Even with these facts firmly established in the show’s first 15 episodes, Arcane season 2, Act III saved the most devastating deaths for last, bringing various character arcs to sad yet fitting conclusions. While many of the deaths were impossible to deny, Arcane has proven that even a supposedly clear-cut demise isn’t always final, and there is some evidence to suggest that certain characters could return in upcoming Arcane and League of Legends spinoffs. However, until this is confirmed, this list will assume that 11 prominent Arcane characters perished in season 2’s final act.
Heimerdinger
Sacrificed himself for Ekko
The first significant casualty of Arcane‘s final act was Professor Heimerdinger, who was destroyed by arcane energy while preparing the machine that would send Ekko back to his own timeline. Heimerdinger was less motivated than Ekko to find a way back to their reality due to the peaceful and prosperous nature of their new reality, and he knew how risky it would be to try. However, Heimerdinger couldn’t turn down Ekko in his time of need, telling his pupil how alive he’d made the older man feel before sacrificing himself to get the device working.
Heimerdinger’s final comment to Ekko makes his death incredibly poetic when considering the start of his journey back in Arcane season 1. Heimerdinger never had reason to fear death or take major risks due to his long life span, but Ekko opened his eyes to people needing to thrive rather than just survive. Now Heimerdinger had experienced what it meant to be alive but had to face his own mortality for the first time, sending Ekko home and never knowing if he would succeed in making their reality as beautiful as the one they were trapped in.
Huck
Transformed into one of Viktor’s mindless automatons
Huck was among Viktor’s many followers, whose minds and bodies were radically altered when Viktor left his humanity behind. Huck first appeared in Arcane‘s pilot episode as a timid man with glasses about to be ripped off on a deal, until Vander stepped in to make sure he was paid fairly. His body later became ravaged after he took the street drug Shimmer, wanting to know what it was like to be strong. Despite his history with Vi and the kindness Caitlyn Kiramman had shown him, he sold them both out to Silco in exchange for another dose of Shimmer.
His fortunes seemed to have turned when he was cured by Viktor, helping to establish a peaceful commune of others who had been saved. Sadly, Huck and the others became nothing but mindless drones, forced to carry out attacks against the people of Piltover as Viktor sought to harness the power of the Hex Gate. Since all of Viktor’s followers looked the same, it’s unclear at what point in Act III Huck died, but their spirits leaving their bodies made it clear that none survived.
Gert
One of the first casualties of the Noxian attack
Gert debuted earlier in season 2 as one of the Zaunites inspired by Jinx, dying her hair blue like her hero. When Jinx broke them out of prison, Gert was the first one who approached, laying an affectionate hand on Jinx’s shoulder. An alternate version of Gert with blonde hair also appeared at the beginning of Act III in the alternate timeline, working as a server and a DJ. Although Gert and her allies initially planned to evacuate, she felt compelled to stay and fight to defend the city, dying in Vi’s arms as the violence continued around them.
Loris
Killed during the defense of Piltover
An Enforcer introduced in the season 2 premiere, Vi found Loris drinking heavily on the job, allowing the two to become fast friends. He joined Caitlyn’s special squad sent to clean up the remains of Silco’s criminal network in the undercity, but when he saw the direction Piltover was going under Noxian influence, he walked away from the Enforcers. He looked after Vi as best he could during her downward spiral, and he later returned to duty for the defense of Piltover. Sadly, Loris was struck by multiple Noxian arrows while manning the turret on the city walls.
Maddie Nolen
Hit by her own redirected bullet
Up until the final episode of Arcane, Maddie Nolen’s death would have been heartbreaking, but her actions during the defense of Piltover completely recontextualized her character. Introduced in a positive light (the sun was literally behind her), Maddie was portrayed as a sweet character, with her initial enthusiasm for Ambessa Medarda appearing to be a result of youth and naivety. The only other compelling reason for viewers to dislike her was her relationship with Caitlyn complicating matters with Vi, but even these scenes were handled beautifully.
This made Maddie’s shocking betrayal completely unexpected in the finale, though it made sense that Ambessa would stoop to this level in her attempts to control Caitlyn. It’s still not clear how long Maddie had worked for Ambessa or why she would betray Piltover, but the episode shows enough for it to make sense. Maddie’s horrifying attempt at executing Caitlyn was quickly followed by a brutal death at her own hands, with Mel Medarda shielding Vi with magic and causing the bullet to ricochet into Maddie’s head.
Illusionary Sorceress
Overpowered by Mel’s abilities
Identified as the “Illusionary Sorceress” in the Arcane season 2 end credits, this powerful leader from the Black Rose met her apparent demise in the series finale. The previous episodes revealed that Mel was the product of an affair between Ambessa and a member of the Black Rose, who wanted to use Mel’s powers. However, Mel recognized that this sorceress was just as bad as her mother, using her connection to the arcane to destroy her. Of course, given the Illusionary Sorceress’ dark powers, there is a chance she could be revealed to have survived in an Arcane spinoff.
Ambessa Medarda
Succumbed to her injuries from the Black Rose
After a full season of manipulating others to push Piltover into war, Ambessa’s actions led to her death in Arcane‘s final episode. Ironically, Ambessa fell victim to the very thing she accused Zaun of, rejecting every opportunity to see reason and end the conflict. She claimed that everything she did was for the good of her family, but her feud with the Black Rose got her son killed, and she fought against her daughter. Despite Mel’s attempts to save her mother from an agonizing death, Ambessa succumbed to her injuries, forcing Mel to take up the mantle she never wanted.
Jayce Talis
Stayed behind to keep a promise
One of the most tragic character deaths in Arcane‘s final episode was Jayce Talis, who sacrificed himself to stop what he set in motion years earlier. Jayce’s downfall in season 2 works so well because of Arcane‘s commitment to being a character-focused narrative, developing everyone’s backstory effectively, and making viewers care about relationships. This is especially true for Jayce and Viktor, who set out to make the world a better place but ended up unleashing something that could have destroyed everything.
Even though it meant the end of his life, Jayce refused to leave his brother, containing the power of the arcane and being sucked into the rune Viktor had given him.
Jayce’s final scenes with Viktor were some of the most beautiful in the entire series, as he finally realized where they went wrong and committed to making things right. Even though it meant the end of his life, Jayce refused to leave his brother, containing the power of the arcane and being sucked into the rune Viktor had given him. From a young idealist dreaming of change to a hardened defender of life, Jayce Talis never abandoned his ideals or those he loved.
Viktor
Destroyed after realizing his mistakes
Viktor had some of the most radical character development in Arcane, and while Jayce helped him see his mistakes, it was too late for him to go back. His desire to improve humanity also made him resentful of people’s inherent flaws, causing him to nearly leave his own humanity behind. Thankfully, he eventually realized this on his own, leading to the shocking reveal that Viktor gave Jayce his first rune stone across multiple timelines. Viktor may have met a tragic end, but he prevented a worse outcome alongside his brother and finally embraced the full beauty of human existence.
Warwick / Vander
Killed in a massive explosion
Vander’s demise in Arcane‘s final act is unique because he arguably died twice: once when Signed erased the last memories of his previous life, and again as Warwick in the last episode. Bringing characters back to life is a gamble that rarely pays off in stories, as it can undermine the emotional impact of their death. However, Vander’s return as Warwick proved to be a smart decision, giving the characters hope of restoring his mind that was crushed when he fully became a beast.
Even at the very end, Vi still couldn’t let go of her desire to reach Vander, forcing Jinx to jump in and stop him. As he roared in her face and grabbed her entire body in a single massive hand, Jinx still looked at Vander with love, sending him to his death so he would no longer hurt his family. Vander’s final death parallels the first time he appeared to die in Arcane season 1, getting caught in an explosion and transforming into a monster.
Jinx / Powder
Sacrificed herself to save Vi
The final and perhaps most tragic character death in Arcane‘s final act was Jinx, letting herself die to save her sister. As Warwick’s death mirrored the first time Vander died in season 1, the end of Jinx’s story mirrored the day she left her identity as Powder behind. Instead of using a monkey bomb that killed her family and turned Vi against her, she used one to save what was left of her family and redeem herself. Her final words to Vi combined and her embracing Vander perfectly showed how she had changed, a heartbreaking end to a tragic character.
However, the finale drops a few hints that Jinx could be alive after all. Caitlyn was looking at her family’s schematics of the shafts connected to where Jinx fell in the Hexgate chamber, all while holding a fragment of a monkey bomb. Her sly smile could imply that she suspected Jinx’s survival, while the series’ final shot is an airship flying away as “The End” flashes across the screen in Jinx’s flashy style. Perhaps Jinx will return someday, but if she did meet her end, it was one of the most impactful character deaths in Arcane season 2’s final act.
All 3 acts of Arcane season 2 are now streaming on Netflix.
