Riot Games has released their Hextech Crate Drop Rates

One of the problems with “loot boxes” or other randomised item systems is that gamers are never told how likely they are to access individual items types or rarities with each purchase. This lack of clarity has left room for developers and publishers to change the drop rates of specific pieces over time, especially when there can be profit in it.  

While there are laws in some regions that demand that these rates are published, though many developers have found ways to skirt past these rules to keep these rates unknown, fueling developer distrust when it comes to loot boxes. Riot Games has decided to become more open about League of Legends’ Hextech chests, providing an example that other developers can follow. 

The openness of Riot Games ensures that players know a little bit more about what they are paying for, while also making it known if Riot ever makes any changes to their system. Remember that changing their drop rates without changing their publically available charts could be grounds to sue the company for false advertising.  

Below is a table that details the drop rates that are available for purchase on the Riot store, Riot has also listed a selection of “special rules” for Hextech Chests; 

– Equal Odds: Outside of Hextech exclusive skins, all skins in the system have the same odds of dropping. Any given ultimate skin is just as likely to drop as a cheaper skin.

– Big Drops, Free Unlock: Ultimate and mythic skins drop as auto-redeeming permanents (no orange essence required to upgrade them). If you already own the skin, you’ll be able to disenchant them for orange essence.

– Bad Luck Protection: You can’t open three chests in a row without dropping at least one skin shard. This raises the effective drop rate of skin shards to roughly 57 percent.

– Bonus Gemstones: Gemstones have a 3.6 percent chance of dropping as a bonus alongside normal chest content. These also have light “bad luck protection,” since you can’t go more than 50 boxes without getting a gemstone. This brings the overall drop rate up to 4 percent.

– Chests inside Chests: Bonus chests (with a key) have a 10 percent chance to drop whenever you open a Hextech chest. Each of these chests also has a 10 percent chance to drop with another bonus chest (and key).

– Hextech Exclusives: Outside of redeeming Gemstones for these skins, they also have a 1 in 2,500 chance to drop alongside the normal Hextech chest content.

– No Cheap Champs: Hextech chests only drop shards for champions worth 4800BE or more. Sorry, Nunu fans