Pre-WotLK Scourge Invasion (Updated 11/10)

Post by Miyari

The Wrath of the Lich King Scourge Invasion has begun, as of October 23rd, exactly 3 weeks (!) before the release of WotLK.

Table of Contents

The Lich King Attacks (Added 11/10!)

Stormwind
Orgrimmar

Scourge Invasion

New Boss: Prince Tenris Murkblood
Scourge Invasion Bosses
How to Become a Zombie!
Notes and Tips
Links

Phase 8 (11/10)
A gathering of forces
The Scourge are invading (again)! This time, level 72+ Frost Wyrm Raptors and 71+ Towering Horrors are attacking the Valley of Honor in Orgrimmar and the Harbor in Stormwind City.

In Orgrimmar...
Thrall, Lady Sylvanas Windrunner, High Overlord Saurfang, Garrosh Hellscream and Grand Apothecary Putress can be found positioned outside of the Ring of Valor discussing their plans to thwart the Lich King and his efforts in Northrend. Also be sure to stick around for Thrall and Garrosh's short battle in the Ring of Valor.

In Stormwind...
King Varian Wrynn, Highlord Bolvar Fordragon, Broll Bearmantle and Valeera Sanguinar can be found at the Stormwind Harbor residing under a tent at the foot of a large lion statue. Speaking to them offers extensive dialogue which basically expresses their hope that you accompany their efforts into Northrend.

Phase 7 (10/27)
All good things come to an end
The plague has now officially been cured!

Phase 6 (10/26)
A new hope
Commoners can now be found inside capital cities, which give you a new quest, Desperate Research, that sends you to Grand Apothecary Putress (Horde) or Bishop Lazari (Alliance), both found in their respective organization's camps located near the Aldor Bank in Shattrath City. You will then be sent to your faction's main city to bring the news. Rumors say the joint alliance of the Horde and the Alliance have found a cure for the plague.

Phase 5 (10/26)
Could it get any worse?
The zombie infection now only lingers for 1 minute before players become zombies, which is more dangerous than ever considering that most of the Argent Healers are now gone from major cities. Most cities are becoming overrun with zombies (both player and NPC) and it's becoming very difficult to avoid becoming infected.

Phase 4 (10/25)
Citadels, Scourge Invasion and a new boss in Karazhan!
The zombie infection now only lingers for 2 minutes before players become zombies, and giant floating citadels (screenshot) have appeared above major cities! They hover ominously in the sky as though they are watching the evil that is unfolding below. Cities are beginning to face attacks from the Scourge warriors as the Scourge Invasion launches in full force!

Phase 3 (10/24)
Plagued residents, shorter infection time and more madness!
Several Argent Healers were removed, and additional roaches and crates were added. The duration of the infection disease was reduced to 5 minutes! Also, level 10 Plagued Residents can now be found outside capital cities.

Phase 2 (10/23)
Plagued roaches and more crates
It appears that this plague is more out of hand than we thought! The corrupted grain shipments have now made their way into the capital cities and have brought infectious vermin in the form of Plagued Roaches! What's worse is that killing these roaches only spreads the contagion further! Is there no end to this madness?

Phase 1 (10/23)
The beginning of the end
The Scourge plague is affecting us all, in the form of a zombie plague! Strange, corrupted grain crates have appeared in Booty Bay that are quickly spreading a deadly plague and corrupting Horde and Alliance players. If the plague's corruption is left untreated, we will have a zombie invasion on our hands!

Post by Miyari

The Lich King Attacks

Stormwind
The Lich King's forces have attacked the city of Stormwind! King Varian Wrynn, Highlord Bolvar Fordragon, Broll Bearmantle and Valeera Sanguinar can be found at the Stormwind Harbor residing under a tent at the foot of a large lion statue. Speaking to them offers extensive dialogue which expresses their hope that you accompany their efforts into Northrend. The same Frost Wyrms and Abominations that have been attacking Orgrimmar have now started attacking the Stormwind Harbor, as the Herald of the Lich King yells, "FOOLS OF STORMWIND! HEAR ME, NAIVE CHILDREN OF THE ALLIANCE! TREMBLE AND KNOW YOUR DOOM, FOR THE LICH KING'S GAZE IS FIXED UPON YOU!"

Like the Horde-side event, this will repeat every 20 minutes or so.

Screenshots

Post by Miyari

Orgrimmar

The Lich King has sent more powerful enemies to battle in the Horde capital of Orgrimmar. Abominations ravage on foot while powerful Frost Wyrms fly overhead, shooting deadly frost and ice at everything in their path. The Horde Warchief Thrall and Lady Sylvanas Windrunner have come to Orgrimmar's defense, and have set up a small camp with Garrosh Hellscream, High Overlord Saurfang and Grand Apothecary Putress where they discuss whether or not to send the Horde's forces into Northrend.

Screenshots

Full Event Dialogue

Garrosh Hellscream says: Thrall... Warchief... your armies await your command. Let me lead them to Northrend to remove this undead menace!
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Yes, Thrall. The time has come to kill Arthas. You can take my grand apothecary with you. His knowledge will be invaluable against whatever the Scourge will throw at you.
Grand Apothecary Putress says: It would be an honor, Dark Lady.
Thrall says: What say you, Saurfang?
High Overlord Saurfang says: Warchief, it is clear that Northrend represents the gravest threat to our people, and that we must act against it. But this foe is unlike any other. Caution must be advised.
Thrall says: My soul burns for revenge, but the elements tell me to think clearly. The Lich King is a ruthless opponent... one who must be handled carefully.
Thrall says: We will send scouts to assess the situation. I will also convene with the Lady Proudmoore and see what plans the Alliance has.
Garrosh Hellscream says: Gragh! I cannot take this! While you talk and deliberate, our enemies grow stronger! Were it my choice, I would have put all our available forces onto that frozen rock and conquered it for the Horde!
Thrall says: If this is a trap, it is one I will not blindly walk into! Do not make the same mistakes as your father, Garrosh!
Garrosh Hellscream says: After all that he did for YOU and YOUR people? MAK'GORA!
Thrall says: You challenge me, boy? I don't have time for this....
Garrosh Hellscream says: So you refuse? Is the son of Durotan a coward?
Thrall says: Inside!

<Garrosh and Thrall run inside the Ring of Valor>

Thrall yells: Let's finish this quickly.
Garrosh Hellscream yells: Your duties as a warchief can wait. For now... we fight!

<Garrosh and Thrall battle in the Ring of Valor. Eventually, Thrall falls to his knees in defeat (?)>

Thrall yells: GYAH!
Garrosh Hellscream yells: Hah! So, son of Durotan, what--
Herald of the Lich King yells: PUPS OF ORGRIMMAR! HEAR ME, BRASH UPSTARTS OF THE HORDE! TREMBLE, AND KNOW YOUR DOOM, FOR THE LICH KING'S GAZE IS FIXED UPON YOU!
High Overlord Saurfang yells: Warchief! Scourge forces are attacking Orgrimmar!
Thrall yells: We will finish this another time... son of Grom.

Garrosh Hellscream says: Well, Warchief? What say you now? Will you send me to Northrend?
Thrall says: Saurfang...
High Overlord Saurfang says: Yes, Warchief?
Thrall says: Marshal our forces. Contact our goblin shipwrights. The Horde prepares for war!
High Overlord Saurfang says: As you command, Warchief!
Lady Sylvanas Windrunner says: Excellent... most excellent.

This will repeat every 20 minutes or so until the next phase of the event, whatever that may be...

Post by Miyari

Scourge Invasion

Quests
Low level quests have become available outside of the major cities asking players to investigate Dim Necrotic Circles that have spawned outside the cities (screenshot), and to defeat the Scourge and return with 3 .

Argent Scouts have spawned at an Argent Dawn camp in the main cities and give a new quest, Light's Hope Chapel. The quest asks plays to deliver the to the Keeper of the Rolls at Light's Hope Chapel, in Eastern Plaguelands.

Two classic Scourge Invasion quests have become available from Commander Thomas Helleran: Shadows of Doom which asks players to kill an elite Shadow of Doom, and Under the Shadows, which asks players to collect 10 and return to him. These quests each award your choice of either 5 or 5 .

Scourge Attacks
Throughout select zones in Azeroth, Necrotic Shards will occasionally spawn, surrounded by level 69-70 Skeletal Shocktroopers, Ghoul Berserkers and other undead mobs. The Scourge commonly drop , which are used as a currency to purchase items from the Argent Quartermaster.

You can tell which zone is under attack by the Scourge by checking your world map and looking for a purple skull icon in a zone or by speaking to an Argent Messenger in any major city and inquiring about locations (its much quicker just to look at your map). Areas that are under attack will have floating citadels empowering Necrotic Shards. The shards can be damaged by killing the Scourge hanging around them, and when the shard is extremely weakened, four Cultist Engineers will spawn and begin channelling the damaged shard. Speaking to these will give an option to spawn a Shadow of Doom at the cost of 8 . Each Shadow of Doom will drop 30 as a stack that can only be looted by one person. When all four Shadows have been defeated, the crystal can be destroyed and Scourge will no longer spawn at that location until next attack.

Occasionally, Alliance or Horde major cities may become under attack directly from the Scourge! Undead mobs will invade the city and attack anything in their path. Faint Necrotic Crystal will spawn around the city, with a small legion of Scourge warriors which must be defeated. Once this is done, the Faint Necrotic Crystal will offer you a quest, Faint Necrotic Crystal.

Searching For A Cure
Players can now accept a new quest from Commoners found in major cities, Desperate Research which asks players to seek out Grand Apothecary Putress or Bishop Lazari. Grand Apothecary Putress has set up a camp just outside of the Aldor Bank in Shattrath, where his Apothecary Researches are supposedly hard at work finding a cure. Bishop Lazari's camp can be found just across from it, with a bright shining altar surrounded by Reverent Paladins and Guards. Conveniently, both camps have Argent Healers. Upon turning in the quest, he will give you another quest to bring a box containing an infected head (gross) or a 'Light-infused artifact' to your race's major city. This quest gives reputation with that city, and the quest line ends there - so far...

Post by Miyari

Anti-Undead Armor Sets
Rare spawns and Shadows of Doom located at the shards have a chance of dropping the chest and leg pieces.

Cloth: Blessed Regalia of Undead Cleansing
Leather: Undead Slayer's Blessed Armor
Mail: Blessed Garb of the Undead Slayer
Plate: Blessed Battlegear of Undead Slaying

The gloves and shoulders for these sets are sold by the Argent Quartermaster for 15 each piece.

Argent Quartermaster
This NPC is located outside of Light's Hope Chapel by the forge, and sells items in exchange for . They also can be found in major cities but those will only tell you to head out to Eastern Plaguelands and do not sell items.

In order to purchase items from the Argent Quartermaster, you must first complete the quest Under the Shadows before she will show you what is available.

- 8
- 30
- 40
- 8
- 20
- 20
- 8
- 8

The places an Argent Banner on the ground and casts Argent Glory (similar to Consecration) on the ground around it, dealing 38 Holy damage every 2 seconds to anything in range.

The summons a large tome that will sit idle for about three seconds before exploding with Argent Wisdom (similar to Holy Nova) and hitting anything within a 10 yard radius for around 249 to 373 Holy damage. (screenshot)

The summons a level 60 Argent Knight (human for Alliance, blood elf for Horde) decked out in level 60 PVP gear to your side to aid you in battle. The Knight uses regular melee attacks and Crusader Strike, and while he doesn't hit very hard and only lasts 30 seconds, the best part comes when he's about to leave! Instead of simply despawning, the paladin will bubble and hearth! (screenshot)

It is worth mentioning that obtaining the awards a Feat of Strength and this tabard can only be obtained during the Invasion (not via normal reputation-gaining means.)

Post by Miyari

New Boss: Prince Tenris Murkblood
Available from October 25th to approximately November 3rd (?)
This boss and his drops are no longer available in game.

A new boss has been added to the game, Prince Tenris Mirkblood of the San'layn. He can be found in the previously locked Servant's Quarters located up the stairs just past Attumen the Huntsman in Karazhan.

He is a challenging fight but can be taken down by anywhere from 5-10 well-geared players (though you may need more to clear Attumen's trash and possibly Attumen himself if you'd like). His drop table only consists of the following items:

- This rather impressive two-handed axe, in addition to using the classic model, has an awesome hidden "use" effect that when activated changes your character's appearance into that of Bergrisst of L80ETC and causes you to rock out (or as the spell effect tooltip puts it, "melt faces")!
- This vampire bat companion is lootable by everyone in the raid!
- Two of 'em!

Defeating Tenris Murkblood will save you to that Karazhan raid (if you were not already saved).

Chamber of Secrets
When arriving at Light's Hope Chapel, players will find the Argent Emissary, who gives the quest Chamber of Secrets, asking players to search the the chamber of Tenris Mirkblood. The quest item can be found on a table in his room. Right-clicking the scroll will complete the objective.

Upon completion of this quest, you will be awarded a .

Scourge Invasion Bosses
While slightly less impressive than a cool looking boss in Karazhan that drops an axe you can play as a guitar but still worth mentioning, it appears that all of the previous Scourge Invasion, pre-TBC, bosses can be found in their respective instances. The available bosses are as follows:

These bosses drop blue quality loot within the level range of the instances they are located inside.

Post by Miyari

How to Become a Zombie!
Please note that you can no longer become a zombie.

Become infected by interacting with a conspicuous crate, or by killing a plagued roach – both commonly found throughout capital cities and Booty Bay. And of course, when zombies attack, their victims can be afflicted by the disease as well.
You will gain a 1-minute infection disease that can be cleansed by paladins/shaman/priests (?), or by standing near an Argent Healer - but where's the fun in that!
When the infection has run its full course you will instantly be transformed into a zombie! You cannot mount, and walk incredibly slow but are granted an arsenal of new skills (see below) which you can use to spread the plague to the unsuspecting!

Zombie Skills

Mangle! - Increases your next attack by 20 damage and reduces the target's armor by 3%.
Retch! - Retch on the ground! Humanoids in it are slowed and infected. Zombies in it are healed.
Beckoning Groan - Beckon up to four zombies to you. They must not be in combat.
Lurch! - You and nearby zombies gain a temporary burst of speed, to help catch your food. Removes any move impairment or crowd control effect.
Zombie Explosion! - Burst into pieces, destroying yourself but infecting those around you.

Infecting Others!

Use Retch! or Zombie Explosion!
Kill any NPC and they will be converted into a zombie. Use Beckoning Groan! to call any idle zombie NPCs to your aid!
Kill any player and they will be converted into a zombie that can fight alongside you. You can be healed by their Retch!.

Notes and Tips

Zombies will gradually lose health over time so be sure to watch your health and stay healed by attacking enemies! Retch! will also heal you for about 350 per tick.
You can skip the 1 minute waiting time on You're Infected! by killing yourself (warning: you will lose 10% durability on your equipped items) or by losing a duel to another player! Other methods: Stoneform (Dwarf), Divine Shield (Paladin), Ice Block (Mage).
To make sure you don't lose any durability, feel free to take off all your gear. Your gear stats will not help you as a zombie.
As a zombie you become friendly to all other zombies and hostile to every player faction. Players of your faction will show up with red names and everyone becomes your prey! This effectively allows you to talk to any other zombie, including those of the opposing faction!
As a zombie your melee power is not amazing (you'll basically be spamming Mangle!) and survivability is key. Be sure that you are using and standing inside Retch! so you are getting healed while you attack. Attacking living enemies will also heal you.

Links

Zombie Infestation Survival Guide - Forum post by Bornakk
Zombie Information - Forum post on the official forums
Screenshots - Courtesy of WoW Insider

Post by 157204

This post was from a user who has deleted their account.

Post by greystoker

do NOT Retch on FP masters. local guards find that offensive. although, you CAN go after the commoners (hallow's end).

be careful of the effin argent healers(or whatever they're called). the flippin cured me twice :#

Post by LeoN16

Sweet!Gonna try that now

Post by thomasjs

Dwarf Warning: Stoneform does not work to remove the debuff. Using it will cause you to turn into a zombie.

Post by Raous

Sad... The 75 guards slap you kinda hard. I think zombies should get a Guard killer. Like infecting them and they instant dying.

Post by Adross

Guys... they are getting stronger on my server.

Earlier I was hitting for 1 now I hit for 500...

Post by Graveless

The only downside to this is for low level characters trying to level. Otherwise, I've been having fun being a zombie or fighting off zombie hordes.

Post by 234078

This post was from a user who has deleted their account.

Post by 193117

This post was from a user who has deleted their account.

Post by Razmataz

It is indeed interesting. I'm hoping to wreck chaos amongst the starter areas of the Alliance.

Post by DSitC

BRAAAAIINNNSSSSS... *couldn't resist*

I hope this does not turn out to whacky for the many players who are still trying to level up. But otherwise a very nice and unique idea! :-)

Post by 128242

This post was from a user who has deleted their account.

Post by Zanik

While a zombie, you can talk to other zombies (including those of the opposing faction), but ONLY zombies. Things said in /say, /yell, and /emote will come out garbled ('Suchandsuch makes strange gestures'). I hear "Brains" is a common part of this speak. You can, however, still communicate normally via channels (including general, trade, and local defense).

Also, you can understand the languages you normally would (as in, if you weren't a zombie), but you cannot understand emotes of players of ANY faction, including your own (Strange gestures, etc).

Pre-WotLK Scourge Invasion (Updated 11/10)

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