The story of World of Warcraft has been written for over 15 years in the game and even much longer before that. During this time, the world has changed repeatedly. Some legendary items are largely responsible for this.
What items are we talking about here? In the story of World of Warcraft, there have always been powerful artifacts that have influenced many decisions.
Some of them are so powerful that they affect the entire story. They either caused the world to change themselves or set corresponding events in motion.
The items we present to you here have fundamentally shaped World of Warcraft and created the Azeroth we know today.
If you need a refresher, here is the story up to and including Legion:
1. Frostmourne
This is the story of Frostmourne: Frostmourne is best known as the soul-devouring sword of Arthas Menethil – the Lich King.
The cursed blade originally belonged to the first (known to us) Lich King, Ner’zhul. The sword was forged in the Forge of Domination, which you can find in the next expansion, Shadowlands.
Ner’zhul, whose body was destroyed and whose spirit was chained to the Frost Throne, sent the blade to a cave in Northrend. There, Arthas Menethil was meant to find it and succumb to its whispers.
Arthas follows the voices, increasingly falls under their control, and ultimately goes to the Frost Throne to become the Lich King himself – the greatest villain of Azeroth. After his death, Frostmourne was destroyed and reforged as an artifact weapon for the Frost Death Knights.
How has it changed the story? The transformation of Arthas himself is certainly a significant event in history, but not the main point. The greatest influence Frostmourne has on World of Warcraft is through the death of Sylvanas Windrunner.
During his campaign, Arthas also reaches Quel’Thalas and Silvermoon, the realm of the High Elves (now the Blood Elves). Here he kills the Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner and allows Frostmourne to claim her soul.
Sylvanas thus becomes the Banshee she is today and bears the responsibility for our impending journey to the Shadowlands. Sylvanas herself has shaped World of Warcraft more than most characters – but only after her death. Read more about the story of Sylvanas Windrunner here:
2. The Skull of Gul’dan
This is the story of the skull: The Skull of Gul’dan is one of the remnants of the powerful warlock Gul’dan, after he was torn apart in the Tomb of Sargeras. Even after his death, the artifact still carries great power.
Over time, the Skull of Gul’dan has passed through many hands. The presumably most important individuals among them are the Orc and later Lich King Ner’zhul as well as Illidan Stormrage.
The power of the skull is apparently so great that it can still corrupt those who bear it. Gul’dan is said to be able to speak with those who possess his skull and corrupt them even in his death.
Illidan bears the skull for a time as a relic until he is defeated in The Burning Crusade. When he returns in Legion, he kills Gul’dan and finally destroys his skull.
How has it changed the story? The skull is responsible in several ways for the changes in World of Warcraft:
- Ner’zhul uses the skull to open the second Dark Portal and other gates, whose power shatters Draenor and turns it into the shattered world
- The Burning Legion uses the skull to corrupt the Felwood and the Blasted Lands
- Illidan Stormrage drains the power of the skull
The last point is the most important. Illidan uses the power of the skull but is not corrupted by it. He simply becomes more powerful, so much so that he can hunt the Legion independently at the end of the addon. Whether he could have done that without the power of the skull is hard to say.
3. The Dragon Soul
This is the story of the Dragon Soul: The artifact was originally crafted by Neltharion, the Aspect of Earth, with the help of the Old Gods. With a trick, he managed to get the Dragon Aspects Alexstrasza, Ysera, Nozdormu, and Malygos to assist him.
All aspects gave a part of their essence for it, except Neltharion. As a result, no other dragonflight can destroy the artifact, and it allows Neltharion to dominate other dragons.
However, bearing the Dragon Soul, which is later renamed Demon Soul, tears Neltharion’s body apart. To endure its power, he has adamantium plates forged onto his body and thus becomes Deathwing.
The Dragon Soul itself is later used by the aspects to destroy Deathwing. They receive help from Thrall as a replacement for Neltharion as the Aspect of Earth, and Kalecgos as the new Aspect of Magic after Malygos’ death.
How has it changed the story? The Dragon Soul thus caused Deathwing to be born. This has two implications for the story of Azeroth.
On one hand, it turned the former Aspect Neltharion into Deathwing, who has largely destroyed Azeroth. The Cataclysm transformed Azeroth in ways that had never happened before or since in the game itself. Almost all areas were completely altered, some destroyed, and later rebuilt.
On the other hand, it is also responsible for Deathwing being destroyed again. Without it, Azeroth would likely be completely destroyed or under Deathwing’s control. It is thus both the cause of Azeroth’s destruction and the reason for its salvation.
4. The Heart of Y’Shaarj
This is the story of the heart: After the Old God Y’Shaarj was killed by the Titans, his parts scattered across the world. One of these parts is his corrupted heart.
Y’Shaarj was the most powerful of the Old Gods and largely responsible for the Titans having to intervene at all. After his death, his last breath manifested in the seven Sha you know from Mists of Pandaria.
The heart is locked away in secure vaults so that it cannot cause harm until Garrosh Hellscream frees it. After he is also defeated in one of the best raids of all time, the heart stops beating.
How has it changed the story? The Heart of Y’Shaarj is largely responsible for Garrosh Hellscream being so powerful at the end of Mists of Pandaria. Without the corrupted power, he would probably not have become the final boss.
His crimes and subsequent prosecution by the Pandaren influence the story by leading to his release by corrupt Bronze Dragons.
This release during his trial leads to the events of Warlords of Draenor. Therefore, without the corruption of the heart, the story of Warlords would have looked very different or might not have existed at all.
5. The Focusing Iris
This is the story of the iris: The artifact belongs to the treasures of the Blue Dragonflight and is the most important pillar for the power of Malygos. The insane Aspect used the Iris to tap into the ley lines of Azeroth.
After Malygos’ death, Kalecgos orders that the Iris be kept safe. However, along the way, the escort is ambushed by the Horde, and the Iris is stolen. With it, the Horde later creates the mana bomb that destroys Theramore.
After that, the Iris is kept in Dalaran, but is stolen by Archmage Xylem. Xylem is defeated by adventurers as part of the Mage Tower challenges, and the Iris returns to Dalaran.
How has it changed the story? Although Malygos uses the Iris to rob the world and the “mortals” of magic, it has its greatest influence on the now well-known story in the mana bomb.
The bomb destroys Theramore in a cruel fashion that almost wipes out everyone there and kills the leader of the Kirin Tor: Ronin. The destruction of the city profoundly changes Jaina Proudmoore.
She transforms from the peace-seeking diplomat into a fiercely fighting mage. It is she who now constantly pushes for battle and currently faces Sylvanas Windrunner in Battle for Azeroth.
Without the Iris, the mana bomb would probably not have been able to destroy Theramore, and the story up to Battle for Azeroth would have progressed differently had Jaina continued on her path of peace. Read here more about the story of Jaina Proudmoore:
6. The Sword of Sargeras
This is the story of the sword: Not much is known about Sargeras’ sword. The Titan Sargeras was originally called upon to protect the worlds created by the Titans.
However, he turned against the plans and set out to destroy all life. To that end, he created the Burning Legion, which has since devastated worlds.
Sargeras himself attacks Azeroth several times. Once he is invited into the world by Azshara, which ultimately leads to Illidan becoming the figure he is today. Another time, he battles the Guardian Aegwynn and is defeated. However, his sword is only used once.
How has it changed the story? This single use occurs at the end of Legion. Here, Sargeras drives his sword into Azeroth after his defeat and almost destroys the planet.
The sword tears a deep wound in Silithus and injures Azeroth, which turns out to be a slumbering Titan. This releases her blood: Azerite, which today is an important element for players.
The attack has led to you receiving the Heart of Azeroth and being able to help heal the planet. Also, Sargeras’ defeat could still retroactively influence the story.
The released Azerite is also used for powerful weapons that currently determine the battle for Azeroth and have caused the escalation in Battle for Azeroth.
7. Daelin Proudmoore’s Pendant
This is the story of the pendant: Lord Admiral Daelin Proudmoore’s pendant is actually nothing more than a necklace with an anchor, the symbol of Kul Tiras. It marks the bearer as Lord Admiral of the seafaring kingdom.
After Daelin Proudmoore dies after the Third War against the Orcs, the pendant passes to his wife Katherine, Jaina’s mother. She harbors, like most Kul Tirans, a hatred for Jaina for her apparent betrayal of her father.
Lady Katherine later explains about the pendant that it can be used to recall Kul Tiras’ lost fleet. She just never could, because she is not destined to be Lord Admiral.
How has it changed the story? After Jaina resolves the dispute with her mother and the Kul Tirans, she receives the pendant from Katherine. This is used by the now new Lady Admiral to summon the lost fleet.
The fleet, Kul Tiras’ strongest military force, has up to this point been trapped in a storm conjured by tide priests. With the pendant, the fleet can be brought back to Boralus.
Shortly before the fleet appears, Lady Ashvane with her own fleet is about to destroy Boralus. Without the fleet’s intervention, the city would likely have perished and Battle for Azeroth would already be over.
With the fleet, the Alliance now has a formidable naval force and the opportunity to defend themselves. Without the pendant, the Alliance would likely have already lost the war, and the story of Azshara and N’zoth would not have been uncovered.
Bonus: The Helm of Domination
Another item has a significant impact on the story. The greatest event related to it lies in the future. We have attached it as a bonus. Anyone who does not want to be spoiled about Shadowlands should skip this section.
This is the story of the helm: Like Frostmourne, the Helm of Domination was also forged in the Shadowlands. It serves the current Lich King to control the undead Scourge and, in Bolvar’s case, to keep them in check.
The helm contains a part of Ner’zhul’s essence. It merges with its current bearer into the actual entity of the Lich King.
Both Arthas Menethil and Bolvar Fordragon have become so powerful because of him.
How does it change the story? At the presentation of Shadowlands at BlizzCon 2019, a new cinematic was also shown. In it, the battle between Bolvar and Sylvanas can be seen.
Sylvanas defeats the Lich King and takes the helm. Instead of wearing it, she destroys it, which leads to the fabric of the world being disturbed and the Scourge marauding again.
The exact consequences of the destruction are still unclear. However, it has led to the path to the Shadowlands being cleared. How this story unfolds, you will only find out with the new expansion.
