League of Legends is a 5v5 MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) where two teams of champions battle on a map called Summoner's Rift. The goal is to destroy the enemy team's Nexus, located deep within their base. To achieve this, players must secure gold and experience by defeating minions, monsters, and enemy champions to buy items and level up their abilities.

There are over 160 unique champions, each with their own distinct abilities and lore. Champions generally fit into roles such as Top Laner (Tanks/Fighters), Jungler (Objectives/Ganking), Mid Laner (Mages/Assassins), Bot Laner (Marksmen/AD Carries), and Support (Healers/Engagers), though the meta evolves constantly.

Yes, League of Legends is completely free-to-play. The monetization model is strictly cosmetic, allowing players to purchase 'skins' that change the appearance of champions but offer no gameplay advantage. All champions can be unlocked for free through gameplay currency (Blue Essence).

Arcane is a critically acclaimed animated series on Netflix set in the League of Legends universe. It explores the origin stories of champions like Jinx, Vi, Caitlyn, Ekko, and Jayce in the cities of Piltover and Zaun. It has introduced the rich lore of Runeterra to a broader audience beyond the game's player base.

League of Legends is the original PC game, while League of Legends: Wild Rift is a separate version built from scratch for mobile devices and consoles. Wild Rift features shorter match times (15-20 minutes vs 30-40 minutes), a dual-stick control scheme, and a slightly smaller map, but retains the core 5v5 gameplay.

League of Legends features a competitive ladder ranging from Iron to Challenger. Players play 'Ranked' matches to earn League Points (LP). The tiers are Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Master, Grandmaster, and Challenger, with the top ranks reserved for the best players in each region.

The League of Legends World Championship, or 'Worlds', is the annual culmination of the professional esports season. The best teams from regional leagues (like the LCK in Korea, LPL in China, LEC in Europe, and LCS in North America) compete for the Summoner's Cup and a multi-million dollar prize pool. It is one of the most-watched esports events globally.

Runeterra is the fictional world where League of Legends takes place. It consists of diverse regions with their own politics and conflicts, such as the disciplined empire of Demacia, the expansionist Noxus, the magical lands of Ionia, the frozen Freljord, and the technologically advanced Piltover & Zaun. Champions belong to these factions, driving the universe's narrative.

Before a match starts, players select 'Runes' to customize their champion's passive stats and playstyle. During the game, players earn gold to buy 'Items' from the shop. These items provide stats like Attack Damage, Ability Power, or Armor, and often have unique active or passive effects that can change the tide of battle.

Yes, you can queue up for matches solo ('Solo Queue'), where you will be matched with 4 other teammates. However, because it is a team-based game, communication and coordination are vital. Many players also choose to play with friends in 'Flex Queue' or normal modes for a more coordinated experience.