Two Bosses Enter: Mal'Ganis vs. Ormorok the Tree-Shaper
by Lisa Poisso 
Jul 30th 2009 at 3:00PM
The second bracket of our Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves battles begins with an unusual matchup: Mal'ganis (The Culling of Stratholme) versus Ormorok the Tree-Shaper (The Nexus). We're not quite sure what you lore fans are going to do with this one -- but we're ready to hear what you've got in the comments. Even if you don't have a scenario in mind, be sure to click through and vote for who you think should move forward into the next bracket.
Before we get too deep into this week's battle, we'd like to thank the readers who commented about our lineup last week on our Bracket 2 listing. We've decided to take your votes to bring back any three of your favorite losing underdogs for the next bracket. We'll do that at the end of this bracket.
Now -- let's get ready to rumble!
As always, let's start off with the ground rules:
- Assume that the opponents and their minions share similar levels, health pools and comparative overall damage output.
- This deathmatch takes place in neutral territory, which shall not hinder either boss from using his usual encounter abilities.
- All the usual minions will be available to each boss.
- Don't get caught up in gameplay mechanics and what actual players might do in each encounter.
- Focus on the three S's: style, story and scale.
Mal'Ganis (The Culling of Stratholme) Mal'Ganis slammed through his first-round match against Varos Cloudstrider (The Oculus) with a definitive three-quarters of the reader vote. After all, he's not merely the last boss in The Culling of Stratholme – he's one of the Nathrezim sent by Archimonde to head up the plot to turn Prince Arthas to darkness and make him the Lich King's greatest champion.
Note that while we do allow minions into the ring with our Two Bosses Enter competitors, Prince Arthas Menethil will not be attending this particular battle.
Read more about Mal'ganis and his usual methods of dealing with intruders, and then check up on comments from players who've fought him.
Ormorok the Tree-Shaper (The Nexus)Ormorok also smashed through his first-round oppenent, Meathook (The Culling of Stratholme), garnering 65 percent of the reader vote. Ormorok and his creations were captured and put into the Nexus to serve as guards. Ormorok himself is the sentinel to one part of Keristrasza's prison. Over time, exposure to the Nexus' massive Arcane energies has rendered Ormorok and his creations completely mad.
Ormorok summons assistants during battle, which we'll allow for this fight.
Read more about Ormorok's methodology, and then review comments from players who've fought him.
The deathmatch
Remember: no game-mechanic nitpicking. Vote for the spirit of the battle as set forth above. Set aside differences in opponents' health pools, game level and actual damage output, and size up these villains based on their fighting style.
| Tie | |
|---|---|
| Mal'ganis | |
| Ormorok |
Cast your vote in this match of Round Two of the five-man Wrath of the Lich King season to help us determine who rocks Wrath's five-man world.Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Features, Bosses, Two Bosses Enter
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
bswopes Jul 30th 2009 3:05PM
Forgot Mal's greatest ability "Run away like a little girl".
Johan Forn Jul 30th 2009 3:19PM
I wonder why that never happens.. If I were an evil villain and noticed I was losing, I'd pull up my skirt and run like the wind!!
Grinton Jul 30th 2009 3:20PM
just like anne of green gables
outlier Jul 31st 2009 1:02PM
Mal'Ganis has to run cus Arthas kills him himself with the Frostmourne in Northrend. Its in the Arthas book.
Brasson Jul 30th 2009 5:13PM
For certain definitions of "kills".
Being slain by Frostmourne was merely a setback!
Phun Jul 30th 2009 5:28PM
outlier clearly didnt finish the icecrown quests.
Gemini Jul 31st 2009 12:48AM
"It's in the Arthas book."
it's... I...
THERE WERE THREE. THREE GAMES. BEFORE WORLD OF WARCRAFT.
THREE.
Mal'Ganis died in Warcraft THREE. Arthas: Rise of the Lich King's entire second half was merely a retelling of Arthas's story during Warcraft III. So it didn't come from the Arthas book, it came from Warcraft III. You know, that game that WoW was based on.
Jinx Jul 31st 2009 8:00AM
While I know it isn't part of his arsenal according to the article, a lot of folks seem to forget that Dreadlords like Mal'Ganis can summon Infernals, among other things.
Also note that Nathrezim are cunning, natural tacticians, and have a far wider range of spells and abilities than those listed by the author; to fall to such a creature would be shameful and nearly impossible.
Alanid Jul 31st 2009 11:03AM
"If I have wings... why am I always walking?" - Warcraft III Dreadlord
Arbitor Jul 30th 2009 3:08PM
Definitely Ormorok, Spell reflection renders Mal'ganis's spells worthless, and his trample and crystal spikes will do a good amount of damage compared to his, umm sleep.
And finally, in a pinch, if this big-ass rock dude needs anything more to kill vampire-boy he can simply frenzy and summon some plant to kick his ass.
Because its a well known fact that vampires hate vegetables. :P
dapcmeck Jul 30th 2009 3:12PM
Ormorok his spell process is much stronger and most time unbreakable where Vampire touch, sleep and carrion swarm can be counteracted will little energy.
Nazgûl Jul 30th 2009 3:12PM
Mal'ganis is a spellcaster primarily, which renders Ormorok's Spell Reflection the single greatest asset in this battle. Casting Sleep? Spell Reflect.
Mal'ganis snoozes and loses.
StalkerofFlames Jul 30th 2009 4:42PM
I c wut u did thar.
Aricharthau Jul 30th 2009 3:13PM
They're both weak and sad. I don't know if they're capable of killing each other.
andrewlnagy Jul 30th 2009 3:17PM
Even though Mal'ganis' abilities pose much less of a threat than Ormorok's do in this case... I couldn't vote against him because he's Mal'ganis. Lore-wise I just don't think he'd lose.
Tridus Jul 30th 2009 4:33PM
How so? In lore, there's no fight he actually wins. He's a commander and a manipulator, not a direct fighter. Forced to fight directly, he's never actually won a battle anywhere in lore. He has lost several, though.
This "oh in lore I'm sure he'd win" stuff isn't grounded in any actual lore. :P
Luw Jul 30th 2009 4:51PM
I guess it's just that he seems like a more prominent and epic figure. Maybe someone bails him out at the end? :)
BlazingSky Jul 30th 2009 3:17PM
Mal'Ganis had to be killed the first time with the most powerful weapon in the universe. Ormorok was killed by five guys with mundane equipment. I'm going to have to go with a character that, while he is the the evil version of brave Sir Robin, still required a runeblade to put him down semi-permanently.
BlazingSky Jul 30th 2009 3:18PM
Ah let me edit the "most powerful weapon in the universe" bit. I meant to say on Azeroth.
Grinton Jul 30th 2009 3:20PM
This is a fight of two jailors and neiter one has a baton, so one must then look at another part of the job. When the day is done and you're al sweaty you need to wash off, and if thre are showers at work, you might as well use em'. Which means: Soap-on-a-rope! And Ormorok has no neck to hang it from and those hands look mighty slippery...
Also, while Ormorok if naturally stronger then Mal'Ganis he does lack one thing that MG will profit most from. Being alive. The end result relies on the fact that at the end of the fight, if Omorok is dead then MG wins, if Ormorok is left standing, then MG will use "Run away like a little girl" ( qtd: bswopes), and fight another day.