The ecosystem of League of Legends has undergone a seismic shift in its reward mechanics, fundamentally altering how players acquire cosmetic content. At the heart of this transformation lies the evolution of the Hextech Crafting system, specifically regarding the availability and utility of "Gemstones." To answer the question of whether players can still obtain Hextech Gemstones, one must look at the chronological dismantling of the old reward structures and the subsequent consolidation of currencies. The short answer is that Hextech Gemstones, as a distinct, freely obtainable currency, effectively ceased to exist as a primary player resource with the transition to Mythic Essence in 2022. However, the broader context involves the complete removal of free Hextech Chests during the Season 15 revamp, a move that confused the community and sparked significant backlash before a partial restoration of the chest system occurred later.
The Historical Role of Gemstones and Hextech Chests
To understand the current state, one must first appreciate the historical function of Hextech Gemstones within the game's economy. Introduced as part of the Hextech Crafting system, these items served as a high-tier currency used to unlock exclusive content. Historically, the system was designed to allow players to earn skins, champions, and other cosmetic items through gameplay and the semi-random loot box mechanics. Players would open Hextech Chests using Hextech Keys to receive random rewards, including skin shards, champion shards, and occasionally, Gemstones.
The Hextech Crafting system was introduced in 2016 as a gameplay reward mechanism. It was designed to give players access to skins and champions through a loot box system. The mechanics were straightforward: play the game, earn keys and chests, and open them to receive shards or essence. This system was particularly vital for free-to-play (F2P) users who relied on grinding for cosmetics without spending real money. The Hextech Chests were the primary vehicle for this, granting players a small but meaningful chance to obtain high-quality skins without spending a dime.
Within this system, Gemstones held a specific niche. They were distinct from the standard Hextech Shards and were used to unlock Hextech skins and rare cosmetics. However, the landscape of this currency changed dramatically in 2022. Riot Games initiated a major overhaul of the crafting economy. The most significant change was the convergence of Gemstones and Mastery Points into a single, unified currency known as Mythic Essence. This transition effectively marked the end of Gemstones as an independent currency. The conversion rate was set at 1 Gemstone equaling 10 Mythic Essence. Following this update, Gemstones were no longer issued as a standalone reward; instead, Mythic Essence became the standard currency for all rare crafting items.
The Great Removal: Season 15 and the Disappearance of Free Chests
While the currency shift in 2022 was a significant update, the most disruptive event for players occurred with the launch of Season 15. This season marked a controversial removal of free Hextech Chests, confusing fans and leading to widespread dissatisfaction within the community. Prior to this change, players could acquire Hextech Chests through multiple reliable methods. These included the mastery system, where players increased their mastery levels with specific champions, and the ranking system, where achieving an S-rank with a champion for the first time in a playing cycle would grant a chest.
The removal of these free acquisition methods was part of a broader revamp of the rewards system. Riot Games announced that they would remove all free ways to obtain Hextech Chests. This move was perceived by many as an attempt to force players to pay more frequently with real money. The logic, as stated by the developers, was that the system was giving out "too many free skins," and that this generosity needed to be rolled back. The intention was to balance the economy, but the execution resulted in the disappearance of Hextech Chests from the free rewards pipeline.
The impact on the free-to-play demographic was severe. For years, Hextech Chests had been the "end-all and be-all" of free cosmetic rewards. Players could farm these chests by playing well, achieving high mastery, or completing specific quests. With the removal, the pathway to free cosmetics was effectively cut off. Riot introduced alternative systems, but the community response was largely negative. Many players felt the changes were short-sighted and not convincing in their rationale. The backlash was significant, with several players threatening to boycott the game altogether.
The Currency Overhaul: From Gemstones to Mythic Essence
The transition from Gemstones to Mythic Essence represents a fundamental restructuring of how players value and trade in-game assets. In 2022, Riot Games switched the main rare currency for crafting exclusive loot from Gemstones to Mythic Essence. This was not merely a rename but a consolidation of value.
Before 2022, the system was fragmented. Players collected Gemstones to unlock specific Hextech skins and rare cosmetics. They also collected Mastery Points to progress through mastery levels. The new system unified these into Mythic Essence. This currency became the standard for all rare crafting items. It could be obtained through chests, event milestones, and loot capsules.
The utility of Mythic Essence is broad. It can be used to craft Mythic skins, Prestige skins, and other exclusive cosmetics. This unification simplified the economy but also changed the strategy for players. Previously, one might save Gemstones for a specific rare skin. Now, players must accumulate Mythic Essence to craft similar content. The system now offers more chances to get desired items, such as Mythic Skins and Hextech exclusives like Dreadnova Darius.
The removal of Gemstones as a distinct currency was part of a larger trend of streamlining the reward system. However, the removal of the source of these rewards (the free chests) created a paradox. Players could no longer earn the chests that would yield the currency or the shards necessary to craft items. The system became more reliant on paid sources or specific event milestones.
The Backlash and the Partial Return
The removal of free Hextech Chests triggered a massive wave of player dissatisfaction. The backlash was so intense that Riot Games had to address the community's concerns directly. Executive Producer Paul "Pabro" Bellezza and League head Andrei "Meddler" van Roon issued a statement acknowledging the community's reaction. They emphasized that getting League of Legends to the "right place" is not about a single set of changes but about continually refining the game. They promised to track how the changes feel, talk with the community, and make adjustments.
Following the intense backlash, Riot Games announced that Hextech Chests would return. The plan was to feature Hextech Chests once again as frequent free rewards in the Battle Pass. This decision was a direct response to the community outcry. The initial announcement of the removal had drawn a ton of backlash, with players threatening to stop playing. The return of the chests was framed as a way to maintain player engagement and satisfaction.
However, the return was not a full restoration of the old system. The Hextech Chests that returned were integrated into the Battle Pass as rewards, rather than being available through the old mastery and S-rank grind. The system was updated to include more Mythic Essence in pass rewards, and the cost of champions in Blue Essence was reduced by 50 percent. This indicates that while chests are back, the methods of acquisition have been fundamentally altered.
Understanding the New Acquisition Paths
With the system in its current state, the question of "can you get Gemstones" is complex because the currency itself no longer exists in its original form. The path to acquiring content has shifted.
Previously, players could get Hextech Chests through: - Mastery system: Getting specific ranks with champions to increase mastery levels. - S-rank achievements: Achieving an S-rank with a champion for the first time in a cycle. - Event milestones: Completing specific quests or events. - Ranked rewards: Earning chests through ranked play.
After the revamp, these free methods were removed. The new system relies on: - Battle Pass rewards: Hextech Chests are now frequent rewards within the pass. - Event milestones: Some events still provide loot capsules. - Direct purchase: Keys and chests can be bought with real money. - Mythic Essence: Obtained through the new pass system and events.
The convergence of currencies means that the old "Gemstone" is dead. Players now accumulate Mythic Essence. This currency is used to craft Mythic skins, Prestige skins, and other exclusives. The shift also affected the availability of new skins. New skins are added to the loot pool a few days after their release, but Mythic skins and Prestige skins may take longer or be restricted to the Mythic Shop.
What Can and Cannot Be Crafted
A critical aspect of the Hextech system is understanding which items are available through crafting and which are not. While the system allows for a wide array of cosmetics, there are specific exclusions. The ability to craft a skin depends on the skin's history and rarity.
Skins that are not obtainable through Hextech Crafting include: - All Super Rare limited skins, such as Pax Skins and their Neo Pax versions (e.g., Neo Pax Jax, Neo Pax Sivir, Neo Pax Twisted Fate). - All Victorious Skins. - Riot Girl Tristana. - Medieval Twitch. - Medieval Warwick. - Urfwick.
If a player wants an account with one of these specific skins, they must purchase an account that already has them unlocked, as they are completely locked behind specific past events or limited availability periods. The crafting system does not provide access to these historical or event-exclusive items.
However, for the vast majority of the skin library, the system remains robust. New skins are added to the loot pool shortly after their store release, typically waiting at least a day before they appear in chest rewards. This delay ensures that the economy is not flooded with new releases immediately, maintaining some exclusivity for a short period.
The Future of Hextech Rewards
The trajectory of the Hextech system points toward a more controlled, premium-focused economy. The removal of free chests and the consolidation of currencies into Mythic Essence suggests a long-term strategy to increase monetization. While the backlash forced a return of the chests, the methods of acquisition have been tightened.
The system is evolving to prioritize high-value content. The introduction of the Exalted tier of skins and the gutting of the Mythic Essence system indicate a move toward higher price points for premium items. Riot has also pointed to other systems they have tried, such as the $500 USD Faker Hall of Legends skin and the $250 USD Jinx Arcane tie-in, as examples of premium content that does not rely on the traditional chest system.
The current state of Hextech Crafting is a hybrid model. It retains the "loot box" mechanic for free-to-play players but restricts the sources of keys and chests. The system is designed to be fun and rewarding, but the balance has shifted. Players can still get rare and exclusive content without spending money, but the grind is more difficult and the reward pool is more curated.
Strategic Implications for Players
For the modern League of Legends player, understanding these changes is crucial for optimizing their reward collection. The strategy has shifted from "grinding for S-ranks" to "completing the Battle Pass" and "saving Mythic Essence."
Players looking to maximize their returns should focus on: - Engaging with the Battle Pass to secure free Hextech Chests. - Completing event milestones to earn loot capsules. - Using Mythic Essence strategically to craft high-value skins. - Disenchanting unwanted shards to accumulate more resources.
The disappearance of Gemstones and the restriction on free chests means that the "free" aspect of the game has diminished. However, the system still offers a path for dedicated players to earn content. The key is understanding that the old methods of earning chests (S-ranks, mastery) are gone, and the new methods (Battle Pass, events) are the new standard.
Conclusion
The question of whether players can get Hextech Gemstones is effectively answered by the timeline of the system's evolution. Hextech Gemstones were abolished in 2022, replaced by Mythic Essence as the unified currency for rare crafting. Furthermore, the primary free source of rewards—the Hextech Chests—was removed during the Season 15 revamp, sparking a massive player backlash. Although Riot Games reversed the decision to remove chests entirely, the mechanism for obtaining them has changed fundamentally.
The current system no longer offers Gemstones as a distinct currency. Instead, players accumulate Mythic Essence, which serves as the new standard for crafting Mythic and Prestige skins. While free Hextech Chests have returned as Battle Pass rewards, the old methods of acquiring them through mastery ranks and S-ranks are no longer available. The system has been streamlined, but the path to free cosmetics has become more restricted.
Ultimately, the Hextech system remains a core component of League of Legends' economy, but it operates under new rules. Players can still craft skins and champions, but the reliance on paid sources and the elimination of the old currency and free chest sources mean the era of easy access to cosmetics is over. The system continues to evolve, balancing the interests of the developer and the community, but the "Gemstone" is a relic of the past, remembered only by veterans of the game's history.