What’s wrong with Jayce in Arcane Season 2

Notice! This article contains major spoilers for Arcane Season 2, Act II.

Arcane Season 2, Act II presents a very different version of Jayce, raising the question of what happened to him. For most of the show, Jayce’s story revolved around the development of ArcaneIt’s Hextech. Jayce and Viktor spent a lot of time developing Hextech, with the show exploring how it impacted the cities of Piltover and Zaun. At the time of Arcane At the end of Season 1, Jayce’s Hextech was used as a weapon against him by Jinx, setting the stage for his story in Season 2.

In Arcane In Season 2, Jayce discovers many new elements about Hextech: not only does it give Viktor’s body new powers in Arcanebut Jayce also discovers that the Hextech core is unstable. Alongside Heimerdinger and Ekko, two of the Arcaneis another League of LegendsBased on characters, Jayce disappeared in a psychedelic sequence once he entered the Hextech core buried deep beneath the ground. In Arcane Season 2, Act II, Jayce resurfaces, only with a drastically altered appearance and personality and the promise of darker forces working through him.

Jayce disappeared into the Hextech core, transforming it

Jayce’s transformation creates a fascinating new character design

At the end of Arcane Season 2, Episode 5, Jayce is shown emerging from the Hextech Core only to be confronted by Counselor Salo, who has recently been cured thanks to Viktor’s new powers. Jayce looks remarkably different in subtle and obvious ways. Regarding the latter, Jayce’s appearance is notably more robust; his clothes are torn and dirty, and his hair and beard have grown. Beyond that, though, there are several interesting new transformations to Jayce’s character design.

One of the subtlest and perhaps most intriguing changes involves a Hextech gem. Jayce’s left forearm is shown at various points throughout Arcane season 2, Act II, revealing that he has a blue Hextech gem embedded in his skin. What this is for or what purpose it served during Jayce’s disappearance is unclear, but it remains an interesting mystery afterwards. Arcane Season 2, Act I ending the cliffhanger.

Another notable difference is that Jayce’s left leg is supported by a large mechanical support. Again, like the Hextech jewelry, it’s unclear how Jayce injured his leg or who put the brace on him. In addition to these elements, Jayce’s hammer also looks very different. The design is much more archaic than it was, probably because it was mixed with the Arcane elements that Jayce ended up in after disappearing.

Jayce’s time at the Hextech core caused him to regard it (and Viktor) as a curse.

As revealed in Arcane Season 2, Act II, Jayce’s physical appearance wasn’t the only thing that underwent a transformation during his disappearance. Jayce emerges from the Hextech core as a very different person than he was when he entered, setting the stage for his final arc in Arcane season 2 finale. Overall, Jayce is described as being much less patient, quicker to anger, and more erratic in Arcane season 2, Act II. However, his biggest personality change is tied to his perception of Hextech and Viktor.

In Arcane Season 2, Episode 5, Jayce claims to Salo – and therefore Viktor, who can speak through the counselor – that Hextech is a curse. He states that they need to put an end to Hextech for good before Salo tries to leave. Given his new erratic and furious nature, Jayce states that he is sorry before killing Salo with his hammer. Jayce did this because Salo was mixed with Hextech due to Viktor’s powers, leading Jayce to seek out his former friend. In Arcane At the end of Season 2, Episode 6, Jayce shoots Viktor with his hammer cannon and apparently completely destroys the latter’s Hextech powers.

Arcane Season 2 hints at something else working through Jayce

Jayce’s time at the Hextech core will answer everything

Going to Arcane Season 2, Act III, the question of what happened to Jayce is perhaps the most pressing of all. The reason for this is Jayce’s drastic personality change, complete with his dedication to killing Viktor and destroying his former colleague’s Hextech community. Without a doubt, the answer to the question of what happened to Jayce is tied to his unseen time in the Hextech core, as well as the hints provided by Viktor that suggest that something, or someone, is carrying out his will through Jayce.

The beginning of Arcane Season 2 Episode 6 shows Viktor inside his Hextech-powered mind talking to the manifestation of Skye. Viktor says “That’s not Jayce. But there’s another will working within him.” What exactly this will is and who it belongs to remains to be seen, but this answer is certainly the most compelling mystery that Arcane Act III has to reveal. The end of Arcane Season 2 Episode 6 sets the show up for an explosive conclusion, likely centered entirely on Jayce, his disappearance, his connection to Hextech, and the mysterious force that uses Jayce as its host.