Of the Kirin Tor's leaders, Kel'Thuzad was the most eager to gain access to the Guardian's Library - the depository of knowledge hoarded by Medivh in his tower of Karazhan - and thus he was most upset when the library was lost. Kel'Thuzad appears as a central character in the Hearthstone sets Curse of Naxxramas and Scholomance Academy, and he is a playable character in Heroes of the Storm.īefore the Second War, Kel'Thuzad was a member of the Council of Six, the high council of the Kirin Tor - the masters of Dalaran. He also makes appearances in Old Hillsbrad Foothills and the Plains of Nasam.
He appeared in World of Warcraft as the final encounter of Naxxramas, implemented in patch 1.11 and retuned for level 80 in patch 3.0, and returned as a secondary antagonist in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. He first appeared in Warcraft III as a hero in the undead campaigns. Kel'Thuzad is one of the most iconic antagonists in the Warcraft franchise. After his machinations were revealed, the archlich escaped to his master's side in the Sanctum of Domination, where he was destroyed for good in a final confrontation with Azeroth's heroes. In death, Kel'Thuzad entered the afterlife Maldraxxus and rose to a position of power within the House of Rituals, a position he used to plunge Maldraxxus into chaos in order to further the efforts of his true master, the Jailer, across the Shadowlands. Following his first defeat, he and his necropolis moved to Northrend, where he was once again defeated. Following Arthas's departure for Northrend, Kel'Thuzad was left to command the Scourge of Lordaeron from his floating necropolis, Naxxramas. When Arthas became a death knight, he resurrected Kel'Thuzad as a lich so he could summon Archimonde the Defiler into Azeroth. Īfter bringing the plague to Lordaeron, he was slain by Arthas Menethil. He went on to become the founder of the Cult of the Damned and one of the principal agents of the Lich King responsible for spreading the plague across Lordaeron. Kel'Thuzad (pronounced /'kɛlθʔzɑːd/) was a powerful human mage, and a member of the Kirin Tor until his interest in the dark arts caused him to be expelled. Your curiosity will be the death of you.” Now, the world will pay a far greater toll, for I have returned. Too late did I realize that such power does not come without a price. Inside, I bore witness to horrific acts, demonstrations of power, power that could be mine for the asking. I felt my blood run cold, as cold as Icecrown itself. Strange, nightmarish creatures awaited me at the entrance. The voice, now my only companion, guided me to my destination. “I was cast out by my comrades, exiled, forced to wander the frozen wastes. Bigglesworth (pet), Obrahiim (trusted adviser) Helcular, Ras Frostwhisper, Bronjahm, Nelesis House of Rituals, Cult of the Damned, Scourge, Kirin Tor ( Council of Six), Magocracy of Dalaran, Alliance of LordaeronĪrchmage of the Kirin Tor, Sorcerer, member of the Council of Six, leader of the Cult of the Damned, majordomo of the Lich King, Archlich of Naxxramas, Baron of the House of Rituals For other encounter tactics and uses, see Kel'Thuzad (disambiguation). For his strategy in the Shadowlands encounter, see Kel'Thuzad (Sanctum of Domination tactics). This article is about the lore of the character.