Kog'Maw — official Riot artwork

the Mouth of the Abyss

Kog'Maw

Kog’Maw investigates the world by biting into it. This Void creature’s curiosity makes it dangerous even without an explicitly malicious purpose: exploration can become an uncontrolled feeding frenzy.

The Void 2 min read 1 videos

Artwork · Riot Games

Watch & listen

Kog'Maw on screen

1 videos

Other video

Kog'Maw: Champion Spotlight | Gameplay - League of Legends

An official champion presentation. Gameplay and visual design reflect the recording.

Region
The Void

Biography & reading · THE RUNE

Riot Games · Complete Universe biography

Kog'Maw’s story

When the prophet Malzahar was reborn in Icathia, he was led there by an ominous voice which thereafter anchored itself to his psyche. From within, this voice bestowed upon him terrible purpose, and though Malzahar was no longer tormented by its call, the voice did not cease its unrelenting summons. This baleful beacon's gentle flicker - now fastened to Runeterra - drew forth a putrid beast that ambled across a threshold it did not understand, widening a fissure between the spaces which were never meant to meet. There amongst the haunting ruins of Icathia, Kog'Maw manifested in Valoran with unsettling curiosity. The spark which led him to Runeterra teased him still, urging him gently towards Malzahar. It also encouraged him to familiarize himself with his new environment, to the stark horror of everything he encountered on his journey.

The enchanting colors and aromas of Runeterra intoxicated Kog'Maw, and he explored the fruits of the strange world the only way he knew how: by devouring them. At first he sampled only the wild flora and fauna he happened across. As he traversed the parched Tempest Flats, however, he came upon a tribe of nomads. Seemingly unhampered by conventional rules of physics, Kog'Maw consumed every nomad and any obstacles they put in his way, amounting to many times his own mass and volume. The most composed of his victims may have had time to wonder if this was due to the caustic enzymes which stung the ground as they dripped from his gaping mouth, although such musings were abruptly concluded. Even this feeding frenzy did nothing to satiate Kog'Maw's appetite. His swathe of destruction continues still as he is inexorably drawn towards Malzahar. What happens when he finds him is anyone's guess.

The Void — official Riot artwork
The Void · Riot Games

A place in Runeterra

The Void

The Void is described as an unknowable absence beyond the world, associated with the Watchers and a hunger directed toward undoing existence. Contact with it can break the assumptions—and minds—of those who encounter it.

Different characters provide different perspectives: survivors endure its touch, devotees mistake it for salvation, and entities pursue their own forms of consumption. These perspectives should not be collapsed into the claim that every creature of the Void has identical knowledge or motives.

From the Riot art archive

Kog'Maw, in detail

1 image · select to enlarge

Their part in the world

Connected characters

Malzahar

the Prophet of the Void

Malzahar followed visions into Icathia and interpreted the Void as salvation. Empowered by what he found, he now seeks to bring others into the unity he believes it promises.

Explore Malzahar →

Kha'Zix

the Voidreaver

Kha’Zix changes in response to difficult prey. Its evolution includes growing intelligence as well as physical adaptations, turning a once-mindless Void creature into a hunter capable of planning and exploiting fear.

Explore Kha'Zix →

Cho'Gath

the Terror of the Void

Cho’Gath turns the living world into fuel for its own growth. This Void creature can transform consumed matter into a larger, tougher body or expel it as deadly spines.

Explore Cho'Gath →

Vel'Koz

the Eye of the Void

Vel’Koz studies the material world for weaknesses the Void can exploit. Its curiosity is destructive rather than detached: gathering knowledge can involve plasma attacks and disruption of the reality being examined.

Explore Vel'Koz →

The source archive

Sources & further reading

Biography by Riot Games; reading notes and contextual chapters by The Rune. Official illustrations and videos are credited to Riot Games; development art depicts the design process.

  1. Riot Universe · Kog'Maw biography ↗
  2. Riot Universe · Kog'Maw archive ↗
  3. Riot Universe · The Void ↗
  4. Kog'Maw: Champion Spotlight | Gameplay - League of Legends ↗

Official publication

This loads the publisher’s website. If it does not display, use the direct link. Open the original in a new tab ↗