Mordekaiser without armor, but with a lighter pocket: new "Sanctuary" skin reveals human version of the LoL champion

Get ready, summoners, because Mordekaiser, the imposing Iron Revenant, is back, but this time, he traded his heavy armor for a more human and... well, more expensive look. Riot Games has just announced the next skin from the recently launched "gacha" system of League of Legends, the Sanctuary, and the one hyping up is the great champion of the Ironclad, Mordekaiser. And no, we're not talking about the demon in massive armor you know, but about Sahn-Uzal, his human version.
 

The skin, which will be released on March 5, 2025, comes with the impact you can expect from a Riot Games: the promise of a look that breaks the traditional barrier. For the first time, the powerful Mordekaiser appears without his iconic armor, with an intriguing human look that has already been partially revealed on the developer's social media. The big surprise? This look will be exclusive to the "gacha" of the Sanctuary, which already gives a bitter taste to those who expected a simple direct purchase in the store.

And here comes the first criticism: if you want to guarantee this skin, there are no shortcuts. Fans will have to dive headfirst into the mechanics of the gacha, that is, the random method of acquiring skins. To secure the Sahn-Uzal skin, the player needs to acquire a minimum of 80 Sanctuary boxes, which is equivalent to 32,000 RP (in-game currency). This may sound familiar to those who have followed the latest news about the gacha system, like the K/DA Ahri skin, which generated similar controversies due to the high cost involved.

The total value of 32,000 RP can be acquired by purchasing different packages with varying prices. Considering the current RP conversion rate, the total amount comes to approximately R$ 797.60 — and we're not talking about just any skin. This makes the release of Mordekaiser a true investment marathon for those who truly want to secure the unique look without relying on luck. And yes, there's still the risk of ending up with the wrong box.

"This is what you call a real 'gacha'," says leaker NewAzkaryan, who revealed the details of the amount of RP needed to secure the skin. The feeling is that, once again, the monetization model is playing against the players. This raises an important question that has been debated in the market: to what extent are gacha skins a good way to keep players engaged without driving them away due to financial pressure?

On the other hand, Riot Games seems to continue its aggressive monetization strategy with skins, with more and more releases within the gacha universe, which makes the studio bet on new forms of engagement — or, in this case, empty wallets.

So, what's positive about it? The innovative look and the possibility of a Mordekaiser closer to humanity, without losing the power that characterizes him. But the price, oh, the price... It leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of players who, if they were not already satisfied with microtransaction systems, will now have to deal with a new level of charges to have their favorite champions with a unique look.

In the end, Riot Games continues to explore new ways to monetize League of Legends, but is it taking into account the impact that these systems can have on player engagement? 

Mordekaiser, the champion who has already been immortalized in the game, now has his human version, but the big question is: will the impact on players' wallets also be human, or simply another epic journey for those with large amounts of RP?