Patch 5.3 interview with Ghostcrawler
Mystery of the Unborn Val'kyr
The latest patch 5.3 news
All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsAnduin Wrynn: Then and Now
by Mathew McCurley 
Jun 16th 2011 at 6:00PM
Anduin's biggest changes actually happened outside of the game world, most notably in the World of Warcraft comic series and in Christie Golden's companion novel to Cataclysm, The Shattering. In The Shattering, Anduin comes into his own through a series of adventures with Jaina Proudmoore, and by participating in the burgeoning dwarven civil war between the clans at Ironforge. The prince finds his path with the Light, determined to become a priest instead of becoming a warrior like his father. His character has grown considerably since his inception, with Blizzard making a concerted effort to move his story forward against the backdrop of the cataclysm.
I was a fan of Anduin in The Shattering because he was written to be a spiritual opposite of his father. While Anduin retained his father's caution when dealing with the Horde, he seemed more open-minded, forgiving, and willing to compromise on things above and beyond him. There is definitely groundwork being laid for a strong, compassionate leader, something the humans have not truly had since Varian's kidnapping and King Terenas Menethil of Lordaeron.
Anduin Wrynn -- Then and Now
Although only a teenager, Stormwind's prince, Anduin, has persevered through numerous trials and tribulations, such as being kidnapped by the scheming black dragon Onyxia. His greatest challenge, however, might lie in his relationship with Varian. Anduin is no stranger to his father's love and affection, but he is constantly wary of sudden outbursts from Varian's violent, gladiatorial side. Anduin has also struggled against his father's insistence that he become a warrior.
Events just prior to the Cataclysm signaled a new chapter in Anduin's life. While undergoing martial training in the dwarven bastion of Ironforge, Anduin witnessed as Moira Thaurissan-the estranged daughter of the late King Magni Bronzebeard-held the city hostage with a contingent of Dark Iron dwarves. Despite being the legal heir to Ironforge, she drew the ire of Varian for her heavy-handed tactics. Before long, the king and a team of SI:7 agents infiltrated the city, intent on killing the brash dwarf heiress. Only through Anduin's wise and resolute intervention did Varian stay his hand and spare Moira's life, thus averting a political disaster that might have ignited a dwarven civil war.
During his time in Ironforge, Anduin also discovered his true calling in life: to be a priest devoted to the tenets of the Holy Light. For those who know Anduin well, this discipline is a perfect fit for the prince, who has consistently proven himself to be compassionate and thoughtful. No longer the child-prince of Stormwind from years past, Anduin is fast becoming his own man with the courage to speak up for what he believes in. He does not share Varian's outright hatred and mistrust of the Horde. On one occasion, he even imparted sage advice to the tauren chieftain Baine Bloodhoof after the death of his father, Cairne. Yet in Azeroth's current state of turmoil, it is unknown whether Anduin's destiny with the Light will proceed on its current course, or whether his path will take a different turn.
We'll be examining other key characters' transformations-including those of Magni Bronzebeard-in the months ahead, so come back soon.
Events just prior to the Cataclysm signaled a new chapter in Anduin's life. While undergoing martial training in the dwarven bastion of Ironforge, Anduin witnessed as Moira Thaurissan-the estranged daughter of the late King Magni Bronzebeard-held the city hostage with a contingent of Dark Iron dwarves. Despite being the legal heir to Ironforge, she drew the ire of Varian for her heavy-handed tactics. Before long, the king and a team of SI:7 agents infiltrated the city, intent on killing the brash dwarf heiress. Only through Anduin's wise and resolute intervention did Varian stay his hand and spare Moira's life, thus averting a political disaster that might have ignited a dwarven civil war.
During his time in Ironforge, Anduin also discovered his true calling in life: to be a priest devoted to the tenets of the Holy Light. For those who know Anduin well, this discipline is a perfect fit for the prince, who has consistently proven himself to be compassionate and thoughtful. No longer the child-prince of Stormwind from years past, Anduin is fast becoming his own man with the courage to speak up for what he believes in. He does not share Varian's outright hatred and mistrust of the Horde. On one occasion, he even imparted sage advice to the tauren chieftain Baine Bloodhoof after the death of his father, Cairne. Yet in Azeroth's current state of turmoil, it is unknown whether Anduin's destiny with the Light will proceed on its current course, or whether his path will take a different turn.
We'll be examining other key characters' transformations-including those of Magni Bronzebeard-in the months ahead, so come back soon.
The news is already rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on new quest hubs -- plus new Tier 12 armor!
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Astalnar Jun 17th 2011 10:05AM
@ destinyshand
Why not, I bet Bolvar would love to see Anduin soon and if kid somehow kills Varian and goes on rampage, maybe, just maybe Muradin can finaly take control of Alliance.
There is no need to worry about garrosh, he will eventualy get lucky enaugh to accidentaly kill himself, most probably while sharpening his axe and shouting on someone.
Furiursa Jun 16th 2011 7:27PM
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Anduin could walk on water. People bitch about Rhonin being a Mary Sue character, but Anduin is as flawless a character as you can get. :P
Flolyn Jun 16th 2011 7:37PM
Well he is training to be a priest so walking on water really isn't a far fetched idea....
cyanea85 Jun 17th 2011 10:13AM
I don't think you understand the definition of "Mary Sue".
If Anduin were to singlehandedly kill Garrosh, marry Sylvanas and make her human again with his supah-magic and kill and then discover he's Illidan and Deathwing's illegitimate son...THEN he'd be a Mary Sue.
Alukard Jun 16th 2011 8:50PM
I loved Anduin and Baine.
I would love to see each of them rise to be major leaders at the setting of cataclysm. Anduin would give the Alliance a much purer feeling than it currently has, same with Baine. I personally loved Thrall as leader of the Horde because he fealt like a noble leader instead of a savage. Now the alliance and the horde are headed by savages. Kinda makes me sad.
Thomas Higgins Jun 16th 2011 9:20PM
Hopefully Blizz will see sense and let Variable Winds and Gross Heckwhimper, (I know those probably aren't their real names but I am beggared if I can remember them) kill each other off and leave the leadership of the Alliance and Horde to saner hands than theirs.
dkhar Jun 16th 2011 9:38PM
Martial training in IF, and now becoming a priest, am I the only one thinking....MONK! It seem's to me that may be the path they are sending him, too...much...AWESOME!
Crispn Jun 16th 2011 10:24PM
If they used Andiun to introduce the monk class that would be... epic
no... legendary
razion Jun 17th 2011 12:49AM
I was really hoping for him to grow into a paladin, honestly. More like Bolvar used to be...
Omegan01 Jun 16th 2011 10:15PM
"Wrynn the elder needs to take a dirt nap and quickly. Him and Gross are too busy trying to kill each other and are taking both their factions with them."
This is usually the line of reasoning coming from people who've -
1. Never read the comics.
2. Never interacted with Varian outside the Undercity battle.
3. Done the bare minimum of research on Varian's character design and history.
Contrary to the belief that Varian is some flat-out warmonger, he actually has a history of extending his hand time and again, even when he has no reason to believe the gesture would be appreciated. He shows respect to members of the Horde who haven't antagonized him or his people:
He allows Varok to claim his son's body, and even calls Dranosh a hero.
He works with Baine Bloodhoof in 'Stormrage.'
Even as late as Cataclysm, Stormwind permits a troll ambassador to park in Stormwind harbor, albeit not without some tension.
In the nixed Twilight Highlands intro, Varian even goes so far as to give the Alliance commodore explicit orders to avoid entanglements with the Horde and focus on the Twilight Hammer (which then goes to hell when Garrosh gets trigger-happy).
Varian does not treat the Horde the same way Garrosh treats the Alliance, and it's fallacious to equate the two of them. Varian has shown, time and again, that he is open to reconciliation, but that does not mean he will tolerate the excesses shown by the Forsaken and Hellscream. He's a counterpuncher - he lets his enemies make the first move and then hammers them if he sees something he doesn't like.
Varian Wrynn is not some one-note "kill Horde, kill, kill, kill" character. Don't try to paint him as one.
Lemons Jun 17th 2011 4:33AM
"He's a counterpuncher - he lets his enemies make the first move and then hammers them if he sees something he doesn't like."
That's exactly what I don't like about Varian Wrynn. The Horde always seem to make the first move against the Alliance, they always have. When Varian returned I was really excited that the Alliance might finally get a hyper-aggressive leader who isn't afraid to make the first move. Instead, Varian hasn't really done much of anything to advance the overall position of the Alliance since his return.
I guess he set up the Council of Three Hammers. Whoopee. I want an act of war against the Horde. I want to burn a Horde settlement to the ground. They're are destroying our towns left and right and all we've done is destroyed camp T which was just dumb. I honestly see destroying camp T as a Horde victory, that's how pointless it was.
Thomas Higgins Jun 17th 2011 6:53PM
I play the game, I go by how I see it. I don't live the game. That would be a job and I would expect to get paid for it. Seeing as I pay to play the game, I have an opinion just like you. I have done some research on the subject in question before, and I stand by what I have said. Wrynn the elder has had his psychology warped by his experiences, who wouldn't in his position, but he is the king of a nation now, not the once-gladiator anymore. If he cannot put aside his personal problems and deal with the real issues and the real enemies that his nation faces, (not the Horde, no, that could safely be put on the back burner for now), but the Bitch Queen of Undercity and her cohorts (who want to reproduce by killing everything on two legs, whether they be be nominal allies or no) and Deathwing, who, ya know, is only trying to kill us all at the moment.
Failure to do so is an indication of the man's uselessness as king. And therefore, he should either accept these responsibilities or leave the stage by force if necessary.
Royblazeheart Jun 18th 2011 3:08PM
@Thomas
So, essentially, you're saying that he should ignore the Horde, Ignore his allies' cries for help against the horde and focus solely on the Twilight's Hammer? Hmmm. Interesting, because Varian did say to avoid tangling with the horde in the original Alliance Twilight highlands intro, yet look what happens horde side; The Alliance were STILL attacked. You say he should put aside his feelings for the betterment of his people and he has; the Horde seems to be itching for a fight. Frankly, you should try to do a little more research.
KLRMNKY Jun 16th 2011 11:46PM
At some point is Blizz going to give the Alliance someone that actually wants to beat the Horde?
Giving them a male Jaina isn't going to put the WAR into Warcraft.
How many leaders in the Horde actually want to coexist peacefully alongside the Alliance?
I can think of one.... maybe.... well.... no.... nevermind..... Baine's a tauren and the tauren owe the Horde a life debt. They are Horde 4 life, no matter what happens.
Haro Jun 17th 2011 4:38AM
Well, you have Baine, for starters, as you said.
Then you have Vol'Jin, who sent envoys to the alliance with utter disregard for whatever Garrosh might think.
Lor'themar Theron doesn't seem to have a belligerent position in the whole horde/alliance war... you know belfs/helfs, they rather be left alone. They have reasons to both hate (Garithos) and be thankful to (Velen) then alliance.
And Gallywix would surely be thrilled for a chance to hold the monopoly in the hypothetical peaceful horde-alliance commerce.
Warmonger horde leaders? That's Garrosh and the lich qu... i mean Sylvanas.
In the alliance, there are also 2... i don't think it's fair to call them warmongers, but at least clearly hostile to the horde, Varian and Genn Greymane. Moira... she's a wildcard, we know too little of her, but she's probably seclusive, like the rest of dwarven leaders, but maybe not so ready to help the humans as her dad was.
Rai Jun 17th 2011 7:01AM
Not to mention ol' Gelbin the High Tinker, who's pretty obsessed with getting Gnomeregan right now. Poor guy's been in the dungeon queue for hours, he's too high-level.
Rai Jun 17th 2011 6:58AM
I almost hope we see some angsty teenager drama in which he becomes a shadow priest and his outlook (not to mention character) changes drastically.
However, I did gain a lot of respect for his character in Cataclysm, including feeling a little sorry for him. His dad embarasses him. "My son's priestly abilities have saved the kingdom, and my life! From a dagger. Against a guy that wears plate armour. Also, those adventurers that did all the work. LOOKIT MY SON HE'S AMAZING now please stop taking him to Goldshire."
Nagaina Jun 17th 2011 7:34AM
::dryly::
I stand by my assessment that the term "Mary Sue" is a criticism devoid of meaningful content. That being said...
I'm really, really enjoying Anduin's character arc. He was one of my favorite characters in the (unjustly) maligned comic book and I found his sections of "The Shattering" to be an extremely satisfying read. He's young, yes, but he's also sensible and compassionate and he actually comes across like someone who was reared from early childhood to be the heir to a large and cosmopolitan nation. I was also pretty damned impressed by his sense of ethics, initiative, and willingness to go his own way and do what he knew was right.
fainda Jun 17th 2011 8:36AM
How about Anduin becoming a shadow priest?
Terrant Jun 17th 2011 9:03AM
So, Anduin used to be a gnome?