A very simple but potent question posted on Twitter spun out of control into heated exchanges among Warcraft players: Who really is your absolute favorite character from Azeroth? Nostalgia, discussions, and plain profanities from the community concerning the treatment of certain characters in the game’s lore were all fueled by the fan art by Yuliiareyes_art.
The replies went completely crazy with love and fury-Oooh, it’s anything! Some held to the old school like Thrall, who was, in fact, famed worldwide for his leadership and Ogrish charms. Other choices were those of dark, gritty contrasts with Sylvanas Windrunner, with much of the player base expressing a load of disdain toward the recent expansions for how her story had been treated. Another player elegantly put it: “Sylvannas until you ruined her.” That hurt.
Random picks appeared next: “Ma MAN!” went a cry for Kel’Thuzad, the warcraft III lich classic, while another player trounced the contest by treating an image of a Murloc with the caption, “This lil guy.” Because at times, those tiny, screechy fishmen we came across on our way are the real legends.
However, not all responses were playful. The other half of the comments alleged that Blizzard destroyed their beloved characters. Cairne Bloodhoof and Voljin resonated with several of the players who accused Blizzard of “murdering them quickly with shitty stories.” Another lamented the death of Garrosh Hellscream, saying, “Garrosh. And you killed him.” Damn, that’s hurtful.
But that very wave immediately propelled the conversation toward larger criticisms about Warcraft storytelling. One jumped in about how the focus on main lore characters, to his view, “ruined WoW.” Yet another questioned: “How you guys never made an anime or animated series on the lore is wild after all these years.” Honestly? Point.
Of course, no Warcraft conversation would be complete without mentioning Arthas. While he was not mentioned as much as expected, his shadow is cast long over the franchise. One player shared a joke about Arthas and Garrosh, “were saved from revisionism because they’re dead.” Dark, but probably, and truthfully, true.
The renewed spark would bring along another round of pleading for Warcraft 3 on Steam because Blizzard’s remaster surely did not go as planned. “Bring Warcraft 3 on Steam,” one player cried. At this point, it probably is the only possible way to save its reputation.
All drama aside, what remains clear is that the characters really matter to Warcraft players. From Thrall, with his unshakable leadership, all the way to Sylvanas with her tragic descent and to that utterly ridiculous Murloc, these characters have made impacts on Azeroth that keep fans coming back for more even when the players themselves may get a bit frustrated.
So, who is really *your* favorite? If the replies have proven anything, do brace yourself to defend it passionately. And with a little bit of grudge. But never @ Blizzard unless you want a backlash storm from behind.
