Mythic Essence is League of Legends' premium cosmetic currency, and knowing how to earn it is the key to unlocking Prestige skins, Mythic Chromas, and exclusive items in the Mythic Shop. Unlike Blue Essence or RP, Mythic Essence cannot be bought directly — it has to be earned through gameplay, events, and milestones, which makes every gem you collect feel genuinely rewarding.
This guide covers every source of Mythic Essence available in the current client — from free event missions to chest opening milestones — and explains exactly how to spend it once you have enough. A Prestige skin costs 100 ME, so understanding all the earning paths will help you plan which one to target first.
What you need to know before you start
Mythic Essence (ME) replaced the old Gemstone and Prestige Points systems in 2022. You earn it in small amounts across multiple sources — typically 5 to 25 ME per event track — so most players save over two or three patch cycles before spending. The Mythic Shop is where you redeem ME, and it refreshes each patch, so some items are available only for a limited time.
How to get Mythic Essence in League of Legends
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Step 1: Check your Mythic Essence balance in the client
Open the League of Legends client and navigate to the Loot tab or the Shop. Your current Mythic Essence total is displayed next to the blue hexagonal ME gem icon in the top currency bar. Clicking the gem takes you directly to the Mythic Shop where you can see what your balance will unlock. Knowing your balance up front helps you decide which earning method to prioritise and how far away your next Prestige skin is.
Your Mythic Essence total appears next to the gem icon in the Loot or Shop section of the client. -
Step 2: Play events and complete missions
Seasonal events — such as the Mid-Season event, Worlds, Lunar New Year, and Star Guardian — are the most reliable free source of Mythic Essence. Each event features a mission track that rewards Event Tokens as you play. Once you have enough tokens, visit the Event Shop and exchange them for Mythic Essence directly: typically 2,000 tokens for 10 ME. Completing the entire free mission track usually yields 10–25 ME per event. If you purchase the Event Pass (1,650 RP), you earn bonus tokens on arrival plus double the tokens from missions, which can push your haul to 40–60 ME from a single event. Even without the pass, you can still earn ME every event cycle just by playing.
Complete event missions to earn tokens, then trade 2,000 tokens for 10 Mythic Essence in the Event Shop. -
Step 3: Open Hextech and Masterwork Chests to hit milestones
League of Legends tracks how many Hextech Chests and Masterwork Chests you open over time. Every 25 Hextech Chest openings triggers a milestone reward that includes Mythic Essence (typically 5 ME) alongside a bonus skin shard. The Masterwork Chest milestone — reached after 50 Masterwork Chest openings — awards 10 ME. Hextech Chests are earned for free by achieving an S rank on a champion you haven't already looted that patch, while Keys are obtained passively through Honor rewards. Masterwork Chests can be bought in the shop or received through event passes. Opening chests consistently over time is a steady way to stack up ME without any direct purchase.
Every 25 Hextech Chests opened unlocks a milestone that awards Mythic Essence. -
Step 4: Earn ME through Honor, Prime Gaming, and other sources
Beyond events and chests, several smaller sources can top up your Mythic Essence total. Reaching Honor Level 5 unlocks Honor Capsules that have a chance to contain 4–10 ME each. Players who subscribe to Amazon Prime Gaming and link their Riot account occasionally receive loot drops that include Mythic Essence. Champion Mastery Level 7 rewards can also include small amounts of ME via loot. Finally, major seasonal events like Worlds and the Mid-Season Invitational sometimes offer free Mythic Essence bundles on their public reward tracks — no pass required — so keep an eye on the Event Hub each patch.
Honor Level 5 capsules, Prime Gaming drops, and seasonal event tracks all add to your ME total. -
Step 5: Spend Mythic Essence in the Mythic Shop
Once you have ME saved up, open the Mythic Shop (accessible from the Shop tab in the client). The shop stocks Prestige skins at 100 ME each, Mythic Chromas at 40 ME, and smaller items such as exclusive profile icons and Rare Gems at 10 ME. The shop rotates its inventory every patch cycle, so some Prestige skins are only available for a limited window. If there is a specific skin you want, check whether it is currently listed and spend accordingly rather than saving indefinitely — items that leave the shop may not return for many months.
Prestige skins cost 100 ME; Mythic Chromas cost 40 ME. The shop refreshes every patch.
Tips for earning Mythic Essence faster
- Play during every event. Even if you skip the Event Pass, logging in and completing free missions adds 10–25 ME to your total across just a few sessions.
- Buy the Event Pass when targeting a Prestige skin. The bonus tokens and 2× mission rewards can double or triple your event ME earnings, bringing a specific skin within reach in one or two events.
- Earn Hextech Chests by playing ranked. Getting an S rank gives you a free chest for that champion (once per patch per champion). Pair this with earned keys to open chests steadily toward the 25-chest milestone.
- Honor your teammates. Playing consistently, honoring others, and avoiding reports keeps you at Honor Level 5 so you receive capsules that can contain ME throughout the season.
- Check the Mythic Shop every patch. Rotation means some items leave permanently. Spending on something you want now is often better than saving for an item that may already be gone.
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy Mythic Essence directly with RP?
No. Mythic Essence cannot be purchased with Riot Points or real money directly. It can only be earned through gameplay, events, chest milestones, Honor rewards, and Prime Gaming drops. You can spend RP on Event Passes that increase the tokens you earn, which indirectly speeds up your ME accumulation.
How much Mythic Essence do you get per event?
A free event track typically awards 10–25 ME, while players with the Event Pass can earn 40–60 ME or more depending on how many missions they complete. Larger annual events like Worlds may offer higher rewards than smaller ones.
How many Mythic Essence does a Prestige skin cost?
Most Prestige skins in the Mythic Shop cost 100 Mythic Essence. Mythic Chromas cost 40 ME, profile icons and smaller items cost 10 ME, and Rare Gems (used to craft certain exclusive items) also cost 10 ME.
Does Mythic Essence expire?
No, Mythic Essence does not expire. Your balance carries over indefinitely between patches and seasons, so you can save across multiple event cycles to hit the 100 ME needed for a Prestige skin without any time pressure on the currency itself.
What happened to Prestige Points and Gemstones?
Riot unified Prestige Points and Gemstones into Mythic Essence in 2022. If you had either currency at that time, they were automatically converted to Mythic Essence at the corresponding exchange rate. The new system combines both currencies into one streamlined gem used for all Mythic Shop purchases.
Final thoughts
Getting Mythic Essence in League of Legends is a long-term project that rewards consistent play. The fastest route is to participate in every event, pick up the Event Pass when a Prestige skin you want is available, and open chests regularly to hit the 25-chest milestones. Keep an eye on the Mythic Shop each patch and spend purposefully when the skin you're targeting appears. For the latest event schedules and Mythic Shop rotations, check the official League of Legends website.
