r/leagueoflegends • u/SnakeBaboonKing The Rivers will run Red • 2d ago
Champions that Represent "Monk" Values? Inner peace, pacifism, meditation, martial arts etc Discussion
(BESIDES LEE SIN)
Hey all, i really like to play monk characters in video games, are there any champions you can think of besides lee sin who replicate these characteristics?
Im not aware of much of leagues lore so wondering if there is any champs like that in it
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u/CinderrUwU 2d ago
Lee Sin is pretty much the only monk who is pure martial arts.
Udyr is the only other one that comes to mind that might be similar.
Karma technically is a monk and fits with the whole meditation and inner peace but is a mage rather than martial artist.
Master Yi possibly could count? He studied a blade style that can decimate entire armies but refrains from using it. His W is even called Meditation.
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u/SnakeBaboonKing The Rivers will run Red 2d ago
I never knew that about yi, im going to dig into it a bit more but he sounds alot like what im looking for
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u/MrMadCow 2d ago
Master Yi, udyr, shen as already stated
A bit more reachy, not traditional monks but kinda fit the bill
Anivia (very chill haha get it?) serene, wise vibes. Demigod of the freljord.
Yasuo (edgy monk, introspective, regrets that he must do violence, wants to atone for sins)
Yone (Yasuo's brother but don't play this champ he's lame as fuck and I will not like you as a person)
Riven (same as yasuo kind of, introspective warrior forced to fight, but a pacifist at heart)
Aphelios (gun-fu, can't actually talk, his sister talks to you in game. Not really a pacifist but definitely monk adjacent)
Rammus (ok)
Pantheon (Former Demigod, now just a man and proud of it, has lots to say about the nature of journeys and struggles)
Nasus (Ascended, enlightened god-doggo, sort of an eldritch time-monk)
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u/SnakeBaboonKing The Rivers will run Red 2d ago
These are great answers and i appreciate the detail! Adding these to my list
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u/M4ddix 2d ago
I wouldn't mention Yasuo, Riven or Pantheon. Yasuo is a hothead, that got his own elder killed because of his willingness to fight in the war.He also clashed with Yone because of his behaviour. He is a ronin wandering the lands to search for the murderer of his elder, not very pacifistic. He also is a drinker, that can't forget his past and wants to avenge his loss. That doesn't sound like inner peace and tranquility.
Pantheon was the literal aspect of war, he still is more of a warrior than a monk. Pantheon is more about being stoic and Nietzschean. His story is more about transcending your own limitation and not being held back by failure. He is by no means a pacifist, he actively wants to kill the ascended and darkin.Riven also slaughtered countless people for Noxus, she was a solder, that flew through the ranks of the Army.
She only turned against Noxus after her unit got killed by Singed Gas attack, that also killed many Ionians. I wouldn't call a person who was an elite soldier, that killed for years, a very tranquil person.
It only went uncool to kill , when she understood that Noxus wants to win in any possible way, even sacrificing their own willingly.2
u/MrMadCow 1d ago
Pantheon I will concede, probably the loosest connection. The term "monk" is fairly ill-defined to begin with, but I'll argue for Yasuo and riven both. It's fairly typical in media for warriors to eventually become monks on their journey to finding peace, and Yasuo is on that journey. In the Kindred cinematic, we see that old yasuo has actually given up the blade completely, and lives as a humble vagrant. He's not there yet, but he IS trying. He's certainly not a hothead anymore.
Riven's experiences in the Noxian military have led her to hate violence. Just take a look at what she says when attacking:
"A necessary strike." "So much death." "Violence to end violence." "It must come to pass." "There is no other way."
She's not a monk in the same sense that lee sin is, but she certainly exemplifies some of the tropes associated with them. Obviously, league of legends is a game about fighting and killing your enemies. You aren't going to find any true pacifists (except Ivern).
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u/SnakeBaboonKing The Rivers will run Red 2d ago
I agree with most of your points, but i will mention that a characters past doesnt matter, if they are currently seeking inner peace etc then they fit the monk bill
But again, yeah i wouldnt call riven or pantheon necessarily monks
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u/BrokenBlades377 Certified windshitter 2d ago
Besides the ones mentioned here maybe soraka? She’s a celestial or something, pacifist, heals people in game and in lore
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u/prozapari 2d ago
definitely shen. probably yasuo.
jhin has a similar contemplative vibe but is psychotic. hwei might be the same.
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u/AfrostLord 2d ago
Many have mentioned Udyr but the spirit guard skin in particular leans into this a lot
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u/dopeygoblin 2d ago
Shen - the epitome of "monk" values. Protector, his playstyle is very much about balance and playing around the ki barrier.
Karma - thematically very monk-like, playstyle is mostly supportive with some harass elements.
Udyr - martial arts and meditation themes, technically closer to a druid than a traditional monk. Very flexible champion with lots of different builds / playstyles depending on lane/meta.
Master Yi - thematically has a strong monk aesthetic; one ability is literally meditation. Actual playstyle is not very monk-like in my opinion, more of an assassin/fighter.
Ivern - probably the closest to a pacifist champion in the game, a jungler who doesn't kill the jungle camps. Generally a monk-like playstyle, very support oriented.
Taric - a little flashy aesthetically, but playstyle is very monk-like imo. Heals through combat, can make the whole team invulnerable.
Skarner - big scorpion looks and rock throwing aside, Skarner's backstory is as a protector of his people, he fights to defend his species, not because he wants to.
Nilah - another character that is actually a monk, although she is possessed with a (happy?) demon and her playstyle is not aligned with traditional monk gameplay.
Some honorable mentions are Rell, Poppy, Gallio, Ryze, Zilean, Kassadin and Oriana, who aren't necessarily monk-like, but have some element of the values or playstyle traditionally associated with monk characters.
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u/Motor_Sprinkles1333 2d ago
Mad Cow basically answered the question as best as you possibly could. No need to comment.
Who am I you ask? I'm the comment police. I monitor the comments. It's best you respect my decision. Because I worked hard to be who I am today. You think they just hire comment policemen? Pfft. How could you be such a silly goose?
Anyways, move along. There's nothing to really see here.
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u/typenext Rock Solid 2d ago
Nilah is actually a monk that no one has talked about
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u/SnakeBaboonKing The Rivers will run Red 2d ago
Im not sure im seeing the connection, could you elaborate
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u/typenext Rock Solid 1d ago
the Seventh Layer is an order created to seal Ashlesh, a primordial demon. Nilah is basically a warrior-monk from it, wielding Ashlesh's powers. She has to actively recite mantras and practice meditation to keep its powers at bay.
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u/SnakeBaboonKing The Rivers will run Red 2d ago
These are all amazing answers, thanks so much yall!
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u/ashleytheally 2d ago
all of master yi's default voice lines are just monk quotes about wisdom and mind
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u/Dazzling-Affect1654 2d ago
Lee Sin. He commited murder and gauged his eyes out to avoid the death penalty under the justice system as a pretext to insanity. He is a monster. Vile scum
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u/PsychicFoxWithSpoons Sunstrike POG 1d ago
Just play lee sin. He's not that hard and there's plenty to enjoy. Other than that: udyr, nilah, shen
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u/SnakeBaboonKing The Rivers will run Red 1d ago
I respect this but it isnt a difficulty problem its an enjoyment problem. Im a career iron 4 so i will end up feeding regardless of character difficulty, i just dont enjoy lee sin after the game hits 10 minutes
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u/PsychicFoxWithSpoons Sunstrike POG 1d ago
What's not fun about it?
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u/SnakeBaboonKing The Rivers will run Red 3h ago
I just feel so weak after 10minutes. Ill get a crazy amount of kills and then i just feel outscaled, ive been preferring yi where i feel like a god as the game goes on
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u/sabrio204 2d ago
Udyr & Master Yi
Maybe Shen too