The Third War

Lore & Background

The conflict ignited when the Scourge, an undead army commanded by the Lich King, invaded the Eastern Kingdoms. Prince Arthas Menethil led the charge against them, but in his desperation to stop the plague, he made fateful choices that corrupted him. He purged the city of Stratholme and eventually killed his father; following King Terenas' death, Lordaeron City fell to the Scourge, leaving Arthas to travel north to find a weapon that would bind him to the Lich King's will forever. Simultaneously, the Burning Legion launched an invasion on Kalimdor under the command of Archimonde. Illidan Stormrage initially served the Burning Legion during this invasion, allying with the demonic forces and commanding satyrs against the Night Elves, before later acting independently. This forced the Night Elves, who had slept for millennia, to awaken and fight alongside Thrall's Orcish Horde and Jaina Proudmoore's human refugees. The alliance was fragile, born only of necessity against a common enemy that sought to consume all life. The war concluded with the destruction of Archimonde at Mount Hyjal, but victory came at a terrible cost. Lordaeron lay in ruins, occupied by the undead, while Thrall established Durotar for his people on the shores of Kalimdor. The stage was set for the rise of the Forsaken and the eventual return of Arthas as the Lich King.

In Their Own Story

The air atop Mount Hyjal tasted of ash and sulfur. Ancient treants roared, their bark armor splintering under the claws of felguards that swarmed like locusts. Archimonde stood upon a dark spire, his shadow stretching across the burning forest floor. Below, Thrall raised his hammer, shouting commands to orcs who fought beside elves they had once called enemies. The ground trembled as Illidan's fire magic tore through the demon ranks, a betrayal of loyalty that saved Azeroth but damned him in the eyes of history.

Reader's Guide

The Third War erupted when the Scourge invaded Lordaeron, forcing Prince Arthas to make impossible choices that corrupted his soul. Simultaneously, the Burning Legion targeted Kalimdor under Illidan Stormrage's command, threatening all life on Azeroth. Thrall led the newly liberated Orcs across the ocean, uniting with human survivors guided by Jaina Proudmoore. The conflict split into two theaters: the fall of the Eastern Kingdoms and the defense of the Night Elf homeland. Arthas sacrificed his kingdom to hunt Ner'zhul's spirit, becoming a Death Knight servant. In Kalimdor, ancient trees and druids rose against demon hordes at Mount Hyjal. Ultimately, Archimonde was destroyed, but the Scourge remained a threat. The war ended with Thrall establishing Durotar for his people while Jaina fled to Lordaeron's ruins. This conflict set the stage for the Forsaken rebellion and the eventual rise of the Lich King in Northrend.

Did You Know?

• The Burning Legion had previously appeared during the War of the Shifting Sands (the Ahn'Qiraj war) and other minor incursions before the Third War, so this conflict was not their first major appearance since the War of
• Thrall founded the nation of Durotar shortly after the Battle of Mount Hyjal, though its formal establishment occurred during the events of Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.
• Prince Arthas Menethil's descent into darkness began during this specific timeline.
• Jaina Proudmoore, originally from Kul Tiras, led refugees from Lordaeron to Kalimdor, but Lordaeron was not her homeland.