League of Legends / Practical guide
LoL Currencies Explained: Blue Essence, Orange Essence, RP and Mythic Essence
A League of Legends account can show thousands of Blue Essence and a pile of RP, and none of it means the same thing. Learn what each currency buys, what it cannot, and what a balance on a screenshot really proves.
ALVIRAN Editorial · Reviewed 2026-10-12
In this guide
Looking for a League of Legends account?
Compare champions, skins, rank and server on every listing. This guide explains what the currencies on an account really mean.
1. The four currencies at a glance
League has more than one kind of currency because each one was built for a different part of the game. The table summarises them. Prices and sources can change, so treat it as a map and check the linked Riot pages for the details.
| Currency | What it is | How it is earned | What it cannot do |
|---|---|---|---|
| RP (Riot Points) | The premium currency. | Only by direct purchase in the store, or as a gift from a friend. | It cannot be earned by playing. |
| Blue Essence (BE) | The champion currency. | Mostly through Battle Pass progression, plus a few other sources such as disenchanting champion shards. | Outside the Essence Emporium it cannot unlock skins. |
| Orange Essence (OE) | Cosmetic essence for skins. | Disenchanting skin shards. | It cannot unlock champions, and it only upgrades cosmetic shards. |
| Mythic Essence (ME) | The Mythic Shop currency. | Primarily from the Sanctum. | It is only spent in the Mythic Shop. |
| Ancient Spark | The token for Sanctum draws. | 400 RP each. | Drawn content is not refundable. |
The RP and Blue Essence rules are in Riot's reward system breakdown, and the essence types in the Hextech crafting glossary.
2. RP: bought or gifted, never earned
Riot states that RP is only obtainable through direct purchase in the store or when gifted by a friend. Most store items are bought with it. That makes RP the one currency whose balance reflects real spending by someone. A large RP balance suggests that the RP was bought or gifted and is still unspent, if the screenshot is genuine.
RP also behaves differently from the others when something goes wrong. Riot's refund policy refunds only unused RP bought in the last 14 days, and only to the original payment method, so a later buyer cannot rely on a refund. Ask whether the RP was purchased and when.
3. Blue Essence: champions and the Emporium
Blue Essence is mostly earned through Battle Pass progression, according to Riot, with a few other sources, such as the essence from disenchanted champion shards. Its main uses are unlocking champions, in Loot or in the store, and shopping at the Essence Emporium when it opens.
The Emporium is a limited-time shop. A window ran from 13 May to 10 June 2026, and Riot says the schedule changes from year to year. Riot's Emporium FAQ lists prices that show how Blue Essence is meant to be spent.
| Item | Price in Blue Essence |
|---|---|
| Mystery Icon | 1,500 BE |
| Chroma (excluding Limited, Legacy and Seasonal chromas) | 2,000 BE |
| Mystery Ward | 4,900 BE |
| URFWick skin | 150,000 BE |
| Titles such as Big Serious Gamer | 250,000 BE |
A big hoard is not a big collection. Blue Essence is mostly useful when the Emporium is open or when there are champions left to unlock. On an account that already owns most champions, the balance mainly buys cosmetics when the Emporium opens.
Check what is already unlocked
A currency balance is not a collection. Compare the champions and skins a listing actually shows before you look at essence or RP.
4. Orange Essence: skins only
Orange Essence is the essence from skin shards. Riot's glossary explains that champion shards give Blue Essence, which can only unlock champions, while skin shards give cosmetic essence, which can only unlock skins.
Two details matter. A skin shard can be redeemed permanently only if the champion is owned, so a shard for a champion the account does not have is not yet a skin. And the cosmetic shards that drop in Loot can be any non-limited skin, which is why Loot shards are not a reliable way to judge an account.
5. Mythic Essence and the Sanctum
Mythic Essence is spent in the Mythic Shop on Prestige skins, Mythic skins, chromas, emotes and other items. Riot's Mythic Shop FAQ says it comes primarily from the Sanctum. The Sanctum uses Ancient Sparks at 400 RP each, with a guaranteed Exalted skin by the 80th draw and a guaranteed Mythic Variant by the 40th, as our skin rarity guide explains.
7. What a balance screenshot proves
A screenshot of a balance proves only what one client displayed at one moment. It does not prove who controls the account, which region it belongs to, when it was taken, or that nothing was edited. A live, unedited screen recording of the client is a better check: the store, the Loot tab and the Mythic Shop in sequence. It still does not prove who controls the account. Riot's terms also say that virtual content has no monetary value and is licensed rather than owned.
- Ask which currency each number is, and which tab shows it.
- Ask when the RP was bought, since refunds are limited to unused RP.
- Check the owned champions and skins before the essence balances.
- Date every screenshot.
8. Four mistakes that cost money
Paying for the balance
Essence and RP are spending power, not a collection. Check what is owned.
Mixing the essences
Outside the Emporium, Blue Essence unlocks only champions and Orange Essence only skins.
Counting shards as items
Shards need redeeming, and a skin shard needs its champion.
Reading RP as value
A large RP balance only shows that it was bought and not spent.
Frequently asked questions
Can I earn RP by playing League of Legends?
No. Riot states that RP is only obtainable through direct purchase in the store or as a gift from a friend.
What is Blue Essence used for?
It unlocks champions, in Loot or in the store, and it buys goods in the Essence Emporium when that shop is open, including chromas and the URFWick skin. Outside the Emporium it does not unlock skins.
What is the difference between Blue Essence and Orange Essence?
Blue Essence comes from champion shards and mostly the Battle Pass, and outside the Emporium it only unlocks champions. Orange Essence, the cosmetic essence, comes from skin shards and only unlocks skins.
Where does Mythic Essence come from?
Riot says it comes primarily from the Sanctum, and it is spent in the Mythic Shop.
Does a big essence balance make an account worth more?
Not in itself. It is spending power for champions or cosmetics. Check which champions and skins are owned, and whether the Emporium is open.
Can I get a refund on unused RP?
Riot's refund policy covers unused RP bought in the last 14 days and refunds to the original payment method. Check the current policy before you rely on it.
Ready to choose an account?
Weigh owned champions and skins above any balance. To read the skins on a listing, use our skin rarity guide.
Sources and editorial scope
Reviewed on 12 October 2026 against Riot's reward system breakdown, Hextech crafting glossary, Essence Emporium FAQ, Mythic Shop FAQ and Sanctum guide. Prices and windows can change, so check the linked pages for the current values. The checklist is ALVIRAN editorial advice.
Riot prohibits selling, sharing or transferring accounts under its Terms of Service. A check of any detail in this guide does not change those rules or remove the risk of account action.