A game found in almost every household, coffee shop and office (during breaks, of course), Arena of Valor and its 5v5 battles are enjoyed by millions in Vietnam. That popularity has also translated to success at the Arena of Valor World Cup, with a Vietnamese team winning the championship in 2019.

One of the reasons that this game is so well-loved in the country is its many Vietnam-themed hero skins, each with striking designs, Vietnamese voice lines and often elaborate backstories – all to the delight of the local player community. Here are some of the characters and their iconic skins you’ll find in the game:

A Mage with powerful crowd control and area damage abilities, Ilumia is quite the fan favourite. In her Heavenly Maiden skin, Ilumia wears a resplendent version of the Vietnamese ao dai, decked out in red and gold – colours of the Vietnamese flag. Don't be fooled by her beauty though; Ilumia may look ready for the runway in this skin, but she's still as powerful on the battlefield as ever.

With her unique mobility, self-healing and area damage abilities, Lauriel is a powerful Mage for any team lineup. In her Lac Goddess skin, Lauriel gets a unique headdress that resembles those worn by the ancient Lac Viet people, who are considered ancestors of the modern Vietnamese nation. The skin is also named and styled after the Lac bird, a mythical creature whose symbol is often found on artefacts of ancient Vietnam. Lauriel’s ultimate skill is even accompanied by the appearance of four giant Lac bird symbols!

A fierce Warrior/Assassin who can deal heavy damage to both individual targets and groups of foes, Volkath is a force to be reckoned with. In his Sky Rider skin, Volkath rides into battle on a metal steed, wielding a sword with a bamboo-shaped hilt. These elements evoke the story of Saint Giong, the fabled horseman of ancient Vietnam who vanquished an invading army with uprooted bamboos astride a flame-spewing metal horse. Another Saint Giong reference? This skin’s Vietnamese voice line that says: "O bamboo groves, join battle with me!".

If you’re looking for a bit of everything – massive damage, self-defence and crowd control – then Laville is your man. In his Turtle Guard skin, Laville bears two rapid-firing crossbows in hand and an outfit emblazoned with the multi-pointed star often found on Dong Son drums. These elements echo the legend of the powerful Lien Chau crossbow that was used to defend ancient Vietnam, and which derived its strength from a holy turtle claw that is part of its trigger unit.

Another incredible Mage who specialises in high bursts of damage in a short time, Natalya is often a favourite pick for midlane plays. Her Vietnam-themed skin is styled after outfits of the Mong people in Northeastern Vietnam, and she is accompanied by a flying ball, an inspiration drawn from the colourful Pao balls thrown by Mong people as a traditional sport. The skin’s name is inspired by the character of Mi from the famous short story The A Phu Couple – the origin of the meme-inspiring line “Mi is still young, Mi wants to go out and have fun". And have fun you will, once you've learned how to master Natalya's skills.