When Archimonde 's invasion of Azeroth had begun and Azshara's treachery became known, Malfurion convinced Illidan to leave his queen. Illidan followed his brother. But as Cenarius and the dragons entered the battle, Malfurion came to understand that their adversaries were too powerful to fall in combat. To end the invasion, he plotted the destruction of the Well of Eternity. The idea appalled Illidan. The Well was the source of his magic — and likely of the elves' immortality — and its loss was a price far too dear for him to pay.

In addition, the night elf found that he increasingly admired the powers of the Burning Legion, seeing a magical purity that underlay their chaotic behavior. Where the night elves struggled to maintain their ground, the Burning Legion's numbers did not seem to permanently diminish. After the death of Latosius , Illidan became the leader of the Moon Guard. However, Illidan did not use the Moon Guard to their fullest potential. Instead of having them cast spells, he ordered them to transfer their power into him, thus empowering his own spells instead; but in doing so, this opened them to attack from the demons with no means to defend themselves.

Illidan had strong feelings for Tyrande Whisperwind , a novice priestess in the Sisters of Elune. Illidan so desired to impress Tyrande that he often acted without thinking, particularly in magic; he never realized that these displays weren't quite what the priestess was looking for in a mate. But while Illidan struggled to win her heart, none of them realized that the battle was over soon after it had begun; Tyrande had chosen Malfurion almost from the beginning.

Xavius knew of this and used his power to darken Illidan's thoughts, convincing him that if Malfurion were to die, Illidan would no longer have a rival for Tyrande's love. Finally, the sight of Tyrande in the arms of his brother shattered his final ties to the defenders.

It was likely somewhere in this point of time that Illidan defeated a doomguard commander named Azzinoth and took up the demon's personal weapons as his own; these would become known as the Warglaives of Azzinoth.

Illidan from "The Sundering". Illidan, with a new plan spurred into his mind, journeyed to Zin-Azshari.

There he feigned allegiance to Azshara and Mannoroth. Illidan's plan was to obtain the Demon Soul , an artifact of great power created by Deathwing also known as Neltharion the Earth-Warder , which had the ability to close the portal which was allowing the demons to enter Kalimdor.

However, to put this plan in action, Illidan had to gain more power. Illidan was eventually brought before Sargeras himself, who quickly discovered the night elf's plan to obtain the Demon Soul for the Legion. Sargeras was pleased with this plan and gave Illidan a "gift" in return for his allegiance. Illidan's eyes were burned out by Sargeras himself, despite still being beyond the portal, and orbs of mystic fire set in their place that allowed Illidan to see all forms of magic, and fel tattoos covered his body.

When Illidan's eyes were burned out, he also received a vision of the true strength of the Legion and their crusade across infinite universes, and he came to realize that defeating them on Azeroth would mean nothing. He resolved then to find a way to defeat them for good.

When the Demon Soul came into the hands of the Legion, they went about using it as a focus to strengthen their portal above the Well of Eternity for Sargeras.

Illidan reunited with the Kaldorei Resistance , which now greatly mistrusted him after seeming to betray them and hand over the key to victory to the demons. But working alongside Malfurion, the brothers worked together to close the portal with the Demon Soul's power. The destruction of the portal caused the Well of Eternity itself to grow unstable, and right before the defenders fled Zin-Azshari Illidan took several vials and filled them with water from the Well of Eternity.

The Great Sundering that resulted from the Well's instability split the main supercontinent of Kalimdor into various smaller continents. After the Great Sundering, Illidan scaled the peaks of Mount Hyjal , where he found a small, tranquil lake. There he poured the contents of three of the vials into the waters. The chaotic energies quickly manifested, tainting the lake and twisting it into a new Well of Eternity.

Illidan's joy was short-lived however, when his brother, Malfurion, Tyrande and the rest of the kaldorei leadership discovered him - and all were horrified at what he'd done. Unable to accept that his brother had committed such treachery, Malfurion tried again to explain to Illidan the folly of his ways.

The magic, he insisted, was chaotic by nature, and it could only bring about destruction so long as it existed. Illidan refused to listen, so enraptured by the magic's power that his brother seemed to him an unknowing fool. Illidan claimed that magic would be needed should the Burning Legion ever return. The lack of remorse shook Malfurion to his core and he raged at his brother, understanding now that Illidan was lost forever to the magic's sway.

He ordered him imprisoned deep below Hyjal in a jail kept far from sight and mind. Malfurion would later note that sometimes he went to visit Illidan in his prison in the hopes of turning him from his fatal path. Illidan languished for 10, years in a lightless prison. Califax , a keeper of the grove , and a contingent of night elves including Maiev Shadowsong kept constant guard over the Betrayer. Release came at the unexpected hands of Tyrande, who slaughtered the night elf guards in the hopes of using Illidan against the Legion, which had returned to Azeroth at the hands of the Scourge.

With his love for Tyrande undampened through the millennia of confinement, Illidan agreed to help. He swore to throw back the Legion and to depart from the night elves forever.

Upon being released, Illidan stormed Hyjal's war-torn forest. Malfurion opposed Tyrande's decision, thinking the release of Illidan a catastrophic mistake. While in Felwood, he encountered Arthas , champion of the Lich King , and they engaged in combat. The fighters were equally matched, and the combatants reached an impasse.

Illidan stopped the duel and demanded to know why Arthas had tracked him. Arthas responded openly, telling Illidan about the Skull of Gul'dan , the demonic artifact that had corrupted Felwood. He explained that if the artifact were destroyed, the corruption of the forests would halt.

To ensure that Illidan would take the bait, Arthas spared no detail of the Skull's power, adding that his master knew of Illidan's thirst for power.

Although Illidan did not trust Arthas, he nevertheless sought the Skull and its power out. A great Demon Gate defended the Skull as Illidan and his forces had to fight mightily to gain access to the artifact. Driven by necessity and influenced by the belief that with the increased power, he could, at last, redeem himself in the eyes of Tyrande, he shattered the demonic seal and used the Skull's powers for his own.

Strength he found, but peril greater than power came to him at once. The battle for control of the Skull came with a heavy price and the artifact's powers changed him. Transformed into a demon, Illidan wrapped himself in shadow and utterly destroyed Tichondrius and his forces. But with victory came devastation. Tyrande and Malfurion sensed the demonic power lurking within Illidan and turned away with disgust and despair.

Malfurion chastised his brother, convinced that Illidan had traded his soul for more power. Enraged, Malfurion banished his brother from the forests.

Feeling his sacrifice and effort were unappreciated, Illidan muttered "So be it Kil'jaeden meets with Illidan, a few months after the Legion's defeat at Mount Hyjal and Archimonde 's death. After the Legion's defeat, Illidan was visited by Kil'jaeden , who, while noting Illidan's sketchy track record with the Legion, offered him one final chance to serve them. He told him to seek out the Frozen Throne , and destroy it.

Ner'zhul had grown far too powerful for Kil'jaeden to control and betrayed him, and Illidan was to remove him from the equation; in exchange for more power and magic than he could dream of. By harnessing Gul'dan's enchanted skull, Illidan came to possess the warlock's memories, and a plan came to mind, but he would need allies to help him. He decided to enlist the aid of old friends. Illidan had heard only rumors of the Highborne's fate. Illidan cast a powerful spell and called the naga to the surface, calling in some old Highborne debts.

They did not come because of their shared history, nor did they respect his demonic power. They came because the Old Gods willed it. They noticed Illidan and his hunger for power. They sent the naga to aid Illidan in his campaign against the Lich King so that it could spark a new war. If the former night elf became troublesome, the Old Gods could simply command the naga to cut out his fel-corrupted heart. Thus, Vashj came to lead those who would be known as " Illidan's Naga ".

But Illidan still had the troublesome warden, Maiev Shadowsong , to deal with, as she had persistently chased him all over Kalimdor. Illidan then allied with a group of satyrs , known as Illidan's Servitors , [35] and corrupted some furbolgs. Maiev killed the furbolgs and defeated his forces, but when she came to the port, Illidan hijacked a boat and set sail, while a cadre of naga stayed behind to scuttle the ships and ruin all hopes of following him.

With the naga swimming in his wake, Illidan came ashore on the Broken Isles — the ruined remains of Suramar ironically, the same city where Illidan grew up which Gul'dan and his warlocks had raised twenty years before, and the home of the Tomb of Sargeras.

Illidan after receiving the Orb of Kil'jaeden. But Illidan's servants had not been successful in destroying the boats. Maiev and the Watchers arrived on the Broken Isles shortly after Illidan, and the two forces battled across the watery terrain. Illidan reached the tomb, and Maiev was quick to follow.

With Gul'dan's knowledge, Illidan quickly traversed the Tomb and came to the chamber which contained the Eye of Sargeras. Maiev came upon him as he and Vashj were activating the powerful artifact, and, as vengeance for her imprisoning him for 10, years, Illidan used the Eye to bring the Tomb down around her, and then quickly escaped through the underwater passages used by the naga.

Though he killed Naisha and all the other Watchers within the Tomb, Maiev escaped with her magical abilities. On the surface, Illidan and Maiev battled for supremacy as the Warden sent out a runner to gather reinforcements from Ashenvale. Malfurion and Tyrande arrived on the Broken Isles with reinforcements as Maiev's base was being overrun. When they struck back , Illidan's forces crumbled, but he and his retainers fled before they were seriously harmed. Tyrande pursued them out of the base, and Illidan ensnared her to protect himself, and then warned her not to interfere.

He fled across the sea once again. During this battle, Tyrande finally revealed why she had spurned Illidan: too drunk with his rising magical and political power, he had forgotten his own inner strength. Malfurion, despite his increases in power, held on to that strength within him. Armed with this knowledge, Illidan finally came to grips with his feelings. Illidan landed on the shore of Lordaeron , and quickly made his way through the Silverpine Forest to get to Dalaran , where Illidan began to use the Eye of Sargeras to break apart the polar ice cap and destroy Icecrown and the Frozen Throne.

But he was interrupted by Maiev and Malfurion, and the spell failed. Malfurion had felt Illidan's spell tearing the land apart and concluded that he was a danger to the world and had to be stopped. Illidan, who was entangled by his brother, called Malfurion a fool as he was destroying the Lich King , their common enemy. Malfurion was furious at him for causing the loss of Tyrande, who had been, according to Maiev, killed.

Illidan was heartbroken that the woman he loved was dead, but Prince Kael'thas , the night elves' newest ally, thought that perhaps it was premature to presume her dead. Kael'thas explained that Tyrande had not been "torn apart" by the undead, as Maiev had told Malfurion, but had instead fallen into a river and been swept away by the currents.

Malfurion immediately arrested the Warden and promptly went in search of Tyrande. Illidan begged to be allowed to help his brother track down the beloved priestess. Illidan and his personal guard of naga found Tyrande under heavy attack from a massive undead force.

Illidan and his naga battled their way through the undead until they reached her. Tyrande was taken aback by Illidan's service to her, and when he delivered her safely to Malfurion, she was astonished. Malfurion told Illidan he was free to go on the condition that he never threaten the night elves again. Illidan, wishing for an end to the conflict with his brother, agreed. After Malfurion let him go, Illidan created a portal to Outland by using a small rift left behind from the portal Kel'Thuzad had used to summon Archimonde into Azeroth.

Sponsored Links. In this article: Azshara , Black-Temple , Burning-Legion , featured , guide , guide-to-lore , Illidan , Kiljaeden , lore , lore-guide , Magtheridon , Malfurion , role-play , role-playing-guide , rp-guide , Sargeras , Stormrage , Temple-of-Karabor , Tyrande , Varothen , world-of-warcraft-lore , wow-guide , wow-lore , wow-role-playing , wow-role-playing-guide , wow-rp , wow-rp-guide , wow-rping. The World of Warcraft is an expansive universe. You're plKnow Youaying the game, you're fighting the bosses, you know the how -- but do you know the why?

Burning Crusade Classic , however, will see players return to Outland to face Illidan in all his messy, morally ambiguous, and power-hungry glory. Twitch reverses its fifth ban against popular streamer Amouranth, allowing her back on the streaming platform after just three days. Amouranth Returns to Twitch After 3 Day Ban Twitch reverses its fifth ban against popular streamer Amouranth, allowing her back on the streaming platform after just three days.

Share Share Tweet Email. Charlie Stewart Articles Published. I swear it! Comment by Rarehunter Yes, it is a panda. According to Wowwiki, the panda is Samwise Didier's trademark. Also, when Illidan consumes the Skull of Gul'dan in WC3, he grows horns and wings and the panda on his blades changes from a happy panda to an angry panda.

Comment by Discover In game, he is classified as a demon. Comment by Apotheosis We're playing a fantasy game, so there's always the possibility of any character coming back from the dead through means of magic, or some other deux ex machina, but I highly doubt that Illidan will be brought back.

Illidan's story arc was basically done when Arthas nearly killed him at the end of The Frozen Throne. Ever since then I think Illidan has devolved into a broken spirit, he failed his masters, and from what we know about patch 2. Illidan played his part in the grand scheme of things during Warcraft III, and in truth I think that's where his real story ended.

He gave up on every chance for redemption that was thrown his way, and will go down in the lore as selfish, insane, and arrogant, but powerful nontheless. Comment by Well It is in the 2nd camapining with Blood Elves!

Comment by According to Blizzard, they made the last cinematic in TFT a realtime 3d animation rather than a prerendered cinematic because they were pressed for time. Maiev Shadowsong's survival may well have been a retcon though, besides the fact that there was an altar of elders rezzing her every so often. Comment by Illidan Stormrage is the final boss in Black Temple.

When you start the fight remember this: 4 Tanks must be used for his encounter: a Warrior in his normal gear, 2 offtanks in optimized fire protection gear and a warlock tank with shadow protection gear. Frost specialized Mages are highly recommended both for their damage against fire-immune targets and the ultility of their defensive abilities. Flame Chrash: Deals to Fire damage in an area in front of Illidan, as well as creating an area of fire in the same location.

This area deals Fire damage to anyone who steps into it. Draw Soul: Deals to Shadow damage to everyone in front of Illidan, regardless of range.

Illidan will gain , health for every target that is affected by this. Parasitic Shadowfiend: Deals Shadow damage every 2 sec. This also summons a Parasitic Shadowfiend at the end of the duration of the damage over time spell. Dark Barrage: Targets a random person in the raid and deals shadow damage per second for 10 sec. Eye Blast: Deals a stream of damage across Illidan's chamber, incinerating targets with to Shadow damage in 6 yard radius around the blast.

On top of this instant damage dealt, the eye blast also leaves behind a trail of fire that will damage players if they touch it. In Stage 2 Illidan will fly in the air and cannot be attacked but he will throw down his 2 Blades of Azzinoth on opposite sides of the circle that marks the center of The Black Temple's summit.

Each blade will spawn a Flame of Azzinoth, a powerful fire elemental with over 1 million hit points. The second stage ends when both Flame of Azzinoth are dead. Move away from the inner circle and prepare for stage 3. Stage 3: HP: Damage: Abilities: Agonizing Flames: This is an area effect fire spell that deals damage over time to anyone affected. Deals a total of Fire damage over 60 sec. It hits a random player outside of 15 yards, unless it cannot find anyone, then it just hits anyone it can find.

The damage it deals increases over time, similar to Curse of Agony. Flame Burst: Throws fireballs to everyone in the raid outside of 15 yards.

Deals to Fire damage to the target and all targets in a 5 yard radius. These demons cast Paralyze on a random target and move towards them slowly, ignoring everyone else. If they get to their target, they instantly kill them and choose a new target. Shadow Blast: Deals area damage around the target and all friends of the target. This one will be fired off constantly during this phase, it has zero coldown. Stage 4 75 sec. At Stage 4 Illidan will wipe his threat meter.

She periodically blinks to a player in the raid and places down a trap that can be use against Illidan. In this stage, Illidan enters an enraged state which significantly increases his damage. The tank needs to drag Illidan towards the trap, click to activate it, and position Illidan on top of it.

While trapped, Illidan takes additional damage from every player attacking him. Keep attacking him until hes hit points reaches zero. Congratulations You finally defeated Illidan, Stormrage and maybe with a little bit luck Illidans legendary Warglaive of Azzinoth will be yours Comment by There is no trash to Illidan from Illidari Council, so warlocks bring shards, if you are low, the Parasitic Shadowfiends that spawns in some of the phases can be Souldrained for a shard :.

Comment by Illidan started with lessons with Cenarius just like Malfurion. It is correct, however, that he never felt a connection to the teachings of druidism. Instead, he was much more attracted to the powers that the Moon Guard weilded. Didn't Arthas left him bleed to death? At least it looks so. Comment by Illidan was mortally wounded by Arthas' strike, however, before Arthas could finish him off Ner'Zhul called to Arthas, and he left Illidan for death Kael and Vashj took Illidan with them and fixed him up in the wc3 tft he looked dead, but never was.

Comment by Marat We're playing a fantasy game, so there's always the possibility of any character coming back from the dead through means of magic, or some other deux ex machina, but I highly doubt that Illidan will be brought back.

Comment by He was never capruted by the demons. He went willingly. Comment by Yarthort Also, Illidan, like Azshara, was born with golden eyes which were uncommon before the destruction of the first Well of Eternity which was also called The Great Sundering, Night Elfs thought that golden eyes were a sign of future greatness.

However this was found to not be true because both had bad outcomes. Later on these eyes were found out to be a sign of druidic potential. Like you said, Illidan was not a druidic person, yet addicted to arcane magic. In correction he was not called the Betrayer because of his defection to Sargeras because he came back to help. He was called the Betrayer when he created the second Well of Eternity. Before the explosion of the first Well, he filled vials with its waters. Upon the destruction of the first well, the Night Elfs found another lake in Hyjal.

When they found this lake, they found that Illidan had poured the vials he had take from the first Well into this new lake. He thought that his people would praise him as a hero, however, his brother Malfurion was outraged. He was the decider of his fate because of how he helped rid Azeroth of Sargeras and because he was Illidan's borther. He felt that it would be cruel to sentence him to death but sentenced him to jail for the rest of his immortal life.

In order to mask the second Well's existance from the Legion, they created what used to be the first world tree which also restored there lost immortality when the first Well was destroyed.

This time the Legion was comanded by the Eradar Warlock Archimonde. On the way to the Barrow Dens to awaken the druids to aid them in the fight against the Legion, Tyrande Whisperwind noticed a jail which Illidan was kept in. She believed that Illidan was able to help them in the fight agains tthe Legion. Malfurion begged Tyrande not to set Illidan free but she defied him. He then consumed the Skull of Gul'dan and killed Ticondrious.

Consuming the Skull of Gul'dan, he awas transformed into a demon which gave him wings and horns and many other features. Malfurion found out that he has damned himself and exiled Illidan who lwas then hunted by Maiev Shadowsong. Maiev was the warden incharge of Illidan when he was in prison, when he escaped she vowed to hunt him down and kill him.

After being exiled, Kil'jaeden gave him a task in echange for greater power. Kil'jaeden gave him the task of destroying the Lich King. He then went to Sageras' "tomb" to recover an artifact known as "The Eye of Sargeras". Malfurian and Maiev stoped him before he could destroy it. He then atempted to go to Ice Crown himself with his army of naga the Highborn elfs that wer traped underwater for 10, years and turned into semi-amphybian creaturs and the help of Kael'thas who pleged his loyalty to Illidan in search of magic for him and his Blood Elfs.

He fought Arthas at Ice Cown but was mortally wounded but lived. Inorder to atempt to hide from Kil'jaeden's wrath, he fled to outland where he defeated the current lord of outland at the time, Magtheridon and became the new Lord of Outland. He is now the final boss in the man raid instance of Black Temple. Edit: I added alot of stuff to make it more interesting. Comment by Anthara A mage can successfully tank in lieu of a Warlock tank.

Additional healing may be required. In our case, we added a Tree who kept HoTs on me as well as the raid. Benefits of a fire mage vs. Indirect benefits of having a fire mage tank instead of lock include: Allowing every lock to spec Nether Protection which is beneficial in many fights M'uru, Twins, Brutallus, Kalecgos, Illidan, Council, Shahraz, Gorefiend, Supremus, Archimonde, Azgalor, Kaz'rogal until reaching Alythess, at which point a lock tank is highly preferred and will have to spec out of NP Allowing the lock who would have had to tank to dps instead, pumping out far greater dps especially during phase 2, the most critical phase than the fire mage possibly could More distant positioning of Illidan by the melee tank to increase the distance Shadow Demons will have to travel.

Either to finish his task and defeat him for kiljaeden or because he wants vengeance against him. You now seek to challenge my rule? Then i say to you, come! The black temple awaits.

Oh ya? Comment by Illidan went insane when Arthas beat him, and now he thinks he beat Arthas but spared his life to flee to outland, while in reality, Arthas spared his life and Kael and Vashj whisked him away to outland. Comment by I suggest to every one who wants to learn the true stori of illidan stormrage to buy the wast 3 books that blizzard has on the market.

The story is realy interesting. Comment by Afrozombie If he is one of the most iconic figures in Warcraft and WoW lore why does a tortured pit commander Brutallus almost have twice as much health as the last boss of Black Temple?

Comment by What is the skull he allways have in his hand? Is it the skull of Gul'Dan or just a normal skull? Comment by So does for example Illidan drop now two or three t6 tokens after recent 2. Comment by Sandos I'm blind, not deaf. When a glaive drops, both epics and all 3 chest tokens will still drop. Comment by He is mentioned in this book found in Stratholme and Scholo. Comment by Hmmm Illidan is a Demon Will Enslave Demon work on him?

Hee hee Comment by whitedragon Heres some info on illidan. Illidan gained his powers from sargeras, who burned his eyes out and replaced them with magical orbs. Illidan covered his eyes with a blindfold after that, he gained rune tatoos on his body and enhanced magical abilitys.

He used the blades of azzinoth which he had looted off the demon Azzinoth.