League of Legends: 10 Special Champion Taunts

League of Legends is an online MOBA with over 27 million people playing each day. One of the fun things about the game is the investment that the League of Legends team puts into both champion playability and champion lore. While each character's lore is clearly detailed on the League of Legends website, there are some fun easter eggs while playing the game in the form of special taunts. Follow along to learn about special champion taunts, and the rivalries that inspire them!

In his younger days, Tryndamere's entire tribe was overrun by a dark figure with a long sword. Years later, when the champion Aatrox was introduced, players everywhere got to meet the instigator of Tryndamere's woes. Perhaps this taunt is the source of Tryndamere's Undying Rage?

In this match up, Master Yi finds his pupil Wukong...wanting. Anyone who has ever attempted to master Wukong as a champion knows there's a lot more to Wukong than monkeying around. He leaves that to the Monkees. 

Graves and Twisted Fate share a special relationship; one where they used to be best bros until Twisted Fate handed Graves over to an evil sorcerer for money. If special taunts mean anything, Twisted Fate doesn't feel too bad about betraying his friend. When stunning an enemy Graves, Twisted Fate will pull out one of three special taunts:

• "Dead in his tracks."
• "Tough luck, Malcom."
• "Simmer down, hotshot."

Sometimes you're own worse enemy is yourself, and Draven proves this with his self-taunt. Sometimes you just have to steal an axe from yourself. 

Nocturne's ult - you know, the one where he yells "DARKNESS" and the whole screen goes black - is one of the more annoying ults in League of Legends. Luckily, Graves can give Nocturne a taste of his own medicine with the "Smokescreen" ability triggering two special taunts. Too bad Graves is never around when I need him...

Not all secret taunts stem from lore, the rivalry between Zilean and Volibear in-game stems from the rivalry behind their namesakes on the Riot forums. While the overall League of Legends community was supportive of the armored bear concept, Zileas (a Riot employee) vehemently opposed the addition. This is often referred to as the "Riot Wars" and forms the basis for Zilean and Volibear's in-game taunts. 

League of Legends champion Yasuo just can't stop taunting people. He has several special taunts for Master Yi, and the Ninjas (Shen, Akali, Zed, Kennen) that stem primarily from arrogance and pride in his own sword technique.

Those taunts pale in comparison with a total of 8 taunts Yasuo has specifically for enemy Riven. Like Yasuo, Riven is the only other champion to master the wind blade technique; a technique that was used to kill an Ionian Elder under Yasuo's guard. While Riot has never officially confirmed Riven's involvement in the Ionian Elder's assassination, it is clear that Yasuo believes Riven was involved.  

Xerath was entombed for centuries by the mages of Shurima because of his quest for ultimate power. In the end, his power won over theirs and he was able to leave the tomb - with a few pieces still attached. 

While he has no connection to either Thresh or Syndra - both champions remind him of aspects of his past. Syndra, like the young Xerath, is a mage on a quest for power. Thresh, on the other hand, is a jailor and reminiscent of the mages that jailed Xerath. His taunts to both characters signify mastery of his past, and continued mastery of his present. 

Lucian the Purifier spends his time battling spirits of undeath, so it is no surprise he has some choice words for his fellow champions from the Shadow Isles (Hecarim, Mordekaiser, and Thresh).

His taunt to Thresh, "You took the better half of me Thresh.... What you left is a dangerous enemy!" specifically refers to the fact that Thresh killed Lucian's wife Senna

Spirit Guard Udyr has a lot on his mind as he embodies the spirit of each of his stances; lambasting Anivia, Volibear, Rammus, and Nidalee in his respective Phoenix, Bear, Turtle and Tiger stances. I'd like to see the five of them in a free-for-all vying for the "Ultimate Animal" title (Hint: Urf Wins)!

To find out more about special taunts visit the League of Legends Wikia!