Two Bosses Enter: Mannoroth vs. Lord Godfrey
by Mathew McCurley 
Apr 2nd 2012 at 5:00PM
Oh ho ho ho, this promises to be quite the matchup, ladies and gentlemen. Can the pit lord general and his wacky elf sidekick take down gunslinger extraordinaire Lord Godfrey in a duel to the presumable death? I'm excited. Get excited! I've got Mannoroth taking this one in an early and decisive victory. Sorry, Godfrey fans -- I call 'em like I sees 'em.
Last week's matchup was a doozy that took me by surprise. I did not expect a win for Murozond because I thought that Azshara would have a more loyal following. Much like her misguided and tainted Highborne, her followers were not strong or numerous enough to cinch the win. Sorry, lady, you're out.
Now it is time to vote. You heard me -- vote! Who will advance to the next round? Choose! I can't push to any more than I already have.
| Mannoroth (Well of Eternity) | |
|---|---|
| Lord Godfrey (Shadowfang Keep) |
The rules of the ring
- The WoW Insider Ring 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 squared circle, 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.
Mannoroth has a lot going for him. Not only is he a demon and awesome, but he's huge and imposing. Godfrey is just a little dude! A little, brittle, undead dude, at that. Mannoroth has traveled across the cosmos, left ruin in his wake, and now stands before this pitiful little creature. It's almost insulting, isn't it?
That's what I would be saying if I had some sort of agenda, now wouldn't it? But I don't have any agenda, so back off. It's all the fel energy around here, man. It's screwing with my sense of, well, everything. Damn you and your delicious blood, Mannoroth.
The biggest crack in Mannoroth's armor is going to come from Godfrey's ability to adapt to many situations. Those ghouls are going to be tricky, especially since they are just so damned useful in a million different ways. I'd like to see Mannoroth throw anything at Godfrey that ghouls couldn't cure.
Read up on all of the abilities of the Mannoroth fight at Wowhead, since there are a zillion of them. Remember, after Varo'then dies (or is eaten/consumed/sacrificed), his blade can be used to pierce Mannoroth.
Let's be honest -- Godfrey went up against Arcurion for his first match. That's some amatuer hour right there. The forgettable ascendant was easily dispatched by Godfrey, a cakewalk for the seasoned killer. This man shot Sylvanas in the face, after all.
But what of Godfrey's chances against Mannoroth? While the adds and such don't seem like they would be a problem for Godfrey and his little army of ghouls, Mannoroth himself could be a different story. Since Godfrey has to be standing still to cast some of his signature, powerful moves, the raining fire could prove dangerous for the sharpshooter.
The odds are good that Godfrey will pull out a win based on his popularity, but anything is possible. After all, Vanessa VanCleef didn't win last season, now did she?
Godfrey's abilities include:
Last Week's Winner: Murozond
I am surprised, readers, that you chose to go with Murozond in this fight. Azshara seemed like she would be a fan favorite from the very beginning, but it appears that I was wrong. There is more staying power to Murozond than I had originally thought, so good for him! I'm proud of you, little corrupted aspect. All grown up and infinite ...
Honestly, I voted for Murozond as well. The combination of AoE damage and just plain ruthless Murozond is felt too overpowering for Azshara's servants. The mind controlling mechanic seems avoidable, and Murozond could easily make the ground Azshara was standing on, if she's in the fight or not, inhospitable. Concentrating on the puppeteering might be a problem.
Nonetheless, Murozond took home a pretty significant win with 61.5% of the vote, with a really great turnout for mid-season preliminary fights. I am really proud that the popularity of this column has grown, and that's thanks to all your imaginative posts, comments, and stories. So, thanks all. Maybe I'll see if Alex has any extra loot codes to toss around for some of the best comments about the fights ...
Oh, he said yes. Well, then. Next week, I'll pass out some loot codes.
Let's see what you guys came up with for last week's matchup.
Telwar hit the nail on the head with comments about Azshara's flunkies. These guys are enamored with the beauty of their queen, not necessarily the brightest of the bunch. I'll let Telwar explain it:
I love the idea that those guys are played by people who are awful at WoW. Breaks my heart at the same time. Murozond is such an imposing force as well that Azshara's followers just might rout at the sight of a dragon like Murozond. It's a fearsome fight, to say the least.It's not Azshara that Murozond is fighting, it's her flunkies. That's the key.
Remember, Azshara sits doing her nails and is invulnerable during the fight, as it's beneath her. So, Murozond has to just interrupt her Total Obedience, and he's golden.
Because the mages in her court? They're like every idiot you've ever grouped with who couldn't actually get out of the fire or get the interrupt or switch to the add. Literally, they're watching their meters, because they're sure having the highest dps will impress the queen.
Let's face it -- Azshara's mages aren't the brightest bulbs in the box. Murozond makes short work of this fight, in my mind.
Perry's account of the battle doesn't really take place during the battle. Actually, it takes place at several key moments in history before the battle, as Highborne mages spend their time studying and galavanting about in study. Books, lectures, tests, and exams dot the collegial landscape of the Highborne dormitories. Kuri Starfollow is throwing a Lantern Party for the House Drassil homecoming celebration. Under the stars, a druid sleeps as a bear under a tree, and a brother begins his dark descent -- a long time before the battle Murozond's influence took early hold.
Oh, dragon sunglasses, where would we be without you? So many dragons would be squinting during important lore moments or reveals.But...but...he IZ Aspeckt.
All seriousness aside, he was prepared for this fight with Azshara. Throughout their measly existence, Murzond has been undermining the mages' lives. From removing pelts from bears before they could be looted to phasing the herbs they needed for the queen's cocktail, Murozond has been preparing his enemies for failure. That magic teacher that taught them a spell that "should" nullify time-magic but actually amplifies it? An Infinite Tutor. That tailor who sewed their boots with an automatic shoelace-tying mechanism? An Infinite tailor. At the most probable moment in this fight, Murozond will collapse this great ball of wibbley-wobbley timey-wimey stuff around their throats.
For these mortals, time...has run out. /dragonsunglasses
So we stand at another crossroads, friends. Who will advance to the next round of Two Bosses Enter, further proving their ultimate worth and pride to their respective factions, masters, races, or otherwise? Will Lord Godfrey's pistol power and cunning be enough to fell the great pitlord Mannoroth, enslaver of the orcs and one of the most powerful demons in the universe? Who wins? You decide!
| Murozond (End Time) | |
|---|---|
| Queen Azshara (Well of Eternity) |
Set aside the world order -- let the WoW Insider Ring determine who's the champion! Your votes determine the outcome in WoW Insider's series of fantasy deathmatches, Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves.Filed under: Two Bosses Enter
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Deathknighty Apr 2nd 2012 5:02PM
I'm sorry, Godfrey, you're a cool guy, you kill all the groups and you doesn't afraid of anything, but this is bloody Mannoroth.
Will Apr 2nd 2012 5:22PM
Godfrey summons ghouls, but Mannoroth can summon a freaking Burning Legion army. Assuming Godfrey doesn't have Tyrande backing him up (and wouldn't THAT be interesting?), I'd say that pretty much neutralizes his ghouls, and probably demands much of his attention too. Standing still to summon or cast Pistol Barrage? Have some fel fire.
Mannoroth by a mile.
monotype Apr 2nd 2012 5:24PM
I'm not surprised that Murozond curb stomped Azshara. I think people think favorably of not!Nozdormu because, frankly, his fight is one of the best five-man encounters I've seen in a long while. Who doesn't like the hourglass mechanic? It makes you (up to) 500% more awesome, no matter what role you fill. Azshara's fight, meanwhile, is an irritating basket of adds, interrupting, and DPS who don't seem to understand that staying stock still beneath the slowly descending ball of arcane doom is a bad thing, not that I'm bitter about an astonishingly common inability to understand simple requests like "DON'T STAND THERE PLS," oh no.
Oh, and Mannoroth would eat Godfrey, the end.
Honeydew Apr 2nd 2012 5:30PM
Come on! Mannoroth! He's frigging huge and was part of the Burning Legion. Plus, he's the best part of Well of Eternity dungeon. And we can't even kill him on our own. We had to have help from the most powerful Night Elves!
Godfrey is kinda just... boring. I'm not impressed at all with his abilities.
Deathknighty Apr 2nd 2012 5:37PM
And we don't even kill him, we just banish him. I can see it now - Lord Godfrey summons ghouls. Mannoroth summons the Burning Legion. All of it. Fun times. ;P
Jaq Apr 2nd 2012 5:30PM
While I think Godfrey should lose a lot of the fights that he's won (with the exception of Arcurion, because, yeah, it's Arcurion) and I find him inexplicably popular in these things, I will try to be objective here.
Yeah.
Mannoroth doesn't even break a sweat here.
hairy_fedd Apr 2nd 2012 5:46PM
Have to give it to Godfrey-he's been nerfed several times (3?) and he was the ultimate pug destroyer at the start of Cata heroics.
Seriously, I kind of wish he didn't get nerfed so bad, because on my new 85 freshly hero 5man geared mage,Godfrey would still destroy a lot of the over geared players face rolling up to him now.
Jidan Apr 2nd 2012 5:47PM
To me, this all boils down to how much outside help Godfrey gets.
If Tyrande and Illidan are not present Mannoroth probably won't even realize he squished Godfrey as he meanders off to make a sandwich. To give Godfrey a fighting chance however lets pretend he has help from the Night Elves or a similar group.
With Illidan tanking Mannoroth, Godfrey only has to contend with Varothen, adds, and staying out of the fire. With careful timing, some quick steps, and a *lot* of ghouls gnawing on Varothen's feet *perhaps* cursed bullets and mortal wound will eventually kill Varothen. Of course, the ghouls would be vulnerable to fel-fire storms, friendly fire and Varothen's Really Big Sword...
Meanwhile, Tyrandre is tasked with add control, and eventually stunned. I imagine Godfrey can mop up the Dreadlords with a Barrage and some Cursed Bullets, but if Varothen is still alive (which he probably would be) Godfrey is now faced with either a bunch of demons or Varothen's sword in his face.
Note just how tough the odds are at even this point, and Tyrande hasn't even run out of arrows yet! The swarm of demons at the end will almost certainly end Godfrey even if he kills Varothen unless he can burn down *all* of Mag's health in short order (and even that is a stretch as he can't use Pistol Barrage without killing his ghouls who would be necessary to proc the spellsword buff).
All of this, with no healer and presumed Night Elf support. Not saying it can't be done, as I am a huge Godfrey fan,.. only that it would be a stretch.
chriscarloni50 Apr 2nd 2012 6:09PM
This is like Demonking Piccolo vs krilling.
EASY.
Godfrey got no game.
Robert Apr 2nd 2012 6:38PM
I don't get the Mannoroth love. Was shocked Mannoroth was winning after I entered my vote for Godfrey.
Where do we begin?
The entire fight Mannoroth is tanked by Illidan. Further, Tyrande kills all the adds. The only direct damage Godfrey has to worry about all fight long is while he's tanking Captain Varo'then, and let's be honest, he's not much of a boss.
After that Godfrey just has to use his Pistol Barrage on the two adds whenever Tyrande goes down, move out of the green fire, and slowly whittle down Mannoroth's health. Sounds easy to me.
Seriously, what "I WIN" ability does Mannoroth have?
Rai Apr 2nd 2012 6:50PM
Tyrande and Illidan stood before the mighty pit lord, as the Well of Eternity churned. Illidan looked up at the sky impatiently, looking round, waiting.
"Where are those fools? They should have been here by now!" he growled.
"Look, Illidan! There!" Tyrande exclaimed, pointing through the trees. A shadowy figure walked towards them, a pistol in each hand. He cocked the triggers as if about to fire-
There was a roar as Mannoroth began to accelerate the casting of his dark magic. The undead form of Lord Godfrey took a step backwards, as if to retreat. Illidan stared him with with a piercing gaze, while Tyrande took a step towards him.
"Whoever you are, you must help us or this world is doomed," she warned him, preparing her bow."
"This is just a bad dream. I'll wake up any moment now..." Godfrey sneered. From the distance, a gnomette was watching with great amusement.
Illidan marched over to Godfrey and shoved him. Caught off guard from the night elf, he tripped and fell to the ground.
"I can assure you that what is happening to the Well is very real. We must fight!" Illidan roared, charging off towards Mannoroth with Tyrande in tow. Godfrey mumbled and climbed to his feet, walking after the pair. Varo'then, Lady Azshara's faithful servant, was pushed aside by Illidan, who proceeded to lock arms with Mannoroth. Varo'then charged towards Godfrey.
Eager not to be outdone by the night elves, Godfrey fired off a cursed bullet at Varo'then, before engaging him in battle. Varo'then continued to assault Godfrey with his blade, the undead trying to step backwards and fire off a few more shots, even trying to hit back in melee with his pistols. Fuelled by devotion to his beloved Azshara, Varo'then continued to strike at the undead nobleman, as a portal opened up and demons began to flood out. Tyrande was keeping them at bay, but for how long?
"Let's even the odds a bit!" Godfrey proclaimed, raising several ghouls from the ground. A couple began attacking Varo'then, while the rest ran off towards the demons Tyrande was instantly-killing, and generally rambled about over there. Godfrey sighed.
"Lord Sargeras, I will not fail you! Sweep your molten fist through this world, so that it may be reborn in flames and darkness!" Mannoroth roared, a fel inferno whipping up in the air above them and crashing down. Godfrey kept on the go, running from Varo'then and firing off bullets back towards the elf, smart enough to stay out of the fire. He turned and fired off a pistol barrage at Varo'then, who took the full brunt of it and suffered severe damage.
Tyrande collapsed as two Debilitating Dreadlords appeared and stunned her with magic.
"Help her!" Illidan barked.
"She'll be fine."
Godfrey fired off another pistol barrage, causing Varo'then to fall to the ground, defeated. His sword landed in the soil. Godfrey shrugged at it.
"Use the sword!" Illidan yelled.
"I prefer guns!" Godfrey cackled, firing at Mannoroth. The shots were roughly as effective as paper pellets would have been.
"Your world shall be UNMADE!" Mannoroth declared, as the fiery fel inferno descended once more. Plethoras of demons continued to spill from the portal, as Tyrande was still trapped by the Debilitating Dreadlords and unable to act. The demons continued to attack her, as Godfrey fired at Mannoroth, working as a team not being in his nature.
"Pathetic elves. I could kill him myself!" Godfrey threatened, summoning his ghouls once more before firing cursed bullets at the pit lord. Varo'then's sword was still stuck in the ground, ignored.
"Who are you to think yourself as mighty enough to stand before a pit lord?" Mannoroth asked.
"Lord Vincent Godfrey!" he screamed, firing off a pistol barrage at said pit lord, while the group of easily-shootable grouped up demons continued to ravage Tyrande and Illidan, both of who silently wished anyone else had turned up but Godfrey.
Mannoroth blinked, staring at the undead.
"I don't know what you're doing here, you ugly fat monster, but I sense dark magic. I'll kill you and take your place and then the whole world will never forget the dreadful terror and unrelenting power of-"
Mannoroth stomped over and picked him up, tossing him as far as he could straight into the Well of Eternity.
"That's quite enough of him."
For once, the Night Elves agreed shortly before Mannoroth killed them both and the world fell into darkness.
Walynds Apr 2nd 2012 6:55PM
Godfery can still pinch this.
With Tyrande's help, Valo'then wont be an issue. Meanwhile in the main bout, Illidan's glaives to the face of Mannoroth keep his attention, allwoing Godfery to get off the odd pistol barrage. Mannoroth wont even realise "Tex" Godfery is even there until he cops a sword to the guts.
This is where things get tough.
Mannoroth is now annoyed at himself for FF'ing Illidan. Godfery pops his ghouls and leads him a merry dance. Godfery is smart enough to wait till after the fel fire has cleared a bit to pop his pistol barrage then summon a fresh lot oh ghouls. Meanwhile Illidan is still applying judicious amounts of Glaive to Face pain. Godfery makes use of Tyrande's buffs when possible.
Finally Manaroth becomes bored with the game and buggers off, Godfery Hearths back to Shadowfang just in time for the next unfortunatle matched group of ilevel 33 randoms to attempt him in his cellar.
Ballmung Apr 2nd 2012 7:15PM
I think ppl are reading too much into the "I'm a demon" part of Mannoroth. This is the same Mannoroth that dies in the Third War to Grom Hellscream. So he actually gets beat not once but twice. And by 3-5 major lore figures if you want to include Thrall or Malfurion. Godfrey only died so he wouldn't become a worgen so he jumped off a cliff. Then he came back to undeath and shot Sylvanas and got away with it practically. Let's not forget Godfrey isn't alone in this fight.
So Illidan takes Mannoroth mano-y-mano at first as usual. Tyrande pew pews demons. Godfrey looks at Varo'then and chuckles. Raises a pistol at his opponent's face and confuses him since Varo'then has never seen one before. Varo'then is ready to charge but is stopped by his sudden lead buffet. Setting his sights on the Pit Lord Godfrey starts his assault and looks for any weaknesses to exploit since nothing he will do will grab the demon's attention. Tyrande is suddenly debilitated by demons and now an army goes unchecked. Godfrey summons his own legion of ghouls while he aids the priestess if to only aid himself. With Tyrande back on her feet Godfrey continues his assault on Mannoroth, exploiting weak spots he found earlier. Demons appear in greater number. Godfrey summons more ghouls and uses a barrage of pistol fire to keep them at bay. The Pit Lord largely unaware due to the Demonhunter mocking his every blow. By the time Illidan casts his ubertime spell Mannoroth is exhausted. But now he can feel another approaching. This time it is someone else making his way up his armor. It a demonic energy fueled Godfrey come to deliver a flurry of pistol fire in the demon's face, interrupting Mannoroth once and for all and Godfrey claims the win.
Ikana Apr 2nd 2012 8:04PM
I'm gonna assume Godfrey has Tryande and Illidan with him as well as his Ghouls. Cause, I'll be honest. You need those two to even have a chance to win this. Also, I don't remember what Tryande and Illidan say in this. So I'll do what I can to make this as much like the actual fight as I can. But it can end with a wipe, or loot collecting. So, storytime!
---
Lord Godfrey (and his army of ghouls) walked towards the past versions of Tryande and Illidan, who have been told by Tirion what was going on. Mannoroth and Varothen were standing there, prepared to fight anything that came their way.
"I'll get Mannoroth! You two get Varothen!" Illidan ran to the demon and attacked him. Godfrey's Ghouls seemed to understand what Illidan yelled and ran to the Night Elf to start attacking.
"I'll deal with the Burning Legion! I'm hoping you can deal with Varothen by yourself!" Tryande turned to the armies of the Legion and readied her bow.
Godfrey started with shooting Varothen in his chest, the armor protected the Night Elf, but not enough for it to stop the magic that was with the bullet. Varothen ran at Godfrey, who in return started moving farther away from him. Varothen ignored the Ghouls that were attempting to chomp his leg off and sliced at Godfrey, managing to hit him across his chest, easily injuring the undead lord. Mannoroth summoned a fel storm, forcing Godfrey to move farther away from Tryande and Illidan. Eventually, fel storm faded away.
"I need aid! Mother Moon, aid us in the darkness!" A pilliar of moonlight appeared where Tryande was.
Godfrey lead Varothen over to the moonlight, and commanded his ghouls to attack the demons. He also decided that, this one time, to use Pistol Barrage. After charging for a few seconds, he fired the powerful spell, taking out his ghouls and the demons.
"Thank you, I can hold myself up again."
Mannoroth used Fel storm again. Sending Godfrey back to were he was before, but not without him getting burned by the felfire.
He held himself up despite the pain that coursed through his body. After so long, he defeated Varothen.
"I... have failed... Queen Azshara...."
Varothen's sword fell, which Godfrey picked up and, while avoiding yet another fel storm, hit Mannoroth with it, neutralizing his armor. The sword was destroyed as well.
"Attack Mannoroth now!"
Godfrey rolled his eyes, then summoned his ghouls and started attacking Mannoroth. Tryande was slowly running out of arrows.
Fel Storms kept forcing Godfrey to go over to where Tryande is to avoid getting himself killed. Mannoroth saw this and followed him, knowing that if he killed him, this fight would be over. The Burning Legion constantly coming, being held off by Tryande. But not for much longer.
"I am out of arrows! Mother moon, guide us in the darkness!"
Tryande collapsed. The demons were out of control. The ghouls were holding the Burning Legion back, but were unable to kill them. The ghouls died, allowing the demons to run up to Godfrey and Illidan and attack them. Fel storms were falling once every few minutes.
"You are not the sole wielder of Sargaras's power!"
"Illidan! No!" Trynade yelled.
"This ends now Mannoroth!"
Illidan summoned his own power, which also affected Godfrey, transforming the two of them into demons. A while later, the well began to drag Mannoroth off.
"NOOOOOO! I CAN'T LOSE THIS! NO!"
Godfrey watched as Mannoroth was pulled away, screaming bloody murder. Tirion appeared with some of the Bronze Dragonflight, who altered Illidan and Tryande's memories so they wouldn't remember what happened.
"That was a surprising fight. You wouldn't believe how many thought you were going to lose."
Godfrey laughed, and transformed back, "Well, it happens, who cares really?"
"You're suffering from loss of blood aren't you?"
"Yep." Godfrey passed out.
---
So... that's it. I'm hoping Godfrey will win, but at the same time, I won't be surprised if he doesn't. Sorry if this has some errors in this. I was half-asleep when I typed this. And horray for how long it is. (thats what she said) *facedesk*
Darkraimk234 Apr 2nd 2012 9:49PM
*facedesk*
major errors in my story that's gonna bug me if not fixed.
I spelled Tyrande "Tryande" the entie fight. I'm sorry. It pisses me off when I screw up people's names.
Also, Varothen should be Varo'then. My bad. I blame my horrible spelling.
another fail: Godfrey's oocness.
sort of. It can be seen as ooc and it ticks me off. I think I put the lost of blood thing in there to cover it up, then remembered,
Undead don't have blood. I'm horribly sorry for Godfrey's oocness if it looks like that to any of you.
Ikana Apr 2nd 2012 9:52PM
/Doublefacdesk
Why did it put my name as that?... ignore the "darkraimk234" and think it's "Ikana" please.
beck84720 Apr 3rd 2012 4:48PM
Mannoroth.. pretty much by far lol.
icepyro Apr 2nd 2012 10:38PM
Look, I'm not saying that Mannoroth in a real battle wouldn't defeat Godfrey. The pit lord was only defeated by one who had drank his blood. I kind of assume it's kind of like Dragon Soul killing Deathwing. The only way to win is to cheat.
What I am saying is that we need to remember the rules of the ring:
All Mechanics are present. That, to me, implies that Varothen, Illidan, and Tyrande are present.
Assume about equal health and power. Now considering the mechanics, I will assume Mannoroth has insane health, but that's because the fight and the story of the fight are played out. This does not mean Mannoroth automatically roflstomps Godfrey. Mannoroth never really attacks the party and honestly, given the mechanics, I start to wonder how Mannoroth wins, because it takes a lot to lose in this fight.
Assume strategic thinking. And this is where Godfrey wins. Mannoroth's intelligence says "Moar daemonz" and while Godfrey may snub at the sword, he will have taken enough damage to at least throw the thing in a fit of "dang that hurt a lot, dumbass, you can have this back" and could probably output enough damage to kill him anyways.
Ikana Apr 3rd 2012 12:24AM
I agree with you Ice, only reason I won't be surprised if Godfrey loses is because people instantly think "OMFG A DEMON MUST VOTE FOR HIM" or "Oh it's Godfrey. pfffft, let's try to get him out like VanCleef."
Of course, there's gonna be the people who believe he is the best. I respect that view, the other two, however, I do not.
preeska_2 Apr 3rd 2012 3:45AM
I agree with you two... And still would love Fletcher's option. With the mechanics, Godfrey having Illidan and Tyrande at his side, even if pure strenght wasn't enough, even assuming both fighters are able of strategic thinking, Godfrey's intelligence in tactics should be part of his techniques... With the three of them, there's no doubt at least one of them could pull out a plan where they have no choice but to win.
However as it turns, Ikana may be right with the first two views...