Arcane Season 1’s Cliffhanger Ending Explained & Season 2 Setup

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Arcane season 1.

Arcane season 1 ended on a massive cliffhanger following Jinx’s attack against the Piltover Council, setting up an even bigger second season. Throughout its nine episodes, Arcane showcased the dual sides of a complicated political and social issue, with Vi and Jinx accidentally at their respective helms. Just as the sisters seemed close to reuniting, the issues between Piltover and Zaun again tore them apart. By the final episode of Arcane season 1, a peace treaty was on the horizon, but before it could pass, Jinx tragically faced her childhood trauma.

After a disastrous attempt at taking down Silco by attacking his operation, Jayce, one of the most important Arcane characters, tried to cut a deal with the self-proclaimed leader of the Nation of Zaun. Jayce was willing to accept Silco’s terms and convince the Council to liberate the undercity, but only if Jinx was turned in for her crimes. Later in the finale, Jinx captured Silco, Caitlyn, and Vi and brought all of them to the table where their fates would be decided. By attacking the Council, Jinx essentially declared war against Piltover ahead of Arcane season 2.

The Explosion May Kill The Entire Piltover Council: What It Means

Jinx’s attack will have major repercussions in season 2

In Arcane season 1’s finale, Jinx decides that she has truly diverged from Vi’s path, and as a result, turns a Hextech gemstone into a rocket launcher that she shoots at the Piltover Council. Though the finale doesn’t reveal what happens to the Council, it seems more than likely that Jinx’s attack caused significant deaths and injuries. This could include Jayce, Mel, and Caitlyn’s mother. In reality, Jinx may have killed the entire Council altogether. Ultimately, Jinx’s choice to attack the Piltover Council is a catastrophic decision that will undoubtedly have major consequences in the next season of the video game adaptation.

First and foremost, the attack on the Council will most definitely halt the peace treaty Jayce intended to pass. Realizing that a war between Piltover and Zaun would cost significant innocent lives, Jayce felt strongly about passing a peace treaty through the Council. However, Jinx’s attack most likely disrupted this meeting, and worse, killed the Council members that would pass it. Furthermore, Jinx’s attack will be seen as an act of war by whoever still has power in Piltover. So, although Jayce came close to ending the conflict that Silco began, Jinx has essentially upended everything, and worse, led Zaun right into a bitter confrontation with Piltover.

Jinx vs Powder: Why She Chose Jinx As Her Name & Identity

Choosing the “Jinx chair” was a major moment for her

Another big aspect of the Arcane ending was Jinx’s transition into her new identity. At the start of the series, Jinx was known as Powder, Vi’s younger sister. Powder and Vi became orphans at very young ages, and were saved by Vander, who became their father figure. In the early episodes of the series, Powder is characterized as being naive yet ambitious. Despite being the youngest of Vander’s ragtag group of kids, she consistently tried to help by building bombs that, unfortunately, inevitably failed. After Powder accidentally caused the deaths of Vander and her crew, Silco took her in.

The origin of Powder’s new name, Jinx, is an upsetting situation. Powder chooses to be called Jinx because, in her final moments with Vi before becoming Silco’s ward, Vi hits Powder and tells her that she’s a jinx. Ultimately, Powder takes this insult to heart, and worse, embodies it. As Silco’s adopted daughter, she becomes volatile, using her abilities with explosives to cause mayhem throughout Piltover and Zaun. In this way, she becomes the ultimate jinx to her sister. This new identity as Jinx is a far cry from the caring and sensitive child that she used to be as Powder.

How Silco’s Death Will Change The Lanes & Nation Of Zaun

Any deals between Piltover and Zaun seem impossible now

Silco was the main villain throughout Arcane season 1, and his death will have an incredible impact on the second season of the series. Silco was the figurehead of Zaun, with several nefarious plans up his sleeves. After Vander’s death, Silco was able to take control of Zaun and use his influence to do whatever he wanted. Namely, he seized control by getting the entire underground addicted to the drug Shimmer. He also orchestrated various smuggling schemes. Just as Vander discussed uniting the Lanes to create a more united Nation of Zaun, Silco actually achieved this goal.

Without Silco, the Nation of Zaun will fall apart. Without a leader to unite the Lanes, Zaun will likely fall into the chaos it existed in before Silco. In fact, it could be much worse as Shimmer production could decrease without Silco, leading to an overflow of addicts in withdrawal. The undoing of Zaun will be an even bigger problem if Piltover declares war, which is likely after Jinx’s gemstone attack. When war comes to Zaun, the city will be unprepared to take on Piltover’s forces and technology. Plus, the only leader the city has is Jinx, who is arguably unstable after Silco’s death.

What Will Become Of The Hexcore?

The Hexcore’s fate in Arcane was left unclear

Although Jayce promised Viktor that he would destroy the Hexcore, the fate of the device is unclear at the end of Arcane season 1. The Hexcore is a Hextech machine that can react to organic matter and change it. While Jayce and Viktor felt strongly about the benefits of the Hexcore, especially after the machine helped heal Viktor’s body, Viktor’s opinion changed when he pushed the Hexcore too far and accidentally killed his childhood best friend and assistant, Sky. This led Viktor to want the Hexcore destroyed, however, the Piltover Council was most likely attacked before Jayce could do it.

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The Hexcore’s fate could go in many directions in Arcane season 2. The best-case scenario, and also the least likely situation, is that the Hexcore was destroyed during Jinx’s attack. However, in the case that it survived the attack, the device will be in a sort of limbo. If Jayce is still alive, he may find the Hexcore and either destroy it or keep it for experimentation. It could also be that someone else finds the Hexcore, particularly someone from Zaun such as Jinx or the Firelights. Either way, the Hexcore’s continued existence is a dangerous situation for both Zaun and Piltover.

What’s Next For Vi & Caitlyn?

Vi and Caitlyn will need each other more than ever

Caitlyn and Vi’s romance in Arcane is a light spot amidst the show’s darkness. Though the two did not confess their feelings during Arcane season 1, they definitely could in the second season. This seems especially likely since Vi refused to choose between herself or Caitlyn when Jinx held them hostage in the finale of season 1. Despite the chaos that is sure to erupt between Piltover and Zaun, Vi and Caitlyn could prove that the two cities can come together, no matter their differences. Of course, their relationship could also see tension for this same reason, but hopefully, love will win out.

Arcane Season 2 Setup: What To Expect Next

Arcane will end with season 2

Considering the major fallout that occurred during Arcane season 1’s finale, the second season will likely pick up in the intervening chaos. Arcane season 2 will see an all-out war between Piltover and Zaun, directly caused by Jinx’s bombing of the Piltover Council. Additionally, the season will see a new side of Vi and Jinx’s relationship as Jinx spared Vi’s life but committed herself to her new identity, meaning their motivations are still entirely different. Finally, Silco’s death will mean a falling apart of Zaun, and a struggle to keep the underground afloat as Piltover attacks.

Arcane season 2 will be the last one, meaning the stories of Jinx and Vi will conclude with the next batch of episodes. The first Arcane season 2 trailer confirmed that Jinx’s attack against the Council will have major consequences, starting with a coordinated attack from Piltover against Zaun. Caitlyn is leading a mission with three goals – to find and capture Jinx, dismantle Shimmer, and neutralize those still loyal to Silco. Jinx has also fully embraced her new identity, even calling out Vi for finally “getting the name right.” With one season left, the stakes are now higher than ever for Arcane.

Arcane

Set in the League of Legends universe, Arcane focuses on sisters Violet and Powder (later Jinx) as they end up on opposite sides of a growing conflict between the wealthy utopia of Piltover and its dark undercity whose citizens wish to break away from their oppressors. Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, and Kevin Alejandro star in this animated adventure. 

Cast

Hailee Steinfeld , Ella Purnell , Kevin Alejandro , Katie Leung , jason spisak , Toks Olagundoye , Harry Lloyd , JB Blanc , Reed Shannon , Mick Wingert

Release Date

November 6, 2021