League of Legends is heading back to Ionia this summer with the announcement of Spirit Blossom Beyond, the theme for the game’s second season of 2025.
Revealed yesterday, Spirit Blossom Beyond marks the return of one of League’s most popular thematic events, now expanded into a full seasonal experience. The announcement follows the game’s first themed season that transported players to Noxus earlier this year as part of Riot’s new seasonal model.
The season launch was accompanied by a new cinematic featuring an original track titled “Here, Tomorrow.” The music was created through a collaboration between singer-songwriter Lilas Ikuta (known as ikura from the acclaimed duo YOASOBI) and BAFTA-nominated composer Kevin Penkin, whose previous work includes scores for “Made in Abyss” and “Tower of God”.
Season 2 introduces substantial gameplay updates focused primarily on neutral objectives:
- Thornbound Atakhan will replace the current Voracious and Ruinous forms of Atakhan, rewarding teams with all unclaimed Roses on the map when defeated
- Void Grubs will spawn later in matches and only once per game
- Rift Herald’s spawn time moves to the 15-minute mark with reduced difficulty following removal of the Shelly’s Gaze debuff
- Bounty System adjustments to more consistently activate only for trailing teams
- Smite will now be automatically assigned to jungle position players in Champion Select
- Support players will automatically receive the World Atlas item when matches begin
Summoner’s Rift will receive a visual overhaul reflecting the Spirit Blossom aesthetic, transforming the battlefield with Ionian-inspired visuals.
The developer is also implementing improved detection systems for intentional feeding and griefing, with automatic identification and punishment systems launching in the next patch. A developer blog released alongside the announcement details these changes and outlines future areas for improvement.
Perhaps the most significant addition is Brawl, a brand-new game mode set in Bandle City. This 5v5 mode emphasizes champion combat without towers or traditional objectives. Teams compete to push minions into the enemy base in what Riot describes as a “faster-paced, lower-stakes” alternative to traditional Summoner’s Rift matches.
The cosmetic lineup for Season 2 includes new Spirit Blossom skins for Ashe, Irelia, Bard, Varus, Zyra, and Ivern. The season will also introduce “variety” skins that either expand existing skin lines or establish new ones, beginning with Pool Party Twitch available through the Act 1 paid pass.
Players can earn Prestige Spirit Blossom Lux and Spirit Blossom Ivern through the Act 1 paid pass. Additional Prestige skins for Zed (via pass) and Aphelios (via Mythic Shop) will arrive later in the season, along with an Exalted skin for Morgana.
The announcement also teased a new champion named Yunara and an unspecified in-client metagame coming later in the season, though details remain sparse on both additions.
