World of Warcraft
When we stepped through the Dark Portal in The Burning Crusade, we thought we were the heroes coming to stop a villain. We thought Illidan Stormrage was a mad tyrant sitting atop the Black Temple, waiting to be looted for his Warglaives.
The Illidari are not villains. They are the ultimate anti-heroes. They are a faction born out of desperation, willing to become monsters to destroy monsters. Today, we are looking at the edgiest, and most tragic faction in WoW history.
Fight Fire with Fire
The philosophy of the Illidari is simple, The Burning Legion is infinite. You cannot defeat them with shields, prayers, or Light. To kill a demon, you must become one.
While the Paladins of the Alliance were polishing their armor and the Horde were busy talking about honor, the Illidari were consuming demon hearts. They utilize Fel energy, the very thing trying to destroy their world, as a weapon. It is a dangerous path. If you lose control, you become the enemy. But if you succeed, you become the ultimate living weapon.
The Ritual, A Trial of the Grasses
How does one become a Demon Hunter? This isn’t only about power levels, it is mostly about survival, like most of the things in WoW universe.
The process is strikingly similar to the Trial of the Grasses from The Witcher. Just as young Witchers undergo painful mutations that kill most candidates, Illidari initiates must partake in a ritual involving demonic blood and flesh.
The mortality rate is staggering. Many initiates die in agony. Others go insane, their minds shattered by the chaotic visions of the Legion. Only the strongest survive, but they are forever changed. Their skin becomes scaly, horns sprout from their heads, and they ritually/willingly gouge out their own eyes to gain “Spectral Sight”, the ability to see magic and demons clearly. Like Geralt of Rivia, they are mutants created to protect a world that fears and despises them.
The Army of Outland
In The Burning Crusade, the Illidari does not consist only of Elves. It was a massive, ragtag empire that controlled all of Outland. Illidan managed to unite races and factions that had no business working together:
The Naga is Led by Lady Vashj, the snake-people controlled the waters of Zangarmarsh. The Fel Orcs are the red-skinned, blood-crazed orcs of Hellfire Peninsula served as the brute force. The Broken are Led by Akama, these devolved Draenei served Illidan in hopes of reclaiming their temple (they betrayed Illidan). Lastly, The Blood Elves under Kael’thas Sunstrider. They sought a cure for their magic addiction (another relationship that ended in betrayal).
It was a kingdom built on shaky alliances and raw power, and eventually, it crumbled. But for a time, Illidan was the true Lord of Outland.
From Villains to Saviors
For years, we treated the Illidari as enemies. We raided the Black Temple, we “killed” Illidan, and we imprisoned the survivors in the Vault of the Wardens, under the watchful eye of Maiev Shadowsong, Illidan’s eternal jailor and obsession
Then Legion happened. And we realized Illidan was right all along. The Illidari were the only ones who truly knew how to defeat the Legion. In a satisfying twist of fate, the “villains” we locked away became the champions leading the charge to Argus. Their Class Hall, the spaceship Fel Hammer, is arguably one of the coolest base of operations in the game in my opinion. Seeing them finally being a playable class and getting the respect they deserved was a highlight of modern WoW lore.
Important Figures, Known and Unknown
Illidan Stormrage. Of course, he is the first name on the list. The Betrayer. The Master. The character with the best voice acting in the game (Liam Christopher O’Brien.) His story is a tragedy of good intentions and terrible execution. He sacrificed his humanity, his reputation, and his love for Tyrande to save the universe.
Lady S’theno is Illidan’s second-in-command among the Naga. She proves that the Illidari loyalty transcends race. Kayn Sunfury / Altruis the Sufferer are the two lieutenants representing the two ideologies of the Illidari. One is blindly loyal to Illidan (Kayn), and the other questions his methods (Altruis).
Personal Thoughts on Illidari
If I were to be hontest, Demon Hunters are designed to be the “cool kids” of Warcraft (warrior within, edgy prince vibes). They are easy to play, fast, strong, and hard to slay. They are the 2nd favorite child of WoW developers (1st being paladins, obviously).
Everything about them screams “Power Fantasy.” The double jump (the only class that can do it), the demonic wings, the tattoos, the warglaives… It caters to the inner, edgy teenager in all of us.
But beyond the aesthetics, I love the tragedy of their faction. Becoming a monster so that others don’t have to, is a noble thing I like. They are the Edgy Knights of Azeroth. They work in the shadows, they expect no thanks(some of them do), and they are prepared to sacrifice everything. And getting those Warglaives of Azzinoth drop on your rogue is still the peak WoW experience. (I screamed like a little girl when I got both parts, and screamed even more when they became transmoggable.)
