Arcane Magic In Arcane, Explained

The Netflix show Arcane is based on the lore of League of Legends, a widely popular game with colorful characters and fast-paced gameplay. The show aims to develop the lore of the game while changing it slightly to better fit the format, with a focus on interpersonal stories and the building blocks of the world.

A powerful force that is both showcased as a title and subtly mentioned is the arcane, a mysterious force that powers machines and can be controlled by certain gifted individuals. What can be hard to wrap your head around is exactly what the arcane is, how it works, and why it’s dangerous.

Spoilers For The Arcane Show

What Is The Arcane?

In general terms, arcane is what magic is called in Runeterra, the setting of League of Legends.

Some creatures, including humans, are born with the ability to control the arcane, but each of them does so in their own unique way, being more similar to the X-Men from Marvel Comics than any fantasy magic system.

This seems to be how it works in the Arcane show as well, since the Black Rose agent (likely LeBlanc) explains to Mel that each mage has their power manifest differently.

The power to control the arcane is also hereditary, hence why Mel can tap into that force while no one in Piltover or Zaun can.

What Is Hextech?

In both the game and the show, Hextech is a way for people without magical abilities to harness the arcane.

In the game, however, Hextech is made from the body and soul of the Brackern, a race of sentient, giant, crystal-like scorpions; the show seems to have no relation to them.

The theory behind Hextech is based on runes, since you can use written runes to channel the arcane into performing an action.

A Hextech machine is made of multiple runes, which allow it to perform multiple actions, as seen with Vi’s gauntlets or Jayce’s hammer.

Why Is The Arcane So Volatile?

The magical power of the arcane isn’t known to be so volatile in the game’s lore, but it is nearly impossible to manipulate in the long run in the show’s universe.

Of course,
it’s only volatile when used artificially
, since the few mages seen in the show can use their powers without repercussions.

Runes are also used safely, particularly by Ambessa and her Noxian forces. Yet their use of runes is rudimentary at best, while the magical manipulations seen in Piltover and Zaun can lead to catastrophic explosions, which would make the only volatile form of arcane be the one used for Hextech.

As for why Hextech is so prone to malfunction in the Arcane show, it’s difficult to say for sure, but the way it ends up corrupting everything around it seems to tie it to the Void.

All magic comes from somewhere, after all, and if Hextech is tapping into the Void to achieve its goals, it was only a matter of time before that corrupting influence tapped back.