Is Warwick Vander? Arcane Season 2 fan theory explained

As a seasoned gamer with decades of League of Legends under my belt and Arcane Season 2 just around the corner, I can’t help but feel like the cat that got the cream. The Vander-is-Warwick theory has been buzzing around the gaming community since the inception of Arcane, and as someone who’s seen more than a fair share of game theories, this one has me intrigued.


Since Arcane debuted on Netflix, fans have been discussing the possibility that Vander could transform into the League of Legends character, Warwick. As Season 2 approaches, this theory has become a hot topic among viewers.

Remarkably, Arcane has demonstrated itself as one of the most outstanding video game adaptations ever made. A significant factor contributing to this acclaim is its seamless blend of League of Legends mythos with an original narrative it weaves.

In the opening chapter, we delve much more profoundly into the intricate past of the beloved, eccentric queen, Jinx. Previously known as Powder, she’s not a random instigator of chaos – instead, she finds herself under the guidance of Silco following the implication of her and Vi’s adoptive father, Vander’s supposed demise.

Her motivation was strongly connected to him, so as rumors swirled about his comeback gaining momentum, it might have seemed like hopeful daydreaming. However, after a string of hints and a Season 2 teaser trailer for Arcane, the most popular fan theory is that he has transformed into the formidable character known as Warwick.

‘Vander is Warwick’ fan theory explained

Is Warwick Vander? Arcane Season 2 fan theory explained

The theory is supported by several factors: Vander’s narrative mirrors Warwick’s, their theme songs sound alike, and Vander is also known as the “Hound of the Underground”.

However, the most significant hint appeared during the closing scenes of Arcane Season 1’s finale. As Jinx prepared to launch her rocket towards Piltover’s Council, a brief flashback showed the mad scientist Singed with his pocket watch.

He admires the results of his recent test subject: an animal with claws and a face that seems strikingly similar to Vander’s. You might recall that earlier in the Netflix show, Vander had captured Shimmer as a desperate attempt to protect his family, which resulted in him transforming into a beast.

In the end, he chose to give up his life to protect his loved ones, appearing to perish in the ordeal. However, it’s possible that Singed, the inventor of Shimmer, snatched his body and carried on conducting experiments, eventually transforming Vander into a League of Legends monster.

At present, nothing is officially confirmed, but earlier in the year, Riot Games hinted at the possibility with a sneak peek at Arcane Season 2. This short, one-minute video primarily features Singed and begins by portraying events from the viewpoint of his test subject.

As the camera widens its view, we observe the massive creature suspended from the ceiling, connected to an intricate system of pipes and containers. This evidence seems to strongly support the theory among fans that Vander is indeed Warwick, given their intertwining narratives.

Who is Warwick?

Is Warwick Vander? Arcane Season 2 fan theory explained

In the popular video game League of Legends, there’s a character named Warwick, often referred to as “The Unleashed Fury of Zaun.” This character has a beast-like appearance resembling a werewolf and targets criminals in the underbelly of the city. Interestingly, his backstory bears a striking resemblance to Vander’s.

I used to walk the streets of Zaun, a notorious gangster, but I chose to leave that life behind for a path of righteousness. Just like Vander, who once led an uprising, now spends his days tending to his bar, raising Vi and Jinx instead.

In another turn of events, Warwick fell into Singed’s hands and was injected with a concoction of chemicals to awaken his inner monster genes. This transformation resulted in him becoming the monstrous figure that resided within him. Initially, these experiments proved fatal for Warwick, but later, he was brought back to life as a ruthless killing machine driven by bloodlust.

In Arcane Season 1, Singed was there as Vander contracted Shimmer. Later on, it seemed like Singed perished himself, but maybe he used the deceased body of Vander to metamorphose him into Warwick.

Is Warwick Vander? Arcane Season 2 fan theory explained

Another key similarity is that Warwick’s final memory as a human is of a girl crying, which is implied to be Jinx. Meanwhile, Vander’s last memory as he lay on the floor would have been Powder screaming for Vi. 

In the games, Warwick manages to break free from the lab and sets out alone, kickstarting his story within the universe titled ‘If They Run’. As for what happens to him in Arcane Season 2, that remains to be revealed.

Arcane fans are convinced Vander is Warwick

Is Warwick Vander? Arcane Season 2 fan theory explained

Ever since Arcane debuted on Netflix, there’s been a popular theory circulating that Vander is none other than Warwick. A Reddit user expressed this idea as early as 2021 with the post, “Vander is definitely Warwick.

They mentioned, “I understand that it’s commonly believed that Vander is Warwick, yet I haven’t come across any explanations supporting this assumption.

At the conclusion of Episode 3, neither Silco nor his companion Jinx were accompanied by Singed. Additionally, Vander’s lifeless body was found. Given that Singed is known to create Warwick, it seems plausible that he utilized Vander to carry out this task.

From the darkness, he emerges as a predator, targeting the criminals that plague the underbelly of the city. In his later years, however, Vander transformed into a guardian of the alleys, maintaining peace.

They further emphasized another remark from the games that goes like this: “Although Warwick is often perceived merely as a beast, hidden under the rage is the intellect of a person – a gangster who discarded his weapon and adopted a fresh identity to strive for a better existence.

“But no matter how hard he tried to move on, he could never escape the sins of his past.” 

In a striking resemblance, the Reddit user pointed out that Vander had a comparable background: “Initially, Vander is depicted assaulting an Enforcer. Additionally, it’s noted numerous times that he was once a combatant from the undercity.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve noticed an intriguing detail in the game: The tune that plays when Vander drinks the Shimmer bears a striking resemblance to Warwick’s theme. Moreover, the hunched-over stance that Vander adopts is reminiscent of Warwick’s posture as well.

One League of Legends player also pointed out, “Project Warwick has his face in his recall. He’s human in cyborg armor. His mutton chops and hair are identical to Vander.”

It’s great news! We won’t have to wait much longer to uncover the truth, since Arcane Season 2 Part 1 will be available on Netflix from November 9.

Make sure to closely follow our guide detailing the release dates for upcoming episodes, to stay informed about their release. Additionally, you might want to learn strategies for avoiding spoilers related to Arcane Season 2 and understand why concluding the story in the second season is a well-considered decision.

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2024-11-06 19:51