Yautja Honor Code

"Take only the worthy prey. Dishonor is worse than death..."

―Isabella Borgia (from Predator: Concrete Jungle)

The Yautja Honor Code is a set of rules which govern day-to-day interactions of Yautja as well as the Hunt. It details under what circumstances a hunter may kill a creature of another species and under what circumstances they may not. The code is strict, and to break it, whether purposefully, accidentally, or even unwillingly, is considered a near irredeemable offense in many situations. Only very high ranked seasoned warriors, such as Scarface, or very low ranked novices, such as Young Blood and Un-Blooded Yautja, are permitted any leeway as far as the code is concerned.

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 honorably.^{[citation needed]} Failure to do so marks a Yautja a Bad Blood. In either case, he is then excommunicated altogether from society and Bad Bloods are considered fair game for the remaining honorable hunters. Some Predators are specifically tasked with hunting down code-breakers that flee from punishment or hide their failures, called Enforcers or Arbitrators.^{[citation needed]}

It is not entirely impossible for a Yautja that has in some way broken the code to regain their honor and rejoin society. 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 accepted the punishment for that violation. In the case that they are offered a chance to redeem themselves, they are assigned a task that must be completed, or die trying.

Overview

It should be noted that none of these rules are official, and are instead a culmination of multiple sources. As such, the rules of the code may differ, or be false:

1. Code Violations: Those who break the code are Bad Bloods, and are considered an insult to Yautja culture. They are to be destroyed when encountered.^{[citation needed]}
2. Hunting Intelligent Species: According to War, there are strict rules concerning the hunting of intelligent species. Those who are not blooded cannot do this at all. However, some hunters want these laws overturned.
3. Hunting Worthy Game: When hunting, the hunter must be sure that their prey is considered game and lawful to kill. Worthy game must fill the following criteria:
   1. The prey can defend itself and/or is able to kill the hunter themself.
   2. The prey is of age (killing children and the elderly is considered highly dishonorable).
   3. The prey is not linked to other lives (so that removing the prey will not doom another, e.g. pregnant women). 
   4. The prey is not weakened by diseases.
4. Equalize the odds: Killing prey when using less equipment is considered a greater prize, and hunters should typically give their prey a fighting chance for honor's sake. If the prey demands close-combat, the hunter is to fight to their prey's standards, and should minimize use of their Plasmacaster or other projectile weapons.
5. Failing in the Hunt: Should the hunter fail in one's quest, he should take their own life to retain their honor than to live in shame. However, some cowards prefer to live in obscurity rather than die. This is considered to be dishonorable and suicide is then "assisted" by an Enforcer.^{[citation needed]}
6. Claiming the Kill of Another Hunter: 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 their own, abandoning the wounded Yautja. This is a crime that can be paid for with abandonment, or death.
7. Murder of Another Yautja: 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.
8. Show Mercy: Those who were defeated in a fair hunt, or who are the victors in a deadlier hunt, should be considered equals and must be shown respect.
9. Never harm the innocent: 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.)
10. Hunting for Food: When hunting for food, only the weak should be taken. This is to purify the species' line.^{[citation needed]}
11. Wounded Game: When coming upon game wounded by another hunter, and the prey is dying without sport, show honor to another's kill. If the game still shows sport, it is to be a joint trophy.^{[citation needed]}
12. Joining Another Hunt: Do not join another's Hunt, or Hunt in their territory, without their permission. All trophies taken in this manner are stolen trophies and shall be dealt with by the rightful owner.^{[citation needed]}
13. When in a duel with an enemy, one must reveal oneself: In the novelization of Alien vs. Predator, Lex Woods was about to be killed by a cloaked Predator, but before it prepared to deliver the final blow, it deactivated its cloak. According to the book, it is "hunting ethic" to reveal oneself to the enemy at the climax of a fight. However, the movie ignored this part, and showed the still-cloaked Predator attempt to kill her.
14. Weapons of Warfare: Weapons of Warfare like the Blazer and Electroshock Missile Battery are strictly forbidden in hunts or even by use of non-Military Caste hunters. They are considered too destructive to constitute a hunting weapon.
15. Keep the Species Pure: The Yautja do not tolerate any genetic modification to their species. As such, Predaliens, Human-Yautja hybrids, and other abominations must be killed on sight, superseding any other hunt. This presumably includes Yautja Anathemas. When applicable, the creators of these abominations are also sentenced to death, preferably by Torture Ritual.
16. Leave No Trace: As evident throughout the franchise, lesser advanced species are forbidden from discovering or possessing Yautja technology.
    1. A Yautja who knowingly or intentionally allows a lesser species to possess advanced Yautja technology is immediately sentenced to death.
    2. A Yautja who unintentionally allows a lesser species to possess Yautja technology is banished, provided he makes an attempt to recover/destroy the lost tech and submits himself honorably for punishment.
    3. Should it become known that a lesser species possesses Yautja technology, the technology is to be immediately recovered or destroyed.
    4. Humans in particular are especially forbidden from retaining Yautja technology; a human possessing Yautja technology is considered fair game, regardless of their status. This is due to their extreme danger when in possession of advanced technology.

Exceptions

Throughout the franchise, there have been multiple instances where one or more Yautja perform actions that would normally be considered violations of the code, but are not deemed Bad Bloods, nor do they receive any punishment or consequence. Notable exceptions include:

• 3. Hunting Worthy Game: Despite Yautja preferring strong and worthy game, exceptions can be made depending on circumstances:
  • Prey weakened by disease can be legally killed if they become an active threat or reject mercy.
  • Unarmed and/or "innocent" beings may be hunted if they:
    • Are the specific objective of a hunt.
    • Are in possession of Yautja technology. If the prey surrenders the technology willingly, they must be spared unless they are worthy prey.
    • Are currently a host for a Chestburster during an uncontained Xenomorph outbreak.
  • A being of young age that is accidentally killed during a Xenomorph containment mission is either not considered an offense or is deemed an acceptable casualty.
    • Presumably, a child might be considered a legitimate threat if s/he is armed.

• 6. Claiming the Kill of Another Hunter: In circumstances such as Corrective Hunting or Purification Rituals, the death of the target(s) is considered of greater importance than the honor or ownership of the kill itself. As such, the ownership of the trophy can be taken or shared as long as the target is killed, though the trophy may still be considered unworthy of claiming. This exception primarily applies when Predaliens are involved, especially PredQueens.

• 8. Show Mercy: If the prey rejects mercy shown to it by a Yautja, they are considered to still have sport, thus making them worthy prey once again. Alternatively, a Yautja may kill an unarmed and weakened prey if it is mortally wounded or is certain to die.

• 12. Joining Another Hunt: Although extremely rare, another Yautja or an entire clan can be permitted by higher ranking Yautja to join another’s hunt without the other’s approval. This is most commonly done during Corrective Hunting or Purification Rituals.
  • In one particular case on LV-742, the Council of Ancients selected 2 potential successor clans for a test of worth by granting them "exclusive" hunting rights to the planet. Despite the clans deeming each other Bad Bloods, it appears neither were officially condemned as such since both were authorized by the Ancients, albeit secretly until the test concluded.

• 14. Weapons of Warfare: In the rare event a situation becomes dire, the Yautja (particularly the Military Caste) are permitted to use highly destructive weapons to achieve their objectives by any means necessary. Such situations include:
  • Unauthorized or uncontained Xenomorph infestations.
  • Responding to Yautja distress calls.
  • Destroying or recovering Yautja technology.
  • Eliminating genetic abominations.
  • Outright warfare.

• 16. Leave No Trace: Despite the honor code forbidding lesser species from possessing Yautja technology, it appears humans who have earned the respect of at least one high-ranking Yautja are exempt:
  • Captain Adolini was posthumously gifted a Yautja sword by Greyback, an Elder.
  • Lex Woods, the first blooded human in history, was personally gifted a combistick by a Yautja Elder.
  • Machiko Noguchi, after earning the respect of Clan Leaders Dachande and Top-Knot, was permitted to live among the Yautja as a blooded clan member. As such, Machiko was granted the exclusive privilege of access to all Yautja technology, until her return to humanity.

Trivia

• Though not a rule of honor, foreign species (mainly humans) have been allowed to join the hunt and integrate into Yautja culture, depending on their perceived worthiness.
• Though not necessarily a Bad Blood, the Predator Hook was known to have been a disgraced Elder; it could be argued that perhaps it was his title that saved him from receiving the moniker.
• Though not considered official, Yautja acknowledge debts of gratitude, whether from their quarry or elsewhere. If one saves a Yautja's life, it will surely reciprocate.