What’s an even greater way to start the year 2025 if not with League of Legends‘ new cinematic? Riot Games released “Welcome to Noxus,” which directly continues the ending of Arcane Season 2. Let’s see the details in this cinematic video bit by bit.
Mel Madarda’s Journey to Noxus
With “Welcome to Noxus,” Riot welcomed their players to the beginning of the first of three seasons for LoL 2025. And starting it will be Mel Medarda’s entrance to Noxus.
So, in the finale of Arcane Season 2, Mel was seen to leave Piltover with the remainder of her Noxian army. This appears to be set on the shores of Noxus. Now, this cinematic showed Mel significantly approaching the nation’s gates.
Then, she experienced the mysterious visions of challenges that awaited her beyond the gates of Noxus. This scenario provides the major shift of her character that is barely shown in the known Noxus lore. Because of it, many suggest that Mel will be a crucial character for the upcoming storylines in League of Legends.
The Black Rose Masquerade and Internal Conflict
After Mel, the Welcome to Noxus also showed what happened in the Black Rose Masquerade. Perhaps it is one of the cinematic, thrilling sequences after displaying the internal conflict that takes place at the Noxian masquerade.
First, the masquerade serves as a reminiscence of the secret society gatherings. After that, Swain’s trusted assassin, Katarina, and Black Rose member, Elise, get entangled in a fight. This begins the confrontation out of brewing political conflict in Noxus.
For now, it seems they’ve been pitting Swain’s governing forces against the Black Rose’s operations. Also, the masked ball setting links the new skin line Riot will be releasing, which is “Masque of the Black Rose.” Now, this gives both background to the skin and gameplay through this cinematic feature.
Noxus Expansionist Ambition
Next on, the cinematic goes outside the Noxus’ situation and goes beyond the borders. The Welcome to Noxus displayed the confrontation between Darius and Trundle in the Freljord region.
Well, this has been remarkable for Trundle since it is his first cinematic appearance in six years. So, the storyline now has growing tensions in Noxus against the Freljord where a battle will take place. It’ll be near the Ironspike Mountains, which is close to Noxus’s Delverhold fortress.
Eventually, the battle ends in favor of Darius against Trundle, yet he still suffers from permanent damage. It appears that Darius’ arm won’t be the same after it receives blows from True Ice. Moreover, the next sequence also hints at the potential of Noxus to expand and the resistance from their neighboring regions.
LeBlanc’s Machinations and Future Plot Threads
More confrontations came in this cinematic, which is now against LeBlanc and Vladimir. These two Black Rose leaders are in talks about the “failure in Piltover” that happened. This directly continues the piece they left off from Arcane Season 2.
It seems that they’ve been thinking of needing “bolder” moves to prevent the same thing from happening again. Now, LeBlanc is also revealed as the mysterious mage that faced Mel Medarda. This scene alone perfectly sets up the potential conflicts in nations like Ionia and Demacia.
Other than that, a threat has also been looming over since Mordekaiser’s return to shake Noxus’ politics.
Final Thoughts
Well, the Arcane Season 2 perhaps might not be the end for Arcane fans. Riot’s cinematic, “Welcome to Noxus,” excellently continues the series’ ending to open a new storyline chapter in the game. How do you think things will go for these characters?
