Two Bosses Enter: Eregos a finalist; Anub'Arak faces Ymiron
by Lisa Poisso 
Feb 3rd 2010 at 6:00PM
Welcome, one and all, to the last semi-final match of this season of Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves! This week, we'll pit semi-finalists Anub'Arak (Azjol-Nerub) against King Ymiron (Utgarde Pinnacle). Both bosses enter on the wings of strong victories. Anub'Arak comes to the Thunderdome with a 64.5% approval rating from his last match, while King Ymiron brings a 64.1% rating from his own supporters.
But first, a big upset from last week's Thunderdome. In a spectacular reversal of their July deathmatch, Ley-Guardian Eregos pulled out a decisive victory over Loken. After being voted back in to the Thunderdome despite his earlier loss, Eregos showed new confidence to claim a position in this season's finals. A solid 56.5% of spectators gave Eregos the upper hand this time around, compared to only 36.9% the last time he faced off against Loken. We'll recap the battle as well as opening up voting for Anub'Arak versus King Ymiron, after the break.
Qot: Last time, Loken beat Eregos 60% to 35%. Since then, Eregos has been nerfed but now drops a mount. Since I'm already on record saying people are voting for the more popular boss rather than the one who would likely win (and, as Tirion Fordring himself said, players would drop kittens off a cliff for a mount), I'd bet dollars to donuts that Eregos closes that margin and I'd take even money that Eregos wins.
DruidGuard: Well, let's see. In overall damaging abilities, Eregos comes out on top without a problem. He has an instant damaging attack to match Loken's and a short cast, but also the ability to berserk and do a significant amount of damage very quickly. While it is true that if Loken stays away, Eregos will take a large amount of damage from Pulsing Shockwave, it really isn't a HUGE amount. It will deal several thousand damage every two seconds, true, but by doing so Loken is not able to use his auto-attack. Not to mention Eregos can spawn adds which, while not too deadly, will give Loken trouble.
Truthfully, Loken's best shot at this would be to run around the arena and pray the Shockwave kills Eregos. That, however, doesn't seem like the kind of thing a deranged Keeper would do (at least not initially), so I have to say with such odds stacked against him, Loken gets burned. Victory goes to Eregos.
- The Two Bosses Thunderdome is considered neutral territory, where both combatants are able to access their usual encounter mechanics and abilities. If you can't imagine it inside the Thunderdome, imagine it someplace else -- but you must take into consideration all of each bosses' abilities and mechanics.
- All of the competitors' abilities, including crowd control and other effects to which bosses are usually immune, work on their opponents (with apologies to considerations of lore on this point).
- Assume that the opponents share similar levels, health pools and comparative overall damage output.
- Don't get caught up in gameplay mechanics and what actual players might do in each encounter.
- Don't neglect style, story and scale. Everything is a factor; only you can decide how it balances out.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls ... Dyin' time's here.
In Corner One: Anub'Arak (Azjol-Nerub) I was king of this empire once, long ago. In life I stood as champion. In death I returned as conqueror. Now I protect the kingdom once more. Ironic, yes?
Anub'Arak, the former king of Azjol-Nerub, was among the Nerubians slaughtered in the War of the Spider and later raised as Undead by Ner'zhul the Lich King to do his bidding. Read the extensive lore page on Anub'Arak to learn more about his background.
Anub'Arak's battle strategy includes truly relentless tactics. Besides wreaking havoc with vicious attacks and environmental damage, he swarms opponents with protective Locusts and nettling Carrion Beetles. He periodically burrows underground, besieging opponents with packs of summoned minions.
- Carrion Beetles
- Locust Swarm
- Impale
- Pound
- Anub'ar Assassin
- Anub'ar Darter
- Anub'ar Guardian
- Anub'ar Venomancers
In Corner Two: King Ymiron of Utgarde PinnacleYou invade my home and then dare to challenge me? I will tear the hearts from your chests and offer them as gifts to the death god! Rualg nja gaborr!
King Ymiron is the slumbering king of Northrend's Vrykul, the leader of the Dragonflayer clan who lies sleeping within Gjalerbron. Fanatically adored by his people, the now undead king has proven his worth to the Lich King.
Like the kingly Vrykul he is, King Ymiron hits like Thor's hammer. Normal hits are hard, and his Dark Slash cuts down 50 percent of the target's health. The king protects himself with Bane and complicates matters with the random cast of Fetid Rot.
Periodically during battle, King Ymiron's Screams of the Dead paralyze opponents for 8 seconds. During this time, he runs to one of the four longboats in the room to channel a spell from a Vrykul ancestor there. He will use that ability until the longboat burns shortly thereafter.
Spectators may choose a different scenario for the sake of this match's neutral setting, but Ymiron will continue to have access to the usual longboat abilities. Longboat abilities include:
- Spirit Burst
- Summons an orb that causes AoE shadow damage and moves around the room.
- Spirit Strike
- Summons minions
Inside the Thunderdome
Two Boss matchups are about substance and style, not game play and mechanics. Don't base your strategies on player tactics, which opponent has been easiest or most difficult for you personally, or the difficulty of each opponent relative to instance progression. Vote for the spirit of the battle as set forth above. Set aside differences in opponents' health pools, game level and actual damage output. Absolutely no game-mechanic nitpicking!
Before you cast your vote, join the debate in the comments. Who wins, and why? Style points go to spectators who use the comments to sway other readers to their point of view!
| Anub'Arak wins (King Ymiron dies) | |
|---|---|
| King Ymiron wins (Anub'Arak dies) | |
| Tie (something else happens) |
Join us next week as the winner of Anub'Arak vs. King Ymiron goes up for the title against finalist Ley-Guardian Eregos!
Who rocks Wrath's five-man world? Add your own narrative on what would happen when these mighty opponents meet up inside the Two Bosses Thunderdome. Anything's possible in the semi-finals of Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves: The Original Wrath Five-Man Season.Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Lore, Two Bosses Enter
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rmschoir Feb 3rd 2010 6:06PM
Other. These two would annoy each other to death with burrows and incapacitations.
I mean, really. These fights are annoying.
In terms of capabilities, I don't know. My money would probably be on Anub'Arak. Not a very compelling fight, outside of lore.
Billy Dozer Feb 11th 2010 3:23AM
yeah, Yimron uses his stun shout before Anub burrows, runs epically past all of Anub'arak's copious adds, then slaps Fetid Rot on Anub while spamming Dark Slash.
Yimron FTW.
Dreamstorm Feb 3rd 2010 6:44PM
Ymiron imo.
His stuns and AoE capability are enough to deal with the adds, allowing him to melee the boss when possible. Dark Slash will cut Anub to shreds in no time.
a.atchinson Feb 3rd 2010 8:04PM
King Yim would Dark Slash Half his health then Stun all of Anubs adds and do aoe Damage quickly knocking them down emerging With another Dark Slash and Bane. No Competition King Y would win simply for 2 reasons more he's hit the more damage u take and Darkslash... incoperated with his stun/adds would annihalte Anub... maybe would he would stand a chance if it was the TOC Anub but heroic... psh outta the park
Jackaxe Feb 3rd 2010 6:07PM
I'd have to go with Yimron. If you're fighting an enemy who has an attack specifically made to knock out half of your health, there isn't a large chance of you surviving, and without a healer (As Anub'arak is) It's pretty much impossible.
Pyromelter Feb 3rd 2010 6:20PM
Anub'arak is basically the lich king's second lieutenant after KT. He also does massive damage with pound, ymiron is too slow to move from impale, and all his minions will eat ymiron alive. I think ymiron would get a shot or two in, but anub'arak is just too darn epic for a minor boss like ymiron to handle.
Tossing my vote in for anub over eregos too. don't be lame and vote for eregos next week just cuz his stupid gameplay mechanic makes people fail so much.
KJP Feb 3rd 2010 6:29PM
Much as with certain game shows, when it gets down to the last few you start voting tactically. I've decided I don't want Eregos or anything from that misbegotten Oculus instance winning. Ergo I choose who I think has the best matchup with him. Someone who, say, can counter Eregos taking to the air by burrowing underground.
alexurface1 Feb 3rd 2010 6:35PM
i would think yimron wins b/c of his dark slash if he gets 2 of those in there anub's down...
Qot Feb 3rd 2010 6:44PM
"Current health", not "total health". So his first slash would take him to 50%, his second to 25%, his third to 13%, etc. etc.
elstor Feb 3rd 2010 6:44PM
Guys remember this is Anub'Arak 5 man not Anub Arak 10/25... I really think this is an unfair vote because people are stupid and will vote for Anub Arak since he is a raid boss
Slaytanic Feb 3rd 2010 7:53PM
^This.
Pyromelter Feb 3rd 2010 8:00PM
I have never even come close to dying on ymiron. I have, however, eaten a pound and been oneshot before. I'm talking about 5man here. There are just many more ways to fail on anub 5man than ymiron 5man... gameplay mechanics aside, anub is just way more badass than ymiron, hands down.
Janaan Feb 3rd 2010 6:52PM
As the two face each other in the Battledome, the crowd seems to be split evenly between the two. They could hear equally shouts for both competitors. To start the battle, the Vrykul king lumbers toward the massive bug, and begins his mighty Dark Slash. At the same instant, Anub'arak begins his own deadly melee strike.
Both hit, and Anub'arak realizes that he will need his minions to defeat his foe. Submerging himself under the battle arena, he summons them. When they arrive, however, Ymiron freezes them in place, and summons orbs to destroy the little bugs. Also activating his Bane, he begins to cleave his way through Anub'arak's minions. Though he becomes infected with poison, he remains vigilant. After destroying all in his path, he pauses, waiting for his real opponent to show his face.
Anub'arak cannot hide any longer. His only hope was to Pound the Vrykul into the ground before he could be attacked. But just as he started his cast, he was interrupted, and could not move. Ymiron had chosen just this moment to use his second boat ability, adding a Spirit Strike to his own already formidable strength. Anub'arak began again his pound strike, but it was too late. Ymiron was already in range, and laughed as his Dark Slash pierced the heart of the undead creature.
rastir Feb 3rd 2010 6:52PM
quote alexurface1 = "i would think yimron wins b/c of his dark slash if he gets 2 of those in there anub's down..."
Dark slash = 1/2 of the targets CURRENT health.
Yim could chain cast this, and will never kill anub... 50% of 50% still leaves you with 25% of your starting health, isn't math wonderful?
But yea, I go with Yim.. if it was TOC Anub, then Anub all the way.
Undra Feb 3rd 2010 6:56PM
I think we all know that Anub is going to skitter away with the championship, let's drop the pretense.
Zhiva Feb 3rd 2010 6:59PM
LK will raise Anub'Arak again and again until he beats Ymiron.
Stephen Feb 3rd 2010 7:06PM
You beat me to the punch...
Bvannas Feb 3rd 2010 7:43PM
Ymirons Still a servant of the Lich King, Im fairly sure he could be Raised again too.... and again... and again.....
I reckon Anub and Ymirion did fight it off after They were both killed, Anub won and was empowered to become the ToC boss we all know and love (on normal, hate on heroic) - whereas Ymirion was left to rot as a Vargul. :P
edersons Feb 4th 2010 2:16PM
That is not very accurate, or else the Lich King would do the same with King Ymiron...as BOTH are his minions
Stephen Feb 3rd 2010 7:05PM
Yim would win, but then the Lich King would interfere and bring back Anub more powerful than before...