Azeroth Forecast for the Forseeable Future: Burning Freakin’ Hot [Spoilers]

"Deathwing" by Espenartman on DeviantArt. Imagine this as your last moment before dying a firey death.

In the World of Warcraft, We all know Deathwing is coming. If his giant picture plastered all over Cataclysm paraphernalia wasn’t enough, now all of Azeroth has started shaking — literally — in anticipation of his arrival. And if the mere thought of him occupying the same planet as you is not enough to make you tremble, perhaps the realization that he will be patrolling the skies, searching for victims to breathe fire upon, will awaken you to the danger that lies ahead.

In the week after BlizzCon 2010, as we all worked to digest the welcome tidbits of information presented at the con, I somehow managed to overlook another gem of a blue post that confirms what’s coming. It’s big, it’s angry, and it breathes fire. Yes, it is Deathwing. And once he’s unleashed, may the Blizzard GMs show mercy.

Zarhym — On Deathwing After The Shattering

One of Azeroth’s oldest adversaries will soon tear through the Elemental Plane to reforge the world in flame, but this foe won’t be conducting his reign of terror from the confines of a castle or lair. Deathwing is a destructive force the likes of which adventurers have yet to see in World of Warcraft, and his appetite for devastation can only be satisfied by the shattering of the world. Following his explosive escape from Deepholm, Deathwing will cast a deadly shadow over the people of Azeroth as he wreaks indiscriminate havoc across the land.

Once free to terrorize the world, Deathwing will randomly choose territories in Azeroth to attack each day until his ruinous reign is brought to an end. A blackened sky will be the only warning before every living creature caught in his approach is consumed by his terrible fire. The unfortunate victims of his malice will receive a rare Feat of Strength… as well as a repair bill and corpse run.

When Deathwing returns, you’d best keep your eyes on the skies.

…There is very little warning once he decides to strafe a zone. If you’re not in the zone already, you have virtually no chance of sacrificing yourself to his flame.

If you’re in the zone, you’re almost definitely screwed.

…His true terror reign will begin as soon as he tears out of Deepholm, resulting in the shattering of Azeroth.

…this isn’t a permanent event, but will last so long as he’s free to roam the world.

This will be specific to the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, though he will choose his locations quite indiscriminately.

The achievement is a Feat of Strength since it won’t be available forever. Given the rate at which this occurs and the random way in which he chooses to attack, virtually everyone who earns the Feat of Strength will get it by accident — it’s a wrong place at the wrong time sort of thing. ;)

This gives a whole new meaning to that little phrase that every raider knows — “Don’t stand in the fire!” Now, this may not be breaking news for all of us, but it still warrants a nice discussion: Who’s on board? Who among us will, in fact, seek out death at the hands of a monstrous, insane evil, if only for a Feat of Strength (or perhaps to show you’re worthiness to the master of death). And who will still try to turn heel and GTFO, no matter how futile an attempt, when the skies above you grow dark with his impending shadow?

Personally, I’m wondering if flight will be a way to escape, as it appeared to be in the Beta. Perhaps this will be fixed before making it to the live servers, presumably in 4.0.3(a?):

I assume it will be more like the end of the Paragon Live Raid, which had an epic finale:

Either way, it’s sure to be grandiose. And personally, I can’t wait to confront Deathwing head-on, die, then confront him again when the final raid of the expansion hits. Then we’ll see who truly meets their end.

5 Comments

  1. He does it up to Cataclysm’s launch I believe.

    I recall them saying 4.03 will be released shortly before Cataclysm’s release date, so it’s probably a 2-day window to get the Feat of Strength — which makes sense to make it all the more rare.

  2. “…this isn’t a permanent event, but will last so long as he’s free to roam the world.”

    That sounds like until we kill him.

  3. Yeah, it sounds semi-permanent to me, at least a good while into the expansion. But they haven’t elaborated beyond what’s posted here, at least not that I know of :)

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