If you’ve spent any time in the League of Legends universe lately, you’ve heard it. That sharp, percussive beat. The rasp of Dan Reynolds’ voice. Most people just call it the Arcane theme, but for the fandom, "Enemy" is basically the Jinx and Ekko song. It’s the anthem of two kids who grew up in the neon-soaked filth of Zaun, only to find themselves on opposite sides of a war they didn't start.
Honestly, it’s rare for a tie-in track to hit this hard. Usually, these songs feel like corporate afterthoughts. But Imagine Dragons and JID managed to capture something specifically painful about the relationship between Powder and Little Man. It’s not just a "battle theme." It’s a mourning song for a friendship that got shredded by trauma and bad timing.
Why "Enemy" is the Definitive Jinx and Ekko Song
When the music video for "Enemy" dropped, it wasn't just clips from the show. It was a prequel. We see young Ekko and young Jinx (back when she was still just Powder) hanging out in their workshop. They’re tinkering. They’re kids. The song focuses on that friction of everyone "waiting for your downfall." For Jinx, that’s her entire internal monologue. She’s convinced the world—and eventually Ekko—is out to get her.
But look at the lyrics. "Tell you you’re the greatest, but once you turn they hate us." That speaks to the tragic shift in how the Firelights, led by Ekko, view Jinx. She went from being the kid they protected to the "Loose Cannon" they had to stop. Ekko spends the entirety of Arcane Season 1 trying to reconcile the girl he played with as a child with the terrorist working for Silco.
The Firelight Fight and the Beat Drop
The most iconic use of the Jinx and Ekko song isn't actually the intro credits. It’s the bridge fight. When Ekko pulls out his pocket watch on the bridge, the music shifts. It’s a remix of the themes we’ve heard, but the weight of "Enemy" hangs over the entire sequence.
You’ve got this incredible animation style shift where they look like their younger selves. It’s a game of tag. But the stakes are lethal. That’s the core of their dynamic. They are trapped in a childhood game that neither of them can win anymore because "everybody wants to be my enemy." In that moment, Ekko realizes he can't kill her, and Jinx realizes she can't go back. It's messy. It’s loud. It’s Zaun in a nutshell.
The Secret Sauce: Imagine Dragons and JID’s Synergy
A lot of people forget that JID’s verse is what gives the song its bite. While the chorus is melodic and anthemic, JID’s rap is frantic. It mirrors Jinx’s chaotic mental state. He talks about "hoping that somebody pray for me," which is a dark parallel to Jinx’s isolation. She has Silco, sure, but she’s lost her soul.
Imagine Dragons has a long history with Riot Games—remember "Warriors" back in 2014?—but this felt different. It wasn't just for a tournament. It was character study. The band actually appeared in the show as buskers in the lanes, which is a cool meta-nod. They’re playing the Jinx and Ekko song in the world where the tragedy is happening.
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Beyond "Enemy": Other Tracks That Define Them
While "Enemy" gets all the radio play, it's not the only piece of music that ties these two together. You have to look at the score by Alex Seaver and Christian Linke.
- Misfit Toys: This track by Pusha T and Mako is basically the Firelight anthem. It’s Ekko’s side of the story. It’s about building something from nothing and being the "misfits" that the topside (Piltover) ignored.
- Dynasties and Dystopia: This is the actual song playing during the bridge fight. Denzel Curry, Gizzle, and Bren Joy absolutely kill it here. If "Enemy" is the emotional framework, "Dynasties and Dystopia" is the adrenaline. It’s the sound of two geniuses clashing.
- Get Jinxed: We can’t talk about Jinx music without the OG. It’s more "Harley Quinn" than the tragic figure we see in Arcane, but it sets the stage for her descent.
Ekko’s musical identity is built on hip-hop beats and "stop-start" rhythms that mimic his time-manipulation abilities (the Z-Drive). Jinx’s music is distorted, filled with industrial screeches and high-energy pop-punk vibes. When they meet, these genres collide. It’s sonic warfare.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Lyrics
There’s a common misconception that "Enemy" is about Vi and Jinx. While the sisters are the show's focal point, the music video and the lyrical focus on betrayal from peers points directly at the Zaunite street kids. Vi left. That’s a different kind of hurt. But Ekko stayed. He stayed and he watched her become the monster.
When the song says "look out for yourself," it’s reflecting the survivalist mentality of the Sump. Ekko had to become a leader. Jinx had to become a weapon. The song is a reminder that in their world, friendship is a luxury they literally couldn't afford.
The Impact on League of Legends Culture
Since Arcane debuted, the way players see these characters has changed. Before the Jinx and Ekko song hit the mainstream, they were just two champions with some vague lore ties. Now, you can't play an Ekko vs. Jinx matchup in-game without feeling a little bit of that emotional weight.
Riot has leaned into this. They updated some of the voice lines. They added the "Firelight Ekko" skin. They know that the music did the heavy lifting for the world-building. Music in Arcane isn't background noise; it's a script.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the lore or even create your own content based on these characters, here’s how to move forward:
- Watch the "Enemy" music video frame-by-frame. There are tiny details in the background of the workshop that hint at Ekko's future inventions and Jinx's burgeoning madness. It's a goldmine for theorists.
- Listen to the "Arcane: League of Legends" soundtrack in order. Notice how the motifs from "Enemy" (the percussion especially) sneak into the orchestral score during Jinx and Ekko’s interactions.
- Analyze the "Dynasties and Dystopia" lyrics. If you want to understand the political divide between the Firelights and Silco’s crew, that song is a better history lesson than any wiki page.
- Keep an eye on the Season 2 soundtrack. The producers have already hinted that the musical identity of Zaun will evolve. Expect more heavy bass and perhaps more collaboration between hip-hop artists and rock bands to represent the "undercity" grit.
The Jinx and Ekko song isn't just a catchy tune for the charts. It's a case study in how music can elevate a story from "good" to "legendary." Whether you're a Diamond-tier player or someone who has never touched a MOBA, the tragedy of these two kids resonates because the music makes you feel the loss of a friendship that never had a chance to grow up.