Two Bosses Enter: Keristrasza versus Zuramat the Obliterator
by Lisa Poisso 
Aug 20th 2009 at 2:00PM
Welcome back, everybody, to another edition of the Two Bosses Thunderdome! This week's deathmatch pits Keristrasza of The Nexus against Zuramat the Obliterator from the Violet Hold. Keristrasza enters the ring with one of the largest win margins of any competitor this season, glowing after a 75% victory over Cyanigosa in the first round of matches. Zuramat the Obliterator brings plenty of power of his own, however, following up a decisive 55% win over Hadronox in round one.
The ground rules:
- Assume that the opponents and any 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.
- Don't neglect style, story and scale.
Keristrasza (The Nexus)Finish it! Finish it! Kill me, or I swear by the Dragonqueen you'll never see daylight again!
Keristrasza, a servant of Alexstrasza's flight, plotted to distract Malygos from his efforts in the Nexus War by offing his consort, Saragosa, and facing him down with a fleet of red dragons. While the plan did serve to divert his attention, Malygos imprisoned Keristrasza within The Nexus. She's currently held there, and players must kill her in order to preserve her ultimate freedom.
Review the entire scope of Keristrasza's story and battle tactics, and read comments from players who've battled the red dragon.
Zuramat the Obliterator (Violet Hold)Gaze ... into the void.
Zuramat the Obliterator is a huge Void Lord (Demon) imprisoned in the Violet Hold. He summons Void Sentries during battle, which are only able to be seen and killed when under the effects of Zuramat's Void Shift debuff. His Shroud of Darkness debuff is capable of stacking so many times that it could actually provide negative healing (i.e., DPS) to a self-healing opponent like Hadronox. Read more about Zuramat the Obliterator's battle tactics, and review comments from players who have fought him.
The deathmatch
Remember: no game-mechanic nitpicking. Set aside differences in opponents' health pools, game level and actual damage output. Vote for the spirit of the battle as set forth above, considering each opponent's abilities -- plus the style, scale and story he or she brings to the table.
Can you come up with a convincing scenario in the comments that will sway other readers to vote for your victor of choice?
| Keristrasza wins (Zuramat dies) | |
|---|---|
| Zuramat wins (Keristrasza dies) | |
| Tie (something else happens) |
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)
Sergeant Anton of Magtherodin Aug 20th 2009 2:04PM
i think keristraz would obliterate the obliterator, thats just my opinion
Bullseyed Aug 20th 2009 5:55PM
The void demon doesn't appear to have any way to jump. Thus, he could not clear the stacks of frost damage and would die very quickly.
Also, not being able to jump means he crits less often.
jared.daniels Aug 20th 2009 2:08PM
Just as soon as Keristraza is shifted into the void her AoE frost would kill the sentries. Kerry wins.
Martin Aug 20th 2009 2:09PM
Actually an easy choice: Keristrasza wins. Since she is the only opponent, she will be able to see and attack the void sentries at all times. The sentries themselves are stationary and therefore will freeze to an icy death in no time. Keristrasza is not healed and does not heal herself, rendering the Shroud of Darkness useless. And one solid enrage later, kiss the obliterator goodbye.
Nazgûl Aug 20th 2009 2:14PM
This is a fairly simple match up. Keristrasza wins without much of a struggle. Zurumat's damage largely comes from his void sentries, which when added up can put out some crazy damage. Because Keristrasza has no adds or any assistance, Zurumat has no choice but to put her in the void. As soon as she is shifted, her Intense Cold stacks up on the void sentries, since they stand in place and cast. Four, five stacks and the weak dudes taste the chill of death.
Because Keristrasza has nothing additional to do in order to kill the sentries, Zurumat gets all of her breath attacks and melee damage. He falls and the poor Red stays a slave of Malygos.
Kyle Aug 20th 2009 7:03PM
i'm just going to agree with this instead of posting my own summary of the matchup. good job covering pretty much exactly what this fight would boil down to.
Falrinn Aug 20th 2009 2:16PM
Zuramat doesn't stand a chance here. While he would probably be smart enough to move as often as possible to remove the Intense Cold debuff, his void sentries would be unable to do so greatly reducing their effectiveness.
All Keristrasza would need to do is use Crystallize or Crystal Chains as often as possible, and lacking any way to break free Zuramat would be quickly frozen to death. And if she didn't want to wait for her Intense Cold Debuff to take them out she could use Crystalfire Breath or Tail Sweep to take them out even faster. Zuramat simply doesn't have any way to win this one.
Eberron Aug 20th 2009 2:16PM
Keristraza by a landslide. Zuramat would summon his void sentries, but for some reason always picks an enemy to void shift so they're vulnerable, during those phases her ice aura will easily take care of Zuramat's sentries.
On a non-tactical aspect, Keristrasza is a dragon and dragons always win.
Except if players are involved. :3
jackfinished Aug 20th 2009 2:19PM
This is easy:
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"
She is upset that she has been trapped. There is nothing that Zuramat can throw at her to stop her. Worst case, they fight drags out until she enrages and then the blueberry goes down.
Wulfkin Aug 20th 2009 2:21PM
Zuramat enters this battle feeling cocky - after all, the last dragon he faced was hardly a challenge. With a throaty cackle, he summons his minions to keep the mighty dragon busy as he begins to shift her into the void . But Keristrasza simply laughs manically as she freezes the void sentries to the spot and then watches them die to the intense cold she radiates. Zuramat suddenly realises he is in trouble as crystal chains leap from the frozen floor onto his armour, leaving him unable to keep his distance. Keristrasza may be hurting from the void shift but this simply causes her to become enraged with fury and Zuramat has nowhere to run. With a mighty breath of crystalfire the voidwalker is hastily dispatched.
Victory to the (former) Red Dragon!
Zanpakuto_Ichigo Aug 20th 2009 2:29PM
Keristraza is a pain, Zuramat is bad, guess my answer ;D
totalnug55 Aug 20th 2009 2:25PM
Keristraza wins easy....
Obliterator has no legs and therefore cannot jump... freezes to death
Kadamon Aug 20th 2009 7:05PM
What's with the jumping...? All I ever did was backpedal, worked well enough.
Although I did vote for Mr. Void, I do think Keri would win it in the end.
schwonga Aug 20th 2009 2:26PM
This one is a bit trickier to think out because nether boss thinks like a rational humanoid being. I mean, one's been driven insane in the other is a demon lord that's been held in captivity for who knows how long, and is probably just out for killing type "fun". But that's where we have the main connection between the two, and the connection I'll be using, and a connection I am blatantly ripping off another... errm, storyline? Universe? uhh, tabletop turned novels turned MMO?
Kill. Maim. Destroy.
Keristrasza meets Zuramat. Instantly the urge and desire for the others death hits like a freight train from hell. Dragon-lady goes in claws baring down on the demon, who starts shooting his little shadow bolts and swinging like no tomorrow. Keristrasza starts off strong, the intense cold starting to get Zuramat down and really slowing him down. Then the void sentries start filing in and Keristrasza makes the mistake of ignoring them for a while. After all, at the beginning Zuramat's minions really aren't much of a threat. The fight goes on, and what little of the demon's mind is dedicated to survival kicks in as it realizes movement will help him kill by keeping it alive.
At this point, psycho dragon is starting to really feel the pain of multiple sentries baring down on her, and she is shifted into the void. Seeing the sentries for the first time, she lets loose her breath attack and tail swipe at the uncovered foes, clearing them out completely. However, it's not enough to seal the battle for her as more and more sentries file in. Feeling her death approaching, her broken mind reels into that uncontrollable rage as she hones in on Zuramat. Zuramat has no new tricks to offer and cries out for more sentries as the dragon chomps down on it. Not really having a stomach for demon, the dragon hurls him around in her jaws all the while breathing more of her crystalline breath directly into Zuramat's being. The demon can no longer hold its form together and disperses violently in colors of blue and black.
yokumgang Aug 20th 2009 2:27PM
Keristrasza, because I don't think Voidwalkers can jump.
Grinton Aug 20th 2009 2:29PM
Zuramat could beet (get it because he's roundish and purpley) her like there's no tomorrow. All her attacks are either ice based or her claws, and those don't have much effect on a ghost. Plus her frozen ground thingy would be kind of useless considering Zuramat and his minions aren't actually touching the ground.
I have to give this one to Zuramat for his arcane damage and having the most bad-ass shoulders in the game. Unless he licked her, then he'd get stuck and die, but I doubt he'd lick her.
devilsei Aug 20th 2009 2:43PM
Well if you ever played pokemon, or Ghost busters, the only thing that can't hurt the undead is Normal (type) attacks, but we talking about a dragon whose arsenal is almost exclusively ice.
Who you gonna call? Keristrasza!
austonst Aug 20th 2009 4:11PM
If ice based attacks and claws won't do much damage to a ghost, then what will? You've pretty much covered both physical and magical attacks there, so he's immune to damage in general? I've done VH enough to know that's not true.
Intense Cold is not a "frozen ground thingy". Generally, when I go outside and it is intensely cold, my shoes do a pretty good job of keeping the cold out, but my fingers and ears, up in the intensely cold air, are what suffer most.
Lannden Aug 20th 2009 6:36PM
Hes not a ghost... hes a demon.
Siaperas Aug 20th 2009 2:30PM
Zuramat emerges from his cell, "Gaze into the void," he says threateningly to Keristrasza, the crazy, fiesty, red dragon being turned bad. Little does Zuramat know that what he's really doing is telling himself to "gaze into the void," because he's about to. She's going to lock him down and burn him down quickly with her breath and aura. As pointed out, the adds and shifts he does are inconsequential; she can keep focus on him while shifted and they will still die. Keristrasza doesn't just "obliterate the Obliterator," she'll continue on through the Violet Hold, and even down Cyanigosa.