Boards›Story, Art, & Sound

Any martial arts-based female champion in the league?

Krizalid·11/29/2014, 8:46:36 AM·3 votes·1,383 views

I didn't create this thread on skins/champion concepts because there's no actual concept and it's just a question. You know, I was wondering if there are any humanoid female fighters in the world of Runeterra? With a power of Lee Sin or Udyr, as closest examples. And are there any plans on something like this? You know, some powerful fit character who crushes her enemies with bare fists and kicks (Like Chun Li or Cammy from Street Fighter, Leona Heidern from The King of Fighters and so on). Almost every female champion in the league seems slim to me (even Shyvanna, except her new splash), while it would be fun to see yet another strong champion with martial arts, but a female one this time. The simpliest and satisfying answer to me would be "yes", as it may grow into a possibility of seeing this kind of character in the future, but staying for now at the "no promises - IronStylus" position.

9 Comments

Jamaree11/29/2014, 9:12:54 AM4 votes

I would say Irelia and Vi, but Irelia more is a martial weapon style, and Vi is more of a street fighting boxer, but I see what you mean.

Gear Kitty11/29/2014, 10:48:31 AM3 votes

Well, let's just list them off then.

  • Akali: Twin sickle/kama
  • Ashe: Archery
  • Diana: Pseudo-khopesh
  • Fiora: Fencing
  • Kalista: Javelin
  • Katarina: Knife throwing/fighting
  • Kayle: Longsword
  • Leona: "Sword and Board"
  • Nidalee: Javelin
  • Poppy: Mace and Shield
  • Quinn: Hand Crossbow and Falconry
  • Riven: Anime styled single butterfly sword
  • Sivir: Chakram
  • Vi: Boxing

Martial Arts literally means "the arts of Mars", the Roman god of War. it's a catch-all term for any solidified system of forms and techniques for training in the use of weapons and/or you body to protect yourself and/or attack others. Sejuani doesn't really have a real world counterpart for "mounted flail", and Irelia is a Lich with a weird sword she controls with her will alone.

Before you scoff at all this, remember that Archery is probably humanity's earliest martial art. Before that it was "find a good stick and thump them or poke them, depending on the stick".

For what you're actually asking about, the only 3 that come close are Vi, Akali, and Evelynn (her E is a fingernail rake and her AA is shin kicks).

BeatRushVII11/29/2014, 9:01:58 AM1 votes

Irelia has her own style of martial arts passed down through her family. VI is diffidently a 'humanoid female fighter' although not formally trained defiantly has her own style of street fighting

Diahane11/29/2014, 6:03:29 PM1 votes

I don't think we'll ever see a character so akin to Lee Sin, i.e. unarmed martial artist, because that niche is already covered. The armed martial artist figure too is pretty much already occupied by Irelia. If they ever were to try such a thing, they'd have to think about it a lot.