Two Bosses Enter: Svala Sorrowgrave vs. The Prophet Tharon'ja
by Lisa Poisso 
Apr 9th 2009 at 9:35PM
Ever want to throw two bosses into the ring simply because they've both annoyed you? This week's Two Bosses Enter deathmatch strikes me a little that way: Svala Sorrowgrave of Utgarde Pinnacle vs. The Prophet Tharon'ja of Drak'tharon Keep. As much as I constantly urge readers to keep real-game play experiences out of the debate, I have to confess to mentally categorizing both these bosses under the "ZOMG, not this fight again..." section in the Annoying Speed Bump category.
Yet here they are in the ring -- so "to battle!" The usual rules apply. Assume that these foes share similar levels, health pools and damage output. We'll have to assume Sorrowgrave has somehow managed to drag an altar into our little Thunderdome, and we'll allow her to summon her three Ritual Summoners to pin her opponent on the altar. For the Prophet's part, since there are no players for him to turn into skeletons (and since he would be unable to turn Sorrowgrave's assistants into skeletons if he were pinned on the altar), we'll allow him to turn Sorrowgrave herself into a skeleton (with appropriately scaled abilities).
Focus your debate on the three S's: Style, Story and Scale. Don't get caught up in game mechanics and what actual players might do in each encounter. Consider the flavor each villainous gladiator brings to bear, then cast your vote for who you think would come out on top.
Svala Sorrowgrave, Utgarde PinnacleMy liege! I have done as you asked, and now beseech you for your blessing!
Svala Sorrowgrave, the first boss of Utgarde Pinnacle, is a Vrykul who is being transformed by the Lich King himself into a Val'kyr just as you enter her room. She periodically sacrifices an opponent on her altar, held in place by three summoned Ritual Channelers who must be killed to release the victim.
What makes this fight different from the one you are used to as a player is that Sorrowgrave may find herself turned into a skeleton before she can put her opponent on the altar. What happens then?
Read more about Svala Sorrowgrave's battle tactics and review comments from players who've fought her.
The Prophet Tharon'ja, Drak'Tharon Keep Tharon'ja sees all! The work of mortals shall not end the eternal dynasty!
The last boss of Drak'Tharon Keep, the Prophet Tharon'ja is a large skeletal Wind Serpent (rather similar in appearance to the Avatar of Hakkar). The Prophet Tharon'ja is known for ripping the flesh from the bones of some of the most formidable Ice Troll Warriors. From the upper tiers of the fortress, Tharon'ja watches as waves of Undead Trolls pour from the keep's corridors to bolster the Scourge ranks in their assault on Zul'Drak.
Remember, there are no players in this battle for the Prophet to turn into skeletons, and he won't be able to turn Sorrowgrave's assistants into skeletons if he's pinned on the altar. In this battle, we'll allow him to turn Sorrowgrave herself into a skeleton, with appropriately scaled abilities. Consider the strength of her abilities in skeletal form to equal those of a full party of player characters. How will it work against her? Against him?
- Curse of Life
- Decay Flesh
- Return Flesh
- Eye Beam
- Lightning Breath
- Poison Cloud
- Rain of Fire
- Shadow Volley
- Opponent in skeletal form
The smackdown
The usual rules apply: assume that the opponents share similar levels, health pools and damage output, and that they are fighting in neutral territory (while Sorrowgrave still possesses her altar). Note the handling of the Prophet's ability to change opponents into skeletons as noted in the section above. Vote for the spirit of the battle based on how we've outlined the scene here.
Can you come up with a convincing scenario in the comments that will sway other readers to vote for your chosen victor?
| It's a draw. | |
|---|---|
| Svala Sorrowgrave | |
| The Prophet Tharon'ja |
Filed under: Features, Bosses, Two Bosses Enter
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Jason Apr 9th 2009 9:46PM
Svala has her "Oh crap I'm trapped in place and a giant sword is going to run me through!!" factor.
Tharon'ja is a joke, letting everyone heal themselves...
Dominika Apr 9th 2009 9:51PM
Prophet doesn't have any buddies to break him out of Ritual of the Sword, and even if he can turn Svala into a skeleton, there WILL be those windows of opportunity to use it.
On top of that, as a skeleton, she can heal and shield herself! The skeleton gimmick is laughably easy, and quite frankly, Prophet would probably have an easier time if he DIDN'T turn her into a skeleton.
Kakistocracy Apr 10th 2009 1:37PM
Yeah, I never really got why he turns us into things that make us harder to kill. Maybe being around him fills us with his power or something along those lines, and the hope is that if we enjoy his power, we will come to see things his way, but it does just come off as odd.
stupidgit Apr 9th 2009 9:53PM
IMPOSSIBLE. THARON'JA IS ETERNAL.
Javierkaiser Apr 9th 2009 9:58PM
Svala wins after 5 seconds, and a ritual of swords :D
Valkyries FTW
Zeplar Apr 9th 2009 10:02PM
Svala is retardedly easy. So is Prophet, but Svala really just doesn't do much damage on her own.
Kyo Apr 9th 2009 10:23PM
Do you ever read the parts of this that say "assume that the opponents share similar levels, health pools and damage output, and that they are fighting in neutral territory (while Sorrowgrave still possesses her altar)" or "I constantly urge readers to keep real-game play experiences out of the debate"?
Sev Apr 9th 2009 10:05PM
Both are really easy, but the Prophet is a push-over.
Meethan Apr 9th 2009 10:12PM
Let's think of it in an awesome perspective.
The fake Vrykul loses.
Now in a tactic perspective, Prophet Tharon'ja has enough energy to take him down. Most likely she'd not be able to stun him because he's gigantic and he'd just take her down eventually.
Kuroyume Apr 9th 2009 10:20PM
My vote goes to Svala... without friends, the Prophet will eat every single sword, while Svale will be able to keep herself healed and shielded through the skeleton phase.
Ichigo Apr 9th 2009 10:37PM
In a NEUTRAL setting where Svala DOES NOT have her stupid altar and dangling sword, Tharon'ja wipes the floor with her.
That's the fight. Tharon'ja never has to escape from Svala and her one trick pony attack.
Ichigo Apr 9th 2009 10:39PM
In this case however, since the author is so gracious to give Svala a mobile altar, she will win.
Lame if you ask me.
Steven Apr 10th 2009 12:23AM
Would Svala be able to use her altar trick if she were turned into a skeleton? Since skeletons don't have access to class abilities, she wouldn't be able to use her altar spell.
If Tharon were smart, he would just skeleton her before she were able to use her sword attack, and would slowly but surely pwn her. At the same time, she could heal, so perhaps it's a draw!
arrogance Apr 9th 2009 10:28PM
i dunno. have you ever tried fighting the prophet in a ninja suit? after the skelly phase you revert to your original form.
so assuming this holds true, svala will revert to her underpowered crap female vrykulness after tharonja turns her to a skeleton. then the prophet will eat her!
tharonja ftw!
The Chilli God Apr 9th 2009 10:35PM
I'm not even sure that Tharon'ja's decay flesh ability would work on Svala, given that I'm not sure if she's even made of flesh. But if it did work, so what, she can still fight back.
However, being paralysed by some dead elf ghosts and being slowly and agonizingly pierced by the biggest sword in Wrath, that would hurt just about anything capable of feeling pain.
Game to Svala.
Across Apr 9th 2009 10:59PM
Both of these bosses reek of desperation. Tharon'ja, to retain what power he has, and Sorrowgrave, to prove worthy of the power newly bestowed upon her.
His Curse of Life is quite powerful indeed, but he's kind of fatally flawed. Tharon'ja's hold over his power is slipping.. its part of the encounter and why people return to flesh constantly.
Even if the damage of the curse remains unadjusted, causing Sorrowgrave's mouth to spill over with bile and blood tears to stream down her face, the damage of her altar would seal Tharon'ja's fate the moment he lost control and returned her to flesh.
Plus, she's kind of fighting for major kudos from the Lich King here. Killing the Prophet is what he wants done and instead of rewarding Drakuru (whom obviously wasn't getting the job done if she's here to do it), he may very well confer additional power to her, and perhaps turn her into a DPS check for Naxxramas someday. She'd be a cool 10/25 man boss.
Hoggersbud Apr 9th 2009 11:41PM
Even though mechanically, both fights do have some appeal from a player side, it's kinda boring to put the two together.
kabshiel Apr 9th 2009 11:42PM
All Tharon'ja would have to do is put down a poison cloud and then spam Decay Flesh and Return Flesh. She'd be stunned in the poison the whole time and eventually die.
BrandonRIOTS Apr 10th 2009 12:01AM
i would beat them both :D
Dagarin Apr 10th 2009 12:18AM
Definitely Svala. Unless Tharon'ja gets really lucky and throws down a poison cloud (He does that, right?) that will kill all the ghosts while he's chained, he'll get owned.