Two Bosses Enter: Tyrannus joins ToC faction champs in season finale
by Lisa Poisso 
May 18th 2010 at 4:00PM
It was a close match, but Scourgelord Tyrannus foiled Argent Confessor Paletress' attempt to snatch away a Thunderdome victory and get into the season's finals. It will be the Scourgelord who steps foot into the cage this week to face off against the Trial of the Champion PvP faction champs in the season finals of Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves. The vote was 51.5% in favor of Tyrannus, to Paletress' 44.9%; three out of four judges also handed the fight to the intimidating Scourgelord.
Now, it's time to clear the field and let the finalists square off: Scourgelord Tyrannus and his mount, Rimefang, versus all five of the Trial of the Champions PvP faction champions. For the final time in this season of Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls ... Dyin' time's here.
In Corner One: Scourgelord Tyrannus
Alas, brave, brave adventurers, your meddling has reached its end. Do you hear the clatter of bone and steel coming up the tunnel behind you? That is the sound of your impending demise.
Scourgelord Tyrannus is a human death knight mounted upon his frostbrood wyrm, Rimefang. He is encountered in the Pit of Saron, the second wing of the Frozen Halls. His abilities include Forceful Smash, Overlord's Brand and Unholy Power. His mount, Rimefang, can Mark of Rimefang, Hoarfrost, Icy Blast and Icy Blast.
Learn more about Tyrannus and Rimefang's tactics.
In Corner Two: ToC PvP Faction Champions
As in previous Thunderdome matches, we're going to pull out all five of the Trial of the Champions grand champions at once. (Players face only three of the champs during a given encounter.) There are no Argent Warhorse or lances here; the champions will be on foot for the duration of the match.
- Lana Stouthammer/Deathstalker Visceri Eviscerate, Fan of Knives, Poison Bottle
- Colosos/Runok Wildmane Chain Lightning, Earth Shield, Healing Wave, Hex of Mending
- Marshal Jacob Alerius/Mokra the Skullcrusher Bladestorm, Intercept, Mortal Strike, Rolling Throw, Whirlwind
- Jaelyne Evensong/Zul'tore Disengage, Lightning Arrows, Multi-Shot, Shoot
- Ambrose Boltspark/Eressea Dawnsinger Blast Wave, Fireball, Haste, Polymorph
Read more about the Grand Champions encounter.
The judges make their calls
Judge Michael Gray
Victory: Scourgelord Tyrannus
Tyrannus. I mean, the ToC faction guys were fun. And their PvP nature totally warms the cockles of my honor-kill-loving heart. But they're just not fun. Maybe that's because they're hard to write about; you have to remember each member's name and try and find some personality among each person. But really, that's not going to happen. They're a nameless, faceless horde. And not even all of the players have seen all the faction champs -- the champs are different for the Horde and Alliance.
Tyrannus is a unifying presence in this series. Let us celebrate our new Scourgelord master and his stalwart mount, Rimefang.
Reader-Judge John Zakour
Victory: ToC PvP Faction Champions
Okay, here it is: the finals. The big showdown. I hate to be boring, but I have to go with the ToC Champs. They are a group of well geared champions, like any number of parties that have downed Tyrannus -- except with lots more hit points. They got heals, they got good DPS and a warrior who can double as a tank in a pinch. This is a tank and spank. The warrior takes the beating and gets in his licks (when the mark isn't on him) while the others down Tyrannus. It's the ToC Champs in a pretty easy fight. We don't call them the champs for nothing.
Reader-Judge Sky Paladin
Victory: ToC Faction Champions
I give this one to the Faction Champions. There are just too many of them. Tyrannus hits like a truck but won't be able to get enough heals back from Runok's weak healing to mitigate the amount of incoming nastiness. I think he'd be able to drag down one or two of them with him, though -- but in the immortal words of Ace Ventura http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109040/, "Fourrrrr darrrrts is toooooo muuuuuuuuch."
Judge Matthew Rossi
Victory: Scourgelord Tyrannus
Basically, my fevered forebrain believes that the ToC faction champs are essentially a group of adventurers. As a result of this belief, I usually give almost any of these matchups to them because I know a group of adventurers is suited to accomplishing the fights. But frankly, the ToC faction champs are a bad group of adventurers. The tanking is sub par, the healing abysmal -- in short, Tyrannus will crush them just like he does every PUG where the tank won't use cooldowns or the rogue keeps stabbing despite the damage sharing. Tyrannus. In a walk.
The laws of the Thunderdome
- 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 work on their opponents, including crowd control and other effects to which bosses are usually immune (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.
| Scourgemaster Tyrannus wins for the season title (ToC Faction Champs die) | |
|---|---|
| ToC PvP Faction Champs win for the season title (Tyrannus dies) | |
| Tie (something else happens) |
The 5-man Bosses of Icecrown Citadel and Trial of the Champion
Round One
Match 1: Bronjahm vs. The Black Knight
Match 2: Devourer of Souls vs. Forgemaster Garfrost
Match 3: Krick and Ick vs. Scourgelord Tyrannus
Match 4: Falric vs. Argent Confessor Paletress
Match 5: Marwyn vs. ToC PvP champions
Match 6: Eadric the Pure vs. The Lich King
Quarterfinals
Match 1: Scourgelord Tyrannus vs. Lich King (5-man, HoR version)
Match 2: ToC PvP champions vs. Devourer of Souls
Match 3: The Black Knight vs. Argent Confessor Paletress
Match 4: Vote back your favorite defeated gladiator
Semifinals
Match 1: ToC PvP Champions vs. Lich King (Halls of Reflection version)
Match 2: Scourgelord Tyrannus vs. Argent Confessor Paletress
Set aside the world order -- let the Thunderdome determine who's the champion of Icecrown! Come back next week to find out who'll be returning for the semi-finals 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 2)
krohvaer May 18th 2010 4:05PM
Anyone think the opening picture looks 'shopped? I think I see a few pixels arond the edge of Tyrannus...
Gormaggus May 18th 2010 6:54PM
I can tell by the pixels and I've seen a few 'shops in my time!
Nodonn May 18th 2010 4:08PM
Is it just me or are the arguments the Tyrannus-favouring judges have either non existant or pathetic?
Al May 18th 2010 4:11PM
I like to think it's an impression of the people who voted him through to the final.
"I sit on a mount and make void zones!"
clundgren May 18th 2010 4:16PM
Yeah..."a bad group of adventurers?" Maybe...but a bad group of adventurers with about a gazillion hit points. And it's not like Tyrannus is a rocket scientist, either.
Tyrannus hits like a truck against players. Against a warrior with about a half million hit points? Not so much.
themunkis May 18th 2010 5:04PM
Yeah but since the warrior is offensive as hell, he probably cant
take many hits, the shaman shouldnt be able to heal all the damage
and then since the other three mostly use AoE abilitys wich are much
weaker than single target abilities, this should be easy for tyrannus
Angus May 18th 2010 7:47PM
It's not that Tyrannus is hitting like a mack truck much. It's that the warriors buddies are doing enough to help him finish the warrior off thanks to the Mark, while Rimefang has a bunch of melee to target. They all get blocked, mark is killing the "tank" and the hunter is well, the hunter.
All that said, I voted for the champs anyway, cause it's still not enough.
clundgren May 18th 2010 4:21PM
The ToC champions are a bit wierd in these encounters, because unless you pretend that they have a regular, player-sized health pool, they obviously walk through all of these encounters...as well as the entirety of Wrath content, up to and including the Lich King, in a breeze.
So going by the stated rules, Judge John Zakour has it exactly right. The ToC Champions can only lose if you imagine that they are a bad pug with bad pug health pools. That's ain't the case, though.
Squirr3llywrath9 May 18th 2010 4:36PM
I think Tyrannus should have it. If he can put the icy blasts in the right spots, he can kite the melee around while he kills the ranged. If he keeps brand up on whoever he is trying to burn, heals should keep him up long enough for him to down them. Unholy Power for anyone unlucky or stupid enough to get stunned or stand in the ice and it should be his.
Ilmyrn May 18th 2010 4:45PM
Tyrannicus. He burns down the mage and hunter, then mounts up on Rimefang to destroy the shaman, warrior, and rogue from the air.
Fair fights are for Paladins and fools. Death Knights are interested in winning.
DeathPaladin May 18th 2010 4:46PM
I had to go with Michael Gray's analysis.
Don't neglect style, story, and scale. Says it right in the rules. The TOC Champions? They are blank slates. No personalities. No quirks. They don't even say anything. They're boring. There's no style to neglect when they show up.
Honestly, the only reason they made it as far as they have is because they turn every fight into a 5v1 battle.
Apple May 18th 2010 4:51PM
The faction champions aren't PvE specialized. The massive damage output will make it close, and I'd love to see Rimefang get sheeped, but the champs don't have the proper toolbox for a tank-and-spank, with their lack of single-target healing or aggro control. Tyrannus runs riot, marking the shaman first to stop him from healing, taking him out and then shifting focus to the other dps, killing them in order of fragility. All the while his wyrm is wreaking absolute havoc on anyone who's not presently being axed. Even if we assume the champs play it as cleverly as possible, you don't bring an épée to a joust and you don't send PvPers to a boss fight.
Sumadin May 18th 2010 4:51PM
Here is how i see it.
The Toc champions hit like a trunk, but only as a union. One by one they are quite harmless. And if there is anything Tyrannus is good at it is keeping people occupied.
The arms warrior may have 300k life but he got no avoidiance and his healer can only hold up about 10k hps. Oh and he forgot his defence cap gear. While the shaman get's the brand(so he can't heal) the arms warrior goes down soon enough.
Next is the Rogue. 300k life is not much when you carry leather and she will go down fast.
At this point Tyrannus will have taken quite some dmg but the dps of the champions is now down to 60% dmg. Tyrannus let's rimefang shot at the shaman while he quickly kills the mage.
With Just 2 up they desperatly fire everything they got at him but Tyrannus just places his brand at the hunter of them while he nukes the shaman. By the time the shaman goes down, the hunter is already down to 60% life. And through Tyrannus is almost at his limit he finishes off the hunter swiftly.
At the feet of his victory he yells the famous words: You should have stayed... IN THE MOUNTAINS.
Sgtkillgore May 18th 2010 4:56PM
I believe some people are forgetting law 4 of the Thunderdome:
Assume that the opponents share similar levels, health pools and comparative overall damage output.
This means, if we assume Tyrannus has 1 Million hit points, that each Champion has about 200k health. The battle would be incredibly close. Runok's amazingly small heals wouldn't do anything to counter the incoming damage, but Tyrannus wouldn't get any returns off of his brand. Tyrannus would ignore the Warrior in favor of taking out the cloth/leather/mail classes first, while Rimefang does his normal rotation of attacking and freezing them.
In the end Tyrannus takes out all Champions except the Warrior. Unfortunately the DPS of the Champions was too high and the Warrior takes him out. Faction Champs have this one, but not by miles. This would be a photo-finish encounter.
brian May 18th 2010 10:38PM
You also have to remember that with each champion that Tyrannus takes out, that's a big chunk of dps that's now gone. So I don't even think it'd be that close. Tyrannus takes it, but at about 10%
John Z May 18th 2010 5:06PM
I do think this would be a close fight for sure. Maybe the closest fight of the tourney. But the PvP champs to me are built to take on tasks like this. The funny thing is if Paltress beat Tyran I think I would have more tempted to go with her in the finals. Not sure why really... I just have a thing for powerful women I guess...
John Z May 18th 2010 5:11PM
BTW, my later comments were made after thinking more about the fight last night. My main point still stands though if a regular group with nowheres near 1 million HP can bring down Tyran then certainly the champs would. (I wish we could edit comments.)
Any ways folks it's been fun!
Natsumi May 18th 2010 5:17PM
As a person that plays a DPS Warrior, I can honestly state that DPS WARRIOS =/= TANK. Ever. Not even in a pinch would I EVER claim to be a tank. Oh sure, I have an off spec, but it doesn't include Bladestorm. Just because you wear plate doesn't mean you can take the hit.
On top of that, having trounced the faction Champs numerous times, I know that the Shaman (your so called Healer) has a tendency to cast Lightning more often than Heal (I've actually been in a group where we killed him before he even TRIED to cast a Heal).
To wrap everything else up in a little bow, Tyrannus does damage AND has health EQUAL to ALL FIVE FACTION CHAMPS. That's right folks, he hits like a FREIGHT TRAIN (Trucks are so overrated) when he pops Unholy Power. Your DPS Warrior "tanking" gets dropped so fast the Shaman doesn't have time to stop casting his Lightning spell before Tyrannus in on him. Tyrannus owns your local Fatcow/Squidgoat and proceeds to tear the rest of the champs limb from limb, that is if they were smart enough to not group up and get frosted by the nice Frostwyrm.
I'm not even sure how they got this far. Surely they all just hit random in the Dungeon Finder, the Warrior hitting TANK and the Shaman hitting HEALER to avoid the long wait times.
Saelorn May 18th 2010 5:19PM
The fight starts, and the ToC faction champs immediately run out the back door, because that's their way. They eventually come back and the fight starts again. Before anyone lands a blow, Tyrannus jumps back onto Rimefang and proceeds to nuke the other side from relative safety, because he's a cheater and that's how he does things.
Omegan01 May 18th 2010 5:45PM
Tyrannus can easily take this if he's smart about it. And sicne he's a scourgelord, I'm inclined to think he will be.
First, he chains overlord's brand on the shaman. Admittedly, the guy doesn't do much healing, but what healing he does try to pull off will be redirected to the scourgelord. He'll also be reluctant to dps since that'd be hurting one of his friends.
Second, he orders Rimefang to bombard the hunter and the mage with frost patches and iceblocks. This gives them the choice of either eating it (not likely) or constantly running away from threats, thus limiting their dps.
With three of the champions so hobbled, Tyrannus can absolutely go to town on the two melee people. He can even boot one away and then go crazy on the other with his dark power. None of them can stand up to such an onslaught, not with their entire party hamstrung by the scourgelord's power. At that point it's a game of whack-a-mole for Tyrannus. Once he smashes the rogue and warrior he can go after the softer targets, bringing the whole group down before him.
"Perhaps you should have stayed...IN THE MOUNTAINS!"