Content & Trigger Warnings for Arcane (2021)
22 content warnings identified across 2 seasons for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, Arcane (2021) contains 22 content warnings : Homophobia / transphobia (depicted), Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Death of a child, Death of a parent, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Suicide (discussed or ideation), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Kidnapping / abduction, War / combat, Blood / medical gore, Body horror, Confined spaces (claustrophobia), Needles / medical procedures, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Drug use (depicted), Overdose scenes, Child abuse / harm to children, Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse, Gore / graphic violence, Gun violence, Police brutality, Torture.
The most severe warnings are for Racial slurs / racism (depicted) (severity 4/5), Death of a child (severity 4/5), Death of a parent (severity 5/5), Grief / bereavement (major focus) (severity 5/5), Suicide (discussed or ideation) (severity 4/5), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation (severity 4/5), War / combat (severity 5/5), Blood / medical gore (severity 5/5), Body horror (severity 5/5), Drug use (depicted) (severity 5/5), Overdose scenes (severity 4/5), Child abuse / harm to children (severity 4/5), Gore / graphic violence (severity 5/5), Gun violence (severity 4/5), Police brutality (severity 4/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
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Does It Get Worse?
9 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | ||||
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | All | 1/5 | Referenced | Same-sex relationships are depicted naturally without discrimination in the story |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Systemic class-based discrimination is central to the story, with an entire population treated as inferior and denied basic rights |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | The war is rooted in systemic oppression and discrimination against the undercity population, with hate and dehumanization shown from both sides |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a child | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Young characters die in violent circumstances that deeply impact survivors |
| Death of a parent | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | A father figure dies protecting the children in his care, shown in a devastating and emotional sequence |
| Death of a parent | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Parental and guardian figures die during the conflict, with their deaths shown on screen |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Profound grief over lost family members drives the entire emotional arc, with characters consumed by trauma and loss |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S2 | 5/5 | Depicted | Multiple major character deaths lead to devastating grief, with survivors breaking down emotionally throughout the season |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S1 | 3/5 | Referenced | A character's mental state deteriorates to the point of implied suicidal despair, though not explicitly discussed |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | A character spirals into severe mental health crisis with self-destructive behavior that implies a willingness to die |
| Other | ||||
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | An authority figure manipulates a vulnerable young person over years, twisting their perception of reality and relationships to maintain control |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Manipulation and deception continue as characters exploit others' trust for political and personal gain during wartime |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | A child is taken and raised by someone other than their family, and characters are captured and held against their will |
| War / combat | S2 | 5/5 | Depicted | Full-scale war erupts between Piltover and Zaun with mass casualties, bombings, and military operations throughout |
| Phobias & Sensory | ||||
| Blood / medical gore | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Significant blood shown during fight scenes and aftermath of violent events |
| Blood / medical gore | S2 | 5/5 | Depicted | Extensive blood throughout war sequences and personal confrontations, with characters frequently bloodied and wounded |
| Body horror | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Characters mutate and transform after exposure to Shimmer, with grotesque physical changes shown on screen |
| Body horror | S2 | 5/5 | Depicted | Characters undergo horrifying physical transformations from hextech and Shimmer, with grotesque mutations shown in detail |
| Confined spaces (claustrophobia) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Underground tunnels and cramped undercity environments featured throughout |
| Needles / medical procedures | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Shimmer injections and experimental procedures shown on screen |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Excessive drinking depicted among characters dealing with trauma |
| Drug use (depicted) | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | A dangerous substance called Shimmer is used, manufactured, and distributed throughout the undercity, with visible addiction effects |
| Drug use (depicted) | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Shimmer continues to be manufactured and used, with its effects on bodies and minds shown prominently |
| Drug use (depicted) | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Shimmer drug is central to the plot with addiction, distribution, and its effects shown extensively |
| Overdose scenes | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Drug overdose scenes occur and addiction consequences are a major theme |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Child abuse / harm to children | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Children grow up in violent, impoverished conditions, witness traumatic events, and are harmed during a raid on their home |
| Child abuse / harm to children | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Young characters are caught in the crossfire of war and placed in mortal danger |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Siblings engage in physical altercations driven by emotional trauma, with one encounter turning particularly violent |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | The violent conflict between siblings reaches its climax with physically and emotionally devastating confrontations |
| Gore / graphic violence | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Graphic fight sequences with visible wounds, blood, and characters sustaining severe injuries including stabbings and beatings |
| Gore / graphic violence | S2 | 5/5 | Depicted | Escalated graphic violence including characters suffering fatal wounds, dismemberment from hextech weapons, and brutal combat |
| Gun violence | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Firearms and ranged weapons are used in multiple violent confrontations between factions |
| Gun violence | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Increased use of hextech-powered weapons and firearms in wartime combat with lethal results |
| Police brutality | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Piltover enforcers use excessive force against undercity residents |
| Torture | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters are beaten and tortured for information |
Identity & Discrimination
Same-sex relationships are depicted naturally without discrimination in the story
Systemic class-based discrimination is central to the story, with an entire population treated as inferior and denied basic rights
The war is rooted in systemic oppression and discrimination against the undercity population, with hate and dehumanization shown from both sides
Mental Health & Emotional
Young characters die in violent circumstances that deeply impact survivors
A father figure dies protecting the children in his care, shown in a devastating and emotional sequence
Parental and guardian figures die during the conflict, with their deaths shown on screen
Profound grief over lost family members drives the entire emotional arc, with characters consumed by trauma and loss
Multiple major character deaths lead to devastating grief, with survivors breaking down emotionally throughout the season
A character's mental state deteriorates to the point of implied suicidal despair, though not explicitly discussed
A character spirals into severe mental health crisis with self-destructive behavior that implies a willingness to die
Other
An authority figure manipulates a vulnerable young person over years, twisting their perception of reality and relationships to maintain control
Manipulation and deception continue as characters exploit others' trust for political and personal gain during wartime
A child is taken and raised by someone other than their family, and characters are captured and held against their will
Full-scale war erupts between Piltover and Zaun with mass casualties, bombings, and military operations throughout
Phobias & Sensory
Significant blood shown during fight scenes and aftermath of violent events
Extensive blood throughout war sequences and personal confrontations, with characters frequently bloodied and wounded
Characters mutate and transform after exposure to Shimmer, with grotesque physical changes shown on screen
Characters undergo horrifying physical transformations from hextech and Shimmer, with grotesque mutations shown in detail
Underground tunnels and cramped undercity environments featured throughout
Shimmer injections and experimental procedures shown on screen
Substance Use
Excessive drinking depicted among characters dealing with trauma
A dangerous substance called Shimmer is used, manufactured, and distributed throughout the undercity, with visible addiction effects
Shimmer continues to be manufactured and used, with its effects on bodies and minds shown prominently
Shimmer drug is central to the plot with addiction, distribution, and its effects shown extensively
Drug overdose scenes occur and addiction consequences are a major theme
Violence & Physical Harm
Children grow up in violent, impoverished conditions, witness traumatic events, and are harmed during a raid on their home
Young characters are caught in the crossfire of war and placed in mortal danger
Siblings engage in physical altercations driven by emotional trauma, with one encounter turning particularly violent
The violent conflict between siblings reaches its climax with physically and emotionally devastating confrontations
Graphic fight sequences with visible wounds, blood, and characters sustaining severe injuries including stabbings and beatings
Escalated graphic violence including characters suffering fatal wounds, dismemberment from hextech weapons, and brutal combat
Firearms and ranged weapons are used in multiple violent confrontations between factions
Increased use of hextech-powered weapons and firearms in wartime combat with lethal results
Piltover enforcers use excessive force against undercity residents
