Deathwing is coming
by Adam Holisky 
Oct 27th 2010 at 1:30PM
At random, Deathwing will attack an entire zone and kill everything -- players, NPCs, mobs, creatures and critters. For your death, you get the feat of strength Stands in Fire. We don't know when exactly this will become active on the live realms; however, we are able to confirm it's active on the beta realms.
The full blue announcement as follows:
ZarhymOne of Azeroth's oldest adversaries will soon tear through the Elemental Plane to reforge the world in flame, but this foe won't be conducting his reign of terror from the confines of a castle or lair. Deathwing is a destructive force the likes of which adventurers have yet to see in World of Warcraft, and his appetite for devastation can only be satisfied by the shattering of the world. Following his explosive escape from Deepholm, Deathwing will cast a deadly shadow over the people of Azeroth as he wreaks indiscriminate havoc across the land.
Once free to terrorize the world, Deathwing will randomly choose territories in Azeroth to attack each day until his ruinous reign is brought to an end. A blackened sky will be the only warning before every living creature caught in his approach is consumed by his terrible fire. The unfortunate victims of his malice will receive a rare Feat of Strength... as well as a repair bill and corpse run.
When Deathwing returns, you'd best keep your eyes on the skies.
Once free to terrorize the world, Deathwing will randomly choose territories in Azeroth to attack each day until his ruinous reign is brought to an end. A blackened sky will be the only warning before every living creature caught in his approach is consumed by his terrible fire. The unfortunate victims of his malice will receive a rare Feat of Strength... as well as a repair bill and corpse run.
When Deathwing returns, you'd best keep your eyes on the skies.
Filed under: News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
john.liette Oct 27th 2010 1:34PM
wouldn't this have to happen AFTER the shattering? Otherwise, isn't DW still stuck in Deepholm?
Opochtli Oct 27th 2010 1:39PM
This ^, post-pacht 4.0.3
Drakkenfyre Oct 27th 2010 1:41PM
Yup. People are misinterpreting this. It happens AFTER the expansion comes out.
Sicadastra Oct 27th 2010 1:41PM
That is also how I interpreted this, to be after the Cata changes, not before. I was actually assuming (and hoping) that this was longterm and somehting we might see throught Cataclysm.
Arjunas Oct 27th 2010 1:43PM
According to a later Blue Post this will happen after Cataclysm is released and will continue until he is killed at the end of the expansion.
"His true terror reign will begin as soon as he tears out of Deepholm, resulting in the shattering of Azeroth." ... "Yes, this isn't a permanent event, but will last so long as he's free to roam the world."
So no, this isn't part of the pre-Cata events. He will be a permanent "Watch the sky, oh shit he's coming!" threat to Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms throughout pretty much all of Cataclysm.
Sunaseni Oct 27th 2010 1:48PM
"This isn't a permanent event."
It's basically the Scourge Invasion, after some time he'll go to his lair and plan out his ultimate goal, no longer terrorizing the lands.
rhorle Oct 27th 2010 1:57PM
It isn't a world event. He will attack random zones until the next expansion, since that is when he is defeated.
Brews Oct 27th 2010 2:16PM
I think it happens when...
I'm gunna punch dat dragon in da face!!!
dpoyesac Oct 27th 2010 3:30PM
"His true terror reign will begin as soon as he tears out of Deepholm, resulting in the shattering of Azeroth."
https://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=27387876560&sid=1&pageNo=6#114
This will happen AT THE SAME TIME as 4.03 (The Shattering, sometime late November) but slightly BEFORE the official release of Cataclysm (Dec 7).
So, the day you log into Warcraft and see that everything looks different? That's when you should start looking toward the skies and worrying about the insta-BBQ.
artifex Oct 27th 2010 3:50PM
So, basically, this is probably the easiest Feat of Strength to get, ever?
Chris Oct 27th 2010 3:58PM
Not really...there's been plenty that involved just being at the right place, at the right time (blizzard anniversaries, for example)
Vodkamartini Oct 27th 2010 4:26PM
GUILD WAITS FOR DEATHWING TO SHOW UP, QUITS
ORGRIMMAR (THELDURIN SERVER) - Seasoned adventurers of the Horde Guild The Armchair Raiders disappointed all of Azeroth Sunday when they failed to kill Deathwing -- because he didn't show up to his lair.
"We spent the past five hours killing everything to get to Deathwing ... and when we got to the final part where he's supposed to be, he wasn't there," said guild leader and Paladin main tank Sunshinebeef. "We freaked out, nobody has killed him yet, we ran back and exited and came back in to see if he'd pop back, nada. We sent some messages to folks, did research if anyone else came as far as we did and if there was a problem or something we missed, like a switch or ritual that needed to be activated. Then while everyone is either dancing, sleeping or dueling, one of guys -- I think it was Phagin the Goblin rogue -- says he Deathwing is gone because he's flying around Azeroth and burning people up. Sure enough, we find this little flip sign that says 'Out for carnage' but there's no time listed for when he's to return. We gave him an hour and he didn't show. Two of our healers had to be at work at 7 and another had to feed their kid who woke up, so we called it and hearthed back to Orgrimmar."
The adventurers, who could have rid the realm of Deathwing and ended his reign of terror throughout the countryside before anyone else, hope to kill him Monday night before the Law of Tuesdays sets in, "but we never have good nights getting guildies on a weeknight," Sunshinebeef added. "Our best healer has a class final tonight. I'm not optimistic we're gonna be able to go back in."
Sunshinebeef said his guild would not take ringers to kill the beast. "Our guys want it for pride. The other guildies would really get upset if we brought some guy off the Undercity street, he said. "A month or so ago, we brought in somebody's friend when we did our run against Cho'gall, and we had a lot of casualties because of that idiot."
Locals in Orgrimmar were upset, ranging from the heroic raiders who said they'd willingly leave their guilds for the opportunity (but declined to give their names to the press) to the inexperienced mercenaries. "Deathwing lives and Azeroth dies because someone can't do without a little less sleep or a hungry baby? Dude, think of the lowbies," said Orc Hunter Bangbang, who was winded after losing his pet and hearthing in terror in a close call from Deathwing in the Badlands.
Also upset was Garrosh Hellscream, Warchief of the Horde. "Lok'thar! Serving the Horde should come before work and family," he growled from his throne.
Hellscream's predecessor, Thrall, Son of Durotan, was more forgiving to The Armchair Raiders' situation. "Osh'kosh b'gosh, I totally understand if they had to bail because of children, school or workplace obligations. Have patience everyone, Deathwing will fall," he said.
Calls to Deathwing's spokesmen were not returned, but a charred gnome corpse with a "I.W.I.N." button was dropped onto the city an hour after the attempt.
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Izaach Oct 27th 2010 4:49PM
IF it's a permanent event:
1.5 years after Cataclysm's release, we finally get to face Deathwing.
Me: Oh look, it's you again. /yawn
[Not sure if want.]
Kakistocracy Oct 27th 2010 4:53PM
I suppose if this were a pre-release event, Deathwing would just have to send an intern to do the killing.
Angus Oct 27th 2010 5:58PM
VodkaMartini: that post alone should force them to bring back /1Local so everyone can see it in all it's glory.
Awesome!
Crimson Oct 28th 2010 1:31AM
Oh I can totally picture it.
You're trying to solo that group quest, already brought down that elite to 15% all of a sudden WTFOMFGBBQ! your dead, the elite is also dead but you don't get the quest, and Deathwing flies away with a HAR HAR HAR...
I wonder if he would fly to Northrend too...
"Finally a Time-Lost Prottodrake who I have been camping for a month!" WTFOMFGBBQ!!!!! "nvm..."
Well at least Deathwing will get those achievements from killing rare spawns and the Time-Lost Protodrake will drop from Deathwing as a result ;)
josh Oct 27th 2010 1:34PM
that. is. awesome!!!!!!!!!!
Stoop Oct 27th 2010 1:48PM
100% agree
Now I need to start carrying marshmallows!
Cale Oct 27th 2010 2:05PM
YES! Totally awesome.
I...um...yeah, it turns out I can't wait to be killed.
wutsconflag Oct 27th 2010 4:15PM
Very awesome!
(And the QQ from it will be epic.)