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The Misunderstood "Villains" of Runeterra

AnonymousEnigma·5/31/2015, 12:21:46 AM·5 votes·2,189 views

IMO, there are a lot of champions that are considered to be "evil" that are at most misguided if not even good guys. Imma list a few here:

Viktor: the old cliche i know, but if i had a choice, i would GLADLY accept Viktor's upgrades Darius: Is changing Noxus into a more meritocratic place instead of corrupt and weak Veigar: Isn't really his fault for being insane (not a hero, but not a villain either) Zed: the Order of the Kinkou is evil, simple as that - they want balance in all things. good and evil too - sometimes they promote evil because it makes things more "balanced" if good is too powerful. Zed was a good student who was banished by his master for a childish mistake, then betrayed afterwards Syndra: just wants to be left to her own devices Yorick: I don't understand why he is classified as a villain... he's doing is job and not hurting anybody Maokai: ^^ and he's not just neutral, he's actually good Graves: He's really just a run of the mill criminal - not really evil Everyone in the Winter's Claw: They legitimately think that they are helping

Similarly, there are a lot of "good guy" champions who are really evil (or somewhat evil) Garen: Demacia is elitist, authoritarian, and Garen isn't even the perfect solider... he is in love with the enemy Yasuo: He abandoned his mentor, killed his own brother and a few others too, and thinks he is still honorable Sivir: With the Shurima event, she looks like she could be a promising anti-hero, but atm she is still just a mercenary for hire (not evil, but not good either) Kennen, Shen, and Akali: See Zed (above) And, most importantly: Teemo: is Satan

There are lots more, but this is just off of the top of my head

26 Comments

Narasimha5/31/2015, 12:35:36 AM4 votes

Wait, considered 'evil' by whom? Most of those guys are pretty widely accepted to be neutral. You kind of seem to be equating 'dark' and 'edgy' with 'villain'. No one has EVER considered Yorick or Graves to be particularly dastardly, and Maokai's entire shtick is about being one of the few forces of good left in the Shadow Isles. I don't think using specifically forbidden techniques counts as a 'childish mistake', and coming back for vengenace didn't help either, so Zed is actually pretty stuck in the evil camp.

Like wise, you seem to be very confused on good as well. Garen may admire Katarina, but he'll also cross blades with her for his country. Pretty model soldier right there. Yasuo killed his own brother in self defense. While leaving his teacher was a foolhardy mistake, that can be chalked up to hotheaded youthfulness. Its not good, but he's not Dark Side either. He still has his honor. Teemo is twisted, broken, and has numbed his mind to prevent himself from cracking under his job, but he isn't actually evil. He does what he does to protect his people, and thats decidedly good.

the Order of the Kinkou is evil, simple as that - they want balance in all things. good and evil too - sometimes they promote evil because it makes things more "balanced" if good is too powerful.

If you're going to state something, have evidence or highly plausible conjectures to back it up. There is not a single detail nor note that would indicate that the Kinkou Order actually tries to do evil things just to 'balance' things. Hell, given of what we know of Valoran, good is in pretty short supply.

Ebonmaw Dragon5/31/2015, 3:37:58 AM3 votes

WAIT A MINUTE, Veigar VEIGAR IS EVIL! THE MOST EVIL CHAMPION OF RUNETERRA!!

AND PROUD OF THAT!!

Trylobyte5/31/2015, 1:57:24 PM3 votes

I could argue with a few of those. Here's my take on your picks.

Viktor - I don't think there are many people that think Viktor is evil. The best comparison I could make would be using Civilization Beyond Earth - Viktor is Supremacy while Jayce is Purity. Neither is wrong, they're just mutually incompatible. Darius - The most normal, grounded, level-headed member of Noxus's military, and probably in most of the Empire. His Demacian counterpart would be Quinn. Veigar - His evilness depends on whether you consider insanity a 'get out of morality free' card. He wants to be evil, and he tries very hard to be evil, he just sucks at it. Zed - Used to serve Balance, which is neither good nor evil. Cast that off when he got legitimately punished for doing something he wasn't supposed to do. Now he's just straight evil. Syndra - Evil, but not actively so. When it comes down to it, she only really cares about herself and will quite happily kill anyone who does anything to hinder her. Not being an active threat doesn't make her less evil. Yorick - I don't think anyone really considers him evil. I don't think anyone really considers him, period. Which is sort of his problem. Maokai - Everyone agrees he's a good guy. Not sure why you listed him. Graves - He's selfish, but not especially evil, and I don't think many people really consider him such. Sejuani - Most people agree she's the 'Neutral' in the Freljord, with Ashe being the Good and Lissandra being the Evil. She has some bad traits (WC are notoriously xenophobic) but some good ones too (She's heavily implied to be a better leader than Ashe is).

Garen - He's the epitome of Lawful Neutral. He's a great soldier, a good leader, and more or less does what he's told when he's told to do it. He may have a thing for Katarina but he doesn't let it get in the way of his duty to Demacia - Even the time he saved Kat's life was because she wasn't hostile and killing her would've been bad for everyone. Yasuo - Evil, no, but certainly not good. He's Neutral in the same vein as Garen, except he's controlled by his honor rather than his duty. Sivir - Yup. Nobody ever considered her a good guy. In fact, she was even more of a raging jackass before her Shurima reimagining. Shen Akali Kennen - They're actually one of the hardest things in roleplaying to pull off - Active, militant True Neutrals. Teemo - Obviously Satan. Everyone knows this.

Fowus5/31/2015, 2:31:02 AM2 votes

Teemo: is Satan

I like that one

Ct Dahlia6/2/2015, 2:32:13 PM1 votes

Don't for get how everyone thinks Morgana is some evil Satan angel and Kayle is a vision of justice and beauty...pfft.

GreenLore5/31/2015, 6:31:42 PM1 votes

Viktor we can't be sure about him,we don't know to what extent he is going to take his glorious evolution,but most things point toward him being ready to force his ideals onto others,which is generally considered a villainous thing. Darius is generally just trying to improve noxus,but again there is little lore about him,so it is hard to say how villainous he acts. Veigar you know being insane doesn't excuse being a villain.The joker is insane too,but he is still pretty evil.That said it is unsure if veigar is really evil or if he is just pretending to be evil. Zed The order of the kinkou is generally neutral,you say they sometimes promote evil(which sounds like they are going around kicking puppies if they decide the world needs more evil),but from shens lore it sounds more like they consider the just punishment for evil as balance.Also we don't know enough about the shadow box to truly judge the masters actions against Zed Syndra You say she just wants to be left alone,but that isn't the case.Syndras lore says that she wants to destroy the "weak,foolish ionian leaders" Yorick &Maokai I dunno why anyone would call them villains.Sure Yorick seems to serve the shadow isles,but he is generally just doing his job,not harming anyone. Graves is still a criminal.He isn't your cackling villain who tries to take over the world,but he isn't such a good person either(but he seems to be better than TF) Sejuani and her tribe are really more of an inbetween thing.Sure they want to help the freljord,which is a good thing,but Sejuani seems to be the kind of person who would try to conquer other nations once she is in control.

Now to those where you say that they are somewhat evil: Garen he is definetly not a goody-two-shoes,but he isn't really evil either,he really wants to protect the innocent and his country. Yasuo he killed his brother in self defense,he was ready to be punished for the crime that he did,but not for one that he didn't commit.Also it never says that he thinks of himself as honorable and it wasn't his mentor,but an ionian elder. Sivir yup,she is a mercenary who would do almost anything for money,in the end she is pretty neutral. Shen ,Akali& Kennen all 3 represent different extremes,Akali is unforgiving and kills those who threaten the balance,kennen is more forgiving and would offer others a second chance rather than killing them and Shen judges others without letting his emotions influence him.

In the end there are rarely champs who are pure good and pure evil.Even those who would be considered evil by most have quite often a noble (or at least kinda good) goal in mind.However I wouldn't say that someone can't be a villain,just because they have somewhat good intentions or a tragic background,heck even downright good people can be villains sometimes.

GenoXx5/31/2015, 3:24:25 AM1 votes

According to you...Zyra isn't evil she's just hungry. So she eats the closest mammal(including people) near her. Even after killing a mage she took her body as a Vessel. Totally not evil, Just wanted to escape extinction. No regard for the mage, her opinion did not matter. Zyra is not evil just misunderstood, so she strangles unwary passerby's because they frightened her. Misunderstood. Zyra doesnt "Choke the life from them" because she's evil, choking people is a way of gratification for her. Totally not evil.

http://th05.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2013/177/4/6/lol_zyra__and_teemo__by_msroka-d6as8we.jpg