Ambessa is one of Arcane’s most feared characters.
Arcane introduced fans to a wide range of complex characters such as the likes of Ambessa Medarda, the powerful ruler of Noxus.
While Ambessa didn't play a big role in Arcane Season 1, she definitely got the spotlight later on and became one of the series most polarizing characters.
Ambessa Medarda's story arc in Arcane Season 1
Ambessa debuts in Arcane at the end of Season 1, in Episode 8 "Oil and Water." She arrives in Piltover on a Noxian ship, which is packed with soldiers.
Although Ambessa tries to convince Mel Medarda — her stranged daughter that is one of Piltover's councilors — that she simply stopped by to visit her years after Mel's exile, the real reason is revealed very fast.
With the aid of Hextech, Ambessa wants to build powerful weapons to use in an impeding war that will break out in Noxus.
The ruler of Noxus sees a big opportunity to test these weapons in the conflict between Piltover and Zaun, the Undercity, but after Jayce accidentally kills a boy while destroying one of Silco's Shimmer Factories with Vi, he and Mel decide to make peace with Zaun and grant its independency.
However, when Jinx kills three Piltover councilors at the end of Arcane Season 1, the peace agreement goes down the drains. Ambessa's influence in Piltover grows significantly in Season 2 as she becomes a protagonist, convincing the remaining councilors to go to war against Zaun.
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Ambessa Medarda's story arc in Arcane season 2
As Season 2 develops, she forges an alliance with Caitlyn to try capturing Jinx and start using her Noxian soldiers to terrorize the citizens of Zaun.
In Act 3, however, the alliance between Ambessa and and Caitlyn ends as the latter rightfully sides with Vi and Jayce to destroy the Hextech.
This doesn't dimminish Ambessa's ambition, though, as she had also partnered with Singed and Viktor to win the war and also defeat the Black Rose.
It looked like Ambessa would get away with murder in the series finale as she made Maddie betray Caitlin, but as Black Rose predicted, Mel killed Ambessa and became the leader of the Noxium army.
Is Ambessa Medarda in League of Legends?
Yes, Ambessa is one of the champions in League of Legends. After the success of Arcane, Ambessa became the first character from the show to make their way into League.
It makes sense that Riot Games picked Ambessa out of all original Arcane characters as she embraces war and is a powerful general.