Warriors (Imagine Dragons song)

Last updated
"Warriors"
Song Cover for "Warriors" by Imagine Dragons.jpg
Single by Imagine Dragons
ReleasedSeptember 18, 2014
Recorded2014
Genre Arena rock
Length2:50
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Imagine Dragons
  • Alex da Kid
Imagine Dragons singles chronology
"Battle Cry"
(2014)		"Warriors"
(2014)		"I Bet My Life"
(2014)
Music video
"Warriors" on YouTube

"Warriors" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons released along with its music video for the 2014 League of Legends World Championship, as the first annual song designed for a League of Legends World Championship. It is an arena rock song, written by the band members, Josh Mosser, and British record producer Alex da Kid, the latter of whom produced the song along with the band. The song premiered with its music video on the League of Legends YouTube channel on September 17, 2014 and officially released as a single the day after. It was also included on the deluxe edition of the band's second studio album, Smoke + Mirrors (2015).

Contents

Since its release, the song has been considered a fan-favorite amongst the League of Legends Worlds songs and often places highly on rankings of them. Although the song did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at number two on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and reached the top 10 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, and charted in various other countries, with its highest peak being number seven in Sweden. The music video spent years as the most viewed video on the League of Legends YouTube channel until the music video for "Pop/Stars" by K/DA overtook it. "Warriors" has since been certified multi-platinum by Pro-Música Brasil, the Swedish Recording Industry Association, and the Recording Industry Association of America. It has also been used in various media, including films and TV shows. In 2020, League of Legends premiered their tenth season by releasing a cover of "Warriors" with 2WEI and Edda Hayes.

Background and composition

In 2014, Imagine Dragons were working on Smoke + Mirrors (2015), their second studio album. However, on Twitter, they revealed that they had taken a break from recording the album to collaborate with the multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends , which was the band's favorite game at the time. They released "Warriors" for the game's 2014 World Championship. [1] Following the music video being uploaded, "Warriors" was officially released as a single on September 18, 2014, through Kidinakorner and Interscope Records. [2] Upon its release, Riot Games posted on their site regarding the song, "To kick off the start of the action, we set out to craft a war cry to rally behind in a creative collaboration with Imagine Dragons. Whether you're a solo queue warrior or fighting off the LCS jitters –- every moment counts." [3] Following "Warriors", League of Legends began a tradition to release a World Championship song every subsequential year. [4] The song also appears on the international deluxe version of Smoke + Mirrors. [5] In a 2021 interview with NME after the band released "Enemy" as a second collaboration with Riot Games for the League of Legends-adaptive show Arcane , Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds said that working with Riot Games "just came out organically" while playing for the 2014 World Championship in Seoul. He continued by saying that "Nothing was forced, it was just fun. Playing Worlds was some of my favourite memories". [6]

"Warriors" is an arena rock song [7] that is two minutes and 50 seconds long [2] and according to Universal Music Publishing Group's sheet music at Musicnotes.com, is in the key of E minor with a driving tempo with a 2 feel; it has a metronome of 152 beats per minute. Reynolds' vocals range two octaves throughout the song, from B3 to B5. [8] Chris Payne of Billboard called the song "anthemic". [9] Similarly, Alan Wen of NME said that it "has the vibe of a tournament anthem". [6] Ashima Grover of Leisurebyte described "Warriors" as a "Herculean track". [7] For Diffuser, Chuck Armstrong called the song "grandiose", featuring "hard-hitting" pianos and symphonic orchestral elements and that it could be a "'let's get pumped up' jam". [10] The song begins with four quiet piano chords and then opens with the line "As a child, you would wait / And watch from far away"; other lyrics include "Here we are, don't turn away now / We are the warriors that built this town / From dust" and "When you will have to rise / Above the best and prove yourself / Your spirit never dies". Amanda "Tania Mae" Tan of One Esports noted that the lyrics "speak to and speak about both pro players and League of Legends players... That is what sets 'Warriors' apart from all [other League of Legends World Championship songs]". [11]

Music video

The song premiered with the debut of its music video on the League of Legends YouTube channel on September 17, 2014 to promote the 2014 League of Legends World Championship. [10] Riot Games said in its description that "We set out to craft a war cry to rally behind. Whether you’re a solo queue warrior or fighting off the LCS jitters – every moment counts." The scene aligned with the second verse of the song was particularly noted for involving two teams competing on opposite sides of a table on Summoner's Rift, "a perfect reflection of 90s LAN gaming culture" [11] . It was the most-viewed video on the League of Legends channel for years until April 2019, when it was surpassed by the music video for "Pop/Stars" by K/DA, which had over 215 million views at the time while "Warriors" had over 214 million. [12] By 2021, the "Warriors" music video had received over 336 million views, which at the time, was still the most views on a League of Legends World Championship song, [11] and as of September 2025, it has over 445 million views. [13]

Reception and legacy

"Warriors" is considered a fan-favorite amongst the League of Legends Worlds songs. [14] Grover called it one of the game's songs that "still reign supreme", saying that it "still sticks the landing as one of the most headstrong and best titles of the game. It both fits the game’s hype and builds a crescendo that is hard to beat to this date. Visualizing the gamers in their race to win the title, it’s still one of the grandest songs to invoke goosebumps". [15] Members of the Esports.gg staff ranked it the third-best Worlds song, with their consensus being that that is "timeless", a "classic", and "an anthem that has stood the test of time", praising its build-up, chorus, and lyrics. [16] "Warriors" topped the 2024 ranking of the Worlds songs by One Esports, for which Kristine "Kurisu" Tuting said "Even after more than a decade, admit it you keep coming back to this classic". [17]

Usage in media

"Warriors" was used in the trailer for the 2015 film The Divergent Series: Insurgent and the final [18] trailer for the 2017 adaptation of Wonder Woman. [19] Slate's Matthew Dessem said regarding the latter trailer that when the song was paired with "slow-motion footage of Wonder Woman single-handedly fighting World War I [...] the answer is a resounding 'who did you think was in charge here, anyway?'" He also said that "World War I [...] was decidedly less badass than an Imagine Dragons song, perhaps because Wonder Woman wasn't there". Furthermore, he said that other "terrible" DC films would blend in "seamlessly" with the Wonder Woman adaptation with the song in the trailer, using The Skin I Live In as an example of being a "more interesting movie buried under all the kickass guitar" with Elena Anaya playing as a female counterpart of Fritz Haber. [18]

It was also used in the South Korean horror show Sweet Home . Alice O'Connor of Rock Paper Shotgun said that "Warriors" worked as "the show's anthem for heroic moments". [20]

San (pictured) of Ateez released his own dance performance to "Warriors" in 2023. Choi San (Ateez) in October 2024.png
San (pictured) of Ateez released his own dance performance to "Warriors" in 2023.

In October 2023, San of South Korean boy band Ateez released a dance performance to "Warriors" to the group's channel. Choreography for the performance was also provided by BBtrippin and Tarzan. In the performance, San makes "powerful" moves and facial expressions to "establish the vibe and fervour of the song's vibe". The performance was met with praise from the group's fans, the Atinys, who compared his dancing to Ryomen Sukuna of Jujutsu Kaisen and that it "can stand out as a music video on its own". It was described by Grover as a "ferocious anthem" and that "Even without the ATEEZ members by his side, his power-hungry roar can be heard from a distance". [7] In December of the same year, he also called "Warriors" one of his top picks for songs to listen to while traveling. [21]

2WEI and Edda Hayes version

In 2020, League of Legends collaborated with German composer team 2WEI and Edda Hayes for a cinematic music video with a cover of "Warriors" to begin the game's tenth season. It was described as "grim, choral, and bwampy", [22] as well as "slow and melodramatic". The cinematic begins with three concurrent scenes: a battle in a castle, a brawl in a building, and a creature-produced artifact. [23] Throughout, it includes nine prior League of Legends champions with their own mini-stories. [24] The cinematic involves League of Legends characters Jayce, Lux, and Galio teaming up to take down Sylas and his followers. It also sees Marksman Champions Ezreal and Kai'Sa take on various creatures and Vi be assisted by Cailyn for her sniper skills. [25] Kristine "Kurisu" Turing called the video "absolutely spine-tingling" and that "Hayes' powerful vocals + 2WEI's composition = eargasm" when writing about the cover for One Esports. [24] Despite having minimal experience with League of Legends itself, Robert N. Adams of GameRevolution praised the cinematic as "some of the finest animation [he had] seen repping a video game in recent memory". [23]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Apple Music. [5]

Imagine Dragons

Additional personnel

Chart performance

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [43] 3× Platinum180,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [44] Platinum90,000‡
Germany (BVMI) [45] Gold200,000‡
Italy (FIMI) [46] Gold25,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway) [47] Platinum10,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [48] Platinum60,000‡
Sweden (GLF) [49] 2× Platinum80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [50] Platinum600,000‡
United States (RIAA) [51] 2× Platinum2,000,000‡
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [52] Gold1,300,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ McElroy, Justin (2014-09-18). "Listen to the song Imagine Dragons wrote for League of Legends". Polygon . Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  2. 1 2 "Warriors – Single by Imagine Dragons". iTunes Store . United States: Apple. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  3. ↑ Olivetti, Justin (2014-09-18). "Get Imagine Dragons' League of Legends song for free". Engadget . Retrieved 2025-09-11.
  4. ↑ Chen, Amy (2024-09-23). "All LoL Worlds songs (2014 to 2024)". Esports.gg. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  5. 1 2 "Warriors by Imagine Dragons". Apple Music . 2014-09-18. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
  6. 1 2 Wen, Alan (2021-11-17). "Imagine Dragons on their collaborations with "kindred spirits" Riot Games". NME .
  7. 1 2 3 Grover, Ashima (2023-10-27). "ATEEZ San's Warriors Dance Video Consolidates His Presence as the "Best Performer in 4th Gen", Fans React!". Leisurebyte. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
  8. ↑ "Warriors". Musicnotes. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  9. ↑ Payne, Chris (2014-09-17). "Hear Anthemic New Imagine Dragons Song 'Warriors'". Billboard . Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  10. 1 2 Armstrong, Chuck (2014-09-18). "Imagine Dragons Release New Song 'Warriors' + Offer Free Download". Diffuser. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  11. 1 2 3 Tan, Amanda "Tania Mae" (2024-09-25). "Why 'Warriors' by Imagine Dragons is still the best Worlds song ever". One Esports. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  12. ↑ Peroto, Guilherme (2019-04-30). "K/DA supera Imagine Dragons e se torna o vídeo mais visto de League of Legends no YouTube" [K/DA surpasses Imagine Dragons to become the most watched League of Legends video on YouTube]. Arena eSports (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  13. ↑ "Imagine Dragons: Warriors | Worlds 2014 - League of Legends". YouTube . 17 September 2014.
  14. ↑ Down, Aaron (2023-10-10). "League of Legends Worlds 2023 song Gods is the best in half a decade". PCGamesN . Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  15. ↑ Grover, Ashima (2022-11-06). "League of Legends Worlds 2022: 7 Iconic Songs by K/DA, Imagine Dragons and More that Pulled Even Non-Players". Leisurebyte. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  16. ↑ Phillips, Lawrence "Malystryx" (2025-08-29). "Best League of Legends Worlds Songs ranked (2014–2024)". Esports.gg. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  17. ↑ Tuting, Kristine "Kurisu" (2024-09-24). "Ranking every Worlds song in League of Legends". One Esports. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  18. 1 2 Dessem, Matthew (2017-05-08). "Wonder Woman's Final Trailer Asks, "Would World War I Have Been Cooler With a Soundtrack From Imagine Dragons?"". Slate . Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  19. ↑ Singer, Matt (2017-06-02). "The New Trend in Movie Trailers: Imagine Dragons Songs". Screen Crush . Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  20. ↑ O'Connor, Alice (2021-01-04). "This Korean horror show using Imagine Dragons is killing me". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  21. ↑ Wang, Steffanee (2024-02-20). "What Big Time K-Pop Group Ateez Listens To on the Road". Nylon . Retrieved 2025-09-11.
  22. ↑ O'Connor, Alice (2020-01-09). "League of Legends kicking off the new season with a Warriors cover". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  23. 1 2 Adams, Robert N. (2020-01-09). "WATCH: League of Legends 'Warriors' Cinematic features epic battles". GameRevolution . Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  24. 1 2 Tuting, Kristine "Kurisu" (2020-01-09). "The 2020 rendition of League of Legends' Warriors is absolutely spine-tingling". One Esports. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  25. ↑ Talbot, Carrie (2020-01-09). "Check out League of Legends' Season 10 cinematic here". PCGamesN . Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  26. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Warriors" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  28. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 40. týden 2014 in the date selector. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Warriors" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Warriors" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 39, 2014". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Lebanese Chart Top 20 History". The Official Lebanese Top 20. November 16, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  34. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Warriors" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Imagine Dragons - Warriors (Song)" . Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  36. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201439 into search. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Warriors". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard . Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  42. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs : Dec 31, 2015 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. billboard.com. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  43. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Warriors" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Warriors". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Imagine Dragons; 'Warriors')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  46. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Warriors" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  47. ↑ "Norwegian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Warriors" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  48. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Warriors". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España . Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  49. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan – Imagine Dragons" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  50. ↑ "British single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Warriors". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  51. ↑ "American single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Warriors". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  52. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Warriors". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved February 10, 2023.
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