Legion Artifacts: What We Know

Pubblicato 07/08/2015 alle 19:00 da perculia

This is an archival post summarizing information revealed at gamescom 2015. Much has changed since then.

Please read the Artifact Weapon Guide for up-to-date Legion information.

Only Azeroth’s most seasoned veterans possess the fortitude to wield artifacts of legend against the Burning Legion. Your myth-forged weapon grows in power as you do, and your choices will change its abilities and the way it looks, sounds, and feels in combat. Fashion your artifact into the perfect instrument of battle, and guide your faction in its most desperate hour.gamescom Expansion PresentationLegion websiteseveral European fansitesDarkmoon Faire SummaryArtifact Game GuideLegion Systems PanelQuick Facts

Each spec gets a unique weapon--36 weapons total. These are intended to be ultimate weapons for you, the hero.

Unique quests for each spec to reflect their flavor. Examples: Ret Paladins return to Broken Shore and fallen heroes to retrieve Ashbringer, Protection Warriors discover legend of Vry'kul King, Death Knights retrieve shards of Frostmourne from base of Icecrown.

Classes are less homogenzied and use different weapon types. For example, Frost Death Knights are solely Dual-Wield, Unholy Death Knights are Two-Handed.

No other weapons drop in Legion. No legendary weapon.

Artifacts increase in power through Artifact Power unlocking traits and Relics which can be socketed into weapon.

Artifacts have model variations and color tints.

Upgrading Artifacts

Artifact weapons stay with you through Legion--you level up with them and get them early on.

Artifact Power is gained as you level up and do most major activities in Legion, like quests, arenas, raid bosses, BGs, etc. This is used to unlock weapon traits.

Eventually you can unlock all traits - but you can choose what order to unlock them in, this is still being decided.

First thing you unlock is an active trait to put on your bar to unleash power against your enemies. I.e. in Deadwind Harvester, you release the souls onto a target.

Further traits allow you to make choices like more crit - these additional traits have ranks.

Traits can modify or add things to spells. There are also utility traits, such as more health for you when someone uses a Healthstone in raid.

It takes a while to unlock all the traits, especially the Gold Powers (higher ranks, etc.)

It will take months into the expansion to fill it out and it's power will continue to grow.

New items will be dropping called Relics.

Relics can be socketed into your Artifacts and give you bonus ranks into the traits that have ranks.

This is more customization - i.e. do you want to be more about burst aoe or more survivability, etc.

The relics over time will be able to give ranks to previously rankless traits.

Each weapon can only accept certain types of relics. Different people will be seeking out different relics: holy, fire, water, shadow, etc.

Artifacts will change with tiers to keep the game fresh, which means set bonuses do not need to be as game-changing.

There will be a "Warforged" system but this will not apply to Artifact weapons.

Off-Spec Artifacts

The further you are behind, the easier it is to catch up most of the way

Maintaining off specs is more difficult but not impossible - you'll be very slightly behind on the 2nd spec

But for those very far behind, the traits are cheaper to get although you'll be doing the same activities

Customization

You can change the design of your weapon, as well as tints.

The idea is that everyone shouldn't look identical, the weapon's appearance should reflect what you like to do in game.

Don't like your artifact's appearance? You can transmog over it--although you cannot transmog an artifact's appearance onto other weapons.

At max level, you will have the opportunity to upgrade the model of your weapon through a major dungeon/questing experience.

You can quest for other models and colours for your weapon.

There is an interface for colour swaps - usually through achievements (Exalted with a faction, etc).

These colours also interface with the Artifact weapon, etc - i.e. go kill a former owner of the weapon to unlock a color, go to an area that's significant for the weapon.

The new PvP system unlocks a special variant for each Artifact weapon via the prestige system. With the new Honor system, you level from 1-50 and unlock special Perks. You can either stay at 50, or turn your points in to gain a Prestige Level and then grind it up again.

Customizing your artifact will take place in your Class-specific area.

Art Interview DetailsClick here for full interview

Can you tell us about Artifact design? Style, variations, colors?
Similar to Order Halls, we wanted to hit the tone for the class and spec. A few were easy because they were established, but the new ones were more difficult since they weren't established. We had to come up with something that felt lore-comparable and helped answer the questions: what is the core class fantasy? What weapon feels like what you want your character to feel like? I play a rogue, so I used a lot of personal experience to get the feeling of what a rogue would want to pick up in their hand to use. Then with spec differentiation in the weapons we went on with further honing into that class fantasy.

What was it like to create a weapon from scratch when there's some well-known artifacts like Doomhammer and Ashbringer?
We start with a base artifact level, i.e. Ashbringer - this is what the player expectation is for an epic level artifact weapon. Using that as a reference, all weapons should feel comparable next to each other. The problem with that is there is no established lore for the new ones, which makes them harder to identify with. So the new weapons had to look above and beyond to feel equal to Ashbringer. The base visual levels for the new weapons were a bit more complicated than the established weapons to make them feel equally epic.

Another difficulty was Shaman. Doomhammer was difficult because it didn't feel right seeing two Doomhammers (as dual wield). A solution was to make one a magical magma hunter to avoid breaking fantasy and make it seem like we're just giving Doomhammers away.

We know classes are going to feel unique with artifacts - how well have you accomplished this and making each spec feel unique visually?
We are trying to make this a balance and it will always develop along with characters - artifacts being there early on took us into a more streamlined weapon design process. There are usually 550-750+ weapons, this time 240....so we had more time to make them more epic.

As we worked on armor sets, we used visual decisions from artifacts to layer them on top of armor sets. There are not spec-specific armor sets but we looked at all the artifacts from one class to utilize visual elements on armor. Provides a more cohesive vision.

Revealed WeaponsDeath KnightLink to Death Knight BlogBlood: Maw of the Damned

Blood Death Knights wield an axe of great power known as the Maw of the Damned. Forged for rending both soul and flesh, this weapon testifies to the wielder’s great power over mortality itself.

An ancient Legion axe forged from a metal that drains its victims' vital energies. The soul of its original creator is trapped within and cursed with unending hunger. For more than a thousand years, an old and cunning mo'arg has used the axe to butcher uprisings and consume the life force of the Legion's foes. Over its long and infamous history, the weapon has made its demonic bearer extraordinarily powerful.

Frost: Icebringer and Frostreaper (Blade of the Fallen Prince)

Frost Death Knights bend the will of Frostmourne’s shattered remnants to their cold-hearted needs. Known as Icebringer and Frostreaper, these dual devices of death are waiting to be infused with even greater power.

Crafted by the Burning Legion to corrupt the world of Azeroth, the soul-stealing runeblade Frostmourne was shattered by Ashbringer atop Icecrown Citadel. Countless souls were freed from the broken blade, but others were not so fortunate. Today the shards of Frostmourne can be recrafted and infused with even more power. However, the spirits still trapped within must first be subdued and bent to the wielder's will.

Unholy: Apocalypse

Unholy Death Knights, true to their nature, wield violence, plague, and death in the form of their ghastly blade, Apocalypse — a great and terrible weapon that leaves a trail of broken dreams in its wake.

Vampiric demons known as nathrezim forged this ancient sword, which brings with it violence, plagues, and death. Apocalypse soon earned a horrific reputation in the hands of a Tirisgarde mage who couldn't control its destructive energies. In time the sword was seized by the malevolent Dark Riders: servants of Medivh, the corrupted Guardian of Tirisfal. They hid the blade in the catacombs under his home, the tower of Karazhan.

Demon HunterLink to Demon Hunter BlogHavoc: Twinblades of the Deceiver

Havoc Demon Hunters deal quick and lethal damage with the Twinblades of the Deceiver. These glaives of immense power cut through all that would stand in the Demon Hunter’s way.

These glaives belong to the former demon hunter Varedis Felsoul. Once a member of the Illidari and a sworn enemy of the Burning Legion, he was slain at the Black Temple. After the Legion's leader, Kil'jaeden, revived him in the Twisting Nether, Varedis surrendered to the demon within him, forsaking his mortality. In the process, he and his glaives were infused with great power by Kil'jaeden's eredar allies.

Vengeance: Aldrachi Warblades

Vengeance Demon Hunters stand strong against all incoming threats. Their weapons of choice are the Aldrachi Warblades, which are infused with the might and incredible resilience of a lost people.

In ages past, the dark titan, Sargeras, offered the mighty aldrachi people a place in his Burning Legion. But the aldrachi proved incorruptible: they slew innumerable demons before their race was wiped out. Sargeras personally killed their greatest champion and seized his weapons. Much later, a demon hunter willingly became the servant of Sargeras' lieutenant Kil'jaeden. Pleased, Kil'jaeden bestowed the warblades on her, that she might wield a portion of the aldrachi's bygone might, and devastate the mortals of Azeroth with it.

DruidLink to Druid BlogBalance: Scythe of Elune

Balance Druids wield the Scythe of Elune, a weapon that demands a true understanding of what balance means. Those who are not strong enough are easily pulled by this magnificent weapon’s tides and become the mastered rather than the master.

This mystical artifact was created millennia ago from the Staff of Elune and a fang from the wolf demigod Goldrinn. The Scythe of Elune carries a long and unsettling history for druids: those who are not careful enough can easily be overwhelmed by Goldrinn's spirit, which infuses the scythe. Tied to the origin of the worgen on Azeroth, the scythe is said to possess untold lunar power for the druid with balance enough to keep control.

Feral: Fangs of Ashamane

Feral Druids carry what is far more than a symbol of their fierce resilience in the Fangs of Ashamane. Infused with a primal power of old, they will serve well in the fight to come.

The massive gray panther Ashamane, one of the first Wild Gods, was one of many to answer the call of the demigod Cenarius and defend the world of Azeroth during the War of the Ancients. She fell in battle against the Legion, but saved countless lives in the process. A great shrine was built in her honor in Val'sharah, and her fangs were adorned and put on display there. It is said they still carry much of her power.

Guardian: Claws of Ursoc

Guardian Druids exemplify the term “force of nature.” With the Claws of Ursoc to aid them, they will become a formidable wall of fur and rage, withstanding any who dare face their might.

Forged from titansteel by the titanic watcher Keeper Freya, these claws were her gift to the great bear Ursoc, one of the Wild Gods. He wielded the claws in countless battles until his death during the War of the Ancients. Although his body faded away, the claws remained, and legends say a fragment of his spirit lingered within them. After wrestling the claws away from Ursoc's furbolg followers, a band of druids took the claws to the Emerald Dream, sought out Ursoc's spirit, and returned the claws to him for safekeeping.

Restoration: G’Hanir, the Mother Tree

Restoration Druids are great friends to nature and masters of the ways of healing. With a branch of G’Hanir, The Mother Tree in their grip, they stand ready to hold fast against any who dare disturb Azeroth’s stability.

This is a single branch taken from G'Hanir, the first tree, which was gifted to mortal druids by the demigod Aviana long ago. Its connection to the mystical Emerald Dream serves as a healing and stabilizing influence on the world of Azeroth. In recent times, druids have used this staff to hold back the corruption and madness of the Nightmare. As a result, satyrs within the Nightmare are desperate to see G'Hanir destroyed.

HunterLink to Hunter BlogBeast Mastery: Titanstrike

Beast Master Hunters are uniquely bonded with the beasts they hunt, blurring the lines between predator and prey. To offset the dangers they face in the wild, they wield the rifle Titanstrike, a techno-magical engineering marvel, perfect for staying on target.

A peerless example of techno-magical engineering, the Titanstrike was designed by Keeper Mimiron, a titanic watcher and brilliant inventor. Securely housed in the heart of the rifle, a relic known as the Thunderspark powers the Titanstrike, harnessing the essence of storms and focusing it into concentrated blasts of energy. The rifle's power source can also be credited to Mimiron, who devised it for his comrade, Keeper Thorim, in ages past.

Marksmanship: Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners

Marksmanship Hunters are at their best killing from afar. Having a trustworthy weapon in hand is vital, and no finer bow exists than Thas’dora, Legacy of the Windrunners. Legend has it that his elven family heirloom, once wielded by an infamous Ranger-General--can turn a mediocre archer into a master marksman..and make a master truly peerless.

A proud heirloom of the Windrunner family, Thas'dorah was carved from a bough of the mother tree of Eversong Woods shortly after the elven kingdom of Quel'Thalas was founded. Handed down to the eldest of each generation, the bow was last wielded by the high elf Ranger Captain Alleria Windrunner. It disappeared along with its owner following the destruction of the orcs' homeworld, Draenor, and the subsequent formation of Outland.

Survival: Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods

Survival Hunters are masters of enduring in the wild, using traps and snares to bleed their enemies. With the Ancient-touched Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods in hand, they can finish their foes with one final thrust. (Highmountain Tauren lore background--you defeat the beast that defeated the weapon's last owner. Other variations inspired by wolf, serpent, bear. Survival Hunters are now melee with a pet, so this explains the spear.)

The Highmountain tauren crafted this spear, which predates the first demonic invasion of Azeroth more than ten thousand years ago. Talonclaw's wielders have fought alongside many guardian animal spirits, also known as Ancients, to defend the world of Azeroth and its wildlife in particular. Over the millennia, these Ancients have bestowed their blessings on the weapon, imbuing it with a portion of their power.

Mage

Arcane: Aluneth, Greatstaff of the Magna

Weapon Type: Staff

Arcane Mages wield Aluneth, Greatstaff of Magna, a great and storied weapon of old that has more than proven its worth in battle against the Burning Legion.

Aluneth was most notably wielded for a time by Aegwynn, the only female Guardian of Tirisfal, although stories indicate that it is far older than she. She is said to have found the staff roughly a century after she took up the mantle of Guardian, and to have wielded Aluneth in many battles against the Burning Legion. Several years before relinquishing her title, she retired the staff, but none know where she might have stored it.

Fire: Felo'melorn

Weapon Type: 1H Sword

What better weapon for a Fire Mage to wield than the sword Felo’melorn, known as “flamestrike” it its native language? A weapon with a proven history that will prove invaluable in the fight to come.

"Flamestrike" in its native tongue, Felo'melorn was borne into battle by members of the Sunstrider family as they proved their valor in the War of the Ancients, during the Troll Wars, and against the death knight Arthas Menethil. After it was destroyed, Prince Kael’thas Sunstrider reforged the sword to be even stronger and used it against the Lich King, trading several blows with the demonic runeblade Frostmourne. Ultimately Kael’thas was forced to retreat, and the sword was lost in the frigid wastes of Northrend.

Frost: Ebonchill

Weapon Type: Staff

Ebonchill is a most suitable weapon for a Frost Mage—its very name will freeze the hearts of the enemy. This greatstaff was wielded by the first Guardian of Tirisfal and has seen its own share of battle. The staff of the first Guardian of Tirisfal exudes unnatural iciness, allowing its wielder to keep a cold, sharp, and collected mind even in face of overwhelming odds.

This greatstaff was wielded by Alodi, the first Guardian of Tirisfal. He bore the staff into many battles against Legion forces for the century in which he served as Guardian, then stepped down from the role of Guardian, but he retained the staff to his dying day. Upon his passing, the Kirin Tor stored the staff safely away for fear of what might happen if a lesser mage attempted to wield its power without the ability to control it fully.

Monk

Link to Monk BlogBrewmaster: Fu Zan, the Wanderer's Companion

Brewmaster Monks wield the staff Fu Zan, the Wanderer’s Companion. Crafted from the first of Pandaria’s forest, its journey through the ages has imbued it with untold power in the hands of these clever masters.

Long ago, as the titanic watcher Keeper Freya set out to populate the world with life, she placed one of the first seeds in Pandaria. From it grew Fu Zan, the first, and all of Pandaria's forests descended from it. Before populating the rest of Azeroth, Freya fashioned a walking stick for her travels from one of Fu Zan’s branches. Eventually Freya passed her staff to the Jade Serpent, Yu’lon, who later gave it to a uniquely clever hozen. The Monkey King, as he was called, hung his most prized possessions from the staff, which he carries with him to this day.

Mistwalker: Sheilun, Staff of Mists

Sheilun, Staff of the Mists has been through many trials in the bid to protect the lands of Pandaria. In the hands of the right Mistwalker Monk, it could aid in turning the tide against the Burning Legion.

During last pandaren emperor's reign, a prophecy arose that a ruthless Legion would invade the world of Azeroth and leave it shattered. To save his people, Emperor Shaohao embarked on a series of trials, taking with him the ancient staff Sheilun. Afterwards, he used his newfound wisdom to become part of the land. He made Pandaria into a separate continent and enshrouded it in mist to protect it. His staff clattered to the ground, where it lay until the monks of Tian Monastery found it and took it to the Terrace of Endless Spring for safekeeping.

Windwalker: Fists of the Heavens

Fists of the Heavens in the hands of master martial artists, the Windwalker Monk, are lethal against any foe. Infused by the raw elemental powers, these weapons make this monk near unstoppable.

Thousands of years ago, the famed tol'vir smith Irmaat crafted a pair of magnificent handblades. Unsatisfied with his work, Irmaat tried to capture the essence of Al'Akir the Windlord to infuse into his blades. Al'Akir was not amused. To spite the smith, Al'Akir poured unspeakable amounts of raw elemental fury into the handblades. When Irmaat attempted to unleash their might, a great vortex sprang up, engulfed his city, and scattered the weapons to the winds.

PaladinLink to Paladin BlogHoly: The Silver Hand

Holy Paladins wield the power of light in the form of The Silver Hand, a hammer that has seen countless battles and felled many foes. In the hands of this holy crusader, allies are reinvigorated even in the most desperate fight.

As one of the titanic watchers, Keeper Tyr bore this weapon in countless battles against the titans' enemies. When one of his fellow keepers, Loken, fell to corruption, Tyr and his allies stole the Discs of Norgannon to investigate the extent of Loken's betrayal. Discovering the theft, Loken sent horrific monsters after Tyr's group, but Tyr sacrificed his life to fight the creatures while his comrades escaped with the discs. His hammer was lost with him somewhere beneath the land now named in his honor: Tirisfal.

Protection: Truthguard

Protection Paladins wield the shield Truthguard to stop what would seem unstoppable. Its history is written in the tiny imperfections on its surface. In times of great darkness, this barrier stands between all that is good from all that is evil.

The titanic watchers Tyr and Archaedas created this shield when their comrade, Loken, fell to corruption. They gave Truthguard to a vrykul champion who used it to expose Loken's treachery. When Tyr and his allies later stole the Discs of Norgannon and fled, the champion stayed behind and held off many of Loken's servants. A desperate Loken sent horrific monsters after Tyr, who fell in combat. In time the vrykul champion migrated to Stormheim in the Broken Isles, where the shield was eventually entombed in the Path of Kings.

Retribution: Ashbringer

The name Ashbringer has long struck terror into the hearts of those who have faced its power. Its reemergence into the hands of the Retribution Paladin is no mistake—a ready ally to mete out justice on those who must be judged.

King Magni Bronzebeard forged the Ashbringer from a piece of crystal purified by wielders of the Holy Light. This gave the sword strange Light-bearing powers. It was named for its ability to slaughter undead, leaving nothing but ash in its wake. Ashbringer passed through several hands, serving both Light and Shadow, before it came to the legendary paladin Tirion Fordring, who used it to shatter the Lich King’s runeblade, Frostmourne, on the top of Icecrown Citadel. Tirion has carried Ashbringer with him ever since.

PriestLink to Priest BlogDiscipline: Light's Wrath

Discipline Priests stand between the light and shadow—wielding both, they straddle the precipice between. For them, this balance must be carefully cultivated so that they might wield and control the power of the staff Light’s Wrath in battle.

Obsessed with cleansing undead from the world of Azeroth, the fanatical Scarlet Crusade tried to create a second Ashbringer in the form of a staff. However, a dreadlord who had infiltrated the order intervened, interrupting their efforts and triggering a violent magical explosion. The damaged staff’s power proved nearly uncontrollable. After several wielders tried and failed to use the staff safely, the elite magi of the Kirin Tor hid it away lest it unleash further deadly calamities.

Holy: Tuure, Beacon of the Naaru

Holy Priests embody the power of the divine and thus wield a true weapon of the Light: Tuure, Beacon of the Naaru. A weapon of this pedigree can be put to task to either heal allies or smite those who would stand against them.

As beings of Holy Light, the benevolent naaru rescued the draenei from their homeworld after most of its people were transformed into demonic recruits for the Burning Legion. Demons nearly overwhelmed the fleeing draenei, but the naaru protected the refugees with this beacon crystal. Tuure channels the Light's essence into healing radiance, regenerating horrific wounds and bringing people back from the brink of death. Ultimately the crystal was lost to Legion forces on an invaded world. It hasn't been seen since.

Shadow: Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire

Practitioners in the ways of shadow will truly covet Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire as a part of their arsenal. The Shadow Priests who wield this Void-honed blade will truly terrify their enemies and bend minds to their will.

This terrifying dagger was made from the claw of an Old God eons ago, and dark priests used it for ritual sacrifices during the height of the Black Empire. After the fall of the Old Gods, Xal'atath was hidden away by cults. It has surfaced from time to time over the course of history, inevitably associated with some horrific ritual or disaster. The blade has a will of its own: it uses powerful Void energies and mind magics to warp everything around it for some nefarious purpose.

RogueLink to Rogue BlogAssassination: Anguish and Sorrow

Assassination Rogues will be able to spend quality time getting to know Anguish and Sorrow—twin blades made for ruthlessly dispatching those caught in their wielder’s sights. These are precision tools, perfect for finding their mark and eliminating them.

The orc warlock Gul'dan had these daggers made for his personal assassin, Garona. The blades are said to drink blood and inflict traceless poison, leaving little sign of their grim work: the perfect tools for an assassin. She used them to carry out countless atrocities while under Gul'dan's control, including the murder of Stormwind's King Llane, whom she had befriended. Afterwards, in anguish, she asked a trusted ally, Meryl Winterstorm, to help her hide the blades away in the hope that they'd never have to be used again.

Outlaw: The Dreadblades (Fate and Fortune)

Outlaw Rogues are the unscrupulous combatants of Azeroth. They bend the rules, change them, and put those who would stand against their “choices” to task with The Dreadblades (Fate and Fortune). These blades are meant to cut deep in toe-to-toe combat.

Shortly after the Cataclysm, Admiral Eliza Goreblade discovered a pair of ornately crafted cutlasses inside a recently unearthed wreck not far from Booty Bay. Though the origins of the blades are unclear, their power was not, as Eliza quickly made her name known pillaging countless ships across the Great Sea, none able to best her in combat. Rumors spread among pirates and sailors about the Dreadblades, the most common ones all agreeing that they are cursed, and that if they should ever stop being fed new victims, they'll claim their owner instead.

Subtlety: Fangs of the Devourer

Subtlety Rogues will enjoy the silent elegance of the Fangs of the Devourer when they strike at the enemy from within the shadows. These daggers bite with all of the venom of a viper—quick, stealthy, and deadly.

Goremaw the Devourer, Sargeras' personal hound, claimed countless lives before it was eventually ambushed and killed on another world long ago. Following the hound's death, Mephistroph had its fangs crafted into two powerful daggers that still carried with them some of the potent withering essence that made Goremaw's bites so deadly. These daggers were passed to Akaari, one of Sargeras' most deadly assassins, who wields them to this day.

ShamanLink to Shaman BlogElemental: The Fist of Ra-Den

The fury of storms runs through the veins of the Elemental Shaman, as it does through The Fist of Ra-Den. Only a true master of the elements can wield its power.

Aman'Thul the Highfather, leader of the titan Pantheon, entrusted his greatest servant, Highkeeper Ra, with this artifact, which could channel the fury of the storms. Ra used it to bestow life on the titan-forged mogu race, and he wielded it in battle against the Black Empire for years beyond counting. Later lost to Ra, the weapon was ultimately recovered by the August Celestial Xuen, who saw its immense and dangerous power, and chose to safeguard it until someone worthy could take up the weapon in a righteous cause once again.

Enhancement: Doomhammer

Enhancement Shaman meld the power of the elements with their prowess in combat. For them, no weapon will suffice but one of legend: Doomhammer. In close combat, a master Shaman can draw out its true power.

Forged in elemental lava on the orc homeworld of Draenor, this massive hammer is connected deeply with the elements, and its true power is only awakened in the hands of those who can speak to the elements in kind. The Doomhammer was long wielded by Orgrim Doomhammer, one of the greatest orc warriors of the Horde, and now rests with Thrall, one of the most powerful shaman Azeroth has ever known.

Restoration: Scepter of Azshara

Restoration Shaman wield the Scepter of Azshara, a weapon of great healing and restoration. Theirs is the way of harmony with nature and purification—but when conflict arises, this weapon will prove a powerful ally.

A powerful scepter created by Queen Azshara long ago, before her transformation into a naga. The scepter swirls with waters from the Well of Eternity prior to its corruption, granting the scepter great magical and restorative powers. The Scepter of Azshara was lost during the War of the Ancients, shortly before Azshara and many of her followers were swallowed by the sea. Taken up by surviving night elves who knew nothing of the power it truly held, it was buried with an unknown priestess in a family tomb in Azsuna, waiting to be discovered by someone that could unlock its true potential.

WarlockLink to Warlock BlogAffliction: Ulthalesh, The Deadwind Harvester

Affliction Warlocks are the masters of shadow magic, indulging in fel energies that wither away their life force over time. Their weapon of choice is Ulthalesh, The Deadwind Harvester—a great scythe that harvests souls from its victims, taking their power for its own.

The first necrolyte to walk the world of Azeroth, Satiel, was given this scythe by the titan Sargeras himself. It grows in power as it draws souls from its victims. The Harvester earned its name as Satiel methodically drained all life from the hapless inhabitants of Deadwind Pass, creating a potent magical nexus there in the process. Hunting down Satiel, the Guardian of Tirisfal turned the scythe on her, sending her soul to join those of her victims. Eventually the Dark Riders recovered the weapon and secreted it beneath the tower of Karazhan.

Demonology: Skull of the Man’ari

Demonology Warlocks are the masters of demons, summoning them forth to do their bidding. With the Skull of the Man’ari in hand, they are able to command and empower the greatest of these malefic beings.

Before the eredar served the titan Sargeras, one of their greatest leaders, Thal'kiel, had unprecedented skill with summoning and binding magics. Driven by ambition, he reached into the Void and was answered with knowledge of dark creatures unlike any the eredar had seen before. His audacious power grab infuriated the demon lord Archimonde, who struck him down, then had his skull gilded and placed on display as a warning. Today the dreadlord Mephistroth uses it to enhance his ability to summon and command demon armies for the Legion.

Destruction: Scepter of Sargeras

Sargeras’ name is synonymous with destruction—so what more fitting weapon for a Destruction Warlock than the Scepter of Sargeras? This weapon is sure to set a Warlock’s fel-fueled heart ablaze with the chaotic destruction it can cause.

Created through incredible effort by hundreds of Sargeras' servants, this scepter can rip open dimensional gateways between worlds. It was entombed beneath the sea for centuries, then used by the orc shaman Ner'zhul to open the portals that tore the world of Draenor apart, leaving behind the shattered realm of Outland. The scepter was finally secured by the elite magi of the Kirin Tor. Unable to destroy it, they hid it away in a magically protected chamber and put it under eternal watch to prevent it from ever being used again.

WarriorLink to Warrior BlogArms: Stromkar, the Warbreaker

Arms Warriors are patient fighters, readily able to use heavy two-handed weapons to their advantage at key moments in a fight. It’s no wonder they gravitate to weapons like Stromkar, the Warbreaker—one of the mightiest greatswords in the world.

This greatsword was borne into combat by the barbarian warlord who first united humanity under a single banner, founding the nation of Arathor. A master tactician and strategist, King Thoradin went on to play a critical role in ending the Troll Wars. Later the sword was lost while it was being used to subdue a C'Thraxxi monstrosity in a forgotten tomb beneath Tirisfal. Abandoned and all but forgotten, Stromkar has been slowly drinking from the shadowy power there over thousands of years.

Fury: Warswords of Valajar

Fury Warriors are tenacious foes who revel in maximum carnage. With the Warswords of Valajar in their arsenal, they are sure to slake their bloodthirst on the battlefield.

In ages past, the titanic watcher Keeper Odyn betrayed the sorceress Helya, killing her and twisted her spirit into a spectral Val'kyr. He forged this pair of swords for the mightiest of his storm-forged Valarjar, but Helya stole the swords and infused them with a portion of her rage. She then gave them to her own champion, who used them to hunt the greatest of heroes and drag their souls away to serve in Helheim. These swords stir their owner into unrelenting and punishing attacks that overcome a target's defenses and leave no opening for counterattacks.

Protection: Scale of the Earth-Warder

Scale of the Earth-Warder is the most fitting armament for the Protection Warrior. These fighters are a wall of opposition against any who would stand against them, and with this shield at their command, they are truly unstoppable.

An impenetrable shield crafted from a scale of the black Dragon Aspect, Neltharion the Earth-Warder, before the Old Gods' corruption overcame him. The formidable vrykul king Magnar Icebreaker carried this shield into combat and won victory after victory in the face of grim odds. When he finally fell in battle, it was due to treachery by servants of the Val'kyr Helya. The shield is now entombed with King Magnar's body in the Path of Kings in Stormheim.

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