Arcane season 2 cast and character guide: who’s playing who in the popular Netflix show’s final chapter?
Full spoilers follow for Arcane seasons 1 and 2.
Arcane season 2 is here. Three years after its forebear wowed audiences on Netflix, the first two acts of the award-winning animated series’ second and final chapter have been released, so it’s time to watch it.
Before you stream Arcane‘s second and final installment, I suspect you’ll want a recap on one of the best Netflix shows’ numerous cast members. To that end, I’ve compiled a complete list of every character who’s appeared in season 2 so far, plus the actors who voice them and where you may have heard them before. I’ve listed those in the spoiler-filled sections in the order of their first appearances, too.
Full spoilers follow for Arcane, including season 2’s first six episodes. So, if you want as little information as possible on who actually shows up, you should just read this piece’s first section, which only includes the characters confirmed to return prior to season 2’s initial release on November 9.
Arcane season 2 pre-release character roster
Hailee Steinfeld as Vi
One of Arcane‘s deuteragonists who’s famous for wielding those giant Hextech gauntlets, Vi was one of three characters confirmed to return when the League of Legends (LoL) animated show was renewed for a second season in late 2021.
The older sister of Powder/Jinx, Vi is an “act first, think later” individual who usually lets her fists do the talking – a hot-headed approach that’s landed her in hot water more than once in season 1. Based on Arcane season 2’s first trailer, she’ll join Caitlyn’s (more on her later) brand-new elite Piltover Enforcers Squad, who’ll supposedly be tasked with tracking down Jinx (again, more on her in a bit) after the latter’s seemingly fatal Piltover council chamber attack. However, given the new footage on show in Arcane season 2’s official trailer, and a Vi-starring clip revealed alongside season 2’s release date in late September, Vi and Caitlyn’s relationship will break down at some point next season.
As in season 1, Vi will be voiced by Hailee Steinfeld. An increasingly popular actor, Steinfeld has also voiced Gwen Stacey/Spider-Gwen in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Readers may also know her from Dickinson on Apple TV Plus, Hawkeye on Disney Plus, and Transformers spin-off film Bumblebee.
Ella Purnell as Jinx
Arcane‘s other main character, Jinx is Vi’s younger sibling who, due to numerous traumatic events she suffered as a child, is plagued by regular psychotic episodes. These cause Jinx to make impulsive, reckless, and at times fatal decisions, such as her inadvertent murdering of surrogate father Silco in season 1 episode 8.
Her attack on Piltover’s council chamber in the final moments of last season’s finale means she’s the City of Progress’ public enemy number one as we head into season 2. Based on a suspense-filled, Jinx-starring season 2 clip, Zaun’s Chem Barons will be gunning for her too due to her affiliation to Silco, who the crime lords lost patience with before last season ended.
Jinx will be voiced once more by Ella Purnell, who’s best known for playing Lucy MacLean in Amazon’s TV adaptation of Bethesda’s iconic video game franchise Fallout, aka one of the best Prime Video shows. She’s also featured in Yellowjackets on Paramount Plus, and can currently be seen starring in dark comedy-thriller show Sweetpea on Sky and Now TV in the UK.
Katie Leung as Caitlyn
The third and final character confirmed to return as part of Arcane‘s season 2 renewal announcement in November 2021, Caitlyn will be on a revenge-fuelled mission to arrest Jinx if, as I’ve previously predicted, Caitlyn’s mom Cassandra – one of Piltover’s councillors – is confirmed to have perished in Jinx’s council chamber attack.
Doing so will be a complicated endeavor, though – not least because Caitlyn’s quest for vengeance will likely put her at odds with Vi. Fans have bought into their “will they, won’t they” dynamic ever since they crossed paths in season 1 episode 4, and desperately want ‘CaitVi’ to get a happy ending before season 2’s final credits roll. Indeed, it’s one of eight big questions we all want before Arcane‘s second season ends. Whether they will, however, depends on how this season’s story plays out.
Katie Leung, who some readers might also recognize as Cho Chang from the live-action Harry Potter movies, returns to portray Caitlyn. She’s also set to play Lady Araminta Gun in Bridgerton season 4, which will surely catapult Leung into the limelight after years of underrated performances in other shows, such as The Wheel of Time and Nightsleeper.
Reed Shannon as Ekko
“Oh, look who it is. The Boy savior!”, Jinx cried before her creatively epic duel with former best friend Ekko in season 1 episode 7. One of Arcane‘s most underappreciated characters didn’t get too much screen time last time around but, given his prominence in season 2’s various teasers and this Batman-inspired stealth mission clip, it seems Ekko is going to have a much bigger role to play in Arcane‘s sophomore outing.
Indeed, not only is his alliance with Heimerdinger going to bear fruit for the undercity of Zaun (I hope, anyway), but the creation of Ekko’s Zero Drive – a time-warping device that’ll surely be of huge importance in season 2, as it is for gamers who play as Ekko in LoL – will cement him as one of this season’s indispensable individuals.
Like the trio before him, Reed Shannon re-entered the voice recording booth to play Ekko. A gifted performer whose equally adept as a comedian and musician, Shannon’s other most notable acting role came in The Wilds, a Prime Video survival drama series that ran for two seasons before it was unceremoniously cancelled.
Mick Wingert as Heimerdinger
A renowned albeit eccentric inventor who helped Piltover to flourish, the Yordle known as Heimerdinger no longer resides in the City of Progress after he was voted off Piltover’s council in season 1 episode 6. Instead, the long-lived individual finds himself working in conjunction with Ekko to improve the lives of Zaunites. Season 2’s numerous teasers confirm that he’ll be putting his centuries-old body on the line to do so, too, with one blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in the official trailer showing Heimerdinger getting a bit too close for comfort with a highly volatile object.
Tenacious and talented voice actor Mick Wingert, whose extensive back catalog is filled with roles in various video games, Marvel projects, and other animated and live-action films and shows, returns to portray Heimerdinger.
Amirah Vann as Sevika
With her serving as Silco’s second-in-command (I’m not counting Jinx) before his death, some viewers may have expected Sevika to be suffering from an identity crisis as season 2 begins. Indeed, Silco’s demise means his criminal empire has lost its leader, so Zaun won’t just have to deal with the full weight of Piltover’s law enforcers crashing down on it, but also an internal turf war as various factions fight for control of the undercity.
However, despite her clear dislike for Jinx, it seems – based on the aforementioned Jinx-starring clip and season 2’s trailers – that Sevika will help Silco’s adoptive daughter to unite Zaun and lead a revolution against its elitist contemporary. Of course, the footage spliced together for these videos could be misdirects but, if not Jinx, who else would Sevika lend her services to?
Regardless, Amirah Vann is on hand again to lend her vocal talents to Silco’s former lieutenant. Best known for her work in How to Get Away With Murder on US cable network ABC, Vann has also starred in Apple’s The Changeling series, The Fugitive on defunct streaming platform Quibi, and one of 2024’s new Netflix movies in Shirley.
Ellen Thomas as Ambessa
A Noxian warlord who has eyes on acquiring Hextech for her brutal, expanionist empire nation, Ambessa – like Ekko – is being primed for a much more expansive role in Arcane season 2.
With her daughter and Piltover counciller Mel caught in the crossfire of Jinx’s council chamber attack, the war-hungry Ambessa will likely join Caitlyn in leading the charge to locate Jinx. Of course, due to her country’s imperialistic ambitions, she’ll be looking to bring Piltover under Noxus’ blood-red banner, too, which is evident in the footage we’ve seen prior in next season’s arrival. That said, as is the case with Jinx, I don’t think she’ll be the arch-villain of the piece – and Arcane fans already have a magical theory about who the critically acclaimed show’s Big Bad will be.
Ellen Thomas, who voiced LoL‘s newest champion in season 1’s final two episodes, is back as Ambessa in the sequel season. UK viewers might recognize her from British soaps including EastEnders, but Thomas has played roles in a variety of other big-name shows, including Doctor Who.
Brett Tucker as Singed
The antagonistic but incredibly intelligent chemist who created Shimmer, the addictive substance that flooded Zaun’s streets under Silco’s leadership, Singed’s impact on this corner of Runeterra – the world LoL and Arcane are set in – cannot be understated.
Outside of him creating a new, terrifying threat that Zaun and Piltover will have to deal with – a gorgeous Arcane season 2 poster hints that a heroic, fan-favorite character will return as Singed’s latest monstrous creation – it’s unclear what role Singed will play this time. It’ll be interesting to see if we learn more about his back story, too, in light of the revelation that he had a daughter who died before the events of Arcane. Just as he did last season, Brett Tucker (Station 19, Neighbours) will voice Singed.
Lenny Citrano as Smeech
The only confirmed ‘newcomer’ – he made a very brief, non-speaking role in season 1 episode 8, hence the quotation marks – to this season’s cast so far, Smeech is a Yordle Chem Baron who leads the criminal gang known as the Scrap Hackers.
As with Singed, I don’t know how integral he’ll be to this season’s plot. We know he’ll find Jinx before the rest of Piltover and Zaun does, though, as he and his goons are seen doing so in the previously mentioned Jinx-starring season 2 clip. Nonetheless, according to Netflix’s press image database, Lenny Citrano (Dutch, iCarly) will play Smeech throughout the show’s final installment.
Arcane season 2 act 1 cast spoilers
Kevin Alejandro as Jayce
One of Piltover’s eight leaders who was present in Piltover’s council chamber during Jinx’s rocket-fuelled attack. Jayce Talis – Hextech’s co-creator – is confirmed to have survived said missile strike, so he isn’t one of three councillors who died in Arcane season 2’s premiere.
Kevin Alejandro, who’s also known for his work on True Blood, Lucifer, and Fire Country, returns to voice Jayce in season 2.
Toks Olagundoye as Mel
Another member of Piltover’s council who survived alongside her love interest Jayce, Mel Medrada is left to pick up the pieces after Jinx’s attack as her fellow councillors, Jayce notwithstanding, are buried and/or recover from the injuries they sustained in Jinx’s attack. It isn’t long, though, before Mel’s season 2 journey pivots to something entirely different.
As in season 1, Mel is portrayed by Toks Olagundoye, who’ll be a familiar face and/or voice to fans of Star Trek animated show Lower Decks, Frasier’s reboot, Castle, and The Neighbors.
Harry Lloyd as Viktor
Jayce’s scientific partner who was severely injured in Jinx’s attack, Viktor undergoes a physical, mental, and emotional transformation in season 2 – one which not only puts him on a collision course with Jayce, but also grants him the superhuman abilities to finally realize his benevolent dream of aiding Zaun’s oppressed population.
Harry Lloyd, who also starred in Game of Thrones, 2007’s Robin Hood TV show, and Counterpart among others, plays Viktor in Arcane’s final season after doing so in its forebear.
Josh Keaton as Salo
Another of Piltover’s councillors who survived Jinx’s attack, but one who was left paralyzed from the waist down after a large piece of masonry crushed his legs in said strike. Nevertheless, he has a more active role this season than the last, with Salo being used by Ambessa throughout Arcane season 2 act 1.
Best known for voicing Peter Parker/Spider-Man in 2007-08’s The Spectacular Spider-Man animated series, Keaton voices Salo once more in season 2. Viewers may also recognize Keaton from other voice acting work in Invincible on Prime Video, Marvel animated shows What If…? And X-Men 97, and the acclaimed animated movie Suzume.
Mara Junot as Shoola
The final Piltovan council member to survive Jinx’s rocket strike, Shoola only has a bit-part role to play in Arcane season 2. Indeed, she appears in a few scenes in this season’s premiere but, up to episode 6, hasn’t been seen since.
With over 130 voice acting credits to her name, Junot’s dulcet tones have been heard in numerous film, TV, and video game projects since 1999. Outside of Arcane, Junot is most famous for playing characters in Netflix’s Kong: Skull Island series, as well as other productions like The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib, My Dad The Bounty Hunter, and Pokemon: Horizons.
Remy Hii as Tobias Kiramman
Caitlyn’s dad and Cassandra’s widow, Tobias has the one scene (so far, anyway) in season 2 – that being the one where he gives the Kiramman key to his daughter and then angrily asks why Vi is still hanging around.
If Tobias’ voice sounds familiar, it’s because he’s voiced by Hii, who also played Piltover’s former (and corrupt) police captain Marcus in season 1. Previously, Hii was seen in movies like MCU flick Spider-Man: Far From Home and shows including Marco Polo.
Earl Baylon as Loris
One of many new characters introduced in season 2, Loris is the homeless man who befriends Vi in season 2 episode 1. Despite season 2’s official trailer and various teasers suggesting he’d have a bigger role to play, Loris isn’t as involved in the plot as many expected, though he is part of Caitlyn’s hastily assembled strike team who infiltrates Zaun to search for and reprimand Jinx.
Regardless, Baylon’s deep voice will be instantly recognizable to anyone who’s watched Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, Vinland Saga, The Protector, and The Stranded among others.
Katy Townsend as Maddie
More renowned for her voice acting work in multiple video games, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Townsend lends her distinct Scottish accent to Maddie Nolan, one of Piltover’s enforcers who has soft spots for Vi and Caitlyn.
Like Loris, Maddie is hired as part of Caitlyn’s strike team. This happens after she, Loris, and fellow enforcer Steb (who’s mute, hence this character not having a voice actor) help to defend Piltover’s councillors and invited guests during Renni’s surprise attack during the memorial service to remember the three council members who died in the season 2 premiere.
Stewart Scudamore as Rictus
Ambessa’s right-hand man who never uttered a word in season 1, Rictus is given a bigger role in Arcane’s sequel season. Indeed, the important story-based role placed on Ambessa’s lieutenant and protector-in-chief (as if she needs it!) means he actually speaks this time around. Well, until episode 6, but that’s a discussion saved for my Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained article.
But I digress. Rictus is voiced by Scudamore, whose previous credits include Carnival Row and My Lady Jane on Prime Video, plus Catherine the Great on Hulu.
Abigail Marlowe as Renni
The most noteworthy chem-baron outside of Finn (RIP) and Smeech (also RIP), Renni had small but significant roles in both seasons of Arcane. In its first season, she supported Finn’s cause before he was bumped off, and then lost her son after Jayce accidentally killed him in season 1 episode 8. In the season 2 premiere, Renni leads the attack on the Piltover memorial service; the triple-headed chainsaw wielding baroness injuring Jayce before she’s slain by Ambessa (NB: it was Ambessa who pulled the strings of said attack).
Another voice actor known for her videogame acting work, Marlowe has also been seen and heard in kids TV show Sisters, Prime Video’s As We See It, and Community.
Jason Spisak as Silco
A surprise inclusion in season 2 – you know, given his death in season 1’s final episode – Spisak is back to play Silco in Arcane’s final season. I know this is the spoiler-filled section of this guide so, technically, nothing is off-limits, but I’ll let you find out where and why everyone’s favorite Big Bad turns up for yourself.
Another popular voice actor, Spisak can be heard in other acclaimed shows like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Blade Runner: Black Lotus, plus animated films including Watchmen Chapter 1 and Watchmen Chapter 2.
Kimberly Brooks as Margot
Another of Zaun’s chem-barons, Margot battles Smeech and Chross for control of the undercity’s streets following Silco’s death.
A voice acting workhorse, not to mention a talented one, Brooks can be heard in a whole host of projects including numerous South Park specials, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Dragon Age: Absolution, and Batman: Caped Crusader.
Lex Lang as Chross
The fifth and final chem-baron, Chross fights his fellow crime bosses for control of The Lanes early in season 2. It’s also his goons who are killed by Jinx when she rescues Isha.
Another prolific voice actor, Lang has featured in a seemingly infinite number of anime and anime-inspired programs and films. Indeed, his lengthy CV includes roles in Curious George, Naruto, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, and Jujutsu Kaisen.
Lucy Lowe as Isha
A key component of season 2’s plot – I can see the argument for her being a mere plot device, though – Isha is a girl who Jinx rescues from some of chem-baron Chross’ goons in episode 2.
The youngest member of Arcane’s voice cast, Lowe did a stellar job of playing Jinx’s mute friend/surrogate sister Isha through what’s effectively a series of sighs, grunts, and shocked noises (NB: that’s not me belittling her performance, by the way – as I said, Lowe imbues Isha with vocal nuances that accentuate the character’s physicality, albeit one in animated form). Before Arcane, Lowe’s biggest voice acting role was in Netflix kids show Not Quite Narwhal, but she’s also had small roles in What If…?, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, and American Dad!.
Erica Lindbeck as Elora
Mel’s assistant who helps her Medarda heiress to unearth dirt and other secrets in Mel’s fellow councillors in season 1, Elora aids her employee with trying to get to the bottom of Mel’s mom’s overarching plan in season 2. Unfortunately, the pair dig too deep into Ambessa’s affairs, which leads the Black Rose to them. Long story short: RIP Elora.
With roles in Pacific Rim: The Black, Thundercats Roar, and The Seven Deadly Sins among others, Lindbeck is another proficient voice actor.
Robbie Daymond as Scar
Ekko’s Firelights lieutenant, the Chirean known as Scar is left in charge of the rebellious street gang when Ekko goes missing in season 2 episode 3. He’s among the Zaunites who attend Sevika’s rally in episode 4, too.
Best known for voicing various characters in the Critical Role TV series, Daymond has also featured in numerous other projects, such as Tale of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake.
Bill Lobley as Huck
A timid man who succumbs to a shimmer addiction in season 1, Huck returns in its sequel season’s second episode; the spectacled individual being one of five addicts who attempts to rob Viktor of his staff. Instead, the latter heals Huck of his shimmer-based afflictions, with Huck becoming Viktor’s first disciple.
With voice roles in some of the biggest videogame franchises of all-time, including Fallout, Grand Theft Auto, Bioshock, and Red Dead Redemption, Lobley’s line delivery and inflections will be well known to some viewers.
Salli Saffioti as Amara
Thought to be a corrupt merchant operating out of Piltover, Amara was revealed to be an assassin for the clandestine, ancient magic-based organization known as Black Rose in season 2 episode 3. Indeed, she shows her true colors during a seemingly innocent but tense chat with Ambessa.
As she did in season 1, Saffioti portrays Amara in its follow-up. The US actor has been seen and/or heard in plenty of projects, including ‘90s hit medical drama ER, Monster High, and Enchantimals.
Eve Lindley as Lest
The first Vastaya – the term given to the collective group of Runeterra’s dimorphic races – to appear in Netflix, Riot Games, and Fortiche’s animated take on LoL, Lest is a cat-like humanoid who administers shimmer-based drug therapy to Salo and acts as a spy for Mel.
Known for her roles in Mr. Robot, Outsiders, and After Yang, Lindley voices one of season 2’s many minor characters.
Arcane season 2 act 2 cast spoilers
JB Blanc as Vander/Warwick
Few people expected Blanc to reprise his role as Vander, aka the ‘Hound of the Underground, following Vander’s demise in season 1’s third chapter. Many of us expected Vander would be back, albeit as the monstrous LoL champion known as Warwick (something that rewrites the “truth” of LoL’s established lore), though, with a gorgeous poster for season 2 and Arcane 2’s first clip all but confirming Warwick’s debut. That said, nobody thought Vander/Warwick would speak this season, nor did we think we’d be treated to any flashback sequences involving Vander, which made Blanc’s return all the more crowd-pleasing.
Anyway, Blanc has previously been heard voicing characters in Kung-Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny, DreamWorks Dragons, and Naruto among numerous others.
Keston John as Kino Medarda
Mel’s brother who was believed to have died at the Black Rose’s hands in the years before Arcane’s overarching story began, Mel is seemingly reunited with Kino in season 2 episode 5. All, though, isn’t what it seems…
With roles in The Good Place, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Dragons: The Nine Realms, John won’t be an unfamiliar face to some viewers.
Jeannie Tirado as Felicia
First introduced in an episode 5 flashback sequence, Felicia is revealed to not only be Vi and Powder/Jinx’s mom, but also a very close friend of Vander and Silco’s when the latter duo were still on good terms. After falling pregnant with Vi, she becomes a key driver in pushing the pair to pursue their dream of earning Zaun its independence from Piltover.
Harley Quinn viewers will instantly recognize Tirado’s voice, while other audience members may know her from anime movies like Tekken: Bloodline, Ace Attorney, and The Elusive Samurai.
Minnie Driver as unnamed illusionary sorceress
The only unidentifiable character to ‘appear’ in Arcane so far, the individual simply known as ‘Illusionary Sorceress’ has to be Arcane’s primary villain, right? Maybe, but Arcane’s creators wouldn’t confirm this when I asked them if this character would be revealed as the hit show’s main antagonist in Act 3.
Regardless, Driver is a name that lots of viewers will know. From Good Will Hunting and The Witcher: Blood Origin, to Speechless and The Beekeeper, the multi-award-winning actress is sure to have recorded more lines for Arcane’s final few episodes.
