In the spring of 2022, League of Legends players were treated to a vibrant new theme that would leave an indelible mark on the game’s cosmetic history. The Anima Squad event burst onto the PBE servers, bringing with it a fresh line of sci-fi inspired animal-themed skins. At the heart of the squad was the return of an iconic joke-turned-legend: Battle Bunny Riven, who first hopped into Summoner’s Rift nearly a decade earlier as an April Fools’ tease. Riven’s carrot-sword and playful animations had already secured her a special place in players' hearts, and now she was poised to recruit a whole team.
The event didn’t just add skins; it rewired how players thought about prestige rewards. Riot Games rolled out a completely new currency system, waving goodbye to Prestige Points and the old Gemstone shop. Here’s the kicker: both of those were shelved and replaced by Mythic Essence. Summoners would now collect this rare resource to spend in the rotating Mythic Shop, a move that stirred both excitement and the usual forum debates. The first jewel in the Mythic crown was the Ashen Knight Pyke skin, priced at 100 Mythic Essence—a grim, smoky figure that immediately tempted collectors.
The Anima Squad skin lineup was nothing short of stellar. Six new skins joined the fray, each with distinct personalities that almost spoke to the players. Battle Cat Jinx was a hyperactive burst of neon punk energy, her eyes wide with mischief as she darted across the map. It’s no wonder she instantly became a favorite—Jinx always did attract the chaos lovers. Her Prestige Edition, locked behind the event’s premium pass and 2000 tokens, felt like a victory lap for die-hard fans. You’ve got to hand it to Riot; they really know how to make a premium skin feel like a badge of honor.
Then there was Battle Wolf Sylas, who prowled the jungle with a sleek, feral grace that perfectly matched his rebellious spirit. Battle Bat Vayne added a nocturnal edge, her cape flickering like wings as she hunted down foes. And oh, let’s not forget Battle Bunny Miss Fortune. As the Legendary tier entry, she came with a full suite of new animations and voice lines, a sassy commander leading the brigade with a wink and a smirk. At 1820 RP, she was the splurge many couldn’t resist—every one of her taunts was a work of art.
The rest of the crew—Battle Bunny Prime Riven, Vayne, and the others—sat at 1350 RP, making the collection accessible yet still a test of willpower for those with limited budgets. Missions during the event were straightforward, rewarding tokens that could be traded for chromas, keys, and, for the truly dedicated, that gleaming Prestige Jinx. The whole parade kicked off on March 30, 2022 and ran through the end of April, giving plenty of time to grind.
Fast forward to 2026, and the Anima Squad event is often looked back on as a turning point. The Mythic Shop has since evolved, with a carousel of legacy prestige skins making comebacks, but fans still talk about that first Ashen Knight Pyke drop with a mix of nostalgia and exasperation. “Remember how we had to race for tokens?” they’d chuckle in Discord threads. The system overhaul was a gamble, but it paid off by keeping the chase for rare cosmetics feeling fresh.
Looking at the state of League cosmetics today, the DNA of Anima Squad is visible in every thematic event that follows. The blend of whimsy and edge—bunnies and wolves with laser rifles—became a Riot trademark. The event also cemented the community’s love for skin lines that turn well-known champions into something completely unexpected. Battle Bunny Riven remains a beloved classic, and her 2022 upgrade was the anchor that held the whole theme together. Newer players might not recall the original April Fools joke, but they’ve definitely seen her carrot blade cleave through a teamfight.
In the end, the Anima Squad 2022 event was more than a cosmetic drop; it was a statement. It showed that Riot could juggle nostalgia, innovation, and economic rebalancing without losing the fun factor. Even now, logging into the Mythic Shop and spotting a returning Anima Squad chroma brings a smile to those who were there. The squad might have disbanded from the official event roster, but their spirit lingers—after all, a battle bunny never truly hangs up her ears.