Sion/Trivia

General

• His name comes from Hebrew צִיּוֹן Ṣiyyôn "stronghold" (cf. Arabic صِيَانَة ṣiyāna "defense"^[1]), from West-Semitic ṣ-w-n "to protect".^[2]
• Damnation, Mark of the Kindred, Phenomenal Evil Power, Siphoning Strike, Soul Furnace, and Traveler's Call are the only in-game abilities that can theoretically increase a stat infinitely.
• Unstoppable Onslaught was inspired by Juggernaut from X-Men.^[3]
• With Unstoppable Onslaught, Sion is one of a few champions who can apply crowd control on themselves (the others being Blitzcrank, Caitlyn, Galio, Graves, Kled, Lissandra, Poppy, Rammus, Rumble, Tahm Kench, Varus, Vi, Xerath, and Ziggs).
• Glory in Death is one of three abilities which allow their casters to continue fighting after death, the others being Death Defied and Icathian Surprise.

Development

Sion, the Undead Champion

• Sion is voiced by J.S. Gilbert, who also voices Battlecast Prime Cho'Gath ^[S|L], Dr. Mundo, Corporate Mundo ^[S|L], Gragas, Udyr and Spirit Guard Udyr ^[S|L].
• Sion's dance references Moskau by Dschinghis Khan.
  • A side-by-side comparison can be seen here.
• In the Founding Interns of League of Legends YouTube video, concept art for Sion was shown to depict him with blue skin, a red beard and an overall wildly different design.
  • The moments he appears in the video are here and here.
• Sion's inception is heavily influenced by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
• Sion was one of the first six champions designed (along with Annie, Lee Sin, Singed, Sivir, and Twisted Fate).^[4][5]

Sion, the Undead Juggernaut

• Sion is voiced by Scott McNeil, who also voices Mecha Zero ^[S|L], pre-V7.9 Maokai, Hecarim, and Final Boss Veigar ^[S|L].
• Sion's dance references Chris Farley's audition for the Chippendales.
  • A side-by-side comparison can be seen here.

Quotes

Sion, the Undead Champion ^[S|L]

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  ^e "Who is your summoner, and what does he do?" references Kindergarten Cop.
  • A side-by-side comparison can be seen here.
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  ^e "Get on my Chopper!" references Predator (film).
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  ^e "What is best in death? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of noobs!" references Conan the Barbarian (1982 film).
  • A side-by-side comparison can be seen here.

Sion, the Undead Juggernaut ^[S|L]

• He and Garen share the quote  
  

  
  ^e /  
  

  
  ^e "Charge!"
•  
  

  
  ^e "So, uh, Urgot. We can't hang out any more. I'm cool now" references his fresh relaunch.
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  ^e "Even death trembles before me" resembles  
  

  
  ^e "Even death trembles in my presence".
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  ^e "I'll be back" references Terminator.
•  
  

  
  ^e "I feel no pain!" references his old passive.
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  ^e "It's murdering time!" references The Thing from Fantastic Four by Marvel Comics ("It's clobbering time!")
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  ^e "I! Am! War!" references Groot from Marvel Comics ("I! Am! Groot!")
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  ^e "Yes... I like this weapon... " references Heavy from Team Fortress 2.

Mecha Zero Sion ^[S|L]

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  ^e "Function is greater than form." resembles  
  

  
  ^e "Function over form".
•  
  

  
  ^e "Roll out - and over!",  
  

  
  ^e "Change shapers mecha incognito", and  
  

  
  ^e "Death is the right of all sentient beings" reference Transformers.
•  
  

  
  ^e "I'll be ba- un- atn- ! Sorry... I'll be back" references Terminator.
•  
  

  
  ^e "Peace, in my time." references a quote by Ultron from the movie Avengers: Age of Ultron ("Peace in our time").
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  ^e "Robot means slave; I am robot to no one" references the real-life etymological fact that the Czecho-slovak noun robot derived from robota "drudgery, servitude".

Skins

Classic Sion ^[S|L]

• The scene depicted has him trampling Helmet Bro.
  • This is the first splash were a champion is seen from someone/something else's perspective. This is later seen in the numerous later splashes, including: Captain Gangplank ^[S|L], Elderwood LeBlanc ^[S|L], Leopard Nidalee ^[S|L], Program Soraka ^[S|L] and Butcher Urgot ^[S|L].
• He resembles Garrosh Hellscream from Warcraft.
• He might be referencing Darth Sion from Star Wars.
• He has Jarvan I's crown bolted to his jaw. The knife stuck on his head, on the other hand, was coated with Jarvan IV's blood so as to restore his mind during Vladimir's blood ritual.^[6]

Hextech Sion ^[S|L]

• He references Terminator.
• He shares this theme with:
  • Hextech Alistar ^[S|L]
  • Hextech Anivia ^[S|L]
  • Hextech Annie ^[S|L]
  • Hextech Galio ^[S|L]
  • Hextech Janna ^[S|L]
  • Hextech Kog'Maw ^[S|L]
  • Hextech Poppy ^[S|L]
  • Hextech Singed ^[S|L]

Barbarian Sion ^[S|L]

• He references Conan the Barbarian.

Lumberjack Sion ^[S|L]

• He references Raw Deal and the hunter/lumberjack from Little Red Riding Hood.
• It probably took inspiration from Brian Lawyer's version of the splash.
• He shares this theme with:
  • Red Riding Annie ^[S|L]
  • Big Bad Warwick ^[S|L]

Mecha Zero Sion ^[S|L]

• He might be referencing Pacific Rim and/or Transformers.
• He shares this theme with:
  • Mecha Aatrox ^[S|L]
  • Mecha Kha'Zix ^[S|L]
  • Mecha Malphite ^[S|L]
  • Mecha Rengar ^[S|L]
  • Giant Enemy Crabgot ^[S|L]

Relations

• In life, Sion was the first Hand of Noxus, right-hand man to Boram Darkwill and his most trusted supporter.
  • His death after killing Jarvan I made Boram paranoid and had him look for ways to resurrecting him. The Black Rose offered to provide the means to do so.
    • Sion's body was restored, but his mind was reduced to a simple killing machine that turned on Noxian troops more than once. Boram locked him up in his memorial and ordered everyone to stay clear of it without his authorization.
• Once Swain overthrew Boram Darkwill with the help of the Black Rose (thus becoming the new Grand General) he learned of Sion's existence and plotted to use him as his own weapon.
  • Vladimir conducted the blood ritual that restored Sion's mind (using a ritual knife coated in Jarvan IV's blood, likely obtained when the Exemplar was captured and LeBlanc impersonated him to avoid Demacia's suspicion)
    • As a result of this 're-resurrection' Sion is stuck in an amnesiac limbo. He remembers Boram warning him about ravens, but his undeath clouds his thoughts and makes him over-revel in slaughter.
• Sion remembers fighting Galio in life, making them contemporaries.

References