle City is a magical place whose true location is said to be constantly in flux, the shifting entrances to it hidden to all but the Yordles themselves. Yordles live in every other region of Runeterra, typically embodying their latent traits to a caricature-like exaggeration.

A show based around Bandle City would work best as an anthology series, with each episode centering on a different Yordle living in a different part of the world of Runeterra. Bandle City itself could serve as a loose connective tissue, with each of its original residents somehow finding their way back home for the first time in years on their various adventures. In a way, this would be the perfect way to quickly introduce every region of Runeterra to new fans brought in by Arcane before exploring them more in-depth in their own dedicated series.

7 Bilgewater

Could be a chaotic show interweaving multiple perspectives

A small, but mighty force in the larger world of Runeterra, Bilgewater would be one of the best destinations for an Arcane spin-off to set sail for. A desolate chain of lawless communities hidden away in a tropical archipelago, Bilgewater is a pirate-themed location in Runeterra that produces some of League of Legends‘ most iconic champions. A cutthroat society of pirates, thieves, priests, bounty hunters and monster slayers, Bilgewater is a chaotic hive of seedy enterprises all draped in the trappings of fantasy 17th-century nautical flair.

The unstable, slapdash nature of the region would lend itself well to a split-perspective storyline that tells the same narrative over and over again, with each episode centering on a different character’s POV as they weave through one another’s paths. The series could focus on the femme fatale Miss Fortune, her revenge against the deadly pirate lord Gangplank, the machinations of the kraken priestess Illaoi, and the misadventures of the duo Twisted Fate and Graves, who go from enemies to friends to lovers depending on who’s telling the story. Bilgewater is dripping with potential for a new Arcane series.

6 Shurima

Could alternate between the future and past

The shining jewel of Runeterra, the full-bodied and rich history of Shurima could give Arcane the chance to tell a biblical epic on the level of Ben-Hur or The Prince of Egypt. Runeterra’s equivalent to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Shurima was the most powerful civilization the fantasy world had ever seen, fading beneath the scorching sands of its homeland after centuries of disaster. In the current age the story of League of Legends is set in, long-dormant forces slumbering beneath the sands have finally awoken, bringing the past and present colliding violently together.

A Shurima-themed show could bounce back and forth between a story taking place at the height of Shurima’s old power and the narrative present, eventually tying the two together with a powerful expedition. The past storyline could focus on the myths of Emperor Azir, the traitor Xerath, and the warrior brothers Nasus and Renekton, whose poignant sibling tragedy could rival that of Vi and Jinx’s. Meanwhile, the “present day” narrative could focus on Azir’s secret descendant, the shrewd treasure hunter Sivir, and the adventures of young Talia, a gifted Earth mage and Shurima native.

5 The Shadow Isles

Could tell one of the most important stories in Runeterra

If there’s one location that rivals Shurima’s overall importance in the League of Legends story, it’s the Shadow Isles. Once known as the Blessed Isles, the island paradise was once a proud kingdom. However, an insidious magical cataclysm plunged the region into darkness, surrounding it with a hostile Black Mist that transformed all life in its path into terrifying undead entities. Now a haunted ruin of crumbling decay populated by monsters, ghosts, and worse, the Shadow Isles is a feared land of desecration that occasionally spreads its influence into the rest of Runeterra.

The tragic tale of the Blessed Isles becoming the Shadow Isles could make for an interesting limited series, describing the quest of the lovesick King Viego to resurrect his lost queen, which resulted in the spectral apocalypse that befell the isles. Along the way, compelling figures like Yorick, the immortal gravedigger, Kalista, the vengeful soldier, and Thresh, the sadistic jailor, could fill out the cast and story. The Shadow Isles would be Arcane‘s chance to explore the magical horror themes introduced heavily in season 2 even further.

4 Targon

Could be an exciting expedition of mythical proportions

Another of the most seldom-explored locations in Runeterra, Targon could perhaps benefit the most from a dedicated series in the vein of Arcane. A wind-swept mountain range looming in the West over the deserts of Shurima, Targon is a mythical place named after the mysterious mountain peak that dominates the lives of its residents. While the mountain does have a dedicated population of tribal warriors, the Rakkor, who worship a wide variety of deities that call the mountain home, Mount Targon is better known in the League of Legends universe for the way it changes those who’d dare to climb it.

A show centered on Mount Targon could revolve heavily around such adventurers, whose lives are forever changed by the physical, mental, and magical trials the maddening summit inflicts on its visitors. For those seeking a tumultuous sapphic love story to rival Vi and Caitlyn’s relationship, star-crossed lovers Leona and Diana, two warrior women on opposite sides of a bitter conflict between Sun and Moon worshipers, would more than suffice. Arcane would be a great chance for Riot to better flesh out the underdeveloped region.

3 The Freljord

Could do Game of Thrones-style fantasy drama

For those wanting a more traditional fantasy series out of the Arcane universe, The Freljord could be a tantalizing destination for the franchise to cover next. The Runeterra equivalent of Scandinavia and Russia, The Feljord is a massive swathe of inhospitable icy tundra in which countless tribes nevertheless make their home. The snow-swept landscape is home to marauding raiders, magical yetis, and even ancient gods that still occasionally roam the unforgiving mountains and slopes of the cold nation.

A Freljord series could center on Game of Thrones-style fantasy drama hinging on the ferocious Winter’s Claw tribe, led by the warmongering Sejuani, and the steadfast Avarosans, lead by the archer queen, Ashe. With True Ice for Valyrian Steel and the mysterious slumbering evil entities, the Watchers, for White Walkers, the comparison works eerily well, and could make for a gripping animated series. An appearance from fan-favorite champion Braum, a legendary folk hero wielding a massive shield with a smile on his face, would be worth production alone.

2 The Void

Could further explore a connection to Wild Runes

Those familiar with the lore of League of Legends will have noted a distinct similarity between the Lovecraftian cosmic horror of the Wild Runes introduced in season 2 of Arcane and another Runeterra region, The Void. Less of a physical place and more of an extradimensional space, The Void is a parallel universe existing in tandem with Runeterra, teeming with terrifying, monstrous life, hell-bent on subsuming the adjacent realm into itself. The Void produces all manner of terrifying creatures that seep through into Runeterra, from the world-devouring Cho’Gath to the inquisitive Vel’Koz.

A living velvet hellscape of pure nightmare fuel populated by incomprehensible creatures, The Void doesn’t initially seem to suit itself to a story-based series. However, the League of Legends champion Kai’Sa presents a gripping opportunity for a tense tale of survival from the perspective of a human who falls into The Void, and learns to adapt to its horrors by any means necessary. Jayce’s arc in episode 7 of Arcane‘s second season is proof enough of the show’s ability to tell such stories, and it wouldn’t be remiss for the series to focus a whole season on such.

1 Ixtal

Could develop Runeterra’s newest location

The most recent addition to the long-standing world of Runeterra, Ixtal could benefit greatly from a dedicated series that expands on its lore. An isolated, yet advanced nation of elemental magic-wielders buried deep within the inhospitable jungles to the South, Ixtal serves as Runeterra’s equivalent of Marvel’s Wakanda, both narratively and aesthetically. Several legacy characters were recently retro-fitted into the nation of Ixtal’s lore, better suited to the location’s environment and history.

Ixtal has less history compared to other Runeterra regions, but presents many fascinating opportunities for storytelling with its social structure, caste system, powerful integration of magic, and incredible wildlife. The petulant Empress Qiyana would be a feisty figure to center the drama around, focusing on her bid to expand the city of Ixaocan into a veritable empire. It would also be phenomenal to see the colorful region represented by the signature art style of Arcane.