Two Bosses Enter: Tyrannus tyrannizes Krick and Ick; Falric faces Paletress
by Lisa Poisso 
Mar 17th 2010 at 7:00PM
The Thunderdome's no Bartertown, Krick and Ick are no Master Blaster ... and as many expected, Scourgelord Tyrannus dominated this week's Two Bosses fantasy deathmatch. More than three-quarters of the spectators anointed the Scourgelord with the victor's crown. The judges tied it up for Tyrannus as well, leaving the path clear for what's shaping up to be an intriguing match, Falric vs. Argent Confessor Paletress. (By the way, if you're a fan of the cage match genre, check out last week's match on Suvudu: Jaime Lannister vs. Hermione Granger -- yeah, it's so one-sided it's just mean, but sometimes those are the train wrecks we love to watch go down. George R.R. Martin himself weighs in, too; get back to writing, bud. )
Join us after the break for the judges' decisions, plus your chance to vote in Falric vs. Paletress. For in the words of Dr. Dealgood: "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls ... Dyin' time's here."
Krick and Ick's lopsided stand against Tyrannus netted the scourgelord more than three-quarters of the spectator vote.
In the stands
- Scourgelord Tyrannus 77.4%
- Krick and Ick: 17.8%
- Tie: 4.9%
First off, in the instance, Scourgelord Tyrannus just kills Krick from a distance.
If that's not enough for you, consider this: Pursuit isn't going to matter here. Poison Nova does a lot of damage, but it's trivial for Tyrannus to punt Ick out of his melee box instead of running away from the plague eruptor. Same for the bombs: with his massive knockback attack (Forceful Smash), if we're assuming it works here (and the rules specify that it does), Tyrannus doesn't have to move for those, either. He can just hammer Ick away from himself once Krick starts casting. That leaves Rimefang's Hoarfrost and Icy Blast to slow Ick, making it hard for him to get back to cast any abilities, as well as Tyrannus' Overlord's Brand, which is going to basically hurt either Krick or Ick a lot (because whatever damage Tyrannus takes, one of them is going to take). (In game, only Ick is actually targetable, to my knowledge, but we'll assume here that it could pick either of them.)
Combine all that with Tyrannus' Unholy Power, and it's game over. Ick is eating Hoarfrosts, getting stunned, getting slowed, getting his own damage turned back on him, and getting punted out of melee range whenever Krick tries to do something fancy. Tyrannus might as well put a hand on Krick's head or slap him with his own hands while saying "Stop hitting yourself!" -- it's that one-sided a beatdown.
Judge Zapperz: Scourgelord Tyrannus
I actually have a soft spot for Krick, because his indecisiveness reminds me of every boss I've ever had and his voice reminds me of my favorite movie. Still, they don't have a chance here. Krick and Ick's method of attack is pretty simple: litter the field with poison and toxic waste. Part of the problem with this approach is Rimefang is airborne all the time and won't take much damage from this. Tyrannus is a buff DK; he'd take some damage but would generally have the attitude of John Candy in "Armed and Dangerous" that "A little toxic waste isn't going to kill you." He'd wade through it, powering up with Unholy Power, then whack Ick with a couple forceful smashes just for kicks.
Krick and Ick would do their best to hold Tyrannus off: a Shadow Bolt here, an Explosive Barrage there and there, but it's not enough. Tyrannus marks Ick with Overlord's Brand. Krick's options are limited; he can either have Ick pound away at Tyrannus and therefore himself, or sit back and do nothing while Tyrannus pounds away at him. Being the true administrator he is, Krick would change his mind a few times: "Attack him! No, stop, stop! No attack the Wyrm! No, wait ..." Meanwhile, Tyrannus drops a Mark of Rimefang on Ick. Ick then Krick become Rimefang's snacks. I hear gnomes are low in calories, especially the undead ones ...
Judge Michael Gray: Scourgelord Tyrannus
The problem with Tyrannus against Krick and Ick is that they're both double acts. Don't get me wrong -- I absolutely want to say that Master Blaster rules Bartertown. But I can't, because it's not like Tyrannus is stepping up against the gnome and his minion all by himself. He's got this pesky dragon.
Even more importantly, just like the Devourer in our last showdown, Tyrannus has the ability to reroute damage from himself to another target. In that infinitely potent, judo-like "use your opponent's strength against them," Tyrannus will turn the dynamic duo's own incredibly power against them.
Finally, Tyrannus is the kind of name that calls back to the pop culture Sith. Lord Tyrannus has such a Sith-like name that Krick and Ick stand no chance.
Judge Sky Paladin: Scourgelord Tyrannus
Scourgelord Tyrannus reviewed the paperwork an undead servitor had handed him. It seemed Krick had, once again, been misusing the slaves for his own agenda, and production had fallen behind.
"Strikes?" Tyrannus asked.
Another servitor placed Tyrannus' list of worker errors in his hand. Tyrannus narrowed his eyes and picked out Krick's name, written in elegant linked script. Two crosses were marked next to the inscription. Tyrannus tapped them, smiling slightly.
"Weak, useless gnome. You are all out of chances, now."
(Read the rest of Judge Sky Paladin's scenario for this battle in the comments of the battle.)
- 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 visualize it inside the Thunderdome, visualize it someplace else -- but you must take into consideration all of each bosses' abilities and mechanics.
- Assume that each opponent is intelligent and capable of strategic thinking.
- 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; seeking balance is your goal as a spectator and judge.
In Corner One: FalricI should have been a farmer like my father wanted.
Lousy pay ... Constant danger ...
Well, at least I get to hobnob with royalty.
The first boss within the Halls of Reflection, Falric guards the path to the Lich King's throne room. Formerly a Lordaeron captain serving as one of Prince Arthas Menethil's most trusted men during the campaigns against the Scourge, he and Marwyn became powerful Scourge commanders after their prince turned to more evil ways.
- Defiling Horror
- Hopelessness Stacks to 75%
- Impending Despair
- Quivering Strike
Falric begins by unleashing four increasingly large waves of monsters. Inside the Two Bosses Thunderdome, we will consider Falric's four waves of monsters to be roughly equivalent in strength and tenacity to his opponent's three waves of three fighters.
- Ghostly Priest
- Phantom Mage
- Phantom Hallucination
- Shadowy Mercenary
- Spectral Footman
- Tortured Rifleman
Read more about Falric's battle tactics, and study reports from adventurers who've faced him in battle.
In Corner Two: Argent Confessor PaletressThank you, good herald. Your words are too kind. May the Light give me strength to provide a worthy challenge.
Argent Confessor Paletress is a human priest combatant in the Trial of the Champion. She can be heard periodically speaking to the various faction champions and receiving their confessions behind the confession screen.
- Confess/Reflective Shield
- Holy Fire
- Holy Nova
- Holy Smite
- Renew
- Summon Memory Summons one of the memories of Algalon the Observer, Archimonde, Chromaggus, Cyanigosa, Priestess Delrissa, Eck the Ferocious, Entropius, Gruul the Dragonkiller, Hakkar the Soulflayer, Heigan the Unclean, Herod, Hogger, Ignis the Furnace Master, Illidan Stormrage, Ingvar the Plunderer, Warlord Kalithresh, Lucifron, Prince Malchezaar, Mutanus the Devourer, Onyxia, Prince Thunderaan, Edwin VanCleef, Lady Vashj, Vek'nilash, General Vezax, which all use the same abilities: Waking Nightmare, Shadows of the Past or Old Wounds (inflicts 1,875 physical damage to an enemy every 1 sec. for 12 sec.)
Before facing Paletress, opponents must deal with three groups of three fighters. Inside the Two Bosses Thunderdome, we will consider Paletress' three waves of three fighters to be roughly equivalent in strength and tenacity to her opponent's four waves of monsters.
Read more about battling Argent Confessor Paletress, and review reports from gladiators who've faced her in the tournament.
Two bosses enter, one boss leaves
Two Bosses Enter 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!
| Falric wins (Paletress dies) | |
|---|---|
| Paletress wins (Falric dies) | |
| Tie (something else happens) |
The Five-Man Bosses of Icecrown Citadel and Trial of the Champion
Match 1: Bronjahm vs. The Black Knight – THE BLACK KNIGHT
Match 2: Devourer of Souls vs. Forgemaster Garfrost – DEVOURER OF SOULS
Match 3: Krick and Ick vs. Scourgelord Tyrannus -- SCOURGELORD TYRANNUS
Match 4: Falric vs. Argent Confessor Paletress
Match 5: Marwyn vs. ToC PvP champions
March 6: Eadric the Pure vs. Lich King
Set aside the world order -- let the Thunderdome determine who's the champion of Icecrown! Come back next week to find out who is the victor of the Icecrown-Trial of the Champions season of Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves.Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Lore, Two Bosses Enter
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
McGuffer Mar 17th 2010 7:12PM
Hate to say it but we have seen Paletrees take down a raid boss by herself Falric just doesn't swing that kind of timber.
Bram Mar 17th 2010 7:14PM
Oh man. This is bad.
The creepy, lecherous-sounding boss versus the nice, sweet lady who forgot to wear pants? Troubling implications abound.
Anathemys Mar 17th 2010 9:54PM
During the fight:
Paletress focuses on the task at hand and tries to decide which horrifying confession to summon (opting to save her Hogger cooldown for the Lich King).
Falric thinks, "Ooo, she has nice legs..."
Case closed
Oznak Mar 17th 2010 7:14PM
And this is the Jaime without his sword hand. Not that he needs it, he can just smile and toss his perfect golden curls and Hermione will just faint. GRRM does need to get back to writing though. I want me some ADWD.
On topic, Paletress all day long. She utterly defeats the Val'kyr twins, who are imo stronger opponents than Falric. And after all, she's a priest, and he's undead. She has the natural advantage. No contest.
turambar Mar 17th 2010 7:20PM
Paletress would moan suggestively and Falric would fall to his knees.
Wildstaff Mar 17th 2010 7:20PM
Paletress no doubt. Falric and his wave of undead are... Undead. Not only does she have the natural advantage but she becomes immune to damage when she summons a nightmare. Tlshe will make quick work of him
Zalaron Mar 18th 2010 8:47AM
Remember how its not lore that determines strength?? Otherwise this bracket is pointless as lich king is obviously the strongest in lore.
Natsumi Mar 17th 2010 7:30PM
I have to give this to Falric based on the abilities. Hopelessness, Defiling Horror, and Impending Despair are all very good against any opponent. Add Quivering Strike and it's additional debuff and you have a fairly one sided fight.
Paletress's only hope would be if she summoned the Memory of something dreadful, but Falric has been cooped up in ICC for awhile now, I doubt he participated in any of the horrific memories on Paletress' list. aside from that, all the memories are (mechanically) the same so it could be the memory of his aged granny (who i hear had a wicked love of taking a switch to little rascals that stole pies from he window sill) but Hopelessness would still win him the day. the face that he will be taking 75% less damage AND they will be getting 75% less healing, I'd say he wins with about 15% life left (though that is being very generous on Paletress's part, she's not even really the boss, the memory is) due to healing and having to beat her down 2 times.
brian Mar 17th 2010 7:55PM
Hopelessness really is the kicker here. With both their "adds" at the same level of strength, you can almost ignore them completely, and focus on the one on one battle.
Paletress isn't even really the threat in this fight, it's the memory she summons. Both the memory and Falric have fears, though Falric's lasts longer. Paletress doesn't have dispel as a boss ability, so she's out of luck with that. Paletress has renew to help keep the memory alive, but with Hopelessness, it's all for naught. Both the damage and the healing Paletress and her memory does are going to quickly be brought down, even a 25% reduction is a big deal, especially when you're at boss levels of damage and healing.
Then, Falric has Defiling Horror, but some damage is bounced back with Reflective Shield (though again, reduced by Hopelessness). Falric has Quivering Strike, but I doubt the memory has much dodge anyway. Paletress has Smite and Holy Fire, but those are yet again reduced by Hopelessness.
So, Paletress has to race against the clock, trying to down him before Hopelessness stacks too high, whereas Falric simply has to kill the memory with enough time to get a few good blows in. It might be a close fight, but if Falric even manages to get Impending Dispair on Paletress and prevent a memory even once, the fight's in the bag.
Pyromelter Mar 17th 2010 8:00PM
One thing to note about the fears: Paletress' fear can be interrupted by a tremor totem (dunno about fear ward but I imagine that would work too). Falric's fear can't be wiped by those means. Ad: Falric
idonotlikepeas Mar 17th 2010 7:33PM
Paletress summons the inner darkness of the person she's fighting and lets that do the fighting for her. Falric has got a great deal of inner darkness, and he's only a human (or the remnants of one) rather than some kind of monster or beast that might be immune to that sort of power. No contest.
jasonkidd1234 Mar 17th 2010 8:54PM
Yes, speaking from a lore standpoint, I'm sure Falric has a lot to confess for.
I'm saying Paletress would win it.
If we're assuming the adds would have to fight the other adds, even though HoR's adds are the hardest part of any five man in the game (imo) hers have a distinct advantage. Added together, 9 holy users, 6 of which can heal.
In the waves, it's about 16 adds, each of which is unique.
I'd think that Paletress's adds would be capable of taking them down using teamwork and coordination.
Then after the adds are gone, I'll say 6 of the mobs are still alive (2 groups of 3). They attack Falric, not taking long to get killed.
Then Paletress and Falric duking it out, Falric having a bit of lost health. She holy fires him a few times, then bubbles. She would summon some sort of horrific memory from Falric's past (Perhaps even the Lich King would be summoned).
He's dealing with attacking the Nightmare, who is fearing (while Falric himself is fearing). The renew's usefulness would be lowered throghout the fight, but a lot of people forget that Paletress doesn't stop the holy fire spam while she's invuln.
So while he's taking damage from reflected shiled, Memory, AND Holy fire, he can't do anything to hurt her until he kills the memory. I'd say he'd be lucky to kill the memory, and if he did that he wouldn't have the health left to survive the rather easy kill on her.
Lightofarador Mar 17th 2010 7:34PM
Falric vs. Confessor Paletress
“Is that....Frostmourne! The rumors are true!” One of the Argent Lightwielders exclaimed, his face hidden by a steel helm with the markings of the Argent Crusade.
“Hush now, brother. The Light has given us this opportunity, we must not give it up by alerting the scourge to us.” Confesser Paletress said in a soft and melodious voice, one that many a member of the Argent Crusade had found solace in during the many months up North.
“Agreed, Mother. We should continue with the utmost subtlety.” A draenei priestess said, though he eyes gave away that she also could not believe there luck.
The Confessor nodded her golden-tressed head, “Light wielders lead the way, monks you know what you must do, as do you sisters.” At her words, the small company of Argent Crusaders proceeded slowly towards the pedestal that stood under Frostmourne, the Corruptive Blade the turned Prince Arthas Menethil into the Lich King.
“Let us be done with this then! Grab the damned blade and let’s be done with this then!” A dwarven Lightwielder exclaimed, his firey beard and choice of a war-axe over a traditional war-mace marked him as Kul, one of the most fool-hardy of Crusaders at the Argent Tournement. With his statement he ran towards the Pedastal.
Paletress shouted, “Kul! By the Light! What are you do....” The dwarf stepped on the pedestal, trying to grab the blade.
The dwarf stopped, his eyes widening, “Oh bloody h....” He was unable to finish his statement, a ghostly bullet hitting him in the mid-section with enough to send flying.
The cause of the shot became evident, very quickly, as ghostly figures appeared around the pedestal, the shapes looking eerily like soldiers that would common in an Alliance battalion, their faces twisted in looks of deep sadness and agony.
“Brothers and Sisters of the Argent Crusade! Prepare yourselves for battle! minions of the Lich King dare interfere with out holy mission! Give these souls there deserved rest!” Confessor Paletress called, callin upon the Light to help defend her comrades.
With that, battle was joined, Living paladins fighting ghostly footmen, Draenei priestesses fending off fallen Elf priests, and Argent monks trying there able best to disarm and disable shadowy garbed men, who blended in with the gloom of the Hall.
Though fighting in desperation, the living men and women started to turn the tide against the fallen. But it was not to last, for soon after battle began, a deep and commanding voice was heard over the clash of steel and gun fire, “Your skills are admirable, but wasted. Soon you will join these souls, as my lord commands.”
With that said, a more substantial figure comes into the view of the Argent Confessor, A man that she knew was the leader of these spectres. Captain Falric, one of Arthas’ commanders in life, his live has not changed at all in death. His body was covered in dark plate, with a worn and ragged Lordaeronian tabard hanging down his abdomen, his face was near covered in the shadow of his helm, but what the Cofessor could see was a weary face and a once blonde beard.
“Soldiers hold these intruders at bay, I will deal with this wench as she deserves.” He commanded to his ghostly troops, who did not give any indication that he was heard, but soon changed tactics. With his commands given, the fallen Captain of Lordaeron slashed at Paletress, his weight pressing down on the stike, all the confessor could do was call a shield of the Light down around her, absorbing the attack, but barely.
The man seemed to laugh at the priestess, “They send a lamb to fight the wolf? Your leaders must be incompetent, come girl, and see the folly of coming to this place.” With that, Falric raised a hand, and Paletress was consumed with fear, dark thoughts creeping into her consciousness. The cries of her comrades were the only thing that kept her from truly succumbing to the anguish.
The confesser quickly steeled herself to the anguish and hopeless, and called upon the Holy Light, and the Light answered, stunning all the Spectres. Moments later, the ghosts seemed to fight shadowy figures, many of which looked to be scourge minions or other such creatures. This gave the few remaining of her comrades to disengage and heal themselves for the continued barrage. All had seen the confessor us this trick many times before, her signature move in the coliseum against would be crusaders.
Paletress let her brothers mend themselves, and went after the Captain, who she seemed to have disappeared. He found him cowering before the great gate that barred her expedition from going further. The confessor smiled weakly, “Fallen son of the Light, give yourself over to redemption and rest. You deserve it. Let me end your suffering.” She said calmly, hoping as all do that she could redempt this lost soul.
The shadowy clad man looked up, and Paletress saw the weary old man that he was and felt pity for him, knowing that he did not deserve this, “End it then sister....Well the Prince is unaware...” He said in a gasp, as if straining under a great load. She nodded and started to speak a prayer to the Light, calling for righteous fire to burn the man.
That is when he took the advantage.
Falric moved with the deadly grace of a timber wolf, and slashed at the Confessor, a grim blow that stopped him mid pray. Her eyes grew wide as she understood the deception and tried to move her body away, and maybe call on her beloved Light again to save her.
But she found herself unable to, and that was all Falric needed.
He smiled evilly as he rammed his Dark Rune-blade through her heart, whispering softly, “The Will of the King is first and foremost.”
((Alright, I know this is a bit long, but it is worth it. Anyways, I look at less as a gladiator fight, and more of, what would happen IRl. Anyways, this is plausiable, considering how forgiving a Priestess should be, and Falric has been fighting for longer then Paletress has been alive. I know I might have missed a few points in her, like differant attacks and what not, but I think is works.))
Pyromelter Mar 17th 2010 7:58PM
Wall of text crits for 9,000,000!
Lightofarador has slain both Falric and Paletress!
jasonkidd1234 Mar 17th 2010 9:01PM
She might be forgiving, but don't forget that she is a priest, AND member of the Argent Crusade.
Priest are IMO the smartest general class. They can control people's minds for god's sake, I figure she could see through a "revolution'.
The Argent Crusade barely trust the Ebon Blade, let alone a Death Knight that is one of, if not tied for his MOST trusted lieutenants.
And just saying, her Holy Fires have a pretty quick cast time, and he shield isn't like a priest, it's more like a paladin shield on steroids. The light doesn't absorb some of the hit, it absorbs ALL of it, and reflects it back.
It was a nice story, but I didn't quite like the ending.
Falric is probably a more skilled fighter, but if skill in fighting was the case in a caster vs fighter, generally speaking it's more about determination and armor (lawlz).
You have to remember that as a member of the Argent Crusade, she knows about the Lich King and his various accomplices. I doubt she'd look at Falric as a man just wanting to rest, and more of an obstacle in finally killing the Lich King.
Pyromelter Mar 17th 2010 7:51PM
"Men, women, and children: None were spared the Master's Wrath. Your death will be no different."
Due to the fact that this is by far the best, most epic, and awesome line uttered by any boss ever in the history of wow, Falric wins.
Also, he's an undead captain of lordaeron, battle-hardened and won many victories while under the banner of Arthas. He's already helped to defeat many epic opponents.
Not to mention the fact that somewhere in there a shadow merc would spawn with a ghostly priest, combined they would easily take out whatever "Memory of.." add she has, and likely take her out before she knew what would happen.
Hangk Mar 17th 2010 11:43PM
No! Quite the opposite. Falric's evil past is his undoing.
When Paletress uses Summon Memory, it's going to summon *Falric*'s memories to fight him. Think "Host of angry, vengeful spirits of the innocent" and I think you have the idea here.
Paletress wins because she has the ability to turn her opponent's evil thoughts and deeds against them. An unredeemed Death Knight stands no chance against her.
Alexander Mar 17th 2010 7:52PM
This Pear....so delicious.
Jaq Mar 17th 2010 8:14PM
Which one of them doesn't wear pants?
There you go.
(In all seriousness, Falric wins this by a landslide. Poor Paletress. Let me console you.)
splodesondeath Mar 17th 2010 8:31PM
Well, what's the most horrible thing Falric must've fought against? A coordinated PuG? If Paletress can whip out something he's fought that gave him a ton of trouble, then Falric's done for.