So about those champions that lack magic but can do superhuman feats anyway.

DragonShea·Dec 20, 2016·6 votes·2,010 views

One thing that has been bugging me for sometime has been the whole deal with some champions having little to no magical power yet can perform out right superhuman or even magical feats without little to no magic assisting in the act. Why can some of them do it anyways. So my question is: Is the magical powers of Runterra something that breaks the limits of normal human beings to the point where they can now do superhuman feats, and is it magical, runic, or even mystical in nature. So I think that it a combination of factors differing between each and every champion.

What do you guys think?

29 Comments

RalanrDec 20, 20164 votes

Well there are heroes in myths and legends who had no real powers but were still able to accomplish extraordinary feats. Best example is Odysseus who was very clever.

Champions are also not normal people. Even if they have no magical ability, they are extraordinary in certain ways. Olaf for example cannot die in battle (to his dismay) and there are marksmen who are just good shots with fancy gadgets (Graves and Caitlyn).

Talon's rework also showcases how mundane yet powerful he is with how he can effortlessly traverse terrain unlike other people.

DragonSheaDec 20, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Well there are heroes in myths and legends who had no real powers but were still able to accomplish extraordinary feats. Best example is Odysseus who was very clever.

Champions are also not normal people. Even if they have no magical ability, they are extraordinary in certain ways. Olaf for example cannot die in battle (to his dismay) and there are marksmen who are just good shots with fancy gadgets (Graves and Caitlyn).

Talon's rework also showcases how mundane yet powerful he is with how he can effortlessly traverse terrain unlike other people.

Yep. I was wondering about those are a good shot to those that have explicit super human aim, their is no denying that some people in LoL are just normal people but can fuck shit up worse that a god could by being a boss like Odysseus, I am just trying to weed out those that have explicit superhuman capabilities to those that don't and why they are able to do so without the need for magic.

RookPusherDec 20, 20163 votes

You're assuming all magic is outward. By that logic, Wolverine isn't a mutant.

Maximum MordeDec 21, 20161 votes

Wolverine is shit.

MrNhbdyDec 20, 20163 votes

I feel as though you dove too deep into a simple idea. We all know that the game is not cannon, which means that it is possible for certain abilities to be exaggerated.

Ex: Darius probably doesn't jump 20 feet in the air, this could be a "buff" to make him more of legend.

If your going to try to apply logic then at least try to imagine this from a story teller's perspective because we are playing a game about "legendary" individuals.

Ex: A man who is so extraordinarily stealthy that he could sneak up from behind you and kill you with daggers then run away by bounding over a wall could be said to be an "assassin who was invisable. The man was so adept at escaping it appeared as though no terrain could stop him."

Unless directly stated in lore of some form these abilities could be made up or over exaggerated things a commoner saw J4 or another champ do. It doesn't HAVE to be a super human feat.

OglafDec 20, 20162 votes

Well, you have to remember that these people are Champions. Creme de la Creme of their factions. Darius isn't an average footman in the Noxian army.

RebonackDec 20, 20161 votes

You mean stuff like Garen's skysword or Kat's blink?

Or are you talking about something else?

DragonSheaDec 20, 20161 votes

{quoted}

You mean stuff like Garen's skysword or Kat's blink?

Or are you talking about something else?

Yeah, something like that. but that would fall under latent magic because I was mainly referring to the feats someone with barely any magic could do. e.g Garen's healing factor/passive why is he even able to do that and we don't know if it's magical or physical in nature and more importantly. why did's so if it's indeed a physical or non-magical means because magic is just magic.

DwarvenGiantDec 20, 20161 votes

I'll try to go over as many champions that aren't (not that we know of at least) inherently-magical, but do posses magical abilities:

If I remember correctly, what Garen does in-game is something he actually can't/doesn't do in the lore- This was something a Red confirmed about a couple of years ago, if I'm not mistaken (and I'm pretty sure I'm not).
Jarvan, Draven, Fiora and Miss Fortune probably fall under the same category Garen does: Unless Jarvan is secretly inherently-magical or has a magical lance with which he can actually perform Cataclysm, or Draven (whose abilities are much less magical anyways) can actually perform stunts with huge axes that travel across the arena.
Katarina, however, we don't really know yet. She does Shunpo around Garen in the cinematic, A Twist of Fate, but then again, it's supposed to be a flashy promotional video. For her, we'll really just have to wait and see.
Same goes for Talon- It has not yet been confirmed, but I feel like he doesn't throw huge blades in a circle and goes invisible in the lore as he does in-game. I feel like both he and Katarina don't posses magical skills. But hey, maybe their blades are magical! For all we know, there's at least one magical blacksmith in Noxus- The one who forged Riven's blade (Unless it was retcon'ed, which I actually don't think is the case here).
Ezreal now has the Ascended-forged/Sun-forged gauntlet. Hopefully that explains his case. Sivir, too, wields an Ascended-made (Setaka's) weapon- The Chalicar.
Furthermore, on the topic of magical artifacts, True-Ice-wielding champions (Ashe, Sejuani, Trundle, Braum, Olaf, Gragas) can often perform a bunch of magical abilities in the lore, as True Ice is inherently magical.
Aatrox probably has some magic that makes people go mentally & probably magically battle-scarred (and inspired, of course), so Tryndamere can probably really do some weird shit (considering he's "just" a barbarian) under certain circumstances, in battle- Like surviving a blade-in-heart. I'd imagine he wouldn't talk about that with anyone, though.
Hextech is made with magic, so that explains everyone who uses it: Caitlyn, Jayce, Camille, Vi, Ekko, Jinx, Viktor, Blitzcrank, Orianna, Heimerdinger, Ziggs, Corki (I think), Urgot, Jhin, Graves, Gangplank and potentially Zilean. I suddenly can't remember if they use gunpowder in Runeterra, so I'm not sure about Tristana (Although, I'd imagine Boomer, her weapon, is magical to some degree, considering it's yordles we're talking about).
We'll probably soon know how they go about with chemistry in Zaun, so Warwick, Mundo and Singed will be explained. I imagine they simply use some (probably somewhat-forbidden) magical ingredients, but who knows.
Targon's human champions, thus far, are all "possessed"/inhabited by different Targonian Aspects:
Atreus is inhabited by Pantheon, the Aspect of War/Aspect of the Warrior.
Leona is inhabited by the Aspect of the Sun.
Diana is inhabited by the Aspect of the Moon.
Taric is inhabited by the Aspect of the Protector.
All Ionian martial arts seem to have some kind of magic involved; Most particularly Wuju and Lee Sin's fighting technique. Yasuo is probably inherently magical, himself (as the Wind Blade thing only happens in Ionia once in a generation), and our Ninja trio are probably inherently magical (at least Kennen is, considering he's a yordle and all that).
Udyr, Shen and Illaoi are directly connected with the Spirit World. I think they might have been born magic-users in some way, but it could be the technique each is using.
Kassadin and Jax have obviously been corrupted by the Void. Malzahar is probably inherently magical (I feel like I had to cover Void-related humans, even if the reasoning for their powers is rather obvious).
We don't know what Vilemaw is exactly just yet (and how he manages to survive black mist), so Elise's source of power is a bit weird right now. I'd imagine he's some kind of a spirit, though (as are Bard, Kindred, Skaarl, Nagakabouros).
We don't really know what's up with Nidalee and how she became a shapeshifter in modern lore. Personally, I have a hunch that she, too, is connected to the Spirit World now and the cougar is a spirit that inhabits her (although not in the Targonian "possession" way, but rather in the same way Udyr is), but I might be counting on the concept of spirits too much now. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. :P

Please tell me if I missed anyone.

DragonSheaDec 21, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Please tell me if I missed anyone.

Well Trynda is another example of someone that I think is not magical and pretty much becomes temporeraly immortal through sheer rage. being another example on the point i am trying to make.

DwarvenGiantDec 21, 20161 votes

Aatrox probably has some magic that makes people go mentally & probably magically battle-scarred (and inspired, of course), so Tryndamere can probably really do some weird shit (considering he's "just" a barbarian) under certain circumstances, in battle- Like surviving a blade-in-heart. I'd imagine he wouldn't talk about that with anyone, though.

YouCantClickThisDec 20, 20161 votes

Well once you break the thought that everyone is just a normal "human" in Runeterra is when things might start making sense. There's magicians, wind warriors, yordles, and there's giant talking blobs. Not really sure where this notion that this is a DC type universe where majority of people are just ordinary weak humans. It would be more helpful if you could write down some examples of what you're talking about.

Really, how many "superhumans" wtih no magic are you talking about? I can only see the handful of ones in Noxus.

Whyte LyonDec 20, 20161 votes

In a post where you're asking for the OP to explain himself can I ask you do the same over this statement?

this notion that this is a DC type universe where majority of people are just ordinary weak humans.

YouCantClickThisDec 21, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Whyte Lyon,realm=OCE,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=m4YBdEIn,comment-id=00010000,timestamp=2016-12-20T09:33:49.798+0000)

In a post where you're asking for the OP to explain himself can I ask you do the same over this statement?

I was thinking of batman when i said DC. Gotham city is populated mostly of regular citizens that are weak, while there are only a handful of "superhumans". Runeterra is not just full of regular citizens, there's a lot of strong races that populate runeterra, wizards, targonians, hextech combatants etc etc that populate the world of runeterra. The OP makes it seem like being superhuman is out of the ordinary for Runeterra's standards, but i disagree to say that Runeterra has set the standard that it is a very diverse universe with superhuman fighters that arent even champions.

Whyte LyonDec 22, 20161 votes

Gotham city is populated mostly of regular citizens that are weak.

Eugh? Why specify Gotham City/ DC comics as a specific example? Don't all fictional cities contain majority of regular citizens (unless stated as otherwise)?

All you did was imply that DC is different to most major IP and then used it as an example of what League's universe is not like. Which is wrong because League is no different to any other fictional universe; DC or otherwise.

YouCantClickThisDec 22, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Whyte Lyon,realm=OCE,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=m4YBdEIn,comment-id=0001000000000000,timestamp=2016-12-22T01:50:54.624+0000)

Eugh? Why specify Gotham City/ DC comics as a specific example? Don't all fictional cities contain majority of regular citizens (unless stated as otherwise)?

All you did was imply that DC is different to most major IP and then used it as an example of what League's universe is not like. Which is wrong because League is no different to any other fictional universe; DC or otherwise.

You're right, you are making my point where i am saying that League is NOT just majority regular citizens. I specified because he said "superhuman" and batman came to my mind lol it's not that complicated. I guess you didn't read what I said, the regular citizens in Gotham literally have no powers it's a crime-riddled city with a handful of powerful criminals/heroes that are "superhuman". Read Ryze's lore(attacked by a powerful wizard), read Yasuo's lore(ambushed by powerful noxian soldiers), read Camilles lore(a bunch of modified combatants). He says "superhuman" as if it's out of the ordinary to perform superhuman feats in this universe while in Gotham city those "regular citizens" do not perform these superhuman feats. There's a difference of power between Gotham's "regular citizens" and Runeterra's "regular citizens", that's what im saying. I'm not disputing the fact that they both contain "majority of regular citizens".

DragonSheaDec 20, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Well once you break the thought that everyone is just a normal "human" in Runeterra is when things might start making sense. There's magicians, wind warriors, yordles, and there's giant talking blobs. Not really sure where this notion that this is a DC type universe where majority of people are just ordinary weak humans. It would be more helpful if you could write down some examples of what you're talking about.

Really, how many "superhumans" wtih no magic are you talking about? I can only see the handful of ones in Noxus.

Sure, I was mainly referring to the physical based champions are able to perform such superhuman feets with little no magic and in a world full of it.

Darius is someone that can leap at 20 feet into the sky to dunk someone,

Draven has similar kind of strength but also have superhuman sight as he was able to execute his prisoners that nearly escaped everyone else's own sight.

Riven doesn't even know magic and yet her sword can reform if she needs it,

Talon can become invisible without the aid of magic,

JarvanIV can create a crater with brute strength,

Yasuo can create whirlwinds with aid of magic.

can lift her gauntlets for a long time and that is clear not something a woman of her build could do for even a split second in real life.

I am getting the impression that some people are similar to syndra and Annie in that they are born with the potential to do superhuman feets and that training can further it. And maybe also that people in Runeterra have a much greater limit on how much stronger they can become compared to people irl, being able to deadlift 2 tons or more instead of 350-425 kg that strongman can do and that is lowballing it.

however someone like Jhin is a able to craft bullets that are made from hextech and hextech is fueled by magic not electricity or other forms of real life fuel, as well as Lucian's light shots being primarily made of physical power. so I wonder if their is another source of power that is not solid, but is still grounded enough to be physical.

in other words, apart from what is explicitly magical in nature or if they receive special training, their is not a proper explanation as so why people are able to pull off superhuman feets without magic and why something that should magically fuel is not.

Ebonmaw DragonDec 20, 20162 votes

{quoted}

Sure, I was mainly referring to the physical based champions are able to perform such superhuman feets with little no magic and in a world full of it.

is someone that can leap at 20 feet into the sky to dunk someone,

has similar kind of strength but also have superhuman sight as he was able to execute his prisoners that nearly escaped everyone else's own sight.

doesn't even know magic and yet her sword can reform if she needs it,

can become invisible without the aid of magic,

can create a crater with brute strength,

can create whirlwinds with aid of magic.

can lift her gauntlets for a long time and that is clear not something a woman of her build could do for even a split second in real life.

The sword of Riven is magical, you know, it uses Runes, like Ryze, those runes that can blow up the world.

The gauntlets of Vi are lift by the power of Hextech, hextech uses magic as well.

The rest of them COULD be using magic... Except Yasuo, he uses wind techniques that arent magical.

DragonSheaDec 20, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ebonmaw Dragon,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=m4YBdEIn,comment-id=000100010000,timestamp=2016-12-20T15:43:08.909+0000)

The sword of Riven is magical, you know, it uses Runes, like Ryze, those runes that can blow up the world.

The gauntlets of Vi are lift by the power of Hextech, hextech uses magic as well.

The rest of them COULD be using magic... Except Yasuo, he uses wind techniques that arent magical.

thanks for correcting me on those ones. also I am more interested in the ones that are similar to yasuo in doing what he does with the wind.

RalanrDec 20, 20161 votes

So basically fantastic abilities achieved through pure skill or technique?

DragonSheaDec 21, 20161 votes

{quoted}

So basically fantastic abilities achieved through pure skill or technique?

In cases I'd say yes, lee sin, yasuo and their kind seems to do so. others seem to grow stronger as they fight and become litterally battle harden. The probelm is that all of this apart magic makes all of this seem so vauge.

RalanrDec 21, 20162 votes

Welcome to http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SupernaturalMartialArts

Craft ZeppelinDec 22, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Ebonmaw Dragon,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=m4YBdEIn,comment-id=000100010000,timestamp=2016-12-20T15:43:08.909+0000)

The sword of Riven is magical, you know, it uses Runes, like Ryze, those runes that can blow up the world.

The gauntlets of Vi are lift by the power of Hextech, hextech uses magic as well.

The rest of them COULD be using magic... Except Yasuo, he uses wind techniques that arent magical.

Just saying here, Draven was based on a real life executioner.

YouCantClickThisDec 21, 20162 votes

{quoted}

Sure, I was mainly referring to the physical based champions are able to perform such superhuman feets with little no magic and in a world full of it.

is someone that can leap at 20 feet into the sky to dunk someone,

has similar kind of strength but also have superhuman sight as he was able to execute his prisoners that nearly escaped everyone else's own sight.

doesn't even know magic and yet her sword can reform if she needs it,

can become invisible without the aid of magic,

can create a crater with brute strength,

can create whirlwinds with aid of magic.

can lift her gauntlets for a long time and that is clear not something a woman of her build could do for even a split second in real life.

None of those abilities that are showcased in games are feats they performed in the bio. Not really sure you can conclude that just because you see it in game, they have the same power in the story. You have to remember that these abilities they have are often exaggerated from their story in order to have the champions compete in gameplay. Bruce Lee was iconic because he showed feats that were near impossible but given the intense training he was able to do them. Basically it's the same in this fantasy universe where this intense training gives u strength, but at a much higher level then lets say bruce lee.

MaskedHeromanDec 20, 20161 votes

Why did this get down votes?

DragonSheaDec 20, 20163 votes

{quoted}

Why did this get down votes?

Because having an opinion that is not mainstream is looked down upon here on the forums I just say what is on my mind and if people can't respectfully disagree, they can eat a dick.

PermabannedGarenDec 21, 20161 votes

This is honestly just a very common trope in fiction, that of the charles atlas superpower.

Master Yi could rout entire invading armies of Noxians by himself, cutting down hundreds of soldiers with blinding speed in a single battle.

He doesn't do this using magic. He can do this because he's trained all his life to be able to do it, even though no human being IRL could do the same.

Olaf is similar. In the Shadow and Fortune story he fought the giant reanimated corpse of a leviathan and won with nothing more than his axes. He's one of the most "normal" characters in the setting, but still killed it, because he's had experience doing it for years.

DragonSheaDec 21, 20161 votes

{quoted}

This is honestly just a very common trope in fiction, that of the charles atlas superpower.

Master Yi could rout entire invading armies of Noxians by himself, cutting down hundreds of soldiers with blinding speed in a single battle.

He doesn't do this using magic. He can do this because he's trained all his life to be able to do it, even though no human being IRL could do the same.

Olaf is similar. In the Shadow and Fortune story he fought the giant reanimated corpse of a leviathan and won with nothing more than his axes. He's one of the most "normal" characters in the setting, but still killed it, because he's had experience doing it for years.

yeah i am aware of those tropes, being a tvtrope fanatic. in fairness I'd like to see how it such a thing is possible. the magical part has been explained in detail but the physical aspects of how they can do so is not really explained. it's could that magic increases the limits of humans in runeterra or it could be another force, runic or some completely unknown force, or just pure genetics.

either way it's safe to say that those with skills and experience may become superhumans in their own right.

DrakavoidDec 22, 20161 votes

Well, before anyone joins the League of Justice, they go through some examination. So since there are only 160 champions, they gotta be extremely special. So I'm sure everyone who participated have some sort of ability beyond natural.