Shadowflame

This article is about the magic type. For the warlock ability, see [Shadowflame]. For the pet battle ability, see [Shadowflame].

DWusingSF — Deathwing breathing shadowflame on Alexstrasza.

“Flesh turns to ash!”

— Nefarian

Shadowflame is a type of magic created from a combination of elemental fire and shadow magic.^[1] Shadowflame still behaves similarly to elemental fire, as it can be conducted with earth cores as fire can.^[2]

It is a corruptive magic that was given to Neltharion during his studies into the Void.^[3] Neltharion believed he could control the forces of shadowflame, which festered until it corrupted him,^[4] and as a result, nearly the entire black dragonflight. Experiments on the potency of shadowflame were conducted in Neltharion's secret laboratory of Aberrus, creating the Amalgamation Chamber. Shadowflame deteriorates both mind and body with insidious haste,^[2] as when injured with it, Sabellian was given very little time as the corruption spread.^[5] Shadowflame seems to connect those corrupted to the void, as Sabellian states he could hear it speaking. Fyrakk, the primal incarnate of fire, believed he could succeed where Neltharion failed by absorbing the shadowflame in the Zaqali Caldera. Ebyssian believes this will ultimately corrupt the incarnate, and speculates on the intentions of Iridikron by leading Fyrakk to it.^[4]

It manifests as purple or purple-red fire, and aside from incineration can be used to animate undead constructs.^[6] Many black dragons—including Deathwing himself,^[7] Nefarian,^[8] and Onyxia after her reanimation^[9]—breathe shadowflame, as do some twilight dragons.^[10] Mortal warlocks, shadowmages,^[11] Twilight's Hammer cultists,^[12] and some Scourge necromancers^[13] all make use of it as well. Following Fyrakk's absorption of shadowflame, it can be seen being used by some of his proto-dragons, Primalists, and is made liberal use of by the Zaqali djaradin.

Shadowflame is not limited to Azeroth. It can also be found on the world of Ruvaraad,^[14] and some demons (mainly imps) are also infused with or use it.^[15]^[16]^[17]

As a spell school[]

In World of Warcraft, shadowflame is a multi-school, combining the Fire and Shadow schools. Multi-school abilities benefit from bonuses that affect any of their schools, use the lowest resistance value among their schools, ignore absorption and immunity effects that apply to only some of their schools, and can be used even when one or more of their schools have been locked with an interrupt effect.

Warlock[]

In the RPG[]

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Nefarian's breath, known as shadow flame, is among the deadliest of any dragon's attacks. Nefarian uses his shadow flame breath to incinerate anyone who is not properly protected. He uses his corrupted power ability to incapacitate whatever characters he feels are the greatest threat. If badly wounded, Nefarian uses his powerful magic to retreat. If prevented from retreating, he uses his most powerful spells and abilities to turn his enemies against each other, and to drain their health and spells while restoring his own. Any living target affected by Nefarian's breath is set afire with shadowflame, taking terrible damage. The only protection from this attack is the scales of another powerful black dragon.^[18]

Notes and trivia[]

The original version of the Amalgamation Chamber was a shadowflame elemental known as Molgoth, alluding to the concept that shadowflame was created by Neltharion rather than what corrupted him by the void. The adventure guide stated "The creation of Shadowflame destroyed countless elementals. Now only the strongest remain. Krozgoth and Moltannia. One of shadow, the other fire, the powerful elementals combine their powers to create a force of ultimate destruction.".^[19]
The [Onyxia Scale Cloak] can protect against some forms of shadowflame, letting adventurers survive several Blackwing Lair bosses and loot the [Blazing Shadowflame Cinder] in Zaralek Cavern.
The troll Vula'jin the Void is said to have regenerated almost his entire body after standing in a pool of shadowflame.^[20]
The central area of Blackwing Descent is called the Vault of the Shadowflame.
The tier 11 warlock set is named Shadowflame Regalia.
In 2014, Dave Kosak suggested that shadowflame was likely fel magic infused with shadow,^[21] rather than a combination of fire and shadow. This was later proven to not be the case; as shadowflame is instead created through a mixture of elemental flame and void magic, used as a method of corruption.
[Lil' Deathwing] and some other pets can use [Shadowflame] in pet battles.