Patch 3.3: Icecrown raid preview
by Adam Holisky 
Oct 6th 2009 at 3:00PM
Some of the key pieces of information from the preview:
- "Join the legendary heroes Highlord Tirion Fordring, High Overlord Saurfang, Muradin Bronzebeard, Highlord Darion Mograine, and King Varian Wrynn in an epic battle against the Scourge and their master."
- "Icecrown Citadel features 10- and 25-player versions of the raid dungeon, and each version has 12 encounters. Each encounter can be fought in either normal or Heroic mode, and players can use a new user interface feature to toggle easily between difficulties."
- "The rewards in the raid dungeon start at item level 251 in the normal mode with 10-player encounters, increase to item level 264 in the Heroic mode mode with 10 players and the normal mode with 25-player encounters, and then finally reach item level 277 in the Heroic mode with 25 players."
- "...two new forms of abomination in Festergut and Rotface, who currently protect their devious creator, Professor Putricide."
The entire text of the preview after the break.
From Blizzard's Preview:
All across the lands of Northrend, many battles have been fought against the vile Scourge. Countless lives have been lost since the Alliance and Horde first reached the frozen wastes, but the champions of Azeroth continue to march forward. Now Icecrown Citadel, the cornerstone of the Scourge's power and the home base of the Lich King, is their final target. Tirion Fordring and the Argent Crusade have forged an alliance with Darion Mograine and the Knights of the Ebon Blade to form the Ashen Verdict. The strongest combatants of this coalition, along with the champions of the Alliance and Horde, will lead the charge against the citadel.
This dungeon reveals the culminating story events and battles of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion pack. Join the legendary heroes Highlord Tirion Fordring, High Overlord Saurfang, Muradin Bronzebeard, Highlord Darion Mograine, and King Varian Wrynn in an epic battle against the Scourge and their master. Icecrown Citadel features 10- and 25-player versions of the raid dungeon, and each version has 12 encounters. Each encounter can be fought in either normal or Heroic mode, and players can use a new user interface feature to toggle easily between difficulties. The rewards in the raid dungeon start at item level 251 in the normal mode with 10-player encounters, increase to item level 264 in the Heroic mode mode with 10 players and the normal mode with 25-player encounters, and then finally reach item level 277 in the Heroic mode with 25 players.
Grand Entrance of the Citadel
After breaching the fortress, players will face a legion of undead guards directed to repel any invaders. Commanding the defenders is Lord Marrowgar, a monstrosity fused together from the bones of the undead. Supreme Overseer of the Cult of the Damned, Lady Deathwhisper is the next opponent. She bolsters the faith of her followers by promising them the opportunity to give eternal service in undeath.
As they continue their ascent, the Alliance and Horde heroes ultimately end up outside of the citadel where their hatred for one another erupts into a battle for dominance over the Rampart of Skulls. Players will join in battle alongside High Overlord Saurfang on the Orgrim's Hammer gunship or Muradin Bronzebeard on The Skybreaker in a unique encounter. Each faction will protect its gunship and try to destroy the other one in a back-and-forth battle to see who is truly worthy of facing the Lich King.
The Lich King's most powerful death knight then stands as the final obstacle for the heroes to enter the upper reaches of the citadel.
The Wings of Icecrown Citadel
After the heroes of the Alliance or Horde defeat the other faction on the gunships and wipe out the creatures near the entrance, players will venture into an area with three separate wings. Here they will face a multitude of terrors that must be vanquished in order to confront the Lich King.
In the Frostwing Halls players will battle alongside the Ashen Verdict and push into the lair of the deadly frost wyrm Sindragosa, who continues to strengthen her brood with the help of Ymirheim's vrykul. Along the way, the heroes will stumble upon Valithria Dreamwalker, a captured green dragon whom the Scourge is using as a test subject for their own ends....
The Plagueworks contains the most twisted experiments ever produced by the Scourge. In this wing players will face two new forms of abomination in Festergut and Rotface, who currently protect their devious creator, Professor Putricide.
The Crimson Hall contains the leaders of the San'layn, undead blood elves who oversee the Scourge's operations throughout Azeroth. The blood-princes Valanar, Keleseth, and Taldaram were raised into undeath by the Lich King to avenge themselves while protecting their blood-queen, Lana'thel.
The Frozen Throne
After clearing all three wings, players will ascend to the Frozen Throne, where the Lich King and his runeblade, Frostmourne, await to deliver them to their deaths....
Patch 3.3 is the last major patch of Wrath of the Lich King. With the new Icecrown Citadel 5-man dungeons and 10/25-man raid arriving soon, patch 3.3 will deal the final blow to the Arthas. WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.3 will keep you updated with all the latest patch news.Filed under: Patches, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Jaidean Oct 6th 2009 3:02PM
"Along the way, the heroes will stumble upon Valithria Dreamwalker, a captured green dragon whom the Scourge is using as a test subject for their own ends...."
Let the Nightmare speculation commence!
Drakthorn Oct 6th 2009 3:11PM
if we end the emerald nightmare here then that would explain why Malfurion is back in Cat
Draelan Oct 6th 2009 3:15PM
Actually, I suspect it has more to do with the Green dragon's seeming strength and immunity when it comes to the Lich King. From the quests in dragonblight, we learn that the scourge can't even enter the Emerald Dragonshrine without being reduced to ash. It's not surprising that Arthas would want some way to combat/get around that sort of power.
snowleopard233 Oct 6th 2009 3:29PM
Although it would tie things up nicely, I don’t think we can blame this one on Arthas since he was in a relative state of slumber in the years preceding wrath. We’ll probably see how Malfurion returns in Knack’s new book, which could be a good or bad thing depending on what you think of the man’s writing.
Wiki Oct 6th 2009 3:02PM
Sounds like we're gonna have some more epic moments. I can't wait to see what happens to Arthas (and the other important characters) at the end!
Dyrwydi Oct 6th 2009 3:03PM
Truly epic sounding. Can't wait to face off against the new horrors of the hord... I mean scourge.
Reps Oct 6th 2009 6:40PM
Repeat after me: Horde.
sidneyv_4 Oct 6th 2009 3:30PM
hmm...where they await to bring us to our death...doesnt sound like were gonna down him
erice1692 Oct 6th 2009 5:58PM
We'll of course he's waiting to kill us, would you expect him to just wait for us to kill him?
vandenhamster Oct 7th 2009 2:44AM
It's entirely possible Jaina got to him in the 5-man dungeon, and he's just waiting there to offer us players some tea and crumpets.
mowarriorwade Oct 7th 2009 2:54PM
SEXY.
Andrew R. Oct 6th 2009 3:05PM
As others have said. This is going to be EPIC!
A great way to end the Wrath expansion and lead into cataclysm. We're going to have a world event before it's released so it's perfect timing. We take down Arthas and come home to find the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor changed forever.
I can't wait!
Skonged Oct 6th 2009 3:10PM
I don't know about you ,but I come home every time I need to get on the AH and respec.
Sargenus Oct 6th 2009 4:17PM
@Skonged
Technically, in lore. The players are all in Northrend. It may not be that way in game mechanics, but it is in lore. So technically we're all in Northrend, then coming home after Arthas is defeated.
Now. THIS SOUNDS GREAT! I love abominations, and seeing two new types? Yes! Also, the first female San'layn. She better have her own unique model. The Green Dragon, which I suppose would turn into an undead version of Green Dragons, will be interesting. That would just leave the Bronze Dragons to turn undead.
TL;DR: SOUNDS. SO. EFFING. SWEET.
jrizutko Oct 6th 2009 4:36PM
@Sargenus
Do quests not count as lore? I've been sent back and forth to the old world by several quests in Dragonblight and Icecrown...
Veyronn Oct 6th 2009 3:06PM
his most powerful death knight? I wonder who that could be. I secretly hope its undead saurfang the younger or bolvar.
Knob Oct 6th 2009 3:28PM
This should clear your doubts: http://db.mmo-champion.com/c/37813/deathbringer-saurfang/
gboyd Oct 6th 2009 3:47PM
I see Bolvar's name come up a lot with regards to finding him in the citidel as a Death Knight. My question is why? Perhaps I interpreted the Wrathgate video incorrectly, but Bolvar's dead man. We see Arthas take Saurfang's soul after he kills him, but Bolvar is hit with the undead plague and gets his face melted. Arthas left him alone.
No, it's just makes since that Saurfang is the only one with a chance to come back under Arthas's control, and the datamining seems to back that up.
Valris Oct 6th 2009 3:51PM
There is a dialogue between Korialstrasz and Alexstrasza after the Wrathgate event. It goes as follows:
Korialstrasz says: My Queen, do they know?
Alexstrasza the Life-Binder says: No, my beloved.
Alexstrasza the Life-Binder says: [Draconic] Ashj zila gul kirasath lok ante il lok buras danashj Gul gul
Korialstrasz nods.
Korialstrasz says: They will not.
Alexstrasza whispers: Come to me,
This is the dialogue you see when Alexstrasza is talking to Korialstrasz but due to a bug where some players can speak Draconic, some players are able to read and translate the line of text that Alexstrasza says.
The line of text reads:
Alexstrasza: [Draconic] They must not discover the fate of the young paladin. Not yet.
(from WoWWiki)
kabshiel Oct 6th 2009 4:04PM
Plus in the Yogg-Saron encounter you witness the Lich King trying to turn a human "Immolated Champion", suggesting that Bolvar at least sort of survived being roasted.