How to Get Free Skins in League Of Legends
By Roger on Mar 29th, 2025, 06:45
Skins elevate your gameplay in League of Legends and add personality to every match, whether you're rocking a neon-future vibe or sporting a rare-to-find outfit. Beyond aesthetics, certain skins can subtly enhance gameplay—making abilities smoother to cast, animations easier to follow, or even giving your skill shots a visual edge that's trickier for opponents to dodge.
Free skins are especially helpful if you want to explore different champions. Nothing boosts motivation to practice a new pick like unlocking a free skin. With so many designs out there, however, building a collection on a budget can appear daunting.
Luckily, there's a buffet of ways to get skins for free in League of Legends, and they don't all require a ton of luck. Let's look at various methods for giving your champions a fresh look without burning your wallet.
Each Ranked Split in League can offer occasional items, including skin shards and icons. Better yet, those who reach Gold or above by season's end receive a Victorious Skin. If you have a competitive streak, ranked play doubles as a chance to prove yourself and pick up free cosmetics along the way. If you would like to guarantee the free Victorious skin and its chromas, check out our pro tips for ranking up in LoL.
Clash is a periodic tournament mode where teams of five battle it out for glory and loot. Winning two or all three matches in a Clash bracket can reward you with skin shards, among other items. It's a team-focused tournament perfect for a premade looking to test their synergy. What's better is that you can participate solo by joining a team as a Free Agent.
One of the most straightforward ways to score free skins is through Hextech Crafting. Earn an S- or higher on a champion you own (or if a friend in your premade does) and receive a Hextech Chest. Crack it open with a Hextech Key—often found through regular play or the Honor system—and you might nab a random skin shard. Disenchant unwanted shards for Orange Essence, then use that essence to turn a favorite shard into a permanent skin.
Honor in League of Legends also earns you free skins. Achieve Honor Level 5 each season, and you'll receive unique rewards, such as a special skin. On top of that, higher Honor ranks grant more key fragments, which translate to more Hextech Chests over time.
Skin shards that cost 1350 RP or more are worth a fair chunk of Orange Essence. If you don't plan on upgrading them, you can disenchant these for a good boost in resources. Meanwhile, cheaper shards (below 1350 RP) can be combined in groups of three to unlock a random permanent skin at no extra cost. This strategy guarantees a steadier flow of Orange Essence, letting you unlock more skins down the line.
If your main goal is a specific skin, you might want to disenchant skin shards and everything else you don't plan on upgrading, including the emotes, ward skins shards, eternals, icons, etc. Orange Essence is necessary to turn a skin shard into a permanent skin, so building up a large stash of essence can be a game-changer when your favorite design appears in your loot.
The Champion Mastery system rewards loyal mains with free Hextech Chests. In Season 14, Riot Games tweaked the rules, so you need a solid performance on a champion you actively use. Each champion has specific Mastery milestones that unlock chests. For your very first reward with a champion, you need at least a Grade B or higher in one game and four additional games with a Grade C or above.
If you main a champion, play them for a few days, and you'll typically unlock a free chest in no time. This is one of the easiest methods to get free skins. Focus on a handful of champions every season, and you'll get a skin for each by simply playing the game.
During big events, Riot releases a free version of the Event Pass that can grant tokens, orbs, and additional skin shards. By playing matches, you'll level up the pass and unlock these extra goodies. It costs nothing—just invest your time and complete the objectives for a chance at fancy cosmetics.
Riot Games often launches themed events—such as a champion release or seasonal celebration—loaded with exclusive missions and free loots. Completing missions might reward you with tokens or orbs that contain skin shards. Events usually last a few weeks, so watch the client's mission tab and plan your matches around any objectives.
Some missions rely on group play or specific champion roles. Queue with friends to knock out tasks.
Try out new champions as missions frequently rotate champion requirements. Getting your hands on new champs with complex abilities can be difficult. Luckily, our League of Legends coaches can help you master them fast.
If there's a skin line you're really hoping to see, hold on to your Hextech Chests and event orbs until it's released. Many players believe you're more likely to unlock a shard from the newest additions to the shop if you open loot shortly after the skins hit the live servers. Whether it's a stylized collection or a champion rework, patience can sometimes land you the exact skin you've been eyeing.
A dull or outdated design can eventually morph into a masterpiece if Riot decides to rework or refresh that champion. Rather than tossing the shard, consider holding onto it if you know a champion update is on the horizon. Old skins often receive modern overhauls that elevate them to a level worth your Orange Essence.
Worried about not being able to quickly master a reworked champion? No need for that. Try our pro LoL coaching and learn the inside outs of it. Make your skills shine with your new skins.
Do you have an Amazon Prime membership? Link it to your Riot Games account through Prime Gaming and claim free monthly rewards. Expect skin shards, XP boosts, and more. It's a simple system: sign in, click "claim," and enjoy the loot. These rewards can vary, but they're typically a reliable route to expand your collection without extra cost.
Free skins aren't a fantasy in League of Legends. With the right approach, you can build a brilliant champion wardrobe while saving your cash for other treats. Stay curious about new missions, keep playing for rewards and Hextech chests, and remember that good sportsmanship often brings better rewards in the long run.
