League of Legends
Mythic Essence is the only way to grab prestige skins and exclusive Mythic cosmetics in League of Legends, and figuring out how to get mythic essence in League efficiently will save you a lot of RP (or a lot of grinding). Here’s every method that actually works on patch 26.7.
Last updated: April 14, 2026, patch 26.7
How Do You Get Mythic Essence in League of Legends?
You can earn mythic essence in League through the Sanctum at 400 RP per pull with an 89.5% chance of dropping ME, the seasonal Battle Pass paid track for around 25 ME per event, Hextech Chests at a 3.6% drop rate for 10 ME, Masterwork Chests at 4.2%, and leveling rewards every 50 levels past level 150.
That’s the short version. The real question is which method gives you the most ME for your time and money. I’ve burned through way more RP than I’d like to admit testing this, so let me break down each one.
The system has changed a lot since Riot replaced Prestige Points and Gemstones with Mythic Essence back in patch 12.6. If you’re returning to LoL after a break, forget everything you knew about the old gemstone economy.
The Sanctum: Your Main Source of Mythic Essence
The Sanctum is where most of your ME will come from in 2026. Riot introduced it in patch 14.24, and it’s basically a gacha pull system. Each pull costs one Ancient Spark, which runs you 400 RP.
Here’s how the tiers break down:
| Tier | What You Get | Drop Rate |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier (Exalted) | Exclusive Exalted skins | Pity at 80 pulls |
| A-Tier | Epic/Legendary skins, chromas | ~10%, guaranteed within 10 pulls |
| B-Tier | Mythic Essence, icons, emotes | ~89.5% |
That 89.5% B-Tier rate means most of your pulls will land you some ME. The amounts aren’t fixed though. You can get 5, 10, 25, 50, or 100 ME from a single pull. I tracked 30 pulls last month and averaged about 15 ME per pull, which felt pretty typical based on what I’ve seen others report.
There’s also a bonus if you already own all the S-Tier or A-Tier content in a banner. Pulls that would’ve given you those skins convert to ME instead: 270 ME for an Exalted S-Tier duplicate and 35 ME for an A-Tier one, according to Riot’s official Sanctum support page. Whales benefit here. The rest of us? Not so much.
I think Riot will eventually buff Sanctum ME rates or add a direct ME purchase option. The current system pushes you toward gambling when most players just want one specific prestige skin. It’s frustrating.
Battle Pass: The Most Reliable ME Per RP
If you don’t want to gamble, the Battle Pass is your best bet. The paid track awards 25 ME at milestone completions during events. That’s guaranteed ME with zero RNG involved.
According to PCGamesN’s Mythic Shop breakdown, you’re looking at roughly 25-50 ME per event depending on how many milestone missions you complete. Events run throughout the year, so a dedicated player who buys every pass could stack up a decent amount over a few months.
The math is straightforward. A pass costs around 1650 RP on the low end. For guaranteed ME plus all the other event loot, it’s genuinely the best value. I grabbed three event passes between January and March this year and walked away with enough ME to pick up Prestige Fuzz Fizz. No regrets.
Hextech and Masterwork Chests: Free but Painful
Hextech Chests drop a 3.6% chance for 10 ME. Masterwork Chests give you a 4.2% chance at 5 ME. Those numbers are brutal.
You get one free Hextech Chest per week if you or a premade earns an S-rank. That’s 52 chests a year if you’re consistent, and at a 3.6% drop rate, you’re statistically looking at about 1-2 ME drops per year from free chests alone. Rough.
Masterwork Chests cost 165 RP each, which makes them a terrible way to farm ME specifically. You’re paying more per expected ME than you would with Sanctum pulls or a Battle Pass. Skip these unless you’re opening them for skin shards anyway.
Leveling Rewards: Slow but Free
Every 50 account levels past level 150, you get 10 ME. So level 150, 200, 250, 300, and so on. Completely free, completely slow.
If you’re already level 300+, you’ve probably collected some ME this way without realizing it. But nobody should rely on this as a primary source. Getting from level 200 to 250 takes hundreds of games. I hit level 350 a few weeks ago and I’ve been playing since Season 8. That’s 40 ME from leveling over years of play.
Worth knowing about. Not worth planning around.
What Should You Actually Spend ME On?
Right now the Mythic Shop has prestige skins at 125-150 ME depending on the skin. Prestige Money Miser Mordekaiser and Prestige Fuzz Fizz are both sitting at 150 ME in the current rotation. The shop rotates every patch cycle, so roughly every two weeks for featured skins.
If you’re wondering whether to spend or save, here’s my take: buy the skin you actually want. People sit on 300+ ME waiting for a “better” skin and end up never spending it. If Prestige K/DA Kai’Sa shows up and you play Kai’Sa, just get it.
If you’re still climbing ranked and want to focus on improving before worrying about cosmetics, check out how ranked works in LoL first. ME isn’t going anywhere.
Best Strategy to Farm Mythic Essence in 2026
Here’s what I’d actually recommend, ranked by efficiency:
- Buy every event Battle Pass you can. Guaranteed ME, no RNG, plus you get skins and event tokens on top.
- Pull Sanctum banners you care about. If a banner has a skin you want AND gives ME on B-Tier, it’s a twofer.
- Play enough to earn your weekly Hextech Chest. Free is free, even at 3.6%.
- Don’t buy Masterwork Chests for ME. The math doesn’t work out.
If you’re grinding ranked on a fresh LoL smurf account, keep in mind your ME progress resets since it’s tied to account level. Smurf accounts start at level 30, so you’ve got 120 levels before you see your first leveling ME drop at 150.
And if you’re hardstuck and thinking about LoL rank boosting to hit your ranked goals faster, that frees up time you could spend farming event passes for ME instead of being tilted in Gold lobbies. Just saying.
One thing worth noting from Dexerto’s ME guide: Riot has mentioned Show Milestones and Masterwork Milestones as future ME sources, though there’s no confirmed date for when those systems go live. Could be a big deal when they drop. Could be nothing.
Getting mythic essence in League isn’t fast unless you’re spending RP, and even then the Sanctum makes it feel like a slot machine. Grab your Battle Passes, open your free chests, and don’t let FOMO on a 150 ME prestige skin drain your wallet.
FAQ
How much Mythic Essence do you need for a prestige skin?
Most prestige skins in the Mythic Shop cost 150 ME, though a few older ones like Hextech Annie and Ashen Guardian Shen sit at 125 ME. Newer prestige skins released during events aren’t bought with ME at all; you earn them through the paid Battle Pass track instead.
Can you get Mythic Essence for free without spending RP?
Yes, but it’s slow. You’ll earn 10 ME every 50 account levels starting at level 150, and Hextech Chests from S-rank games have a 3.6% chance to drop 10 ME. Event missions sometimes award small amounts too, but don’t expect to hit 150 ME quickly without spending.
What is the Sanctum in League of Legends?
The Sanctum is a gacha-style pull system Riot added in patch 14.24. You spend Ancient Sparks (400 RP each) to pull from rotating banners. About 89.5% of B-Tier pulls give you some amount of Mythic Essence, ranging from 5 to 100 ME per pull.
How often does the Mythic Shop rotate?
The Mythic Shop updates every patch cycle, roughly every two weeks. Featured prestige skins rotate bi-weekly, chromas rotate weekly, and small accessories like emotes and icons rotate daily. Check the client’s Loot tab for what’s currently available.
Is buying Ancient Sparks worth it for Mythic Essence?
It depends on what you’re after. If you only want ME, the Battle Pass gives better guaranteed value per RP. But if you also want a shot at exclusive Exalted skins while collecting ME on the side, Sanctum pulls can work out. I wouldn’t recommend it on a tight budget though.
