When I first started digging into old League skins, I kept coming across Urf the Manatee and Urfwick. At first, I thought they were the same skin, just two names for it.
It didn’t take long to see they’re completely different. One began as a silly April Fools’ prank that became a legacy tied to charity. The other came years later as a tribute, built around prestige and exclusivity.
I’ve seen players argue about their prices, share the lore behind them, and brag about owning them.
In this guide, I’ll go through their origins, prices, and visual differences. By the end of this blog, you’ll know exactly what sets them apart and which one feels more valuable to you.
Origin and Lore
League has plenty of skins, but few carry stories as strange as Urf the Manatee and Urfwick. Both connect back to a scrapped champion idea, yet each tells its own tale in how Riot blended humor, community, and exclusivity.
Urf the Manatee
Released on April 1, 2010, Urf the Manatee began as a cancelled champion concept, that is, a manatee with a spatula.
Instead of letting the joke die, Riot turned it into a Warwick skin. The design showed Warwick wearing Urf’s body, silly yet a little dark.
What set it apart was Riot donating proceeds to the Save the Manatee Club. This mix of humor and charity turned what started as a prank into an iconic part of League culture.
Urfwick
Urfwick arrived in November 2017 as a tribute to the original. Riot gave it a polished, prestige look, with added details like crowns and laurels for those who owned the first skin.
These touches became a mark of honor, separating longtime players from newer ones.
Unlike the first skin, Urfwick wasn’t tied to charity but instead carried exclusivity, giving Urf’s legend new life. It felt like Riot’s way of rewarding loyalty.
The origins of both skins show how Riot used humor to create history and later revisited it to celebrate community pride. Together, they turned a cancelled champion idea into one of the most memorable parts of League’s lore.
Price and Availability
Both skins have unusual price histories that add to their rarity. One started as an April Fools’ gag in RP, while the other became a high-cost prize in the Essence Emporium.
| Skin | Initial Price | Later Changes | Current Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urf the Manatee | 5,000 RP | Dropped to 50 RP, then back to 5,000 | Legacy skin, no longer sold |
| Urfwick | 150,000 BE (Essence Emporium) | Fixed BE cost, rotates in Emporium | Limited, Emporium only, twice a year |
Urf the Manatee started as a high-priced joke, briefly dropped to almost nothing, then disappeared into legacy status. It’s no longer purchasable, only found on older accounts.
Urfwick costs a steep 150,000 Blue Essence and appears exclusively in the Essence Emporium event. Its restricted sale periods make it a highly desirable and hard-to-get cosmetic for long-term players
Visual and Thematic Differences
Urf the Manatee is one of the goofiest skins in League. Warwick looks like he’s stuffed himself inside Urf’s body, spatula in hand. It was never meant to be stylish or polished.
The whole point was the absurd humor, and that’s why players remember it.
Urfwick, by contrast, feels far more refined. Riot added crowns and laurels, giving Warwick a ceremonial look. Those extras were only visible to players who owned the original skin, making it even more exclusive.
While Urf the Manatee leaned into comedy, Urfwick leaned into prestige. One is ridiculous and playful, the other is polished and proud.
Together, they show two very different ways Riot honored the same manatee’s legacy.
At a Glance: Urf the Manatee vs Urfwick
While both skins share the same origin story, they split in very different directions. Urf the Manatee leaned into humor and charity, while Urfwick became about prestige and exclusivity.
This table highlights their main contrasts at a glance.
| Feature | Urf the Manatee (2010) | Urfwick (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | April 1, 2010 | November 8, 2017 |
| Price (Initial) | 5,000 RP (dropped to 50 RP) | 150,000 BE (Essence Emporium) |
| Charity Contribution | Yes, Save the Manatee Club | No |
| Visual Theme | Warwick in manatee skin | Regal laurels/crowns for prestige |
| Availability | Legacy skin, no longer sold | Limited, Emporium only, twice/year |
| Lore Significance | Cancelled champ turned into skin | Tribute to original, collector mark |
Looking at the table makes it clear how Riot handled each skin. One was a gag turned legacy icon, the other a tribute with high barriers to entry.
Conclusion
If you came here wondering what sets Urf the Manatee apart from Urfwick, now you know.
Urf the Manatee started as a joke on April Fools’ Day, but turned into a legacy skin tied to charity. Urfwick came later as a polished tribute, focused more on exclusivity than humor.
Their prices couldn’t be more different. Urf the Manatee went through a strange RP cycle before being locked away. Urfwick demands 150,000 BE and only appears during the Essence Emporium.
Visually, they split even further. One is goofy and absurd, the other refined with regal details.
If you’re curious about Warwick’s full skin lineup, take a look at Best Warwick Skins Ranked: Effects, Value, and Feel.
With this breakdown, you can decide which skin fits you best.
