Lich King animation found
by Michael Gray 
Oct 16th 2009 at 9:52PM
SPOILER WARNING: There is a spoiler behind the cut. Spoilers, generally defined, are hints or flat-out explanations of events in a story. Therefore, if you were to read behind the cut, you would get a hint or explanation about something happening in the Icecrown raids. I'm just warning you.
Zaneosak over on YouTube has put together a video that's pretty much a final conclusion to some things in the Icecrown Citadel in patch 3.3. Is it the final explanation? Well, let's take a look at the video behind the cut and then discuss it.
The first thing we'll point out with this video is the obvious fact that it lacks audio. It also doesn't have the text and raid events that tend to surround an auspicious event like the death of the Lich King. So the only things we can guess at must be entirely sourced from this video.
First, unlike other raid bosses, there's no flash of fire or other dissipation of Arthas. He doesn't get sucked into hell, disappear in a flash of smoke, or trot off to attack us another day. He falls over dead. What does that mean? While it's a little early to be placing our bets, it's fairly safe to say that Arthas dies at the end of Icecrown Citadel.
When Arthas is killed, however, his helmet comes off. He reaches for it, trying to grasp at it, but fails to do so before succumbing to his wounds. You'll note that he doesn't reach for Frostmourne. He's reaching for his helm. Is that because he's lost his sword, but that isn't truly the source of his power? Does the union of the Lich King and Arthas actually reside, now, in his hat?
Maybe it's that I've spent too long with other fantasy novels, but I can't help but think the Lich King's helm -- the Crown of the Scourge, if you will -- is just lying there, begging for someone to pick it up. Since Frostmourne doesn't appear in this footage, I wonder if the helm has become the new symbol for the Lich King's power. Either the raid takes it back for some as-of-yet-unseen quest . . . or someone picks it up.
We've seen hints of Bolvar's appearance in Icecrown, of course. While we don't have a lot of information about what's going to happen to him, I can't help but be reminded of the Lich King's crown. Laying there. Waiting for someone to pick it up.
Don't do it, Bolvar! Lead the Knights of the Ebon Blade, not those stinky Scourge!
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: Analysis / Opinion, NPCs, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
Ezlo Oct 16th 2009 9:56PM
Awesome animations!
Not awesome that I was unable to resist looking at them, I have no self control with spoilers. =(
DAWG Oct 16th 2009 11:03PM
His helmet is called the Helm of Domination
(Jackin a reply)
DAWG Oct 16th 2009 11:06PM
Adding on to it, because I cannot edit
His Helmet is the Helm of Domination, His armor is the Plate of the Damned and his Blade is Frostmourn
Qot Oct 16th 2009 11:14PM
I know... The phrase "Spoiler Warning!" seems to primarily draw my attention to something. Sort of like "parental discretion advised" or "content advisory".
In this case, it's not much of a spoiler (we kill the boss!). The author's analysis of Frostmourne's absence seems a little odd. I'll invoke Occam's Razor and make this proposal: you can't reach for something that isn't there. We already know that players won't get Frostmourne. We already know the Lich King has it and, if you could have one weapon to win a fight, it'd be Frostmourne. Rather than invoking a completely lore-warping "Frostmourne's power is now in Arthas's helmet", Frostmourne could simply be shattered. Given the evidence at hand, it's the explanation that requires the fewest number of assumptions and... well, Occam's Razor.
Superthrust Oct 17th 2009 12:12AM
SOMEONE was on the /v/ on 4chan....
Tolsimir Oct 17th 2009 12:14AM
@Qot there has been SEVERE speculation about the death of Arthas. He was a hero for a HUGE amount of Warcraft III's campaign and many people, myself included, always assumed he wasn't going to die, but would rather be freed from the shackles of the scourge, to live again as Arthas, not as the Lich King. But, apparently, that ain't so. Man, I love Arthas hehe what an awesome story. If you haven't read Christie "I'm-the-Warcraft-novelist-ROCKSTAR" Golden's book, Arthas you should stop reading wow.com and go buy it. Now.
ANeM Oct 17th 2009 12:51AM
http://www.wowwiki.com/Helm_of_Domination_(Lich_King)
"The helm [...] helps command undead and others"
The helm is what allows the Lich King such power over the undead. It is what binds the scourge to his will. Of course he would reach for it, it defines his position in the scourge.
It is so important to his reign that he even had Angrathar the Wrathgate crafted in its image.
Daniel Oct 17th 2009 1:47AM
just pointing out that the whole purpose of arthas in wc3 is to release ner'zhul (aka the helm) from an ice cube, then when arthas equips the helm it says "we are one" obvioussly the helm is the main bond of ner'zhul and arthas since they have spent alot of time fusioned, frostmourne was more of a walkie talkie for the 2 of them, ofc this thing could steal souls :P
and i thought u would know it from the animation :(
paul Oct 17th 2009 5:43AM
Your all looking way too much into it.
I reckon its just one of the many hats in WoW that you can pull a drink out of. Thats why he wants it so much. And obviously a dying man such as arthras would be desperate for a drink before he dies. Anyone would be. You can almost see the alcoholism on his face as he reaches out for it....
Arthras - "Puny Mortals... You can kill me, but you can never defeat the scourge! Just.... need... to.... reach...... Carlsburg.... "
Dwarf - "Wait, what!!!! Theres beer in there!?! I knew there had to be a good reason for me being here."
paul Oct 17th 2009 5:47AM
Maybe its not about the helmet as such, but more about the face.
The lich king with the helmet on seems very sinister.
When he takes the helmet off, he seems a bit more human, and you can almsot see a hero in there that has fallen from grace.
Maybe the dying animation takes his helmet off to remind the player who he was once.
Lugo Oct 17th 2009 7:50AM
One interesting this I noticed when looking up this animation in WoW model viewer is that this animation only exists on the model of Arthas called "Arthas-lichking-unarmed" or something like that.
That is, there are two versions of the Lich King model. One with Frostmourne, and one without Frostmourne. The armed version doesn't have a death animation at all, so it's safe to assume that the fight will involve destroying Frostmourne somehow, before we get to kill him.
Perhaps it gets shattered when clashing with the Ashbringer?
Daniel Oct 17th 2009 10:36AM
nah, it will crush if a tank uses The Unstoppable Force or The Immovable Object.
Outlier Oct 17th 2009 12:17PM
For Arthas;
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
T. S. Eliot, The Hollow Men
British (US-born) critic, dramatist & poet (1888 - 1965)
Nublet Oct 17th 2009 12:18PM
Maybe he loses Frostmourne before we even get to ICC. Remeber he is the last boss of the final 5 man dungeon. I remember reading somewhere that the Halls of Reflection is where he keeps Frostmourne. I think its safe to assume that in the fight there we destroy Frostmourne. Blizzard said they want all players to be able to experience the story. What better way to be included if u can't raid than destroying the Lich Kings beloved blade?
K Oct 17th 2009 2:23PM
Do pay in mind the fact that The Helmet was what turned Arthas into the Lich King.
The sword just made him evil, but it was the helm that sealed the deal.
atree496 Oct 16th 2009 9:57PM
Holy crap this is awesome
Mailia Oct 17th 2009 3:10AM
Awesome? It looks to me like he's reaching for his helm, then going "OH NO I R DEAD" and falls clumsily on his side.
godpunk Oct 17th 2009 8:05AM
I kind of got the same impression...like the LifeAlert™ commercials from the 80's.
Jacob Oct 16th 2009 9:57PM
"Does the union of the Lich King and Arthas actually reside, now, in his hat?"
What union? The Lich King is just Arthas now, remember?
Ezlo Oct 16th 2009 10:00PM
Nah, in the Rise of the Lich King book it pretty much said it was neither Arthas or Ner'Zhul residing in the body anymore but something new with no emotional ties to either of them.