MSI 2026 Pick’Ems Bring Crystal Ball to the Tournament for the First Time

Riot Games is expanding fan participation for the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational 2026 with the return of Pick’Ems and the first-ever arrival of Crystal Ball at MSI. Under this year’s Call Your Shot theme, players can predict tournament outcomes, forecast meta trends, compete for leaderboard rewards, and earn free in-game items simply by taking part before the action begins in Daejeon, South Korea.

The system is designed to make MSI more interactive for every type of viewer. Experienced esports fans can test their knowledge of teams, regions, drafts, players, and tournament momentum, while newcomers can still take part with straightforward predictions and earn participation rewards. For Riot, this is another step toward turning international League of Legends events into a broader live experience rather than a passive broadcast.

Crystal Ball makes its MSI debut with meta-focused predictions

The headline change for MSI 2026 is the arrival of Crystal Ball, a prediction format that had previously been more closely associated with Worlds.

Unlike traditional Pick’Ems, which focus primarily on match results and bracket outcomes, Crystal Ball asks players to predict broader tournament trends before the first game is played. These can include questions about champion presence, player performance, team tendencies, and other meta-driven outcomes that unfold across the event.

That distinction is important because Crystal Ball rewards a different type of esports knowledge. Predicting the winner of a best-of-five series is one thing; forecasting how the entire MSI meta will evolve is much harder. Will a surprise champion dominate drafts? Will certain roles shape the tournament more than expected? Will teams carry over regular-season strategies or radically adapt once the international stage begins?

Riot has confirmed that some Crystal Ball predictions will resolve after the Play-In Stage, while the remaining answers will be settled once MSI concludes. This gives fans an ongoing reason to track not just who wins, but how the tournament is being played.

Players who lock in Crystal Ball picks before the first match on June 28 will also receive the exclusive “Doesn’t Look Good” emote, giving even casual participants a clear reward for joining the event early.

Pick’Ems return with free rewards and a full MSI progression track

Traditional Pick’Ems are also returning for MSI 2026, allowing fans to predict results through the Play-In and Bracket stages.

Riot has confirmed that players can make their picks either through LoLEsports.com or directly inside the League of Legends client. This is a smart accessibility move, as it removes friction for players who might not regularly visit the esports site but still want to participate while logging into the game.

The reward structure gives players multiple goals. Simply participating in the Play-In or Bracket Stage predictions unlocks the exclusive El Tigre Braum “Pinfall” emote. Finishing in the top 50% grants the Zenith Games Blitzcrank “Settle the Score” icon, while the top 25% unlocks the Janitor Thresh & Zac “Clean Up” emote on top of the earlier rewards.

The highest-tier prize is reserved for perfect predictions. Players who manage to complete a flawless Pick’Ems run will earn the Broken Covenant Jhin skin, the Jhin champion if they do not already own him, and all previous reward tiers.

That perfect-pick reward is intentionally difficult to reach. International League of Legends is volatile by design, and MSI’s double-elimination structure creates plenty of opportunities for upsets, rematches, and bracket chaos.

MSI 2026 arrives with a sharper format and major Worlds implications

This year’s MSI will take place in Daejeon, South Korea, from June 28 to July 12, bringing together the strongest teams from every major competitive region.

The tournament will feature a Play-In Stage from June 28 to July 1, followed by a Bracket Stage running from July 3 to July 12. Riot has confirmed that the Play-In Stage will use a four-team double-elimination format, with only one team advancing to the main bracket. The Bracket Stage itself will remain an eight-team double-elimination competition.

That structure makes the early phase especially punishing. Teams entering Play-Ins will not have much room for slow starts, and fans making Pick’Ems will need to evaluate not only regional strength but also form, adaptability, and best-of-five resilience.

The tournament also matters beyond the MSI trophy. Riot has positioned MSI as a key stop on the road to Worlds, with international performance carrying consequences for the wider competitive ecosystem. That raises the stakes for every participating region and gives Pick’Ems players more to consider when making predictions.

What this means for players and viewers

For regular League of Legends players, the main appeal is simple: MSI 2026 offers free rewards for participating in Pick’Ems and Crystal Ball.

You do not need to be an expert analyst to take part. A casual viewer can still make predictions, support favorite teams, and unlock participation rewards. At the same time, dedicated esports fans have more advanced systems to engage with through Crystal Ball, where knowledge of drafts, champion pools, team identities, and meta shifts can make a real difference.

For Riot, the expanded prediction system helps keep viewers invested across the entire tournament. Even if a fan’s favorite team is eliminated early, their Pick’Ems and Crystal Ball results can still give them a reason to follow every match.

The format also creates stronger conversation around the event. Predictions naturally drive debate, and Crystal Ball adds another layer by encouraging fans to discuss not just who will win, but how MSI will actually be played.

Riot turns MSI into a bigger fan-driven event

The debut of Crystal Ball at MSI 2026 is a meaningful expansion of how Riot approaches international tournaments.

Pick’Ems have already become a familiar part of the Worlds experience, but bringing a deeper prediction system to MSI reinforces the event’s growing importance in the competitive calendar. With free rewards, meta-focused forecasts, and direct integration through both LoLEsports.com and the League client, Riot is giving fans more ways to feel connected to the tournament before the first match even begins.

As the best teams in the world prepare to call their shot in Daejeon, fans now have the chance to do the same. Whether your predictions are based on deep analysis, regional loyalty, or pure instinct, MSI 2026 is making one thing clear: watching the tournament is only part of the experience.