High Noon vs. Arcana Lucian: I Hate That There’s a Clear Winner (But There Is)

You know that feeling when you finally splurge on the “fancy” option… and then it’s just kind of… meh?

Like buying the expensive “designer” throw pillows and realizing they’re scratchier than the bargain ones you grabbed at 2 a.m. online. Except in this case, the throw pillow cost 1820 RP and it’s Lucian’s auto attacks that feel a little weird.

So yeah: High Noon Lucian vs. Arcana Lucian. Both are gorgeous. One is a whole cinematic experience. The other is the one I’d actually take into ranked if I cared about my sanity (and LP).

Let’s get into it.

The quick verdict (aka: tell me what to buy)

• If you play Lucian a lot and you care about clean, consistent auto attacks: get Arcana.
• If you want the full Legendary “I’m a demon gunslinger in a spaghetti western” fantasy and you can tolerate a slightly off feel: get High Noon.

High Noon is the bigger package. Arcana is the better playing experience. And Lucian is basically 80% “do my right clicks feel good today?” so… that matters.

What you’re actually paying for (and what you’re not)

Here’s the thing: High Noon is Legendary. Arcana is Epic. That’s the entire reason there’s a price gap.

High Noon (1820 RP) gets you:

• full new voiceover (demon cowboy vibes, very committed)
• new animations (the whole kit gets the makeover)
• a transformation moment during ult/recall (very “movie trailer,” in a good way)

Arcana (1350 RP) is more like:

• base Lucian animations/voice
• but with really polished VFX and a strong visual identity (tarot/red magic energy)

That extra RP on High Noon buys you features, not automatically better feel. And unfortunately, “features” don’t help when you’re trying to kite and your hands are screaming, “Why does this feel different?”

The one test that actually matters before you commit

If you can, hop into Practice Tool. If you can’t, watch a spotlight video and slow it down (yes, like a gremlin analyzing film footage no shame).

Do the exact same little routine on both skins:

• same runes
• same target dummy
• same camera zoom
• and then just… auto attack and weave abilities like you would in a real trade

What you’re looking for isn’t “wow pretty particles.” You’re looking for feedback.

My quick checklist:

• Windup readability: does the shot look like it fires when you think it fires?
• Impact: does it sound/feel like it hits when it lands?
• Lightslinger clarity: can you easily track the second shot in the passive?
• Ult tracking: can your eyes follow The Culling in actual chaos?

Because Lucian is basically: dash → double shot → spell → double shot → regret your life choices if your autos feel mushy.

The problem with High Noon (and why it bugs people)

Here’s the awkward part: High Noon’s autos can feel “off.” Not for everyone, not in a “this is broken” way more like… the timing and feedback can feel slightly less crisp than you expect.

And Lucian is not the champ where you want “slightly less crisp.”

If I’m painting a room and my brush is shedding? I’m annoyed. If I’m playing Lucian and my autos feel like they’re arriving half a beat late? I’m tilted.

Arcana gameplay feel doesn’t really have this complaint. It’s not doing anything revolutionary it’s just… clean. Reliable. Your brain doesn’t have to translate what’s happening.

And honestly, that’s underrated.

Theme check: demon cowboy vs. hot tarot goth

This is where High Noon flexes.

High Noon is full commitment:

• dark, moody effects
• demonic voice processing
• that “I am becoming something” transformation moment during ult

It’s dramatic. It’s stylish. It’s the skin equivalent of putting on boots you don’t need just to feel powerful.

Arcana is a different vibe with an Arcana skin release timeline:

• saturated reds
• tarot/arcane aesthetic
• less “story,” more “slick visual identity”

One petty note (because I’m me): High Noon’s splash art tells a clearer story. Arcana’s loading screen pose always looks a tiny bit… like Lucian is staring past me in line at the grocery store. Not a dealbreaker, but you’ll notice it once and then you can’t unsee it.

Real talk: teamfight visibility matters more than you think

In actual games especially ARAM, or any of those 45 second “every ult is down mid” brawls Arcana’s bright red effects pop against Rift colors. Blues, greens, river… Arcana reads cleaner.

High Noon is darker, which is cool thematically, but can blend a bit more when the screen is full of fireworks and panic.

Will it lose you games by itself? No. But does it make you work harder to track your own stuff? Sometimes, yeah.

And I’m lazy in the way all competitive people are lazy: I want my brainpower for decisions, not for “wait, where is my passive shot?”

“But everyone says High Noon is S tier!”

Totally fair. Community rankings usually put:

• High Noon up in S tier (often just behind PROJECT)
• Arcana around A tier

And I get it High Noon has the Legendary shine and the fantasy is strong.

But if you’re picking based on pure how it feels to play, Arcana can absolutely be the smarter buy. You’re not “settling.” You’re choosing the skin that won’t mess with your muscle memory.

(Also yes: PROJECT Lucian gets a lot of love for smooth animations. If you care about “butter autos,” that one’s worth a look too.)

Quick FAQ: is either one pay to win?

Nope. Same hitboxes, same ability widths, same everything that actually matters mechanically.

Any “advantage” is perceptual:

• clearer visuals can help you read fights
• but it doesn’t change what the game is doing

My final take

If you want the full cinematic Legendary experience and you’re buying for theme, voice lines, and vibes: High Noon is a blast.

If you want Lucian to feel clean, readable, and consistent especially in ranked Arcana is the one I’d pick, and it’s cheaper.

Try them in Practice Tool if you can. And if your hands immediately go, “Ohhh, yes, this is the one”? Trust that. Your RP (and your sanity) will thank you.