Every League of Legends Worlds Song Ranked

The last one League of Legends The World Cup song “Heavy is the Crown” has just been released, but has already been viewed more than a million times on YouTube alone.

This is indeed what we asked for, “Heavy is The Crown” by Linking Park is the song most League fans have been waiting for, and it paves the way for an exciting World Cup in 2024. The first song related to the biggest international competition in Competition was “Warriors” by Imagine Dragons, who performed the anthem live at the Worlds Final in Seoul in 2014. Since then, it has become a tradition for the World Championship to have an anthem that represents past champions, legends and future title contenders.

So far we have had 11 Worlds anthems, each with its own animated music video. However, for this list we wanted to focus on the song itself, the lyrics, the catchiness of the chorus, and the feelings it conveys to us. Also, this list only contains the official Worlds songs and does not include other pieces such as Pentakill’s discography.

Below you’ll find our ranking of the best songs and music videos in the world, from worst to best.

11) “Worlds Collide” (with Nicki Taylor) – 2015

Even though this song has a powerful chorus that can capture every emotion Competition fan, it’s still not enough to “bring down the giants.” Released in 2015, “Worlds Collide” was the second song ever created for a Competition World Championship and it helped Riot Games find the right melody for the rest of the anthems. Worlds songs have improved over the years and even if “Worlds Collide” is in last place on our list, it was a milestone from which the rest of the songs could “soar high.”

10) “Ignite” (with Zedd) – 2016

“There’s a power that’s below” in electronic music, and this track has our inner dance instincts ignited. “Ignite” goes in a completely different direction than any other Worlds track released to date. The electronic beats are accompanied by an orchestral arrangement that helps to distinguish it as a Worlds track without sacrificing its individuality. The steady rhythms build to incredibly catchy drops, truly like a “spark in an open flame.” Riot stepped out of their comfort zone for “Ignite” and it worked, but it didn’t make us feel “the rush.”
“Ignite” is number ten on our list.

9) “Burn It All Down” (w/ PVRIS) – 2021

“All the people want fire, fire,” but this song didn’t deliver. The hype surrounding the 2021 anthem began building when it was announced that Worlds would be moving to Europe. It exploded when teasers for the video dropped nearly a week before the competition began. But perhaps those teasers set the bar too high, and the overall fan response wasn’t positive. Unfortunately for the anthem, “Burn It All Down” was more of a “break” than a “make” this year, and it sits in the lower regions of our list.

8) GODS ft. NewJeans (my favorite) – 2023

“Has anyone read this underdog story?” The official anthem of the 2023 Competition World Championship, titled “GODS” and featuring NewJeans, had over 108,000 fans on their knees waiting and praying for glory. The music video centers on Deft’s journey from schoolboy to world champion, and features several players he encountered during his career, including Faker, Rekkles, Meiko, and Doran. But while the story is grand, the song didn’t take us to church. To match the divine story in the video, “GODS” needed more than just screaming their names “la-la-loud.”

If “GODS” doesn’t leave a strong impression upon first listen, its catchy rhythm and effortless lyrics grow on you with each replay and stick in your head. However, the song lacks an identity that could have been found through a deeper connection to NewJeans’ core essence and familiar style. While the simplicity of “GODS” in music, lyrics, and language choice allows it to reach fans worldwide and make room for a huge hit, it doesn’t summon the factors needed to achieve the status of a great Worlds anthem. “GODS” takes the eighth spot.

7) “STAR WALKIN” (featuring Lil Nas

The 2022 World Cup anthem was ‘ready to go far’, but Competition fans weren’t feeling like walking on stars when they listened to it and gave some harsh feedback on the track. The collaboration between Riot and Lil Nas X resulted in a catchy track that acts as a bridge between the artist’s millions of fans and the world of Legendsbut for the already loyal fans, who year after year are eager to hear the World Cup anthem, that wasn’t enough.

The story in the song is told from the perspective of a player who wants to join the legends instead of ‘worshipping’ them. The protagonist is ‘ready to go far’ and ‘on his way to the stars’, but unfortunately the music never reaches its highest point, depriving the listener of a sense of fulfillment. The upbeat rhythm hypnotizes the listener with emotion and energy from the very first moment, but what ‘STAR WALKIN’ lacks is a powerful change in melody that ultimately takes the listener to the stars.

6) “Phoenix” (with Cailin Russo and Chrissy Costanza) –2019

They say “you gotta conquer the monster in your head and then you fly,” and this Phoenix soared. With over a hundred million views on YouTube, the Worlds 2019 anthem has been a favorite since it was released. It’s a more subdued song compared to last year’s anthem, “RISE,” but it still had us wanting to “tear down the ceiling” while singing it.

A clean instrumental intro shows where the song is going to grow. Accompanied by clean lead vocals and a steady beat, “Phoenix” really reached new heights. Not only is the music exceptional, like every other Worlds song, but “Phoenix” also has powerful lyrics that will make every fan “rise from the ashes.” Compared to other releases, however, this Phoenix is ​​still in its ashes stage.

5) “Take Over” (featuring Jeremy McKinnon of A Day To Remember, MAX, Henry) – 2020

“Why dare me to do it again?” was probably a response to all the fans who loved “Phoenix” in 2019 and challenged Riot to do it again. And Riot not only met the fans’ expectations, they exceeded them. “Take Over” was the anthem for the 10th anniversary of the Competition World Championship, and it looks to the future with passages like, “You may wonder what your future will be/But I’ve locked it all away.” Yet it lacks that triumphant feeling, that unique individuality that might have stood the test of time.

4) “Legends Never Die” (ft. Against The Current) – 2017

“Legends Never Die” almost becomes a part of you, which is why it ranks fourth on our list; although many fans will disagree.

The moments of serenity in “Legends Never Die” are paralleled by passionate crescendos that lead to an explosive chorus. It’s driven by heavy percussion throughout, which helps build tension and keep the song moving forward without feeling worn out.

This song is “written down in eternity” as one of the most beloved Competition World Cup songs, even after years.

3) “Warriors” (with Imagine Dragons) – 2014

The song in sixth place on our list is the song that “(built this city from dust).” As of October 1, “Warriors” has the highest number of views on YouTube of any Worlds song – for now.

The brooding undertones of “Warriors” emphasize the significance of competing on the Worlds stage. The lyrics encapsulate the tireless journey to become world champion, while hinting at the Competition community that helped build the game into the spectacle it is today, a feat that has probably not been accomplished in any other Worlds event.

The ‘spirit never dies’ of this song. In 2020, a remix was even made to announce the beginning of the 10th. Competition season. “Warriors” is number six on our list. Yes, even if it is the only Worlds song with a guitar solo – for now.

2) “Heavy is The Crown” (with Linkin Park) – 2024

This song is “outnumbered, 10 to one”, but despite its throne-worthy sound, it doesn’t win the crown of best Worlds anthem. The collaboration between Linkin Park and Riot Games was one that fans could only dream of, but after the band’s comeback, what fans “asked” became reality.

“Heavy is The Crown” is pure nostalgia with its classic Linkin Park sound, something that so many Competition fans didn’t know they were craving a Worlds song. Mike Shinoda’s rapped verses, combined with Emily Armstrong’s heavy screams on the chorus, transport the listener to a battlefield where they can imagine themselves as the one fighting for the heavy crown.

But the more we listen to it, the more it feels like something is missing, an epic accent that would have given the 2024 Worlds anthem the crown it deserves. Ultimately, in the battle of the anthems, another song emerged that challenged “Heavy is The Crown” for the right to the throne.

1) “RISE” (with The Glitch Mob, Mako and The Word Alive) –2018

The only song from the Worlds that can take the crown is the one that climbed all the way to the top.
“RISE” is the culmination of four years of Worlds music videos, and even years after its release, it still stands unmatched. As a song, “RISE” ticks all the boxes. It has a satisfying buildup that has us chasing the chorus “higher and higher” until the powerful drop has you screaming like you fought for it with your hands. “RISE” constantly carries us through the haunting chorus with each iteration sounding new and fresh, and the eerily desolate bridge leaves us waiting in anticipation for the hook to return.

“RISE” takes us on a journey to the crown and makes the listener the protagonist of this climb. The 2018 World Cup anthem has truly risen to the top of our list and is still waiting for its challenger.