The real questions lore should answer: who invented the Tactical Combat Spin?

MrSc0tty·12/25/2014, 5:19:13 AM·76 votes·6,619 views

Edit: ok we've got some good discussion going below. I'm going to hypothesize that in the world of league of legends it is common martial Knowledge that a spinning object will always deal more damage than a non spinning one. With that in mind, I will add a few champions.

Thesis: upon examining the available source information I have come to the conclusion that SPINNING IS IN FACT A POTENT SOURCE OF MAGICAL POWER IN RUNETERRA. Spinning on most champions actually costs them magical energy (mana). But some, the true "spin masters" of the league of legends like Garen, Riven, Katarina and Tryndamere actually use frequent combat spins to power their moves and enable them to launch massive magical attacks without the need for mana at all.

Conclusion: Garen is indeed the most powerful wizard in Runeterra.

Spinning for combat effect clearly has some deep roots in Runeterran culture. We see spins in champions across all nationalities implying that permutations on the Tactical Spin are employed and practiced as accepted military tactics across Valoran.

Notable combat spin users:

Demacia: Garen (continuous damage mobile crit enabled multi-spin) and Xin Zhao (a variation on the Ionian style utility spin single rotation)

Noxus: Darius (AOE single spin damage rotation coupled with the tight-body single target "flourish spin") Katarina (A single rotation spin as well as a ranged variation on the continuous damage spin-perhaps hinting at an affection for the demacian style spin?, Warwick (Single target flourish spin as well as a critical hit spin) and of course

Draven: Draven (a double continuous ranged damage amplifying aerodynamic-enhancing spin)

Freljord: Tryndamere (a quick mobility spin used for swift repositioning and damage) and Sejuani (uses a weapon clearly designed for the sole purpose of spinning around her head which , when thrown spinning, causes great devastation)

Ionia: Akali (single rotation simple spin) Zed (another simple spin), Irelia (whose spinning blades grant her a utility spin for a powerful stun) and Wukong (the true spin master of Ionia employs the signature utility focused Ionian style spin coupling it with mobile continuous application spinning)

It's clear that combat spins have a deep history, as Ancient shuriman warriors Renekton and Amumu both employ the more primitive single rotation spins which we can also see reflected in the ancient ninja arts practiced by Akali and Zed. The Yordles with their insular culture seem to have disregarded the spin as a valid tactic and indeed the more modern empires of Piltover and Zaun disdain spins-so combat spinning is an ancient traditional art.

One can also use spins to form clues as to the origins of some champs. Jax, the grandmaster, appears to have pioneered a dual-stage defensive to offensive spin, but note that the offensive portion is a traditional single rotation Ionian utility spin. Also worth noting: what is the only type of melee combat technique not block able by Jax's defensive spin? Yeah. You guessed it.

The spin also clearly has roots in the nature of Runeterran magic as well. Many champs spin to manifest magical energy, including: Ahri, Lulu, Janna, Velkoz, and Twisted Fate.

Can someone at Riot enlighten us on the significance of the spin in Runeterran martial history? Who initially pioneered the trick of the continuous spin? Has the need for rotational balance influenced the design of heavy armor in the nation states of runeterra? It's clear from Darius' joke that the mobile continuous spin has not been mastered by Noxus, how has this technological deficit affected their plans for expansion?

51 Comments

ModThe Djinn12/25/2014, 7:07:03 AM12 votes

{quoted}The Yordles with their insular culture seem to have disregarded the spin as a valid tactic and indeed the more modern empires of Piltover and Zaun disdain spins-so combat spinning is an ancient traditional art.

Not entirely! Look at Tristana's critical hit animation: she spins around before firing off the shot.

You also forgot Katarina (mistress of not one but two spins).

Yulen Xoshxius12/25/2014, 6:01:21 AM9 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPPj6viIBmU This kid. Everyitme I see a character doing the dorky spins I think of htis kid.

Mahnigguh12/25/2014, 5:31:25 PM9 votes

i think Rammus is proof the the Tactical Combat Spin has roots so far back as too even be found in nature...his powerball and tremors are two of the most deadly combat spins in the game, and found in nature no less...

Maple Crusader12/25/2014, 7:25:10 AM6 votes

You forgot to include Jax's Counterstrike.

LordHippoman12/26/2014, 12:18:09 AM4 votes

Gotta be Garen. Noone spins like Garen. And while, we're on the topic, Yi is the original Dunkmaster, despite what a certain impostor might want you to believe!

Earthlord Jazz12/25/2014, 7:34:23 AM3 votes

Here are some other guys you may want to include: Ahri corkscrews when she ults, though I wouldn't really call it a "true" spin. Perhaps she took inspiration from it? Aside from that, she spins with her W. Nocturne spins with his passive. Sejuani can be included in the Frelijord with her W. Yasuo spins as well when he q's while dashing. Am I missing any others?

IMTOOJUICY12/25/2014, 5:15:48 PM3 votes

Rammus is at his most powerful when he's dancing. Try it, he deals 900 (+ 2% Max HP) AOE dmg per second while dancing.

Tis a nice day12/25/2014, 6:15:30 AM2 votes

Somehow Yordles have been left out of the tactical combat spin.

Sooko12/25/2014, 5:18:34 PM2 votes

Rammus? Although it might not be a combat technique but more of a natural prowess armordillo thing :/

Rainbowgasm12/25/2014, 10:50:43 PM2 votes

since Wukong's spin is clearly the most intricate, I think he might have a history with it that dates back before he turned to stone.

Unlike his dunk move and fighting technique, he clearly did not learn it from Yi. Cyclone and a few of his other moves had to be learned from some one else (decoy). How long ago was he imprisoned, and who was his first master?

BLU Medic12/27/2014, 9:48:59 AM2 votes

Kog'Maw spins while idle. It may just be him playing, but perhaps he is learning from what other spin-based champions do?

Celio Hogane HD12/27/2014, 9:05:37 PM2 votes

Obviusly the thactical combat spin was invented by a winner. because you only can spin to win

KidSpectre4/4/2015, 3:31:01 PM2 votes

Something that somehow failed to be noticed: The Twin Dragons in Karma's Mantle of Decorum are constantly spinning! This constant rotational movement passively supplies Karma with constant Spin-Power without wasting extra energy. Activating Mantra causes a brief moment of very rapid spinning to charge up her next spell. This innovative spinning technique, however, seems to the sacrifice raw power and versatility of the single rotation Ionian Utility Spin for consistent energy.

Zilean is another known user of a "Spin Mechanism" to power his spells. Hecarim is a potent Spin User from the Shadow Isles, indicating that the fundamental properties inherent in spin are not limited to living beings. Evelynn uses a spin to gain a burst of movement speed as well.

Hoactzin12/25/2014, 6:59:13 AM1 votes

Amumu's is more along the lines of breakdancing imo.

Vauren12/26/2014, 2:33:41 AM1 votes

Draven: Draven (a double continuous ranged damage amplifying aerodynamic-enhancing spin)

Best. Thing. Ever. Draven Draven Draven

Stompburger12/26/2014, 3:04:29 AM1 votes

lol :)

Dies to Wolves4/29/2015, 8:21:54 AM1 votes

wow, this thread is great and I should have stumbled upon it earlier

steelblacksky9/16/2015, 11:49:21 PM1 votes

maybe runeterras creators were just gurren lagann fans.

FusionSuit12/27/2014, 9:07:49 PM1 votes

All this spinning reminds me of Steel Ball Run

Best KhaZix Void12/28/2014, 11:33:10 AM1 votes

Rek'Sai's Q!

Kha'Zix's W fires a cluster of spikes that corkscrew or "spin" while in flight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKLK9zFiVII evidence

Velivolo1/3/2015, 12:33:13 AM1 votes

This thread is amazing.

I am also interested in what you technically define as spinning. Does Vayne's tumble count? Rengar's bola? When Nami casts e on someone, three orbs rotate around the target. Is this a spin?

Edit: What about Renekton's q and e? Q is definitely a spin, so it may have also been used in ancient Shurima.

Nagirah12/25/2014, 3:14:37 PM1 votes

Spinning is just an easy way to give a champ a circular aoe around them. I doubt the explanation is any more complex than that.

Amélie Cauchemar9/17/2015, 12:10:36 AM1 votes

Evelynn Uses the ancient power of spinning to go faster.

Morgana Has no idea what she is doing.

Mordekaiser Uses telepathy to spin

RekSai Entire combat is based on twirling around

Earthlord Jazz12/25/2014, 7:08:59 AM1 votes

So much this

Noam Braumsky12/25/2014, 6:44:44 PM1 votes

Almost all of Wukong's abilities are based off things he presumably learned fighting others, so I'd say he didn't invent it.

Stars Shaper4/4/2015, 4:58:41 PM1 votes

MonkeyKing