Two Bosses Enter: Onyxia vs. Sapphiron

And we're going to start out with a dragon battle for the ages: the black flight vs. the blue flight, the living vs. the undead, Onyxia vs. Sapphiron. For more information on these two bosses, speculation on what might happen if they ever met up in Azeroth, and a chance to vote for the winner, read on!
Onyxia
Onyxia is the broodmother of the Black Dragonflight and daughter of the infamous Deathwing. In the game, she presently resides in her lair in Dustwallow Marsh, where she devours the occasional 40-player raid group. In a fight, Onyxia relies on powerful physical attacks (from claws and tail) and ability to dish out massive quantities of fire damage. And if cornered, she can take to the air and pelt her targets with blasts of fire from above.
Sapphiron
Sapphiron was once a living member of the Blue Dragonflight -- though those times are long past. In a fight with Arthas, Sapphiron was transformed into a frost wyrm who thenceforth served the Scourge. In the game, he may be found in Naxxramas guarding Kel'Thuzad's inner sanctum. As Onyxia is to fire, Sapphiron is to frost -- he has a variety of hard-hitting frost spells and can also drain life from his targets. As Onyxia does, he will take to the air during a fight to attack his targets from a safe distance.
The Fight
So who would win? That's what you're here to decide. For the purpose of this vote, let's presume that these two bosses are of approximately the same level and health as well as fighting in neutral territory (no, there won't be any dragon whelps in this battle) -- we're primarily looking at their abilities and fighting style. Would Onyxia's fire attacks leave Sapphiron a pile of ashes? Or would Sapphiron's frost spells leave Onyxia out cold?
Sorry, folks, but voting for this round is over and done. Check out the results in our wrap-up!
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Bosses, Two Bosses Enter






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rex Jun 17th 2007 3:48PM
Sapph... Naxx > Ony
Varatil Jun 17th 2007 4:21PM
Ony's already beaten Sapphiron before and looted Sapphiron drape. Clearly she can do it again.
Deathlike Jun 17th 2007 4:20PM
Keep in mind that the idea is that they're the same level and on equal fighting grounds. I'm sure in ACTUAL GAMEPLAY that Sapphiron is quite a bit more powerful than Onyxia, just because he's in a raid that's much much harder.
Pez Jun 17th 2007 4:27PM
Yeah... how can this hardly be judged by the majority of WI's readers? Most of us have downed Ony countless times, but joined into guilds that had her on farms or learned with guilds that just followed the instructions from the hundreds of previous guilds that downed her.
On the other hand, most of us never have even gotten the chance to wipe on Sapph, let alone down him.
Let's keep this a little more realistic. How about Hogger Vs. Sarkoth? ;)
Regyr Jun 17th 2007 4:40PM
Consider that Sapphiron is mostly bone and ice - two materials that are traditionally (in RPGs at least) weak to fire.
However, also consider that Sapphiron is undead, and likely substantially harder to "kill" in the first place.
I vote for a draw...
oshin Jun 17th 2007 4:38PM
Look it like this, Whens onyxia going to farm the frost resist for sapphiron, on the other hand hes undead so he can will of the forsaken right out of her fear !
Vogen the Dorf Hunter Jun 17th 2007 4:55PM
Back in WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne, I used Sapphiron to destroy all of Illidan's camps in Northrend. All of them, with just that one unit.
Sapphiron was a Blue Dragon ELDER, charged by Malygos to guard ancient artifacts of importance to the Blue Flight. Seeing as how my Dragons grow stronger with age, and considering how much ass he kicked in WCIII, I'll say Sappiron.
Vogen the Dorf Hunter Jun 17th 2007 4:57PM
*Many, not 'my'. Typo. =P
Matt Park Jun 17th 2007 5:31PM
*ahem*
So even assuming same level/HP, Sapphiron will likely wipe the floor with Onyxia.
Why? Frostbolt. every one he does freezes Onyxia for 22sec. Now, this shouldn't be a problem (the freezing makes you invulnerable and unabel to move), except that after 15 minutes, Sapphiron enrages. That means his frost aura DoT will jump up to HUGE levels of damage.
So Sapph basically freezes Ony until he enrages, then the constant frost aura just wears her down. If he ever gets deep breathed once to often, he simply uses drain life.
Any chance we can get a list of the full 32? (the Twin Emps will win it, mark my words)
flor Jun 17th 2007 5:57PM
Onys danger is the environment she can create, her welps and the lava shooting from the floors. on netural ground saph wins.
ZOMFGPALADIN Jun 17th 2007 6:11PM
WTF 50 DKP MINUS
Blah blah blah Jun 18th 2007 11:59PM
too easy:
Saph - can't be feared and can heal itself... um yeah that's a no brainer
Tim Engelbart Jun 17th 2007 6:32PM
Sapphiron obviously, since he is way more original than Onyxia.
Onyxia is just your average dragon as how literature has been describing it for centuries; it spews fire, it is black and red and lives in a lair.
Elizabeth Harper Jun 17th 2007 7:02PM
Okay. I've tried to pick some bosses from every instance and stick with bosses that are either well known or simply have interesting fighting abilities. I'll probably put out specific brackets next week, but for now I'm still debating how to match them all up. However, for now, here's the full list of 32:
Onyxia, Bloodlord Mandokir, Jin'do the Hexxer, Hakkar the Soulflayer, General Rajaxx, Moam, Ossirian the Unscarred, Baron Geddon, Ragnaros, Vaelastrasz the Corrupt, Chromaggus, Nefarian, Princess Huhuran, The Twin Emperors, C'thun, Instructor Razuvious, The Four Horsemen, Sapphiron, Kel'Thuzad, The Curator, Shade of Aran, Prince Malchezar, Gruul, Magtheridon, Lady Vashj, Al'ar, Kael'thas Sunstrider, Doom Lord Kazzak, Archimonde, Illidan Stormrage, Mother Shahraz, and Teron Gorefiend.
I'm thinking the Twin Emps vs. the Four Horsemen. Two on one might be fair. Maybe. Having the Emps on any single mob, though, the Emps would have to win. (You couldn't split them up, so they'd always be healing each other!)
Zeema Jun 17th 2007 8:34PM
Ice beats flying, but fire beats ice.
Except for the fact that since Sapphiron is dead, he's ghost type.
And Ony must be dark type.
So Ony is super-effective.
Ony Wins.
Neowar Jun 17th 2007 9:18PM
Yeah, like someone mentioned already. Although I havent fought Sapphiron in WOW, but he rocked in WC3. Besides undead ice dragon units were my favorite in the game. So im gonna go with Sapphiron. Besides, Ony is really ez.
Excaliber Jun 17th 2007 9:50PM
just think about it sapph is one of the bosses found in one of the hardest (to this day still) instaces in the WoW world...I think he definitely beat Ony any time any place..plus Ony is just a young dragon :P
Xiphus Jun 17th 2007 9:56PM
I say Sapphiron. Bastard heals himself by DAMAGING Onyxia, and he is undead! He can't be feared whatsoever! Not to mention that Onyxia is considered young and inexperienced by full-fledged dragon standards, while Sapphiron is probably much older and far more experienced than her.
ApolloIV Jun 17th 2007 10:18PM
Saph: "No Whelps?"
Ony: "No"
Saph: "LOL pwned"
tallguy59 Jun 17th 2007 11:54PM
Sapphiron is a cooler colour (AHA geddit? COOLER? Aha... ha.. ahhh...) ergo, he must win!