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League of Legends: Diana lore, explained


The image displayed on the computer monitor is the official splash art for the Winterblessed Diana skin from the popular game League of Legends
Diana represents the Aspect of the Moon, as she is the celestial entities chosen host / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends

TL;DR

  • Diana is an assassin/fighter LoL champion who has plenty of interesting lore. 
  • Released in 2012, Diana has been part of the game for around 14 years.  
  • Diana was an orphan who was found on Mount Targon as a baby. She was taken in by the Rakkor tribe.
  • A desire to learn more about the Solari and Lunari’s history led to Diana being ostracised, but it also led to her being chosen by the Aspect of the Moon. 
  • Diana has a strong connection to fellow champion Leona, as the two were close friends who became lovers.

In League of Legends, Diana is a popular jungler and mid-laner hero with fascinating lore. Starting her life as an orphan, Diana’s desire to learn more about the history between the Solari and Lunari religious orders eventually leads her to become a god-like entity. 

We’re going to dive deeper into Diana’s League of Legends story, including her humble beginnings and how she was able to ascend to become more than human. We’ll also take a closer look at Diana’s abilities and see how they connect to her backstory. 

Who is Diana in League of Legends?

The image displays the splash art for Diana, a playable character (champion) from the video game League of Legends. She is known as the Scorn of the Moon
When she is chosen, the Aspect of the Moon bestows great luna powers upon Diana / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends

In the narrative world of LoL, Diana is the mortal host for the Aspect of the Moon – the celestial entity that embodies the moon – and a Lunari warrior. The Lunari are a moon-worshipping faction in Runeterra who were branded as heretics by the Solari clan, who are the opposing sun-worshipping faction. 

Diana was always determined to find out more about the relationship between the Lunari and the Solari, due to her feeling a strong connection to the moon and the night sky. Her search for the truth eventually led to her discovering that the two factions were not always at war, and that the sun was not always the domineering force. After ascending Mount Targon to find more answers, she is chosen by the Aspect of the Moon and granted superhuman abilities (as well as silver hair), becoming the champion we know her as in League of Legends. 

League of Legends Diana lore, explained

The image displays the character Diana from the game League of Legends, specifically in her Prestige Battle Queen or Dark Cosmic Prestige skin
Diana wanted to know more about why the Solari believed what they did, leading to isolation / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends

As mentioned, Diana’s beginnings are somewhat tragic. She was discovered as a baby on Mount Targon alongside her perished parents. After being found by members of the Rakkor tribe – the major tribal faction on Mount Targon (from which both the Solari and Lunari originated) – Diana becomes a member of their clan and undergoes religious and physical training. 

As her studies continue, Diana becomes fascinated by the intricacies of the Solari faith, including why they behave the way they do. Her research leads her to realise that many of the texts that the Solari use have missing sections, with all references to the moon and the Lunari removed. This only intensified Diana’s curiosity, but it also began to isolate her from her peers. However, she always had one person who stayed by her side: fellow LoL champion Leona. The two were best friends, with Leona being a shining beacon of light for Diana. Their relationship developed to the point where they eventually became lovers. 

This image is official artwork from the League of Legends universe, specifically an illustration for the short story "Rise with Me," which focuses on the relationship between the champions Leona (left) and Diana (right)
Leona and Diana’s love story is a tragic, star crossed lovers tale / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends

Diana eventually stumbles upon an alcove hidden in Mount Targon, where she finds imagery of sun and moon warriors fighting alongside one another, proving that the two clans were not always enemies. Diana rushes to tell Leona, but Leona warns her that she will be punished if she continues down this path. Frustrated at her best friend’s reaction and unable to find any more information, Diana decides to climb to the top of Mount Targon as a last attempt to find out more. 

After a harrowing ascent, Diana finally reaches the peak. It is here where she is chosen by the Aspect of the Moon to become its mortal host. She is shown visions of the Lunari’s past, her dark hair becomes silver, and she finds herself donning brilliant silver armour. Once Diana realises what she has become, she notices that she is not alone on the mountain. Leona is behind her, and she, too, dons her own armour, but hers is gleaming gold. Leona was also chosen, becoming the host and the chosen fighter for the Aspect of the Sun. 

Leona tries to get Diana to return with her to the temple to face the consequences of her ascension, but Diana argues that they should leave together to start a new future and try to finally bring the Solari and Lunari together again. Leona refuses, and the two fight. Diana overpowers Leona and returns to the temple, hoping to show the elders that they were wrong to erase the Lunari. 

Diana’s attempts are left in tatters, as she is called a heretic and sentenced to severe punishment. In her anger, Diana accidentally obliterates the entire temple, the elders and many members of the Solari with a huge moonlight burst. Scared and shocked at her own strength, Diana flees and finds herself on a journey to find any Lunari survivors, reveal the truth, and find a way to bring back the balance between the moon and the sun. 

Diana’s in-game abilities

This screenshot is from the popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game League of Legends. Two in-game champions engaged in combat on a forested pathway near a stone bridge, which appears to be within the "Summoner's Rift" map
Diana’s powers are all themed around her role as the host of the Aspect of the Moon / Image credit: Riot Games and League of Legends

Diana in LoL is a fighter/assassin who is best used as a Jungler or in the mid-lane. Her difficulty level is two out of three, and her powers are connected to her narrative. Diana’s lore revolves around her connection to the moon, and her abilities reflect this. Here’s a closer look at Diana’s in-game abilities.

Ability name Key to use In-game description
Crescent Strike Q Unleashes a bolt of lunar energy in an arc, dealing magic damage. Afflicts enemies struck with Moonlight, revealing them if they are not stealthed for three seconds.
Lunar Rush E Becomes the living embodiment of the vengeful moon, dashing to an enemy and dealing magic damage. Lunar Rush has no cooldown when used to dash to an enemy afflicted with Moonlight. All other enemies will have the Moonlight debuff removed regardless of whether they were the target of Lunar Rush.
Moonfall R Diana reveals and draws in all nearby enemies and slows them. If Diana pulls in one or more enemy champions, the moonlight crashes down onto her after a short delay, dealing magic damage in an area around her, increased for each target beyond the first pulled.
Moonsilver Blade No key. Passive ability. Every third strike cleaves nearby enemies for an additional magic damage. After casting a spell, Diana gains Attack Speed for 5 seconds.
Pale Cascade W Diana creates three orbiting spheres that detonate on contact with enemies to deal damage in an area. She also gains a temporary shield that absorbs damage. If her third sphere detonates, the shield gains additional strength.

Conclusion

Diana has an incredibly interesting League of Legends lore that not only strongly connects to the conflict between the Solari and the Lunari, but is also tied to fellow champion Leona. The warring factions of the sun and the moon, and the friends-to-lovers-to-enemies narrative that flows between Leona and Diana, make for a particularly engaging backstory.

FAQs

What is Diana’s backstory in LoL?

Diana’s backstory begins when she is found as a baby on Mount Targon. She eventually becomes the mortal host for the Aspect of the Moon. Read more about Diana’s lore above. 

Although Diana’s age is not officially confirmed, she is thought to be in her late 20s or early 30s during the current LoL narrative. 

Are Diana and Leona now enemies in LoL?

Diana and Leona’s roles as Aspects of the Moon and the Sun mean that they are rivals, but their previous friendship and love suggest that they still harbour feelings for one another despite this.

REFERENCES

  • Diana (League of Legends Universe)
  • Diana (League of Legends)
  • Leona (League of Legends)



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