Zed did nothing wrong.

Suspicious Salad·Mar 3, 2017·1 votes·1,364 views

I have recently taken a liking to Zed as a champ I play, and it has recently struck me that Zed was basically a normal ninja, in addition to the fact of being a more realistic ninja in terms of his style. Now, no discredit to the anime loving creators at riot, but contrary to popular belief ninjas are not tanks, nor are they very honorable, and they sure as hell aren't aoe killing machines (It's a video game I know, but if it's a magic ninja at least make it a ninja please?) in reality. Zed is a single target assassin in the sense that he marks ONE DUDE and kills them, as close as you can get in a MOBA. Anyway, our story starts with Jhin's killings. Zed wanted him dead, like a reasonable human. Proof was there, Jhin had every right to a death sentence. Next we have their training. Zed and Shen were even, zed found a shadow box and it gave him an edge, LIKE ANY REAL NINJA WOULD WANT TO HAVE, DUH. But Shen's dad took it as cheating, and evil when THE SHADOW POWERS HAD NOTHING SINISTER ABOUT THEM YET. So he banishes Zed. Now Zed, being banished by some nerd who doesn't know how to be a ninja, gets mad like any person would, and wants the box so he can train himself in the shadow tactics. Where he ultimately kills shen's dad. And now he trains people in a "learn or die" way which, I'll admit is a bit cutthroat but a real ninja would want to learn how to be uh.. idk.. ONE WITH THE SHADOWS ANYWAY? So what did we learn here? Zed wanted to get better, so he learned better moves that had no clear drawbacks, and Shen's dad is an idiot who is too focused on fairness. When he's a ninja. People who literally fight "unfairly" (Stealthily) to win. Ninja does not beat samurai in an honorable 1v1. Ninja beats samurai in a cheap shot.

TL:DR Zed is closer to an actual ninja, but is a bad guy for it. Shen and all them filthy anime fanfic characters are all designed based on a far fetched fantasy outlook that ninjas are honor slaves, and Shen's dad was the whole problem.

If I'm wrong here, please give me an extensive explanation on how shadow powers work. Because rn they just look like a technique that idiots who call themselves ninjas think is bad.

Not trying to make anyone mad here, any seemingly insulting phrases are just banter.

11 Comments

ModAcademy KaynMar 3, 20176 votes

You see it as "This is an efficient Ninja move, why would they not use it". You are applying our world's view on Ninja's, and imposing it on a separate world that is not our own. In Ionia, the Ninja clan is meant to be Guardians, as Shen is, or the people who you call, when normal authorities can't handle it.

As shown in the Story where Zed, Shen, and Shen's Dad are trying to locate Jhin, as the normal authorities can't handle this case. They believed he was a Demon for pete sake, because of how horrific his killings were. This shows that they are much more "Detective" x "X-files", as they deal with the problems normal people can't. Sure, stealth is sometimes apart of that, but they act just as much in the light as they do the dark. Zed wanted him dead, but the Ninja's in League's universe are still The Law, and must follow The Law. Zed killing Jhin would still be a crime.

When it comes to Zed's powers, there is usually a History we haven't seen before. There is a reason for why this power was banned in the first place, and hence, sealed away. The entire point of the story is the desire to be stronger yes, but at what cost? There is likely a very bloody history used behind those techniques, one associated with Evil. Being the Law, they probably don't want another Evil roaming the lands.

You can't apply our World's Ninja to a fantasy Ninja, as the reason they exist is much more different than ours. Our Ninja were originally Farmers, who took to Guerrilla warfare, but eventually became indebted to The Emperor. Shen and Co are obviously not farmers. They are a part of a Dojo, a Monastery with ideals and beliefs around Balance. Zed broke that ideal, and as such was banished.

Suspicious SaladMar 3, 2017

I respect your opinions here, a main issue I have is that the Shadow technique feels more like a plot scapegoat. No negative actions were directly linked to them, they were all linked to Zed being angry. While it could be said that "It's too powerful and therefore dangerous" it could also be said that if everyone knew the technique it would be even ground for everyone just about. I can agree with your statement on Ninjas in this world not being ninjas in ours and therefore has some slight differences. However, as clearly seen, by Ionia itself, balance is in fact their problem, at least how I see it. Imagine if they all had some of those forbidden techniques. Noxus wouldn't have hit them NEARLY as hard, but thats post ex facto i'm fairly sure. My main point is that Zed at the end of the day did nothing wrong. He made a choice to get stronger that was looked down upon, so heavily in fact that he was forced to be the bad guy. And my last point here. WHO was the person who made the pact to work together against Jhin. Zed. He shed his armor as a big bad dude, which he isn't, me thinks shen would not have done such the same, and even if he would have its still the fact that zed did it at all. Now all that being said. Why is Zed still making reasonable decisions? Why is Zed not a crazy person trying to murder everyone preaching about shadows in the inn? Because the shadow powers clearly haven't done anything bad. The only thing the community has speculated about the shadow powers being a problem is nocturne and I'm fairly sure that's not even canon. Balance, was the problem. Being balance, and having balance are two different things. Clearly shen's father and the order were too absorbed by the idea that it must be balanced, but did nothing to create balance.

Long story short. The Balance people drove Zed to his worst actions. They didn't help him with a reason as to why the shadows were bad. They just said they were and told him to leave. Anyone would have done what he did at that point. Especially when it was seen to be better than the previous techniques.

P.S. Balance would imply a guy who's killed MANY people would be killed himself. That's kind of a weird thing I noticed. I feel like an executive decision should have been made there.

ModAcademy KaynMar 3, 20171 votes

While it could be said that "It's too powerful and therefore dangerous" it could also be said that if everyone knew the technique it would be even ground for everyone just about

Not the point. If said power has a history of corrupting people to be Evil, you probably shouldn't use it, if you're a Force for Good.

My main point is that Zed at the end of the day did nothing wrong. He made a choice to get stronger that was looked down upon

Murdering his former master, and forcing an Ultimatum on the remaining students seems pretty wrong. Don't care how ya sugar it, killing is pretty bad.

He shed his armor as a big bad dude, which he isn't, me thinks shen would not have done such the same, and even if he would have its still the fact that zed did it at all. Now all that being said. Why is Zed still making reasonable decisions? Why is Zed not a crazy person trying to murder everyone preaching about shadows in the inn?

You had me there, and then you lost me. Yes, Zed being in control does reflect the power being controllable, and Zed working together to deal with Jhin shows rationality. However, just because one is Evil, does not mean he is stupid. Power corrupts more way than one, and just because he isn't a Cartoon villain slaughtering everyone in sight, does not make him a good guy.

Clearly shen's father and the order were too absorbed by the idea that it must be balanced, but did nothing to create balance.

Because trying to stop Zed from starting a much more sinister clan based around a forbidden technique that was probably locked away for a very good reason, is not trying to create balance. Zed, is very much meant to be an antithesis to Shen. Chaos v. Balance.

They didn't help him with a reason as to why the shadows were bad. They just said they were and told him to leave.

You probably don't live in a very discipline strict household then? In the Military, you are given commands and expected to follow them, (unless they are illegal). If your Commanding Officer told your troop "Everyone stay away from the Tent," they expect you to do so with reason or not, because Discipline. Considering it's a Monastery, they have a Master, and you are expected to heed and listen to them, regardless. They told Zed that those Shadows were not good, and the fact that he didn't listen proves to show he desires power over wisdom.

That said, Shen's master realized he was wrong in the Older lore. He admitted that he shouldn't have banished the former student, instead of trying to help him understand. And, despite all that, he still kills the Master. We don't know what happened in there, and that is a rather huge plot point of enigma, but despite the warnings given twice again about the Evil of the Shadow Technique, Zed continued his path along it.

That's pretty damn evil to me.

TyrekGoldenspearMar 3, 20172 votes

I as a Zed fan like this idea.

Don't tell my buddy Melledoneous though, he's a big Shen fan.

GreenLoreMar 3, 20171 votes

Well you say that Shens father banished zed because he saw the shadow powers as cheating. But we don't know if there isn't something inherently evil about the box. The box might not have any immediate negative effects on Zed,but who says that there aren't long term problems? Also there is the point that Zed disregarded the orders of his master.You don't want a pupil who breaks taboos.

And Akali is pretty Ninjalike too.I guess you meant her when you were talking about how ninjas weren't very honorable,but Akali doesn't really seem to give a damm about honor,she just wants to get her mission done.

Suspicious SaladMar 4, 20171 votes

Yeah there's an idea that akali is an Ex zed pupil or at least the most dark, because she, like zed with Jhin, wants him dead with no chance of redemption, and is very cutthroat.

And yes the shadow powers may have long term effects but its been up to since Jhin got out of jail and Zed is still making reasonable choices like initiating the whole teaming up with his rival to take down the old threat thing. If I'm going to be honest I've said it before and I'll say it here, I think the shadow powers being evil is poorly written or just a cop out just to make him look more bad than he really was, when in my honest opinion is Shen's dad's fault for being a poor master and not treating the cheating well everything could have been averted with a nice sit down heart to heart about why shadow powers are bad juju.

GreenLoreMar 4, 20171 votes

We don't know how much time has passed since Zed actually opened the shadow box and while I agree,that the shadow powers being deemed evil without giving us a reason why they are evil is poor writing,it doesn't mean that it is wrong either.

Also Shens father himself admitted that he made a mistake,which is why he apologized to Zed and wanted to destroy the box with him together,but when the 2 came out of the temple Zed had his head(and who knows what happened,maybe the shadows manipulated Zed?)

xSightlessxMar 3, 20171 votes

The ninjas in league arent real ninjas. They dont stealth. Not even akali with her ult.

GreenLoreMar 3, 20171 votes

So what about Akalis W?

Meep ManMar 3, 20171 votes

Except Zed did do something wrong since the Kinkou Order aren't a band of dishonorable ninjas. They ARE honorable ninjas and slicing off the head of your teacher/father figure because you used a technique that was probably locked away for a reason. Shen's dad was actually an extremely awesome and blunt guy. He served the lands of Ionia and was cool.

Also, I don't know why you think ninjas are "dishonorable". The ancient ninja clans of Iga and Koga were honorable to their cause. Assassination actually isn't something ninjas very commonly did. They were more about information gathering, sabotage, and the likes. The idea that ninjas are these "fast blades of the night" is false. Ninjas were whatever they needed to be to get the job done, even if that meant wearing fifty pounds of giant armor. They used stealth, but stealth in real life isn't turning invisible. It's disguises.

Ninjas aren't assassins is my point. We don't have a single ninja in our game that is like any ACTUAL ninja, but Shen is probably the most realistic ninja to be honest. Disregarding spirit abilities with Zed and Shen, Shen is very realistic in how he is a ninja in how he defends himself, being through mobility and deflection rather than armor. Even then, Shen, Zed, Akali, and Kennen are all not like real ninjas. An actual ninja would be probably be a Vision/Mind Games Support that tricked and gathered information on the enemy team through camouflage and such.

Suspicious SaladMar 4, 20171 votes

Aka... Teemo is the true ninja of league of legends.

No but really I get what you mean, I poorly explained ninjas, but I had to cut corners to avoid have a post that I felt was WAAAAAAY too long. In terms of being dishonorable, I meant their tactics. Of course they had honor for their clan, but they did not honor battle 1v1 toe to toe. They were like 90 pounds and vegan wearing very thin armor.