You’ve seen Yordles running around in League of Legends for as long as you’ve been playing, whether that’s been months or over a decade. Or maybe you just heard the race mentioned in Arcane on Netfix. Either way, they’re incredibly cute and are some of the most beloved characters in Runeterra.

Only, what exactly these little fuzzballs are, isn't entirely clear. Here's what Yordles actually are, and how they fit into the grand scheme of League's vast lore.

Yordle is the name of a race of natural Runeterran spirits that usually appear as short, hairy, bipedal creatures. According to League lore, they usually live in mystical places such as Bandle City, though they are also found elsewhere.

Riot's history for the race suggests that they existed before Runeterra became material, and were originally nomadic. As more humans and humanoid races began to inhabit the lands, Yordles began using a magic called "Glamour" to more closely resemble short humans⁠—a defense mechanism to keep them safe.