so do i have to play league to keep up with lore?
Not at all!!! League is the opposite of a story-based game. Champions are meant to represent an archetype in the rift and shout some cool catchphrases. MOST are self contained, a few have interwoven plotlines that can span years. Some character stories get updated over time in the form of short fiction / comics / event based visual novels but most of that content can be looked up online.
In the case of jayce/viktor, to make ref easier for all: HERE’S THE JAYVIK LEAGUE LORE CHEAT SHEET.
League of Legends
Viktor’s bio v.1 | Jayce’s bio v.1 | Blitzcrank’s bio v.1
Viktor’s bio v.2 | Jayce’s bio v.2 | Blitzcrank’s bio v.2
Viktor’s short story | Jayce’s short story | Blitz’ alt bio
“v.1″ refers to their original release bios, “v.2″ to post runeterra universe reboot bios. Worth noting that some of these changes were… contentious; blitzcrank’s new origin story as something viktor did not create but simply mod is mostly ignored by fans, who still refer to original events in a vague manner. The omission of stanwick in jayce / blitz’ updated bios is a big questionmark. To get in the spirit of the thing I just go all in the ‘Unreliable Narrator’ aspect of their whole shebang and cobble together my own interpretation of events.
[update nov.22]: Blitzcrank’s alt bio has been added! this 1.5 version contains a somewhat different account of events that I kind of prefer, compared to 2.0
EVEN MORE STUFF:
CONVERGENCE: A LEAGUE OF LEGENDS STORY
‘CONVERGENCE’ is an Ekko-led platformer game that released in 2023. An accompanying free-to-download comic miniseries was made to supplement the game’s story, and it focuses on Jayce, Viktor, Ekko himself & his family – and how they are all interwoven as the 'struggling genius’ archetype in a very flawed system.
[Read here!!]
This series features a retelling of J/V’s backstories through the lens of an outsider, and a bit of an update on where they are now. Surprising absolutely no one: they are still very attached to each other. (This comic is standalone, and not part of the Arcane universe.)
Legends of Runeterra vikjayce content:
[ Jayce’s Deck / related cards ] | [ Viktor’s Deck / related cards ]
Jayce’s Path of Champions Comic (Voiced/Viktor is in it)
Jayce voice interactions | Viktor voice interactions (he shares this vid w other champions, pops back from time to time)
*They both keep extensive research/life notes addressing themselves. It’s very undying highschool girl cute. LoR is sometimes referred to as its own continuity; their cards are both a progression of their story and a what-if scenario.
Arcane universe limited content:
[ Jayce Talis’ journal ] was available to read in the league client while the show was airing. “Far From Home” “Progress Day” “A Powerful Partnership” are all diary entries; the layout is a bit finicky but click on chapter numbers to progress, the image on the side changes to match!
Wild Rift limited content:
[ Jayce got a champion release webtoon ] that never made it to NA servers. It quickly summarizes his deal and vaguely hints Viktor is in the update horizon.
There is a tentative translation offered by blessed twitter user crossedfires, highlight being the jayce/viktor panel wherein he remarks:
“Genius is always lonely, I know this truth very well. Until Viktor appeared – I admit it – he is the only gear comparable to me.” (uses the verb xiāngdāng (comparable) that means match, balance, correspond to). One of my mandarin-speaking friends has also pointed out the wordplay lends itself to double meaning; “He is the only gear to match/that matches mine.”
MISC / OFF CANON:
Jayce & Viktor animated stickers
Punches&Plants 2 - Altcanon comedy, various champs living in an urbanized fantasy version of runeterra. Jayce and Viktor retire from a life of rivalry to dedicate themselves to new hobbies. Viktor is a dollmaker, Jayce is a weeb. Blitzcrank has an unfortunate job.
League’s Germany twitter promo - Viktor gets his ‘man of progress’ mug.
Wild Rift holidays promo - Jayce leaves a gift for ‘V’ under the tree.
Jayce and Viktor also have plenty of AU ingame skins with their own micro bios. Not linking these here since itd be too much info/ u can easily google; they share the Battlecast universe (ppl like this one) and the Heavy Metal universe (ppl dislike this one for various reasons, namely retconning Viktor’s full machine skin from ‘his last stage of mechanization’ into a very unfortunate stereotype.) They were meant to be an annoying player and an annoyed dungeon master in the Riftquest universe but riot scrapped Viktor’s skin. RIP
if anything else cool happens or I remember a missed spot I’ll update this!
