The Burning Legion

Lore & Background

Born from the despair of Sargeras after witnessing the corruption of creation by the Void, the Burning Legion was formed across the Twisting Nether and countless worlds, with Argus later becoming its seat of power. Sargeras corrupted the Eredar on Argus, transforming them into demons, while many other races were twisted into demonic forms through fel magic rather than by Sargeras directly. He also enslaved others, such as the Orcs, corrupting them via Mannoroth's blood; these orcs remained mortal orcs, physically and spiritually corrupted but not transformed into demons, and only a few were later further altered into fel orcs. Throughout history, the Legion has launched multiple invasions against Azeroth. Their presence was felt long before the Third War; however, during the First and Second Wars, the Legion's direct involvement was minimal—Mannoroth corrupted the orcs through a blood pact, but Archimonde did not appear until the Third War, and the major incursions were led by the orcish Horde rather than Legion lieutenants. The Third War marked a renewed, full-scale assault rather than their first major attempt. Decades later, during the events surrounding the Legion expansion, Sargeras stabbed Azeroth with his sword in a final act of vengeance, leaving the blade embedded and wounding the planet, but not destroying it. Despite being repelled multiple times by heroes and defenders, the army remains a shadow over the cosmos.

In Their Own Story

The air tasted of sulfur and old blood as the rift tore open above the valley. A Fel Orc, skin glowing with emerald veins, stepped through first, its roar shaking the ground beneath mortal boots. Behind it, shadows writhed into the shapes of eredar mages, their eyes burning with green fire that promised only ash. There was no negotiation here, only the cold, hungry hunger of a universe seeking to be unmade.

Reader's Guide

The Burning Legion originated when the Titan Sargeras fell to despair, deciding that life itself was a cancer to be purged from the cosmos. He forged an army of corrupted beings, primarily Eredar and Orcs, to carry out his crusade across dimensions. Their home world, Argus, was shattered during their formation, leaving them as eternal wanderers in the Twisting Nether. Throughout history, they have invaded Azeroth multiple times. The most notable incursions occurred during the Third War, where Mannoroth's blood corrupted the Orcish Horde, and later during the Legion expansion when Sargeras himself attempted to strike a fatal blow at the planet. Despite repeated defeats by heroes like Illidan Stormrage and the forces of Azeroth, the Legion remains an existential threat. Their hierarchy is strict, led by Sargeras but managed by lieutenants like Kil'jaeden and Archimonde. They utilize fel magic to corrupt worlds and fuel their endless war machine. Even when pushed back, fragments of the army persist in the Nether, waiting for a moment of weakness to return and continue their genocidal mission against all living things.

Did You Know?

• Argus was the eredar homeworld, later transformed into the Legion's seat; it was shattered during the Argus campaign in World of Warcraft: Legion, not by Sargeras to fuel the Legion's creation.
• The original Orcish Horde was corrupted by drinking the blood of Mannoroth but remained mortal orcs; they were not transformed into demons, and only a few later became fel orcs.
• Not all Eredar became demons; a faction known as the Draenei refused Sargeras' transformation and fled under Velen's leadership.
• Fel fire burns green and corrupts whatever it touches with chaotic energy.

The Invasion of Azeroth

World of Warcraft: Legion marked a pivotal shift in the game's narrative, serving as the sixth expansion following Warlords of Draenor. Announced during Gamescom in August 2015 and released later that year on August 30, 2016, this update brought the ancient threat of the Burning Legion to the forefront of Azerothian conflict. The storyline centered on a massive demonic invasion targeting the Broken Isles, a new continent introduced specifically for this expansion. The expansion featured a robust progression system with ten initial five-man dungeons and two major raid tiers at launch, later expanding to include four distinct raid tiers across various patches. These raids culminated in Antorus, the Burning Throne, located on Argus, the Legion's home world and former Draenei homeworld, providing players with an epic conclusion to the war against Sargeras.

Legendary Artifact Weapons

A defining feature of the expansion was the introduction of artifact weapons, powerful relics wielded by legends throughout Warcraft history. There were thirty-six unique artifacts designed specifically for every class specialization combination, ensuring that each player felt connected to deep lore. Notable examples included the Ashbringer for Retribution Paladins, the Doomhammer for Enhancement Shamans, and the twin blades known as the Blades of the Fallen Prince for Frost Death Knights. These weapons were not static items; they evolved alongside the player, gaining power through quests, world events, and boss defeats within the Broken Isles. Players could customize their weapon's appearance and unlock new forms by completing specific tasks. Furthermore, a unique fishing artifact called the Underlight Angler was available for anglers.

The Demon Hunter Hero Class

Legion introduced the Demon Hunter as the second hero class in the game's history, following the Death Knight. This elite order, known as the Illidari, operates on the philosophy of fighting fire with fire by harnessing demonic fel magic to destroy the Burning Legion. The transformation process is perilous; initiates must consume a demon's heart, a ritual that kills most or drives them insane. Survivors become part-demon, manifesting horns, wings, and claws while ritually blinding themselves to gain spectral sight for detecting stealthed enemies and demonic energy. Restricted to Night Elves and Blood Elves due to Illidan Stormrage's specific training, these characters begin at level 98 with a unique backstory set ten years prior on the shattered world of Mardum. Their narrative involves retrieving the Sargerite Keystone before being imprisoned in the Vault of the Wardens for a decade until the Broken Shore battle necessitated their release. They specialize in either Vengeance for tanking or Havoc for damage, wielding warglaives similar to Illidan's Blades of Azzinoth.

Revolutionary Gameplay Mechanics

The expansion fundamentally altered how players engaged with dungeons and player-versus-player combat through several innovative systems. Mythic Plus was introduced as a scalable dungeon difficulty mode activated by keystones; completing these timed runs rewards higher-level keys and better loot, creating an endless progression loop for dedicated groups. In the PvP arena, a new honor system allowed players to unlock specific talents usable only in competitive combat, with gear bonuses nullified to ensure balance based on class specialization rather than item level. Additionally, every class received an Order Hall, serving as a hub for recruitment and faction management. These halls allowed players to recruit followers and undertake missions that supported the war effort against the Legion, integrating social progression directly into the core gameplay loop alongside the traditional raiding and leveling experiences.