Two Bosses Enter ... but only One Boss Leaves, in WoW Insider's series of fantasy death matches. This season's bosses come from the five-man instances of Wrath of the Lich King.

While this week's Two Bosses matchup was a fairly straightforward victory for Ahn'Kahet's Prince Taldaram over the Maiden of Grief from the Halls of Stone, this week's scenario is a little farther off the beaten track: Herald Volazj (Ahn'Kahet: The Old Kingdom) versus Novos the Summoner (Drak'tharon Keep). What insanity will ensue?

Let's review the ground rules: Assume that these foes share similar levels, health pools and damage output. The battle will take place in neutral territory. For the sake of this battle, since Novos is invulnerable to damage until his shield is broken down, we'll say that each round of Novos' summons and Volazj's Insanity follows one after the other, without pause.

Don't get caught up in game mechanics and what actual players might do in each encounter. Focus your debate on the three S's: Style, Story and Scale. Consider the flavor each villainous gladiator brings to bear, leave your comment on what you think would happen and why, and then cast your vote for who you think would come out on top.

Herald Volazj
Ywaq maq oou; ywaq maq ssaggh. Ywaq ma shg'fhn. (They do not die; they do not live. They are outside the cycle.)

The faceless Herald Volazj belongs to the ancient race known as servants of the Old Gods (maybe even Yogg-Saron). Volazj whispers directly into opponents' minds, slowly and relentlessly driving them insane and causing them to fight one another. Novos' minions, too, are subject to these effects. They must slay the mirror images of their cohorts before they will be able to turn on the Herald – unless the Herald kills them first.

• Insanity
• Mind Flay
• Shadow Bolt Volley
• Shiver
  

Herald Volazj must kill the Crystal Handler among Novos' summoned minions quickly and then finish off the remaining minions before they free themselves from Insanity and turn on him – all while avoiding damage from Novos himself. There are four crystals, so there will be four rounds of summoning/Insanity in this battle.

Read more about Herald Volazj's combat and review insights from players who've defeated him.

Novos the Summoner
The chill that you feel is the herald of your doom!

Novos the Summoner, the second boss of Drak'Tharon Keep, is a lich in charge of the Scourge forces in Drak'tharon.

Novos imprisons himself in an Arcane Field at the onset of battle. From within the safety of this shield, he can attempt to damage the Herald. Will his spells find their intended target?

• Arcane Blast
• Arcane Field
• Blizzard
• Frostbolt
• Wrath of Misery
• Summon Minions
• Fetid Troll Corpse
• Risen Shadowcaster
• Shadow Bolt
• Hulking Corpse
• Crystal Handler
• Flash of Darkness
  

Novos' summoned minions must fight one another in the throes of Volazj's Insanity effect, until they defeat each other and are free to attack Volazj before disappearing. Will the Herald take them down before they can free themselves?

Read more about Novos the Summoner's strategies and review insights from players who've defeated him.

The smackdown
The usual rules apply: assume that the opponents share similar levels, health pools and damage output. They are fighting in neutral territory. For the sake of this battle, since Novos is invulnerable to damage until his shield is broken down, we'll say that each round of Novos' summons and Volazj's Insanity follows one after the other, without pause.

Can you come up with a convincing scenario in the comments that will sway other readers to vote for your victor of choice?

Tags: featured, Herald-Volazj, joystiqfeatures, Novos-the-Summoner

Filed under: Features, Bosses, Two Bosses Enter