Every League of Legends Worlds Anthem, Ranked

League of Legends World Championship anthems have played an important role in connecting fans with the esports periodic event since 2014. Each year, we look forward to the next anthem Riot Games will unveil to reflect the competitive spirit of team and individual champion journeys in a powerful music video. As of 2025, Riot Games has debuted twelve anthems that have been memorable through bold lyrics, exploration of multiple musical genres and styles, and musical videos that have resonated within the Twitch and streaming platforms. Below is a ranking and discussion of the anthems.

The Best Anthems in League of Legends History

Legends Never Die (2017)

Performed by Against The Current, the rock ballad has struck a chord with many fans. The lasting message of legacy and strength, and never backing away, has an emotional pull within the community. The lyrics go hand–in–hand with the powerful performances by Against The Current in live concerts, and this anthem has been reviewed over 300 million times.

Star Walkin’ (2022)

The anthem performed by Lil Nas X, especially for the League of Legends Worlds Event, also brought a fresh ‘take‘ on a talent presentation, along with more unique visuals based in outer space, and pop music. It was noted both by critics and fans as having brave music styles and an enjoyable, optimistic presentation. “Star Walkin’ (League of Legends World Anthem)“ represents the last decade of music stylistically changing, blending into popular culture, and building a massive global audience.

Warriors (2014)

If I have engaged with it correctly, the first anthem presented by Imagine Dragons set the tone for rock epic style music, and presentation from a music video perspective captures the exhilarating action, unique to esports talent elevation, rising to the ranks of champions, also preparing them for the first tournament. This anthem is iconic still.

Burn It All Down (2021)

Released one week ahead of Worlds 2021, Burn it All Down was written and produced by the Riot Music Team, Alex Seaver (Mako). The vocals were performed by PVRIS as the featured artist.

The music video is similar in concept to 2020’s Take Over, featuring various active LoL Esports players. We are guided through it by following Heo “ShowMaker” Su as he goes through a series of scenes with various players, all practising and preparing for what is ultimately Worlds 2021.

Phoenix (2019)

For the first time, the 2019 song featured an artist who had already collaborated on a previous LoL Worlds song in 2017. The song was initially delayed due to production issues and wasn’t actually released until weeks into the play-in stage – it was expected before the beginning of that stage.

Rise (2018)

Rise primarily features Kang ‘Ambition’ Chan-yong’s journey to being a world champ. It artistically depicts the epic battles of the player on his way through the World Championship. The video is full of symbolism from cornfield battles with Perkz, volcano battles against Uzi, and glacier battles against Faker. Ambition meets challenger after challenger during the video until ultimately reaching the Hall of Champions, where his team’s logo and legacy are finally engraved among the historical League of Legends Worlds Champions.

Other Notable Mentions

Sacrifice: In honor of the 15th anniversary of the tournament, Riot collaborated with popular Chinese singer 鄧紫棋 G.E.M. to produce an emotional ballad. The music video celebrates sports figures, both individual and as a collective, and depicts the sacrifices players make in pursuit of the championship. While new, the anthem resonates deeply with many fans due to its emotional depth and nostalgia.

Heavy Is the Crown: The newest anthem features Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park. This nu-metal anthem is about the weight of legacy. The music video compiles ten years of history from Worlds and incorporates images of some of the best players and teams.

Ignite: This music video and anthem, produced by Zedd in the world of EDM, captures the same kind of excitement the 2021 finals provided in memorable visuals and engaging energy. Moreover, it represents determination and fighting spirit in the world.

GODS: The LoL 2023 Worlds Song is performed by K-pop group NewJeans and was officially released on October 4. The music video is built around Deft’s journey to his 2022 Worlds title, showcasing all his appearances on the international stages throughout his career.

Take Over:

The 2020 song is an exciting experience in its entirety. The song itself and the accompanying video were packed with references and vocals reflecting the Take Over theme of Worlds 2020.

Take Over’s music video follows a young player getting coached by none other than Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok himself. Throughout the clip, we can see our protagonist battle famous League of Legends champions personified by the players who made a huge impact on the scene with them. From Xpeke’s Kassadin pick, Mata’s Thresh, and JackeyLove’s Xayah through BeBe’s Caitlyn and Tian’s Leesin, the protagonist battles each World Champion until he ultimately reaches the Summoner Cup itself.

How They Changed and Their Impact

Every anthem is an amalgamation of genres of music: for example, in 2023, we have “GODS” by NewJeans. The anthem shows how global and large the fanbase is. The songs are not only meant to hype the events but also tell stories through animated videos about not only the champions and players, but also the concept of the game lore. “Legends Never Die“ is one of the best anthems, according to many pros, including T1‘s Faker.

Ahsan Kabir

Ahsan Kabir is a seasoned esports writer with over 5 years of experience covering the mobile gaming scene, especially titles like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Apex Legends Mobile. With a deep understanding of tournament ecosystems, player dynamics, and in-game meta shifts, his coverage blends sharp analysis with a passion for competitive play. Currently, he tracks the ever-evolving world of PC esports, diving into games like Valorant, Marvel Rivals, and more, always with an eye on what’s next in competitive gaming.