Why Are Predators So Honourable?

The Yautja Honour Code is a rule which governs the Predators’ conduct during the Hunt.
It details under what circumstances a hunter may kill a prey creature and when they may not.
The code is strict, and to break it - purposefully, accidentally, or even unwillingly - is a near irredeemable offense in many situations.
All hunters are expected to hunt and kill while adhering to the code and traditions.
If they breach the code, Yautja are expected to submit themselves for punishment honourably; failure to do so marks a Yautja as a Bad Blood.
In either case, he is then excommunicated altogether from society and considered fair game for the remaining honourable hunters.
Some Predators are specifically tasked with hunting down code-breakers that flee from punishment or hide their failures, these are called Enforcers or Arbitrators.
It is not entirely impossible for a Yautja that has in some way broken the code to regain their honour.
Such opportunities are rare and limited to very specific circumstances as seen with Scarface.
In order to even be offered the chance at redemption, the Yautja in question must have acknowledged their breach of code and willingly accept the punishment for that violation.
In the case that they are offered a chance to redeem themselves, they are assigned a mission that must be completed, or die trying.
Those who break the code are branded as “Bad Bloods”, they are considered an insult to Yautja culture, and are to be killed on sight when encountered.
When hunting, the hunter must be sure that his prey is considered game and lawful to hunt.
Worthy game must be strong enough to defend itself and/or capable of killing the hunter; of age, meaning hunting children or the elderly is not honourable; not linked directly to other lives e.g. pregnant women, and not weakened by disease.
Killing prey when using less equipment is considered a greater prize, and hunters should give their prey a fighting chance. If the prey demands close-combat, the hunter is to fight to their prey's standards, and should minimise the use of their Plasmacaster or other projectiles.
To take the Trophy of another Yautja, living or dead, is considered to be a great insult. For example, two Un-Blooded go on their first Hunt: one Yautja takes on a Xenomorph, and both are mortally wounded. While the wounded hunter is dying, the other hunter conveniently finishes off the prey and claims the kill as his own, abandoning the wounded Yautja. This is a crime that can be paid for with abandonment, or death.
To kill another Yautja intentionally holds severe consequences. This excludes self-defence and killing an opponent in a fight to settle a dispute. Murder is the worst crime a Yautja can commit.
Those that have defeated a Predator in a fair fight, or fought bravely alongside them, should be considered a worthy adversary or ally, and shown respect If they are of an intelligent species and capable of rational thought; also if this is the case, they will often be given a gift, as a token to show they have earned the Yautja’s respect.
Those who have done no harm should have no harm done to them. (It can be inferred that this rule must pertain only to harming other Yautja in their society since they hunt and kill members of many species one could call "innocent". It can also be inferred that Bad Blood Predators would ignore this rule either in part or in whole.)
If the prey is sick or already injured it is not considered honourable, the exceptions being if the Predator himself was the one who injured it, then he is allowed to finish the prey off; or if the sick or wounded attacks first, then the Predator can kill it in self-defence
Weapons of Warfare like the Blazer and Electroshock Missile Battery are forbidden by non-Military Caste hunters. These are considered too destructive to constitute a hunting weapon.
While the idea of an honour code does make Predators unique compared to other movie creatures, and I do like the idea of them giving the prey a bit more of a level playing field to make the hunt more challenging; but I do feel that it gets taken a little bit too literally, as if it is like the Predators version of the ten commandments, and they follow a literal set of rules to the letter like a religion; where, in the actual films themselves, I feel it seems more like the Predators do that themselves rather than them following a law or something.
The idea of an actual code of conduct for them seems to come more from the expanded universe like comics and things, rather than the actual films.
To me from how I always interpreted it, was that the individual Predators just wanted to savour the hunt, and get more satisfaction from fighting their prey, or in the case of not killing the unarmed, I thought it was just because they didn’t care about them, so wouldn’t even be interested in killing them, as opposed to that being demanded from them by their own laws, or a sense of duty.
#predator #avp

[@SergioLeonardoCornejo]

They're probably one of the few fictional aggressive space faring civilizations humans could actually befriend.

[@dknighton100]

Eh maybe

[@waterotter3625]

The Yautja wouldn't put up with human greed and corruption, though.

[@SergioLeonardoCornejo]

@@waterotter3625 you underestimate humanity. We are more than just our flaws.

[@dknighton100]

@@waterotter3625 yeah your probably right

[@XSilver_WaterX]

If we can wipe out Wayun-Yutani for their dark habits, the Yaujta will accept humanity into their hunting parties as a culture that can go to slay its flaws is considered growth.

[@RiosWong]

I actually love the fact that being honourable is part of their culture and rule of society. And you got cast out if you broke the code of honour. It show that the Predators is an actual civilization and not just some random monster out to kill. I would LOVEEEE to see a TV series where we see more of the Predators culture

[@InfinitySciFi]

That would be cool!

[@JaguarCats]

@@InfinitySciFi I'd love to see the Predator home world or see if it's true what the comics say. That they're a nomadic species. They have worlds and or ships where they meet up after a hunt, but no actual world of origin per say. Least not anymore.

[@RiosWong]

@@JaguarCats Or maybe their military unit. It said in the lore that the hunter is using less powerful weapon to make the hunt a fair game. Imagine what kind tech they be using if Predator goes to war!

[@joezar33]

Predators come off as a"necessary evil" making their selves the apex Predators of the universe . Can't believe the Capcom Arcade cabinet, was originally made too be a movie tie in .. like too see that turn in a movie

[@raddreamstar]

In the first Predator, Dutch kicked the machine gun out of Anna's hands in order to save her life. He knew if she was totally disarmed he would have sparred her. So I personally do believe that the Yautja species does have an honor code.

[@MDZac2024]

The honour code makes the Yautja infinitely more interesting. It makes you want to pry more in to their culture/Yautja Prime. And I do believe the movies definitely outline an honour code as evident in the way predator takes off his mask/canon in the original, the way the Lost Tribe elder honours Danny Glover in the end of Predator 2, and many other scenes like AvP. It’s what makes Predator the most interesting of all alien races from comics and movies in my opinion.

[@jmgonzales7701]

thou they arent exactly moral despite having a code.

[@JaguarCats]

I definitely feel that the first two Predator films firmly established this rule. Namely when Dutch realized that the Jungle Hunter didn't kill the girl they found cause she was unarmed "No sport". And this was further expanded upon in the second film where we see the City Hunter refraining from harming a young boy and later on when he finds out another of his targets was pregnant. Another thing I liked was actually in the first AvP film where we see the Young Bloods having to EARN their plasma casters. And in the 2003 game we see similar trials that the Yautja have to overcome in order to get different weapons and gear. All of this highlights a society that adheres to honor and rights of passage in order to move up.

[@Burek_Od_Mesa]

Sooo if I see a yautja and I'm unarmed and I don't show any threats, I can hug him without him killing me??

[@InfinitySciFi]

Yes

[@Burek_Od_Mesa]

@@InfinitySciFi and he'd be like 👁🦀👁

[@bartolomeestebanmurillo4459]

It adds complexity to the Yautja as a civilization.

[@richardgarcia2239]

Considering supposedly the alternate script for predator 2 would have the elder kill city hunter, I would say they always had some sort of honor code from then on.

[@InfinitySciFi]

Yeah, I think predator 2 was the first to introduce it. In the first movie, the jungle hunter always came off more like a poacher to me, and he fought Dutch hand to hand because he was tougher to kill than the other humans

[@christins.1481]

That's what I always liked about Greyback. He was actually an honorable Yautja to the point he would give Yautja a chance to prove themselves worthy. I think originally City Hunter was trying to steal something from him or the ship, something like that, but because City Hunter's older brother was part of Greyback's clan already, he gave City Hunter a chance to prove himself a worthy Yautja. So Greyback already had his sights set on City Hunter that he was hot-headed and couldn't fully be trusted and would be ready to end his life if he became dishonorable, again.

[@damianstarks3338]

I have always wanted to know this about the Predators myself thanks for this predator video analysis.

[@jakethenecromorph]

It’s there law

[@damianstarks3338]

@@jakethenecromorph yes it is cool profile picture and profile name by the way.

[@gabriellen.2886]

I like your speculations. My take is, they follow their code as best they can in a given situation. As you say, the movies don't always get it quite right (as the books seem to do, at least) so we mostly get on-screen behaviors that seem more written to simply propel the visual tension of the story. The novels, and to some degree, the comics, take time to get into their heads a bit, showing us that while they strive for perfection, they're "just folks" - kind of like us LOL. Prideful, hot-tempered, greedy, lustful, gruff---but also thoughtful and loyal. JMO, The Code, I guess originally handed down by the Alpha Predator(?) guides them toward the light and helps them control the beast inside themselves (somewhat!) that would override all sense otherwise. They call it The Path - and it's all some of them can do to stay on it.

[@gabriellen.2886]

@Black-And-WhiteWorldview1984 I like your screen name! Lust can, and does, take many forms...not just the one. Think in shades; not all motivation is black and white.

[@gabriellen.2886]

@Black-And-WhiteWorldview1984 Power; notoriety; status; glory; possessions etc....

[@gabriellen.2886]

@Black-And-WhiteWorldview1984 Both Ooman and Yautja love all of these. It is known. ;-)

[@bullgator4985]

I have always wondered if the single yautja that was chained in the PREDATORS movie. The one Royce cut down. Was a member of an enforcer team that was defeated by the 3 bad bloods. Anyone agree?

[@CheeseRunner]

I agree that people take it too literally. There's definitely some guidelines but that's to keep it challenging for them, not at all to make it fair on us. A Yautja vs a human in any type of physical combat is not a fair fight and they know it. Whenever these fights happen I believe it's the Yautja playing around with their prey and not them actually granting them a fair shot. •Feral cloaked on Taabe cause he got speared and was losing blood fast. On top of that, Taabe was fast and hard to hit, so a full fight could've easily lasted to the point of him bleeding out. •City Hunter tried killing Harrigan by ambushing him with a razor net gun. When Harrigan himself was only armed with a smart disc and City's whole tribe was there to witness it. City was wounded and tired, he didn't want a fight he just wanted Harrigan dead. The reason I'm using these two examples is to point out that the Yautja will prioritize their own survival over an honorable kill. Perhaps this is a difference caused by age and experience, as it's mostly the younger hunters that do this. Probably cause they feel they can always prove themselves later on.

[@tehprimelime1063]

Beautiful editing, beautiful music, beautiful art and beautiful lore/explanations. Keep it up!

[@mikethatisdefnotmyname3731]

Love your videos keep up the awesome work

[@fullofvenom4500]

Am I the only one who thinks about how cool it would be to be a predator like common everything from the honour code is awesome as well as the predator ranks and their super high tech weapons

[@hammbone8184]

Dude I'm a pretty new subscriber but I'm a huge fan of your content man

[@vsboy2577]

They definitely show no mercy when killing.

[@ikemokagbue]

Nice video!

[@arnelgelera242]

Yes the Yautia are a worthy opponent

[@culeroconnor1686]

Yautja lore is sooo soo cool. And intresting

[@joezar33]

Yautja, Star Trek Klingons , Warcraft Orcs seem too have the same kinda hornable warrior society.

[@shimaalcarrim7949]

Excellent predator content

[@halaldunya918]

Should talk more about the engineers and prometheus, explain how they created the xenomorphs according to that lore. Maybe explain the ancient predators using xenos as rites of passages and worthy prey/opponents in the 2004 AVP film, when Sebastian was deciphering the predator hieroglyphics.

[@joelchristian3870]

Request: Dark from AVP 2010 vs Wolf from AVP: Requiem

[@alyssagonzalez7532]

Predator is so cool he my favorite. I think are nice I think All they wanted to do.Sometimes people in the movies think that. I believe that hes a good creature hes not trying to hurt anyone. People think it's real easy to trust a predator but it's hard cause he could be good and he could be bad. And if you stand beside him he could destroy the people or he could spare their lives.

[@YautjaSpacePirate]

My favorite species. 💙

[@rizkyramadhansoundwave8555]

Well, the Yautja race aren't entirely evil, with the exception for the Nightstorm Predator and its followers who rebels against their honor code. Yautja who has an honor are always portrayed as an anti-hero character, for example, Jungle Hunter and Ahab Predator being good example.

[@joefreeman3087]

This is why I never think of them as villains, as essentially it’s no different to when we hunt for sport; and if anything they’re better than us because they don’t kill anything unarmed or pregnant and sadly that can’t be said for us humans. The Yautja are one of my favourite species in all of cinema history because they’re just better than us and do it in such a bad-ass way.

[@masternabber5560]

Fr, the vast majority of humankind has no honor, no code and no remorse for the creatures they slaughter, even their own. Compared to the yautja the human justice system is a joke because theres evil ruling it and the system is often willign to spare the most awful and immoral individuals. Even letting murders get away scot free. But when it comes to the yautja their justice system is so tight that crime rates are extremely low in their society, i remember it being statted somwhere that bad bloods are 2% of the yautja population which is amazing because that shows their society has great unity and they take law breakers super seriously. For hunters they sure know how to be sophisticated.

[@ClanLeader7606]

I like the lore if their rules on the hunt because it makes the more than just a alien species that kills, this lore makes me more than just an alien they have strict rules and laws

[@frightbunnymare.]

I admire Yautjas and their honor code.

[@MartinaBeardy-uc8sg]

You should make a new versus video Celtic. scar. vs Tusk. Super-predator vs AVP predator that would be fun

[@johnathanderosa7769]

I feel like it really depends on what tribe the predator is in or at least that's what I think

[@alyssagonzalez7532]

I believe hes hard to trust but once you gain his trust it's easier.

[@EmeralArcher]

What i just don't understand is that in Predator 1 for example Hawkins was just killed like he is nothing. I mean he ( and everybody else from the special forces) did not know up to that point that they are being hunted and watched by Jungle Hunter. And then he just runs up to the guy while being invisible and just kills him and he couldn't even react or anything. He was like a cow killed of for the sake of it. So by the rules Hawkins should have been warned in same way that "Hey i am gonna hunt you down bro" And yes he had a weapon, but he was distracted couse Anna was trying to escape. So he did not even had a fighting chance, same with Blake, he got weapons but just gets shoot in the back. I know Jungle Hunter is a stealthy hunter and that's why he takes little risks while hunting. But these type of kills are just unfair, especially couse the predator has much better weapons, physicaly superior in every way, and invisible to the humans so how should they supposed to beat him? Course later they do it eventiully but before that, the first few kills just not right to do by the rules. (Before i thought Hawkins was killed couse the Predator thought they prisoned Anna, but 1 he can understand the language, and he was also watching them rescue her from the bad guys, so he should have known they are not agressive or offencive to her and they just want to save her life) And in Predator 2 City Hunter kills of Danny who had no ability to self defence couse hebwas busy trying to get that weapon he saw and was in no position to fight back, put City Hunter in serious danger or have a potential to kill him. And the first few guys in the piramid who got cought by a lasso, he did not had any ability to fight back either couse he got killed right away and did not saw anything, just becouse they have a weapon on doesn't make it a fair fight in every case. Especially if they are not aware they are being hunted. And even if they do they usually not ready and got cought by suprise while the Predators take their time to spy on the and make a plan and kill them by suprise. Yes they are grown up men with weapons, but that doesn't makes them immidietly able to fight back in these type of situations, and they still getting killed every time. So where is the honor in that? (But i think simply the movie makers forgot these things to be honest, and highlighted moments where ill young or old people where not killed couse it's not fair to show the Predators are not killing machines)

[@Retetop]

A person doesn't stop being dangerous just because they are momentarily distracted or caught up in something, just ask a cop or soldier. You could argue that being caught by surprise makes any animal much more dangerous, which is often the case. Humans are very unpredictable. Also keep in mind that its usually just 1 hunter against many opponents, you risk being immediately shot to death especially if you're fighting special forces like in the first movie. Yautja are tough but the jungle hunter was not going to shrug off 30 or more rounds from a firing squad if he got caught uncloaked down the sights. From that perspective, I don't think its unfair at all. You can hunt the most dangerous prey but get a bit of leeway, so you don't die on the spot. Could they hunt them without being cloaked? Probably, if you are an elite or veteran.

[@EmeralArcher]

@@Retetop I mean you have a point but if they want to say "i hunted down 8 - 9 soldiers at once" that would be more impressive if all of them actually had a fighting chance. What's the point of killing half of the team before they can even realise what's going on? And even when they did know, they failed to capture or kill him. Obviously he can't walk up to humans and introduce himself to them like "Hey guys let's hunt each other" But if you hunt down a team that has 8-9 members but only 4-5 can fight back that's a but weird.

[@alyssagonzalez7532]

Hes there to only hunt aliens. Hes not there to hurt the people and that's they have a weapon in the movies. And they tell their stories and they're past life.

[@HerculesJostar]

🎉🎉🎉

[@the1tigglet]

HEY! Honore my Balzac!

[@larryweatherspoon2531]

I believe the comics is the right way but also yours a little bit because at the end of the day multiple predators agreed (except super) to make that way to make it a better hunt the super predator are just serial killers

[@racspartan1]

👍

[@enriquearevalo9952]

The yautja in PREY was not honorable 😩 as soon as he got stab multiple times with a spear he used his cloaking device too take out and kill his opponent

[@genesisdeguzman9074]

Its specifically a bad blood

[@ThaneSchroeder]

today is my birthday 🎂

[@chronicle009-]

Happy birthday🎉

[@ThaneSchroeder]

thanks dude