Zaun vs Piltover: history, champions and leaders

The history of Netflix Arcane surrounds the two nations of Zaun and Piltover, each possessing its own establishments of power, history, and characters based on League of Legends‘many champions. Since the beginning of the show, the story has not gone beyond the limits of these two cities, focusing entirely on Arcaneof League of Legends champions hailing from Zaun and Piltover. Although some minor changes were made to these characters from the lore established in the source material, Arcane In the second season, the Act I finale brought them closer and closer to their colleagues.

Set in the mythical world of Runeterra, the story between Arcanecountry’s twin cities have long since devolved into all-out war, with Arcane the season one finale promising just that. The forces operating in Zaun attacked Piltover in the deadliest way ever, calling into question the reasons why this conflict is happening. As with many national disputes, the Piltover-Zaun war centers on the complex history between the two, their respective power bases and what they represent, and the many figures of Arcanethe cast of characters at its center.

Piltover is a nation rich in progress in Runeterra…

Starting with Piltover, it is safe to say that this nation holds the majority of power in Arcanecentral conflict. The reason for this stems purely from the fact that Piltover is a wealthy nation that desires progress, trade and the growth of its social and economic status. above all. In both Arcane and League of LegendsPiltover is considered a city of progress and innovation, home to the smartest inventors and artisans in all of Runeterra. Piltover exists on the continent of Valoran and is considered the cultural center of this landmass due to the aforementioned art, crafts, trade, and innovation it possesses.

While Piltover has always been a beacon of these values, it has become even more influential due to the development of Arcaneof Hextec inventions. Led by Jayce and Viktor, two of the ArcaneCentral characters of Runeterra, Hextech gave the people of Piltover the ability to harness the magical elements of Runeterra – known by the titular word Arcane – into incredible technological marvels. This led to Piltover becoming all it was known for thanks to the Hexgates, who allowed travel, trade, and inventions from around the world to be improved through Hextech. From then on, Piltover was known as the City of Progress.

And Zaun is your helpless underground city

Zaun, on the other hand, is the underground city of Piltover. Located beneath the wealthy city, in the gorges and valleys surrounding Piltover, Zaun has been both victim and beneficiary of Piltover’s development. However, Zaun is primarily classified as the former at the expense of the latter. Piltover’s success led to the construction of many factories above Zaun, with smog and smog being redirected underground and thus to Zaun. This led to ArcaneThe thick smog known as The Grey, smog that has seeped into Zaun. Although Piltover’s inventions have driven The Gray away from Zaun, the underground city remains second to its sister nation.

In Arcanethe story, the people of Zaun suffered from Piltover’s innovations. The pollution that made the citizens of Piltover prosper – combined with drugs like Shimmer – has had an adverse effect on the citizens of Zaun, with deformities, poor bodily functions, and cybernetic enhancements becoming commonplace. Furthermore, Zaun’s general quality of life pales in comparison to that of Piltover, with the inhabitants of the former becoming resentful of the latter and vice versa, as a class war has begun to develop.

That being said, this troubled life has caused many of Zaun to become resilient people. Furthermore, Piltover’s wealth and the many inventions of Zaun’s sister city have also seen it develop, merely as a mirror of Piltover’s supposed light and innovation. The development of Hextech and other creations eventually reached the black markets of Zaun, and the genius inventors of the underground city became equal in intelligence to those on the surface. Possibly, the people of Zaun began to find ways to match those of Piltover, leading to Arcanethe war is getting out of control.

Piltover and Zaun were often involved in perpetual class warfare

Differences between cities have slowly reached boiling point

As mentioned, Piltover’s success and the negative effects it had on the people of Zaun led to the formation of perpetual class warfare. The citizens of Piltover despise those of Zaun, seeing them as a burden to society that cannot and will never match Piltover’s success, without recognizing their own contributions to the destitution of the underground city. Likewise, many Zaunites, despite Piltover and its people, consider both to be major reasons for the underground city’s poor living conditions.

Mostly in ArcaneIn the country’s history, this class division was perceived mainly as a kind of cold war. Over time, Piltover’s disrespect for Zaun grew due to public perception and propaganda, with Zaun’s hatred for Piltover growing stronger through the same means. That being said, how ArcaneAfter the story involving Vander and Silco presented, this conflict exploded once.

The pair, dreaming of a better future for Zaun, attempted to lead a revolt against Piltover, resulting in the deaths of many Zaunites. This was one of the few times direct military actions occurred between Piltover and Zaun, leading Vander to realize that the latter could not match the military prowess of the former. This led to significant changes in the power structures of Zaun, compared to the prosperous leaders of Piltover who remained united.

Piltover (and Zaun) is led by a council of powerful representatives

Piltover’s rulers and influential people make decisions for both nations

The power of Piltover, and Zaun by extension, is exercised by a council of powerful representatives. These representatives usually come from powerful houses that reside in Piltover, such as ArcaneThe Kiramman family, for example. Some other representatives may simply be those of great influence. Examples include Heimerdinger, who contributed to the construction of Piltover and whose long life makes his wisdom invaluable to the council, and Jayce, the inventor of Hextech, who gained immeasurable power because of it. This council makes choices for both Piltover and Zaun, but the latter is often disregarded as an afterthought.

Zaun’s power is divided between gangs and other influential people

Piltover’s disrespect for Zaun leads the latter to encounter powerful individuals of his own

Zaun is also supposed to be governed by the Piltover council, but the widening gulf between the sister cities has caused other powerful people to gain influence over the Zaunites. Some of these have already been mentioned, including Silco and Vander. In ArcaneSilco accumulates a power base over the people of Zaun by collectively bringing together crime bosses known as Chem-Barons under his rule. Vander, on the other hand, was followed for his decency but also his equal strength. After their deaths in ArcaneZaun suffered from a power vacuum.

Silco wanted Zaun’s powerful influencers to rule the country as an independent nation, a dream Vander once shared. However, after Vander attempted a revolt, he realized that Zaun could not compete with Piltover and made deals with the latter’s enforcers to prevent the Zaunites from rebelling in exchange for their safety. Silco evolved into extremism, leading to the escalation of war shown in Arcane seasons 1 and 2. In Arcane In the Season 2 story, the power vacuum left by Silco and Vander is somewhat filled by Jinx, their adopted daughter, whose goals are linked to anarchy.

Piltover League Of Legends Champions

In the source material in which Arcane is based on, the online arena game known as League of Legends, Many playable champions are said to come from Piltover. Some of these champions are included in Arcanewith its origins based on the tradition of League of Legends being expanded into the story told on Netflix. Although not all Piltover champions appear Arcaneseveral of them are fundamental to the program’s history.

Vi’s arcane history explained

Despite being officially linked to Piltover, Vi was born in Zaun. Her parents died in Vander’s revolution, leading the man to take in her and her sister, Powder. Eventually, Vi became friends with many people from Piltover, including Caitlyn and Jayce, and disagreed with Silco’s extremist methods to make Zaun independent. In Arcane In Season 2, Vi refuses to believe that Powder, now known as Jinx, is still inside, teaming up with Piltover’s enforcers to put an end to Zaun’s extremist acts.

Caitlyn’s arcane history explained

Caitlyn is the heiress of House Kiramman, an influential family in Piltover. After befriending Vi and realizing that Silco, Jinx and their operation were the key to ending the conflict with Zaun, she was kidnapped by Jinx. Vi freed Caitlyn before Jinx destroyed Piltover’s council tower, killing Caitlyn’s mother, Cassandra. Arcane Season 2 shows Caitlyn driven by anger and revenge, becoming more brutal towards the Zaunites and Jinx, driving a wedge between her and Vi. Caitlyn is named general of Piltover, with permission to declare martial law against Zaun in the escalating war.

Jayce’s mysterious story explained

Jayce is introduced as a humble inventor as part of the Piltover academy in Arcane season 1, determined to harness magic through science after being saved from a snowstorm by a wizard when he was a boy. Working alongside Viktor, Jayce eventually developed Hextech, becoming a Piltover councilor and a leading figure for the city’s innovation. After becoming embroiled in the class war between Piltover and Zaun, Jayce campaigned for peace before Jinx’s attack on the council rendered this futile. In Arcane Season 2, Jayce discovers that Hextech may be angering the Arcane world.

Heimerdinger’s arcane history explained

Heimerdinger is the 300-year-old inventor, revered for his intelligence, who sits on Piltover’s council as one of the town’s founders. Eventually, Heimerdinger is removed from his position due to his opposition to Hextech, as he knows the dangers of magic. In Arcane In season 2, Heimerdinger befriends Ekko, a boy from the underground city, and discovers the dangers of Hextech alongside Jayce.

League Of Legends Champions from Zaun

As is the case with Piltover, League of Legends features several champions hailing from Zaun. Just like those from the innovative city, Zaun’s champions feature heavily in Arcane. Some straddle the line between the two cities, like Vi and Viktor, but others completely represent the helpless underground city and its needs, desires, wants, and goals.

Jinx’s Arcane History Explained

In ArcaneJinx was initially known as Powder, Vi’s sister who was raised by Vander. After being called unlucky on her missions as children, which resulted in the accidental deaths of her two friends, Claggor and Mylo, Powder was taken in by Silco. Raised to hate Piltover and embrace her growing madness that arose from her childhood trauma, Powder became Jinx, a wild card who is leading Zaun’s extremist revolution in Arcane Season 2 in the name of anarchy.

Viktor’s arcane history explained

Viktor was born in Zaun with an illness that caused his body to slowly weaken, but he was a skilled inventor. Eventually found by Heimerdinger, Viktor joined Piltover’s academy and worked with Jayce to discover Hextec. The inventor also discovered that the Hextech Core was curing his illness, leading to Viktor’s death. Arcane season 2 story. Viktor was injured in Jinx’s attack against the Piltover council, leading to him being placed into a Hextech Core-induced coma, which saw his body become a mixture of mechanical and biological, imbuing him with powers that could repair the deformities of the Zaunites.

Ekko’s Arcane History Explained

Ekko was raised in the underground city by a man named Benzo, who was eventually killed by Piltover’s enforcers. Ekko later founded Arcane‘s Firelights, a freedom fighting group that opposed both the extremist Zaunites of Silco and the elitist enforcers of Piltover, operating from a safe haven around a giant tree in Zaun. In Arcane In Season 2, the last part of the program, Ekko’s tree is infected by Hextech, leading him to investigate its dangers alongside Heimerdinger and Jayce.

Singed’s arcane history explained

Singed is a crazy inventor in Arcane who worked for Silco. Singed conducted inhumane experiments on living creatures before being hired by Silco, whose funding led to Singed creating a drug known as Shimmer. Shimmer greatly improved the human body and served as a healing agent, although it also greatly increased strength and anger. As a result, Shimmer became useful to Silco, although it negatively affected the citizens of Zaun. In Arcane Season 2, Singed is shown creating a werewolf beast in the underground city of Zaun.

Warwick’s Arcane History Explained

This werewolf beast is known as Warwick. In ArcaneIt is heavily theorized that Warwick is being created from Vander’s mutated body, which has taken large amounts of Shimmer in Arcane season 1. Arcane the final two acts of season 2 will likely confirm this theory as Warwick is freed. In League of Legends According to lore, Warwick is a lethal protector of the citizens of Zaun, drawn to the underground city’s criminals in an insatiable bloodlust.

How the war between Zaun and Piltover is culminating in Arcane Season 2

In Arcane In Season 2, all of the above-mentioned events between Vi, Jinx, Vander, Silco, and the surrounding characters led Jinx to escalate the war to the point of no return. The characters on Zaun and Piltover’s side are emblematic of the best and worst aspects of both nations, with the excellent gray area story of Arcane telling the complex story of how there are good and bad people on both sides. It is not yet known how the war will end, but Arcane season two will take all of these events and characters and do just that, in one way or another.