But blasting people into oblivion isn’t really all that fun when you have such an old character model. Therefore, let there be skins! We’re going to look at all of Zyra’s cosmetics and rank them based on price, features, and overall appeal.
7. SKT T1 Zyra
Released: May 4th, 2014 Price: 750 RP If you’ve ever seen a Zyra skin besides this one, you should already kind of understand why it’s in last place. It’s the only Zyra skin that offers no new animations or particles whatsoever. Which is also why it’s the cheapest out of the bunch. And the base model is just meh. I get that Riot can’t really go all that crazy when designing a Worlds skin. But this one is just severely underwhelming. She doesn’t have enough Gfuel energy to feel like an actual gamer. And she doesn’t look deadly enough to be a proper champion. You could definitely get this skin as memorabilia, but I see no real point in using it otherwise.
6. Wildfire Zyra
Released: July 24th, 2012 Price: 975 RP For any Zyra veterans, this ranking might feel like actual blasphemy, as this skin has been the go-to for so many years. And while I do acknowledge its legacy, I can’t say that it really holds up by today’s standards. Wildfire Zyra has some nice value for sure – with new animations and particles at such a low price. But the end result definitely needs a bit more polish. The color palette is just way too aggressive for my taste. And it sticks out like a sore thumb against the grassy backdrop, making it both an eyesore and a disadvantage in-game. The plants themselves don’t really have a unique design, either, unlike all of the skins that followed. And the character model is only somewhat awesome. I think this skin has a pretty neat idea. And it brings a lot to the table for a low price. But you can definitely see its age.
5. Crystal Rose Zyra
Released: February 11th, 2021 Price: 1350 RP You would think that a skin-line with the word “rose” in the name would fit Zyra perfectly. And yet it feels slightly off here. Let’s talk about the positives first. The splash art and backing animation are really good, as they showcase that Zyra is truly one with nature and not just plants. Her flower bulbs and Q flowers are really nicely designed, and the roses just look downright beautiful. Now for the bad stuff. The character model is a bit too vanilla and human for me. If it weren’t for her abilities, I could never tell you which champion this was supposed to represent – and that’s never a good sign. Also, her abilities are just a bit too flashy. Meaning that you’re at a slight disadvantage when playing with this skin, as your opponents are more likely to see your bulbs or your E. And lastly, it’s also kinda thematically boring compared to the rest of Zyra’s line-up. Overall this is a decent skin – but far from the best.
4. Crime City Nightmare Zyra
Released: August 26th, 2021 Price: 1350 RP The Zyra community was a bit torn on this one. It has some really interesting design choices, but it also feels mediocre when taking price into account. On the plus side of things, I love the aesthetic: The evil-looking design that hits both in Zyra’s character model, as well as within her plants, looks amazing. And this skin arguably has the best ult animation– those eyes creep me the hell out. However, the plant design is also a bit minimalistic compared to other high-end skins. And as we’ll see in the following entries, some Zyra skins completely rework the plants and give them new shapes and animations… while this one just feels like a really nice coat of paint over the base skin. So if you don’t like it when skins go too insane with changes, and you’d rather just get a bit of “wow factor” added to the original idea, then this is the skin for you. But if not, let’s carry on.
3. Haunted Zyra
Released: October 29th, 2013 Price: 1350 RP I have to respect the fact that such an old skin went this ambitious with its design! I mean, you literally switch sides in a Plants vs Zombies match and start spawning ghouls all over the place – and I love it. The character model is appropriately spooky, with neat little details like broken angel wings and glowing eyes to make her look more sinister. And the plants are just a beauty. The bulbs in this skin are my all-time favorite too. They’re little graves with roots running through them, combining the new spooky theme with the original plant theme. And the Q plants are some spitting zombies, plus the E plants are just full-on zombie hands training for the next slapping tournament. They can be a bit clunky at times, but the design is just so crazy and interesting that I had to push it up towards the top here.
2. Dragon Sorceress Zyra
Released: March 9th, 2017 Price: 1350 RP What’s even cooler than zombies? That’s right, dragons. And Dragon Sorceress Zyra goes down the same path as the last one, revamping everything to fit one specific theme. In this case we’re going for “all dragon stuff”. Your bulbs are dragon eggs, which does seem like a very logical idea. And your Q and E plants are just different types of dragons. Their designs are rather detailed, and they just have a menacing aura about them. Like you do not want to go into a lane that’s swarming with these guys without at least writing your will first. The character model is also pretty top-tier, featuring not only the best fan service, but also some cool dragon elements like wings, horns, and scale boots. Bonus points for actually using said dragon wings in her recall animation. Dragon Sorceress Zyra is an easy S-tier pick, only missing the #1 spot out of meta-gaming reasons (this skin is extremely bright and easy to spot).
1. Coven Zyra
Released: April 16th, 2020 Price: 1350 RP Coven Zyra just makes you feel like the queen, and everything and anything that comes with it. The character model is top-tier for sure – as it combines raven feathers and gold armor to make you look like a true goddess. Your plants this time around are very stylized bird creatures that came from the depths of hell. Both the Q and the E plants have a very slick design, with the E being my favorite of the two, as you get stork pecked to death. The Q crows are cool too, but I just love the storks. And the splash art is really quite a fit for the design. Plus the backing animation has a level of mystery and intrigue that’s always nice to see in a League skin. I personally don’t like the Prestige edition all that much, because I feel like the skin is supposed to be dark and gritty. But if you want to emphasize the royalty moreso than the cool factor, the Prestige edition will take you where you need to go. Note: this content was created under Riot Games’ “Legal Jibber Jabber” policy using assets owned by Riot Games. Riot Games does not endorse or sponsor this project.
