4th Place Deathwing, the Destroyer (9%)
Almost a tenth of you consider the dragon Deathwing to be the greatest villain of World of Warcraft. Many players even know him only as the evil dragon monster that you can fight against – but he was once even a friend of the world.
Who was Deathwing?
Originally named Neltharion, Deathwing was one of the leaders of the dragonflights, alongside Alexstrasza, Ysera, Malygos, and Nozdormu. He was the head of the black dragonflight, which at that time did not yet yearn for world domination.
Later, Neltharion, like the other four, became one of the five Dragon Aspects. The Titans appointed the leaders of the flights as the protectors of Azeroth, and Neltharion received the blessing of Khaz’goroth as the Earth-Warder.
As Earth-Warder, he was supposed to protect Azeroth and shape mountains. This power can still be experienced today in Neltharion’s Lair in the fight against Dargrul, who wields the Hammer of Khaz’goroth.
How did he become a villain?
He fulfilled the role of Earth-Warder for some time alongside the other aspects until he was eventually driven mad by the Old Gods. The Old Gods whispered to him that he could possess more power than he could imagine if he served them.
He followed his destiny despite the whispers. The other aspects and his best friend Malygos did not notice his madness. However, the Old Gods steadily nourished the thoughts of power and total domination within Neltharion.
It was not until the Earth-Warder ultimately betrayed the other aspects that his madness was revealed. By that time, it was already too late. When the Earth-Warder melted heavy adamantium plates into his flesh later in his madness, Neltharion became Deathwing.
What are his greatest crimes?
Deathwing’s greatest crime is obviously the destruction of Azeroth. Only through his madness and lust for destruction did many areas become the ravaged lands they are today.
As is customary with dragons, this is just the end of the plan. The intrigues he spun up to this point extend much further. The most crucial point in his story and perhaps also the one at which he definitively could no longer turn back, was the betrayal of the other aspects.
During the War of the Ancients, all aspects agreed to forge an artifact with which they could keep the Burning Legion away from Azeroth. He forged the Dragon Soul, to which each aspect was to contribute a part of their essence.
The souls were meant to prevent any dragon of this flights from being able to damage the soul. Only Neltharion contributed nothing, allowing him to claim the power of the artifact for himself.
The power of the Dragon Soul, which from this point was called the Demon Soul, threatened to tear Neltharion apart. This was also the reason he had his entire body encased in adamantium to contain the power within himself. What would have happened otherwise can be relived in the final boss fight of the Dragon Soul raid.
Through all the planning since that time, Deathwing has indirectly accounted for even more atrocities. Because of him, the orcs discovered the Demon Soul, enslaved Alexstrasza, and stole her children. His son Nefarian bred the chromatic dragonflight, and his daughter Onyxia is responsible for the existence of the Defias.
