Vatu ▶️ is a Flank Champion in Paladins, added on May 26th, 2021.
Contents
Lore[]
Behind every door of the mind is the fear of the darkness in the corner of a dimly-lit room. It is the unknown — the terror without a form, but with a name: the Shadow.
Vatu’s origins are shrouded in the same shadow he uses as a weapon. He is the knife in the night, ending an eternal conflict – he is the untimely death, never confirmed as accidental. He and the Thousand Hands guild have an understanding: they provide him with work and money, and he takes care of their problems. The only thing clear in his actions are his desire to protect his Ska’Drin people and his deadly capability to do so.
Wielding sharp Kunai and mysterious shadow magic, Vatu takes care of business with a ruthless efficiency matched only by his strict code of ethics. His are not the eyes you want to see staring back at you from the darkness, for by that time it is already too late.
Summary[]
Vatu is a hyper mobile flank character with a heavy reliance on accuracy, active play and cooldown management. Though at first he may seem quite weak due to his range, health, and low sustained DPS, he makes up for it through very high burst damage for a champion so mobile, if you can land his shadow bombs. By utilizing his abilities effectively, Vatu can effective dance through the battlefield and strike at any given moment, harassing and reducing cooldowns from long range, and dueling and assassinating up close.
Skills[]
Kunai Launch 3 Kunai in an arc from your hands, dealing 280 damage per Kunai. |
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Kunai Direct Damage |
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280 /0.9s
Shadow Bombs Throw out 3 explosive projectiles that stick to their target and deal a small amount of damage on hit and an additional damage when they explode. |
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Shadow Bombs Area Damage |
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Ambush Teleport next to your target, dealing damage in an area on arrival. Can be refired on another enemy within 4s of teleporting. |
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Ambush Direct Damage |
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Dash Quickly dash in the direction of your movement input. |
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Dash |
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| Area Damage
Activate to start charging up and fire to dash forward through enemies dealing 800 damage and stunning them for 1.25s. |
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| Area Damage | ||
Talents[]
Cards[]
This is a list with all cards available to Vatu:
| Name | Image | Description | Cooldown | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assassin's Tools | 
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Reduce the damage you take by {6|6}% for 2s after activating Shadow Bombs. |  Shadow Bombs
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| Contemplation | 
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Heal for {100|-7.5} every 0.5s for {0.5|0.5}s after activating Dash. This effect stacks. |  Dash
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| Deadly Dash | 
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Generate 7% Ultimate charge after activating Dash once every {60|-8}s. |  60-28
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Dash
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| Extraction | 
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Increase your Movement Speed by {5|5}% for 2s after Dash ends. | Dash
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| Final Sight | 
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Reset the Cooldown of Ambush after falling to or below {10|10}% Health. | 15
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 Armor / Weapon
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| Gathering Shadow | 
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Reduce the damage you take by {5|5}% for 2s after Ambush ends. This applies to each Ambush in the chain. |  Ambush
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| Infiltration | 
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Heal for {70|70} after activating Ambush. This applies to each Ambush in the chain. | Ambush
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| Memento Vivere | 
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Increase your maximum Health by {40|40}. | Armor / Weapon
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| Nightwatcher | 
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Reduce the Cooldown of Dash by {0.5|0.5}s after hitting at least one enemy with Shadow Bombs. | Dash
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| Outnumbered | 
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Generate {1|1} Ammo after hitting at least one enemy with Shadow Bombs. | Shadow Bombs
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| Retribution | 
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Increase the Radius and Effective Radius of the damage from Ambush by {15|15}%. | Ambush
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| Shadow Garrote | 
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Generate {5|5}% Ultimate charge after hitting an enemy with your Ultimate. | Armor / Weapon
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| Shadow's Gaze | 
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Heal for {40|40} for after activating Shadow Bombs. | Shadow Bombs
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| Shadow's Perch | 
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Increase the range of Ambush by {10|10}%. | Ambush
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| Shattered Worlds | 
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Reduce the Cooldown of Shadow Bombs by {8|8} after earning a Killing Blow or Elimination. | Shadow Bombs
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| Tranquility | 
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Increase your base jump height by {30|30}%. | Armor / Weapon
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Pre-Built Loadouts[]
All of the following cards are in Vatu's pre-built loadouts:
15
Cosmetic Items[]
These are the Cosmetic Items currently available for Vatu:
Champion Skin Collections[]
| Default | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading Art | Icons | Character Model | |||
|
 
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| Weapon | Default Kunai | ||||
| Rarity | Common | ||||
| Availability | Standard | ||||
| Release Date | May 26, 2021 | ||||
| Cost | Free | ||||
| Voicelines | Vatu voice lines | ||||
| Voice Pack Preview | ▶️ • ▶️ • ▶️ | ||||
| Cost | Free | ||||
| Voicelines | Vatu voice lines | ||||
| Voice Pack Preview | ▶️ • ▶️ • ▶️ | ||||
| Character Model | |||||
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| Sorrow | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading Art | Icons | Character Model | |||
|
 
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| Weapon | Sorrowful Kunai | ||||
| Rarity | Uncommon | ||||
| Availability | Exclusive | ||||
| Release Date | May 26, 2021 | ||||
| Cost | 60,000  • 300  •  • Bounty Store •  Season Pass 2021 (Sorrow Vatu Collection) | ||||
| Voicelines | Vatu voice lines | ||||
| Voice Pack Preview | ▶️ • ▶️ • ▶️ | ||||
| Cost | 60,000 • 300 • • Bounty Store • Season Pass 2021 (Sorrow Vatu Collection) | ||||
| Voicelines | Vatu voice lines | ||||
| Voice Pack Preview | ▶️ • ▶️ • ▶️ | ||||
| Character Model | |||||
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| Duty | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading Art | Icons | Character Model | |||
|
 
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| Weapon | Dutiful Kunai | ||||
| Rarity | Rare | ||||
| Availability | Limited | ||||
| Release Date | May 26, 2021 | ||||
| Cost | Season Pass 2021 (Duty Vatu Collection) | ||||
| Voicelines | Vatu voice lines | ||||
| Voice Pack Preview | ▶️ • ▶️ • ▶️ | ||||
| Cost | Season Pass 2021 (Duty Vatu Collection) | ||||
| Voicelines | Vatu voice lines | ||||
| Voice Pack Preview | ▶️ • ▶️ • ▶️ | ||||
| Character Model | |||||
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| Mayhem | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading Art | Icons | Character Model | |||
|
 
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| Weapon | Mayhem's Gifts | ||||
| Rarity | Epic | ||||
| Availability | Exclusive | ||||
| Release Date | July 21, 2021 | ||||
| Cost | 800 •  •  •  (Mayhem Vatu Collection) | ||||
| Voicelines | Mayhem Vatu voice lines | ||||
| Voice Pack Preview | ▶️ • ▶️ • ▶️ | ||||
| Cost | 800 • • • (Mayhem Vatu Collection) | ||||
| Voicelines | Mayhem Vatu voice lines | ||||
| Voice Pack Preview | ▶️ • ▶️ • ▶️ | ||||
| Character Model | |||||
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| Golden | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading Art | Icons | Character Model | |||
|
 
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| Weapon | Golden Kunai | ||||
| Rarity | Legendary | ||||
| Availability | Mastery | ||||
| Release Date | May 26, 2021 | ||||
| Cost | Rewarded at Mastery Level 50 (Golden Vatu Collection) | ||||
| Voicelines | Vatu voice lines | ||||
| Voice Pack Preview | ▶️ • ▶️ • ▶️ | ||||
| Cost | Rewarded at Mastery Level 50 (Golden Vatu Collection) | ||||
| Voicelines | Vatu voice lines | ||||
| Voice Pack Preview | ▶️ • ▶️ • ▶️ | ||||
| Character Model | |||||
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Emotes[]
| Default | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icon | Character Model | |||
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| Rarity | Common | |||
| Availability | Standard | |||
| Release Date | May 26th, 2021 | |||
| Cost | Free | |||
| Cost | Free | |||
| Character Model | ||||
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| Meditation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icon | Character Model | |||
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| Rarity | Epic | |||
| Availability | Exclusive | |||
| Release Date | May 26th, 2021 | |||
| Cost | Season Pass 2021 (Endless Emote) | |||
| Cost | Season Pass 2021 (Endless Emote) | |||
| Character Model | ||||
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MVP Poses[]
| Default | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icon | Character Model | |||
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| Rarity | Common | |||
| Availability | Standard | |||
| Release Date | May 26th, 2021 | |||
| Cost | Free | |||
| Cost | Free | |||
| Character Model | ||||
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| Poised | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icon | Character Model | |||
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| Rarity | Rare | |||
| Availability | Exclusive | |||
| Release Date | May 26th, 2021 | |||
| Cost | Season Pass 2021
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| Cost | Season Pass 2021
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| Character Model | ||||
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Trivia[]
- As stated here, while Vatu works with the Thousand Hands Guild, he's not an actual member of the group, but rather has a mutual understanding with Zhin.
- As implied here, Vatu seemingly had something to do with how Zhin (and possibly others of the Thousand Hands) learned some of his abilities, though he was not explicitly the teacher.
- As mentioned here and here, Vatu and his deeds are legendary, with many not even knowing that Vatu is real.[2][3]
- While not explicitly stated originally, Vatu is indeed a ninja.[4]
- Vatu may be a title passed down between different individuals, or he may be an ancient being who has lived for a long time, as stated here.
- The mark that appears when Vatu uses his Ambush ability appears to be a combination of the marks that appear when Talus uses Rune of Travel, as well as his ultimate True Power.
- A unique mark appears when Vatu uses his Dash ability, and as part of his ultimate that somewhat resembles the mark that appears when Talus uses Rune of Travel.
- This mark also used to appear when Vatu used his default emote, but this was seemingly removed.
- Based on a dev statement revealing Viktor to be around 5'9 or 175cm tall, and comparing it to model sizes in-game and out of game, it was discovered that Vatu would be around 6'1 or 185cm tall.
- Vora appears in Vatu's teaser trailer.
- A unique demon version of Vatu appears in the Hallowed Vatu avatar.
- Vatu appears as part of a design featured on various pieces of Paladins merchandise.
- The line "*grunt* Hesitation is... defeat..." (▶️) is a reference to the death message that appears in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
- The line "I was born in shadow, molded by it; you merely stumble around like a blind child." (▶️) is a reference to lines spoken by Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.
- The line "No, hands behind my back do not make me more... aerodynamic." (▶️) is a reference to Naruto running, a type of run that originates from... well, Naruto, which has since become associated with anime fans mimicking the run in real life.
- The line "Cowabunga." (▶️) is likely a reference to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
- The line "This is not a matter of personal vendetta, child." (▶️) is a reference to the Nothing personal, kid meme.
- As with previous champions, in order to promote Vatu, Paladins artist Thunderbrush would change his Twitter profile picture and banner. On April 1st, 2021, his profile picture would be changed to this image, which would later be revealed to be an edited version of Vatu's splash art. His banner meanwhile, would be changed to this image.
- Another part of Vatu's promotion was influencer packages. From April 24th, 2021 to April 28th, 2021, packages were sent to various Paladins influencers. Each contained a satchel, inside of which was part of a puzzle (later revealed to be of Vatu's splash art), as well as a message. The message was the same for each influencer and read:
- Aqui's package can be viewed here.
- SterileTick's package can be viewed here.
- Bitey's package can be viewed here.
- Nada Llama's package can be viewed here.
- Vatu's standard teasers can be found here.
- (Teaser 1) "There are tales told throughout the Realm. Whispers of a figure cloaked in shadow, sensed but rarely seen."
- (Teaser 2) "Every hamlet has its own version of the legend. But every village has the same warning: Do not harm the Ska'Drin, lest the shadow strike."
- (Teaser 3) "Children tell ghost stories tell of seeing his eyes, staring at you from the darkness. They say if you see him, it is already too late."
- (Teaser 4) "For this shadow is no mere story. Only his deeds have marked him legendary."
- (Teaser 5) "Whisper the name of Vatu. And fear that he will come for you."
- As mentioned here, Vatu originally had a slash ability that would knock enemies towards him. It was meant to be used in combination with other abilities at close range, but was ultimately dropped due to difficulty finding an identity for the ability. This ability can be seen in datamined versions of Vatu prior to his release.
- As also mentioned here by AoC member SterileTick, this ability originally existed in place of Shadow Bombs, and Vatu originally wielded a katana for this ability.
- This was later mostly officially confirmed by a developer,[5] though it was mentioned that the ability was difficult for the art team to conceptualize.
- A mark similar to the one that appears when Vatu uses his ultimate ability also appears when Ska'drin and Scorned Ash have Kinetic Burst active.
- Alternate art for the card Contemplation exists and was used for one of Vatu's teasers, featuring Vatu edited out.
- Alternate art for the card Shadow Garrote exists and was used for one of Vatu's teasers, featuring Vatu covered in shadows.
- A face reminiscent of Vatu appears in the Bue Asssassin and Red Assassin sprays. It is unknown if these were early versions of Vatu, if he took inspiration from the faces, or is merely a coincidence.
Sorrow
Sorrow- Sorrow. A feeling of deep sadness. Come on, you already knew that, I don't know what you were expecting.
- Duty
Duty- And Duty. It's a responsibility or task, but you already knew that too. I've got nothing for you this time.
- Mayhem
Mayhem- The line "Mmm... Today I woke up, and chose... violence." (▶️) references the Wake up and choose violence meme.
- The line "If Peter Piper plucked a perfect pair of eyeballs, how many perfect eyes did Peter Piper pluck?" (▶️) references the nursery rhyme Peter Piper.
- This skin had several unused splash art concepts prior to the final composition being settled on.[7]
- This skin appears on a mousepad design.
- This skin shares its theme with Pandemonium VII.
Videos[]
[]
Ability Breakdown[]
Changelog[]
- Abilities
- Kunai
- Increased effective range 75 ➞ 90
- Increased the minimum damage done at maximum range 50% ➞ 65%
- Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue where Vatu’s Ambush ability could allow him to teleport into enemy Spawn Rooms.
- Fixed an issue where Vatu’s Sorrow skin was not purchasable for Gold or Crystals.
- Talents
- Enveloping Shadows
- Reduced scaling 12% ➞ 10%
Enveloping Shadows- Abilities
- Kunai
- Reduced damage 300 per Kunai ➞ 280 per Kunai
- Talents
- Enveloping Shadows
- Reduced effectiveness 15% ➞ 12%
- Abilities
- Ambush
- Current: Teleport next to your target, dealing damage in an area on arrival. Can be refired on another enemy within 4s of teleporting.
- Decreased the amount of time before Teleporting 0.4s ➞ 0.3s
- Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue where Vatu’s Shadow Gaze card activated twice when he used his Shadow Bombs ability.
- Vatu was added to the game.
Removed Content[]
| Champions |
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 Front Line
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 Damage
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 Support
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 Flank
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