Who Are Milio & Naafiri in League of Legends? New Champions, Their Roles & More

League of Legends (LoL) players are bracing themselves to start their climb in the new season that kicks off on 11th January for most regions. In traditional fashion, Riot Games detailed its roadmap for the League of Legends 2023 season in its new LoL Pls video. One of the many highlights of the new season is the introduction of new champions to the game. Last year, players were treated to five new additions to the ever-expanding champion roster in League of Legends. This time Riot Games has promised a mix of new champions, as well as glow-ups to older champions. Product Lead for Champions Lexi “Riot Lexical” Gao revealed that Milio and Naafiri will be the first two new champions entering the Summoner’s Rift in early 2023. 

After these two champions, players will also get the chance to meet a “hangry jungler” and an “artistic mid-laner.”

Milio will be the first new champion of 2023, followed by Naafiri, disclosed Riot Games. Notably, players were initially hinted about these two champions in 2022’s August LoL Pls video. Lead champion producer Ryan “Reav3” Mireles talked about the new champions and gave some hints and clues about their origin. Milio is the Ixtali enchanter support and Naafiri is the Darkin mid-lane assassin who was teased last year.

Here’s everything we know about Milio and Naafiri so far.

Milio, the Ixtali enchanter support

In 2022, Reav3 revealed Riot Games’ plan to release a male enchanter support from the region of Ixtal. However, Milio was in very early development back then. Reav3 added that Milio will show a very different side to Ixtal, far from the lavish palaces Qiyana grew up in. The 2022 teaser video showed an art teaser that showcased three cute and tiny orange creatures that could possibly be a part of the champion’s kit.

From the description that Lexical gave about Milio in the latest video, it is evident that he will use the fire axiom and that he’s very young. “Milio uses fire not to raze cities, but to soothe wounds,” Lexical stated, detailing that he also carries a backpack. His biggest challenge seems to be “the Vidalion” but Riot Games has not made it clear what or who exactly the Vidalion is.

Additionally, the LoL Pls video stated that Milio is journeying to Ixaocan, the capital city of Ixtal and that he will uncover the darkest secrets of Yun Tal, the working class of Ixaocan.

Naafiri is the Darkin Assassin

While Milio will be extremely adorable, Riot revealed that Naafiri will be edgier. The Darkin Naafiri, after awakening from her slumber, is all set to track down her Darkin brethren. Last year, while teasing Naafiri, Reav3 used a ton of phrases like “barking for some Darkin”, “throw me a fricking bone here”, “hounding”, and “believe you me” while talking about this new champion. Riot also confirmed that the weapon for this Darkin is a dagger but did not disclose “who, or what” would be wielding it. So players immediately imagined Naafiri, the mid-lane assassin, to be in the form of a wolf or a dog that uses the dagger that was revealed in 2022’s LoL Pls video.

In the Season 2023 reveal, Lexical added more context to this. However, Naafiri’s form and kit still seem abstract at this juncture. Riot hinted at the possibility of the champion having different forms or bodies. “Her newfound body…or bodies…seems like a cruel twist of fate at first but they prove useful for locating her fellow Darkin, and as a source of wisdom. After all, it is always better to hunt in a pack,” stated Lexical.

Following the support and the mid-lane assassin, players will welcome a hangry [hungry + angry] jungler and an artistic mid-laner aka Ink Mage who were briefly teased by Lexical. She stated that it was a bit too early to be discussing these two champions and asked for players to look out for further teasers.

Last year, Zeri was the first champion to be released and she set foot onto Summoner’s Rift in LoL Patch 12.2. Likewise, Milio, being the first champion in League of Legends Season 2023, could be expected to get released in the second or third patch of the new season. As for Naafiri, she could soon follow Milio’s entry.