Arcane Season 2: Best Moments, Ranked

Arcane has officially ended its second season, but many fans (me included) are still in denial. There were so many memorable moments that fitting them into a list would be astronomically hard.

To commemorate Arcane Season 2’s success and the journey that Studio Fortiche gave us, let’s count down the moments that had us crying in agonizing heartbreak or cheering with uncontrollable excitement.

Most of these were discussed, shared, and made memes by the fandom live on the day of the release of the corresponding Acts. If you’ve been around social media during that time, then you’ve surely seen the fandom talk about it.

Warning: This list contains MASSIVE SPOILERS!

15 Lest Had Little Screentime

And Fans Have Already Fallen In Love

The gorgeous Lest is a Vastaya who can be seen treating Councilman Salo by painting Shimmer on his paralyzed legs. We later learn that she was hired by Mel to spy on Ambessa.

While she only had a few appearances, fans were immediately drawn to her mesmerizing design. Falling in love with a minor character who we will never see again, unfortunately, is the plight of any Arcane fan.

14 Caitlyn’s Villain Arc

So This Is How Liberty Dies

Caitlyn’s arc represents naïveté and a sheltered upbringing being shattered by the brutal realities of the world. Her ignorance of the plight of Zaunites and the complacency of Piltover shows just how much classism has corrupted her kind, just nature.

Thanks to Ambessa’s careful scheming in stoking Caitlyn’s anger, the hatred she has for Jinx has also been directed towards Zaun by proxy, leading her to become an authoritarian figure by the end of Act 1.

This goes to show that even our most beloved characters can succumb to the ugly emotion that is hatred.

13 Ekko Saves The Day

That’s Why He’s The GOAT!!!

It’s the final battle. Viktor has achieved his Glorious Evolution. With almost all our heroes caught in his web, all hope seems lost. But there’s still time because the Boy Savior is here to save the day.

Ekko is always here to come in clutch, and this time is no exception. Combining his deft hoverboard skills, well-timed rewinds, and heroic determination to save the world, Ekko manages to lob unstable time at Viktor, defeating him and saving Piltover from a bleak future.

Being a hero is a thankless job, because Ekko never got the accolades he deserved, nor did he need it.

12 Warwick Attacks

Unmatched Savagery

We all knew that Vander was going to come back as Warwick sooner or later, but none of us were prepared for just how terrifying he really was. Throughout Episode 4, we’re treated to countless foreshadows of the impending carnage through Warwick’s eyes.

When we do see him, he tears through metal and Piltovan enforcers like paper, even severely injuring Ambessa.

Warwick looks and feels like a horror movie monster. His movement is impossibly fast for his size, and we get probably one of the bloodiest scenes in this show. The heavy metal riffs in Misha Mansoor’s “The Beast” add to the intensity of this scene.

It’s immediately followed by an emotional moment where Vander snaps out of his bloodlust, recognizing Jinx as Powder before the episode ends.

11 Maddie’s Betrayal

Et Tu?

Just when we think Piltover stands a chance against Ambessa’s forces, we witness one of the most unexpected betrayals in the show.

As we’re left to wonder who could have committed such an unforgivable act by our masked traitor, fans immediately recognize Maddie’s awful haircut. Join the Maddie hate train!

It’s never explicitly stated why Maddie betrayed Piltover, and there’s no right answer either. Either way, Maddie got what she deserved, as her bullet ricocheted into her head thanks to Mel’s interference.

Nobody mourned Maddie, not especially Caitlyn. Damn, that’s cold.

10 Glorious Evolution

Viktor Achieves His Final Form

With Singed’s help in transfusing Vander’s regenerative blood to Viktor’s cocoon, Viktor’s transformation is complete. All those touched by Viktor’s magic rise up in the air and become the porcelain puppets that Jayce saw in his visions.

Accompanied by Twenty One Pilots’ “The Line,” this scene invokes such a deep sorrow not only because we’re losing Vander completely, but Viktor loses whatever’s left of his humanity in the form of Sky.

Viktor’s face splitting open to reveal an emotionless mask also reinforces the idea that he’s thrown away everything he ever held dear to chase his obsession of giving the world his idea of salvation.

9 Singed’s Identity Revealed

We Hate Him

In Episode 5, Ambessa and Caitlyn recruit Singed to track down Warwick. Like a true detective, Caitlyn does her due diligence by researching Singed’s background and deduces that he is Dr. Reveck, a disgraced chemist once an esteemed scientist at the academy.

Many fans were already speculating this, as the show has hinted through visual cues and dialogue that Singed’s mysterious daughter might be Orianna, a young girl who becomes a machine and a Champion in League of Legends.

With this confirmation, fans are vindicated and excited to see what lore might change in the game.

8 Jayce Goes Insane

Hammer Time

The emotional moment of Vi and Jinx reuniting with their transformed father is immediately contrasted by Jayce’s sudden return and killing of Salo in episode 5.

Many fans were left shocked by Jayce’s actions but could tell he was determined to do the same to Viktor.

And kill Viktor, he did. Jayce blew a hole in Viktor, indirectly killing every follower of the Herald. Not only did this ruin Jinx and Vi’s reunion with their dad, it also caused Isha to sacrifice herself to save her new family.

This prompted many raised pitchforks, sparking a widespread, week-long debate among fans about whether Jayce knew something we didn’t.

It was so popular that even the official League of Legends TikTok account changed its profile picture to join in on the conversation.

7 To Ashes And Dust

2v2? More Like 2v2.5

Of all the fight scenes in Season 2, the final fight in episode 3 takes the cake. With Vi and Caitlyn hot on Jinx’s tail, they face off against her and Sevika in the ancient Shuriman ruins that once belonged to Janna’s followers.

The fight was intense, paralleled with Jayce and co’s disappearance into the Arcane disrupting Hextech, forcing our combatants to fight even more creatively.

Accompanied by Woodkid’s “To Ashes and Dust” the Shuriman chants perfectly fit into the dramatic crescendo of Act 1’s story, culminating with Isha intervening at the eleventh hour, showing just how dire things have gotten.

6 Viktor Performs A Miracle

Giving People Salvation

Viktor’s entire character arc in Season 2 was nothing short of a religious experience. His robes, resurrection, shepherd’s cane, and his healing of Shimmer junkie Huck at the end of Episode 2 all speak to Biblical imagery and iconography.

The dramatic music and intense visuals add to the transformation, and we also see that Viktor is visibly exhausted from healing Huck.

At that moment, Viktor understands his new role as a savior, and as we see in later episodes, Viktor genuinely believes that he is helping people (when, in reality, he’s turning people into his puppets).

5 Black Rose Exposed

Secrets Uncovered

Episode 5 finally shows us more scenes with the Black Rose, and we get even more confirmation of LeBlanc’s involvement. Thanks to Mel’s ingenuity, we find out that the Black Rose wants to recruit Mel because she was born with magic in her veins.

Scenes of Mel and the sorceress in Episodes 8 and 9 also provide heavy evidence that the show is setting up a continuation of Mel’s story as she uncovers the secrets of Noxus.

With her mother dead and more questions about her new powers popping up, we’re sure to learn more about whether there’s going to be a new show like Arcane.

4 Timebomb Explodes

Pretend Like It’s The First Time

Episode 7 was a crazy journey where we get to see what happened to Ekko, Heimerdinger, and Jayce.

We all know Ekko and Jinx/Powder belong together. Fans have named this ship Timebomb and rejoiced when we saw that Ekko and Powder are in a relationship in the “good” timeline. I practically screamed when Jinx and Ekko kissed.

But it’s also heartbreaking when Ekko asks if they could pretend like it’s the first time because we know he’s not going to stay in this timeline and that he’ll never get to experience this again.

This hero was willing to sacrifice all the happiness in the world just so he could save his timeline. At least we got to see more of Timebomb in the final fight.

3 Cait/Vi Intimate Moments

And The Crowd Goes Wild!

Any intimate moment between Caitlyn and Vi warrants three cheers from the fandom, but fans were practically begging for full scenes of Caitlyn and Vi just going at it.

Thankfully for many CaitVi supporters, their favorite lesbian romance explodes into a weirdly-timed spicy scene soon after Jinx’s escape and declaration of her suicide in episode 8.

Aside from the awkward timing, Caitlyn and Vi consummating their romance was a long time coming – a break from the constant death and destruction, and an important representation of queer romance.

Arcane’s writers are experts at teasing character romances to where fans are just begging for more.

This scene is also accompanied by queer icon King Princess’s “Fantastic,” who is best known for songs that explore queer love and heartbreak.

According to a conversation between YouTuber Necrit and series producer Christian Linke, this romance scene was supposed to be longer and more intense but had to be dialed back. Needless to say, CaitVi fans were robbed.

2 “He’s Your Dad Too”

I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying!

I don’t know about you, but episode 5 ended on a tear-jerking note where Vi and Jinx are reunited with Vander.

After Vander is snapped out of his bloodlust, not only do we get to learn about Vi and Jinx’s mother in a flashback, but we also get to see a highly-anticipated reunion between a dad and his two daughters (plus Isha).

This scene is filled with the gentleness that we have missed seeing in this family since Season 1, and it hits us like a truck. The tender embrace between them and Vi reminding Jinx that they’re still family is all the show needs to begin the waterworks.

The cruelty of this world has changed the three of them so much that they’re almost unrecognizable compared to how they were in Season 1.

1 Isha’s Sacrifice

We’ve Run Out Of Tissues

Are you surprised this one made it this high up on the list? Act 2’s final scene had everybody crying and refusing to believe that Isha sacrificed herself to save everybody.

She’s endeared us to her presence so much that fans have gone through all five stages of grief ever since her tragic sacrifice to save everybody.

During the days between Act 2 and 3, fans have tried to argue that Ekko would rewind time, while others blamed Jayce for everything that went wrong in that episode.

Even the accompanying song made us cry even harder. Sung in Mandarin by Hong Kong singer Eason Chan, the lyrics describe Isha’s gratitude for meeting Jinx, and her sacrifice was a way of paying her back for her kindness.