Together with the release of the Year of the Phoenix’s first Hearthstone expansion “Ashes of Outland”, it is time for yet another edition of HSTD’s Lore of Legendaries!

With the current set taking place in Outland, a shattered realm once called Draenor and mother country of the orcs, Hearthstone players will take a deep dive into the lore of WoW’s very first expansion “The Burning Crusade” which was released well over 13 years ago. In addition to that, the introduction of Hearthstone’s first new class, the Demon Hunter, tells the tale of Illidan Stormrage and his rise to become the Lord of Outland.

We take a comprehensive look at every single Ashes of Outland’s Legendary card and their side of the story told in the world of Outland!

Demon Hunter

Altruis the Outcast

Altruis the Outcast, or as World of Warcraft calls him, Altruis the Sufferer, is a renowned demon hunter and once served under Illidan Stormrage.

The Betrayer brought Altruis with him into the shattered lands of Outland. Over the course of Illidan’s crusade, Altruis realized that the destructive path of his leader looked a whole lot like the work of those demons they had tried to wipe out in the first place.

He ultimately decided to step away from the Illidari, Illidan’s army of demon hunters. His hatred towards the Legion kept burning, as WoW players could see after doing several quests targeting demon camps in Nagrand, Outland’s most beautiful zone, which was invaded by numerous demons.

Almost ten years later, Altruis played another important role in World of Warcraft’s Legion expansion. After he had been caught and sealed away by the wardens – the night elf special forces – Maiev Shadowsong herself released him and other Illidari, including Kayn Sunfury. Despite Maiev’s efforts to retrieve Illidan’s body, Gul’dan, Azeroth’s first warlock, beat her to the draw as he planned to use the body of his arch-enemy to summon Sargeras.

Players were able to play through this piece of lore during Legion’s Demon Hunter class leveling experience, up to the point where the player has to decide whether they want to follow the wise and selfless Altruis or the loyal soldier Kayn Sunfury in their future endeavors. This has been one of the first decision-based lore bits placed into the story-telling of World of Warcraft, giving players the choice of experiencing becoming a Demon Hunter that either blindly follows into Illidan’s footsteps or tries to build up an independent Illidari army with its own free will.

Kayn Sunfury

Similar to Altruis, Kayn Sunfury once served under Illidan Stormrage as one of his closest Illidari. Unlike Altruis, he first appears in the Legion expansion as a blood elf that pledged allegiance to Illidan. His true origins remain unknown; however, his last name “Sunfury” implies that he once served under Kael’thas Sunstrider, who had joined Illidan’s ranks himself before partnering up with the Burning Legion.

Kayn has been known to put loyalty to Illidan above all else, and that is why he hates Altruis with a burning passion.

Metamorphosis

In World of Warcraft, the spell Metamorphosis transforms a Demon Hunter – you guessed it – into a demon! It is one of the strongest cooldowns in the Demon Hunter toolkit, and that translates really well to its Hearthstone equivalent.

Nethrandamus

The nether drake called Nethrandamus is Altruis’ loyal companion since the Burning Crusade days. Nether drakes are believed to directly originate from Deathwing, who tried to plant his seed on Draenor before returning to Azeroth right after the Second War.

However, Ner’zhul’s reckless actions – which resulted in opening multiple portals to the Twisting Nether – corrupted the black dragon eggs and turned them into nether drakes eventually. These creatures seem to have no connection to their evil progenitor but still vibrate with chaotic energy coming from the Twisting Nether.

 

Druid

Archspore Msshi’fn

Archspore Msshi'fn is the leader of a wondrous faction of mushroom creatures called the sporelings who reside in Sporeggar. These mystical creatures can be found in another beautiful zone of Outland called Zangarmarsh that the Sporeggar chose to protect at all costs.

In World of Warcraft, the Sporeggar faction was feared by players for its incredible reputation grind, rewarding pet collectors with the Tiny Sporebat once they’ve reached Exalted status.

Ysiel Windsinger

Another creature located in Zangarmarsh is Ysiel Windsinger. Ysiel is the leader of the Cenarion Expedition, a pro-nature organization, and part of the druidical order called the Cenarion Circle.

Together with other night elves and tauren, Ysiel tries to solve and preserve the secrets of the ancient swamp.

Hunter

Beastmaster Leoroxx

Another faction leader in Outland ist Beastmaster Leoroxx. Together with his companion Tethik, he is in charge of the Mok’nathal, a group of half-orc, half-ogre hybrid creatures. Based in Blade’s Edge Mountains in northern Outland, this species once was bred to serve as slaves for the Ogre Empire before they were able to free themselves with the help of the orcs of Frostfire Ridge.

Leoroxx is also the father of Rexxar, Champion of the Horde and Hearthstone’s default Hunter hero. His son once joined the Horde to see the world outside of his pacifist and isolated clan and happened to take part in numerous tales in Warcraft history.

Zixor, Apex Predator

Zixor, Apex Predator is a creature exclusive to the Hearthstone universe and belongs to a group of predatory animals called warp stalkers. Similar to the nether drakes, these creatures suffered under the destruction of Draenor as they had been demonized by the invading Burning Legion, turning them into warping miscreants of Blade Edge Mountains’ fauna.

Mage

Astromancer Solarian

Astromancer Solarian is one of the Burning Crusade dungeon bosses introduced with Ashes of Outland. She is located in Tempest Keep, a 25-player raid dungeon and stronghold of Kael’thas Sunstrider.

Solarian was one of Kael’s most loyal lieutenants and shared his quenchless thirst for power. But unlike Kael’thas, she tried to find a way to use the power of the void and turn it into arcane magic. However, she may have had one sip of void juice too much, as players can see her turning into a giant voidwalker during her encounter in Tempest Keep as well as on the upgraded card, Solarian Prime. Her card art also shows that she is wearing the void-looking Warlock set called Voidheart Raiment.

Evocation

Evocation may be one of the most iconic Mage spells in the history of World of Warcraft. It has been part of the Mage toolkit since the golden days of Classic and was used as the main ability to quickly regenerate mana. Once on a 10-minute cooldown, Evocation can now be used every three minutes and can have additional effects based on different talents and class specifications.

 

Paladin

Lady Liadrin

Lady Liadrin is the leader of the blood elf paladin order called the Blood Knights. Most Hearthstone players know Liadrin as one of the Paladin heroes, but she also plays an integral role in Warcraft’s history and the happenings around the Burning Crusade expansion in particular.

Together with other blood elves, she siphoned the powers of a trapped void-turned light entity of the naaru called M’uru. Eventually, M’uru’s heart was set free to power the Sunwell once destroyed by Kael’thas, and Liadrin was infused by M’uru’s energy, thus becoming the first of the Blood Knights. Though sometimes overzealous and selfish, she led the blood elf paladins into countless victories and made the destruction of the Burning Legion her highest aim in life.

Fun side note: Besides her Hero art and the playable card released with Ashes of Outland, there is another card that depicts Lady Liadrin: Shattered Sun Cleric! It shows her tearing apart a tabard of the Sunstrider clan of Kael’thas – the blood elf prince who joined the Burning Legion during the Burning Crusade expansion – and wearing a tabard of the Shattered Sun Offensive herself.

Murgur Murgurgle

Murgur Murgurgle is exclusive to the Hearthstone universe and – based on Matt Dixon’s fabulous card art – could have its place in the beautiful Zangarmarsh, which has been free of murlocs so far!

Priest

Reliquary of Souls

For me personally, the Reliquary of Souls offered one of the most memorable raid boss encounters in the history of World of Warcraft.

Nobody really knows too much about the purpose and origins of the reliquary. A class quest chain that awards Warlock players with “green fel fire” spells tries to shed a light in this regard: As it turns out, the Reliquary of Souls may have been the result of Illidan using his seventh vial full of water from the destroyed Well of Eternity to create an incredible source of power, driven by countless of souls hidden away in the Black Temple.

Soul Mirror

In World of Warcraft, Soul Mirrors are used to free haunted spirits from their suffering. In a long quest chain in Nagrand involving Greatmother Geyah, Thrall’s grandmother, players need to travel to the Auchenai Crypts and lure out orc spirits with soul mirrors so that they can rest in peace.

As redditor /u/PipAntarctic pointed out, the final boss of Auchenai Crypts, Exarch Malaadar, also uses an ability called “Stolen Soul” which is shown on the official card art on Soul Mirror!

Rogue

Akama

Akama is one of the key figures in the story of Illidan and Outland during the Burning Crusade expansion. He belongs to the Broken, a sub-race of the Draenei, who fell victim to fel magic.

In high hopes to take revenge on the orcs that exposed his people to fel, he allied with Illidan to make Outland their own. However, he realized that Illidan would become just another ruthless tyrant, and thus defected. Together with Maiev Shadowsong, Illidan’s jailor, he leads raids of players through the Black Temple in order to defeat Illidan.

Shadowjeweler Hanar

Shadowjeweler Hanar is exclusive to the Hearthstone universe. He belongs to a very peaceful and just race called the Draenei, but Hanar looks to be an exception to that rule!

Shaman

Lady Vashj

Lady Vashj could be the most underrated character in the lore of Outland.

Once a noble night elf, she turned into a naga when the Great Sundering happened. From there on she continued to serve Queen Azshara. Millenia later, right after the end of the Third War and back when Illidan cooperated with the Burning Legion, he called the Naga to help him with his future plans – and they came, but not because of Illidan’s call! The only reason the Naga allied with Illidan was because the Old Gods that had corrupted Queen Azshara ever since allowed it so that they would destroy the Lich King together with the Betrayer.

And in the end, it was Vashj and her naga that not only helped to take over Outland for Illidan; they also recruited the infamous blood elf prince Kael’thas Sunstrider, who followed Illidan into the new world, only to build up his own imperium later in the form of Tempest Keep.

Although Illidan was not able to destroy the Lich King, he still kept Vashj close as one of his first lieutenants. She was in charge of draining the whole of Zangarmarsh so that Illidan would be able to control all of its creatures. She made the Serprentshrine Cavern her home, one of the first 25-player raids in the Burning Crusade expansion, where players were eventually able to end her fate as the final boss.

The Lurker Below

The Lurker Below is a giant kraken located in Serprentshrine Cavern, Lady Vashj’s raid dungeon. To summon the beast, you had to fish in a certain pool located within the cavern for a certain amount of time.

Warlock

Kanrethad Ebonlocke

Kanrethad Ebonlocke is the leader of the Council of the Black Harvest, a group of Azeroth’s most powerful warlocks.

After the death of Illidan in the Black Temple, Kanrethad together with another warlock called Jubeka tried to locate the origins of the demon hunter’s strengths. They assumed that the Shrine of Lost Souls that was protected by the Reliquary of Souls was the source of Illidan’s incredible power – Kanrethad even compared it to the Well of Eternity itself.

Kanrethad and Jubeka tried to siphon and channel the powers of the shrine into a crystal, but that attempt went completely south: Kanrethad turned into a demon and announced the end of the world brought by the demon-fueled Council of the Black Harvest. Together with WoW’s Warlock players, Jubeka was able to banish Kanrethad forever for abusing his demonic powers gained through the Shrine of Lost Souls.

Fun fact: Kanrethad’s demon form is shown in the prime version of his card, Kanrethad Prime!

Keli’dan the Breaker

Keli'dan the Breaker is the final boss of the 5-player dungeon Blood Furnace. After Illidan’s victory over Magtheridon, the Betrayer locked away the pit lord in the Hellfire Citadel, and the short-tempered Keli’dan was in charge of keeping it that way.

Warrior

Bulwark of Azzinoth

The Bulwark of Azzinoth is one of the most iconic items of the Burning Crusade expansion. This shield was in high demand among shield tanks, not last because of its bad-ass look. Azzinoth, who also once wielded the legendary Warglaives of Azzinoth, wore the shield as a cuirass.

Kargath Bladefist

In his history with Outland, Kargath Bladefist is the chieftain of an orc clan called the Shattered Hand and self-proclaimed Warchief of the Fel Horde. Serving under Illidan and corrupted by fel magic, Kargath resided in the Hellfire Citadel, once built by Blackhand himself, where he and his fel-infused orcs watched over the jailed Magtheridon.

Kargath is also the final boss of the 5-player dungeon Shattered Halls, which up to this day is known as one of the most difficult dungeons to complete at the time.

It is important to note that Kargath Bladefist may be one of the most important Horde characters in Warcraft lore; however, his appearance in the Burning Crusade expansion as a puppet of Illidan is a lot more one-dimensional than, for example, his involvement during the Warlords of Draenor expansion!

Neutral

Al’ar

Al'ar is Kael’thas Sunstrider’s favorite pet and one of the most famous flying mounts in World of Warcraft. However, it can only be obtained through completing the Kael’thas encounter in Tempest Keep. Its drop change is incredibly low, and many players still try to farm it to this day.

Kael’thas Sunstrider

Kael'thas Sunstrider, also known as Kael, was a blood elf mage and the last prince of Quel’Thalas. One could say that he plays the most important role during the Burning Crusade expansion right after Illidan.

After the happenings of Warcraft III, Kael was still with Illidan, despite him losing in a fight against the Lich King formerly known as Arthas Menethil. Kael started to doubt his master, who he followed to learn new ways of draining magic so that he and his sin’dorei could survive after the destruction of the Sunwell.

That was when Kil’jaeden, a lieutenant of Sargeras and the Burning Legion, approached Kael’thas. He eventually persuaded him to join the Burning Legion in return of tremendous power – however, many of his fellow blood elves that he once led to Outland didn’t agree with his new plans involving the Burning Legion.

With the remaining blood elven forces, Kael’thas moved to Netherstorm to explore new ways to drain magic together with the Burning Legion. He managed to conquer Tempest Keep, once a powerful fortress used as a ship created by the naaru, mystical entities of light and. From there, he wanted to summon Kil’jaeden with the help of the Vial of Eternity that Illidan once gave him.

Both the Horde and the Alliance found out about Kael’s evil plans and eventually took Tempest Keep by force – and his life, or at least they thought so. Later on during the expansion, Kael’thas, resurrected by the Burning Legion, once again sought to follow his agenda. He made the Magisters’ Terrace his new headquarters, a 5-player dungeon on Quel’Thalas which had been released in a later content patch for the Burning Crusade expansion.

Thanks to Lady Liadrin and Prophet Velen, the Horde and the Alliance once again united to slay the corrupted blood elf prince once and for all.

If you want to know more about good old Kael, check out Tharid’s comprehensive guide for the Lore of Kael’thas Sunstrider on wowhead.com!

Magtheridon

As already mentioned several times in other sections, Magtheridon is the former Lord of Outland. He was defeated by Illidan and his troops in the Black Temple.

After his defeat, he was locked away in a lair so that Illidan could use his blood to expand Kargath Bladefist’s fel orc army. To end Illidan’s cruel plan, player raids needed to enter Magtheridon’s Lair, a 1-boss raid dungeon, and slay the annihilan once and for all.

Maiev Shadowsong

Maiev Shadowsong is the leader of the Wardens, a special force of the night elf military. Once a Priestess of Elune, Maiev was not only the one who jailed Illidan but also killed him in the final encounter of the Black Temple.

Maiev’s obsession and pure hatred towards Illidan mostly stems from his actions involving Mount Hyjal and the new Well of Eternity. During a fight against him and the night elves, Illidan killed numerous soldiers and put Maiev’s brother into a coma.

In the Burning Crusade expansion, Maiev’s whereabouts were unclear at first. Her story in Warcraft III ended with her chasing Illidan through the portal to Outland, although Malfurion and Tyrande let him go voluntarily. As it turned out, she had been imprisoned by Illidan in Shadowmoon Valley but was able to escape thanks to Akama, the defecting once-draenei. Together they entered the Black Temple and ended Illidan’s reign of terror.

Teron Gorefiend

Teron Gorefiend is the first death knight. Once an orc shaman called Teron’gor, he joined the Shadow Council of Gul’dan, the group of Azeroth’s first warlocks but was slain in a fight on Draenor against the Paladin Turalyon after the Second War.

As an undead death knight, Teron Gorefind is one of the raid bosses of the Black Temple. His boss encounter may be one of the most memorable ones of the whole expansion – at the time there even existed a separate website that simulated a certain phase of the fight so that players could learn how to play the encounter without wiping their raid over and over again.