Empyrean Jhin

First game I played with Empyrean Jhin was sometime around 2 AM on a Wednesday, right after the skin dropped in patch 12.21. Locked it in immediately. The loading screen splash alone had me sold, and then the in-game model loaded and I just sat there for a second. Not gonna lie, Riot went a different direction with Jhin here and it works way better than I expected.

What Empyrean Jhin actually brings to the table

So the whole Empyrean aesthetic is this neon-cosmic energy thing, and on Jhin it translates into something that feels almost ethereal. The base model swaps out his usual theatrical outfit for this flowing, luminescent design with purples and deep blues running through it. His mask gets a complete rework. Cleaner lines, more alien than theatrical.

The VFX are where this skin earns its 1350 RP. His Q bounces leave these trailing light particles that look distinct from every other Jhin skin I’ve used. W is a beam of concentrated purple energy that reads crisp against the Rift, which matters when you’re trying to root someone from fog of war. Been running this in Diamond ranked and the W visibility is actually a gameplay consideration for me at this point.

E traps get the Empyrean treatment too. They blend into the ground a bit differently than base, which kinda feels like it gives you a slight edge in teamfights where people arent paying close attention. Could be wrong here but I swear enemies walk into them more often. His R though. Curtain Call with the Empyrean VFX is genuinely one of the best ult visuals on any Epic tier Jhin skin. Each shot pulses with this cosmic energy and the fourth shot hit has a satisfying burst effect.

New recall animation included. Voice lines stay base, no new VO. For an Epic skin thats expected, and honestly Quinton Flynn’s original performance is strong enough that I dont mind.

The Empyrean line and where Jhin fits

Empyrean dropped November 3, 2022. Late season 12. Augusto Quirino and West Studio handled the splash, and they captured something special with the composition. Jhin’s pose has that signature dramatic flair he’s known for but filtered through this cosmic lens that the Empyrean skinline does well.

The Empyrean line itself is one of Riot’s more ambitious thematic sets. It launched alongside skins for K’Sante, Pyke, and a few others. Jhin fits the fantasy naturally because his whole character is about performance and artistry, and the Empyrean theme gives him this transcendent stage to work on. Season 12 had some strong skin releases and this set held its own.

9 chromas total for Empyrean Jhin. Tanzanite is my personal favorite, the deep purple doubles down on the cosmic vibe and looks incredible during Curtain Call. Ruby shifts him into a red-dominant palette that reads aggressive in lane. Pearl goes clean and minimal if you want something lighter. (Random aside: Tanzanite Empyrean Jhin has been my desktop wallpaper since December 2022 and I’m not changing it.) The rest fill out standard color options but those three are the standouts for me.

How it stacks up against other Jhin skins

Real talk though, Jhin has one of the best skin catalogs in the game. Dark Cosmic Erasure exists. Project exists. High Noon exists. So where does Empyrean land?

I think it sits comfortably in the upper half. It doesnt dethrone Dark Cosmic for the “best Jhin skin” conversation, but it offers something tonally different enough that it earned a permanent spot in my rotation. Played maybe 150 games with it across season 12 and 13. The VFX clarity is genuinely above average for an Epic skin, and in a comp where you need to hit long range W’s and land fourth shots on the backline, that matters.

Skip it if you already own Dark Cosmic and only want one premium Jhin skin. But if you’re a Jhin main who rotates between three or four skins depending on mood, Empyrean fills a niche nothing else in his catalog does. That ethereal cosmic look without the Legendary price tag.

Should you buy Empyrean Jhin?

Verdict time. 1350 RP feels fair for what you get. New VFX across all abilities, solid recall, strong splash art, and 9 chromas if you want variety. Still in the shop, no vault rotation concerns. For Jhin one-tricks climbing through ranked this season, it’s a reliable pickup. Maybe just my experience but the skin feels smooth to cs with, the auto attack animations have a good rhythm that syncs well with his passive.

Not the best Jhin skin full stop. But a strong Epic that punches above its weight class. Took this into ranked for an entire month straight last spring and never felt like switching back. Worth the RP if you main Jhin, and worth considering even if you’re just picking him up for the ADC role. Solid entry in the Empyrean skinline and one of the better 1350 options in his increasingly stacked catalog.