Udyr is not a Vastaya

Valaran Nara·Apr 7, 2017·7 votes·1,481 views

Udyr is a martial artist.

In martial arts, it is common to have different battle stances or styles named after animals.

Take for example in Kung Fu Panda. There's "Snake, Mantis, Tiger, Monkey, etc."

Udyr is not a Vastaya who transforms into different animals. You don't see him do that unless he is in his Ultimate skin. Even then, it's more of a spiritual connection where he summons the animals spirit as some sort of oversoul. In which case, it's more like his inner Chi or Chakra appearing akin to Naruto's Kyuubi.

Udyr has 4 fighting styles: Bear, Turtle, Tiger, and Phoenix. He does not physically turn into them or channel said animal (unless we're speaking Godyr). He merely adopts the martial art combat style for them.

8 Comments

RalanrApr 7, 20172 votes

Yeah I don't really see how he could be connected unless it has something to do with spirits

Valaran NaraApr 7, 20172 votes

{quoted}

Yeah I don't really see how he could be connected unless it has something to do with spirits

It's because people are trying to link any animal-related humanoid to Vastaya for lore craft. I'm sure Vastaya are varied, but the way they are described, Udyr wouldn't fit at all. He's 100% human whose "animal powers" are more just an extension of his training focus.

FiddlesOnTheRoofApr 7, 20172 votes

On a slightly unrelated note, those Udyr PBE changes are interesting. As a long-time Udyr main, I'm curious to see how it plays.

TheLastShadow45Apr 7, 20171 votes

No one said he is Vastaya. Rakan only said he was given Vastaya blood(probobly against the Vastayan's will). Which this is now for lore how he is in touch with the animal forms as magic.

Swain is in the same position to allow him to merge with Beatrice.

Valaran NaraApr 7, 20172 votes

{quoted}

No one said he is Vastaya. Rakan only said he was given Vastaya blood(probobly against the Vastayan's will). Which this is now for lore how he is in touch with the animal forms as magic.

Swain is in the same position to allow him to merge with Beatrice.

I'm just saying in general because there are people who just immediately categorize Udyr as Vastayan, same as Nidalee.

Also, that's probably the most plausible way to look at it. Otherwise, Udyr's spirituality happened to have tapped into a well of Vastayan magic of some sorts. I mean, afterall, it is said that magic to a Vastayan is water to a human. Hell, it may even be referred to as their lifeblood. At which point, blood could just be used figuratively for tapping into their source of magic.

Wrathof300Apr 7, 20173 votes

Nidalee more so than any other champion, would make sense being classified a vastayan. (Imo)

Wrathof300Apr 7, 20171 votes

Being vastayan and having their blood is 2 different things, personally I don't want him to be vastayan, but I would be okay if he has their DNA in his blood.

Which people are speculating is the reason he can channel the animal spirits, because if his 'vastayan blood', otherwise their would an entire clan practicing his animal martial arts, an from what we have in his old lore, he is a specific child born to be the spirit guard.

Him having vastayan blood, would certainly be rare among people and would fit into his lore.