Fourth War

For the expansion, see World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth.

Template:War

The Blood War (or the Battle for Azeroth) is a global war fought between the Alliance and Horde since the end of the third invasion of Azeroth by the Burning Legion. After the mad titan Sargeras wounded the world, Azeroth's very life essence started bleeding to the surface in the form of an extraordinary material known as Azerite. Both factions recognized its unique properties, but while King Anduin Wrynn sought it to heal and protect, Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner saw it as a weapon and an opportunity to seize.

The tensions between the two superpowers rose and led to the War of the Thorns, where the Horde destroyed Teldrassil, one of the Alliance's major capitals. In return, the Alliance launched the Siege of Lordaeron, resulting in the ruination of Undercity. Both factions now seek the destruction of the other in a war spanning the entire world, and recruit new allies to bolster their depleted ranks.

While the Alliance and Horde are the main belligerents in the war, the promise of the azerite's power has also brought numerous independent powers into the conflict. These include, but are not limited to, the Ashvane Trading Company, the Venture Company, the black dragonflight, and the Old Gods' forces.

Prelude

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

When the Burning Legion at last made its return, both factions initially worked together, but Varian Wrynn and Vol'jin were killed in action during the disastrous Battle for the Broken Shore. However the Horde's losses were obstructed from the Alliance's view, so to the latter it appeared as if the former were casually abandoning them. King Genn Greymane and Lady Jaina Proudmoore, blaming the Horde for Varian's death, wished to renew hostilities with the Horde. The newly appointed Warchief, Sylvanas Windrunner, became a focus of Greymane's aggression.

Meanwhile, Windrunner sought to strengthen the Horde by scheming of ways to create new Forsaken Val'kyr, so she traveled to Stormheim where the Alliance and Horde forces engaged in battles. Eventually, Sylvanas managed to capture Eyir, but her plans ultimately failed when Genn Greymane tracked her, fought with the Banshee Queen and released Eyir by shattering the Soulcage.

In the midst of all of this, the dreadlord Detheroc impersonated Mathias Shaw and used the SI:7 to sow increasing distrust between the two factions, with the intent of causing a conflict between them. This failed, due to the work of the Uncrowned.

For the reminder of the war against the Legion, the hostilities between the Horde and Alliance ceased, and the kaldorei and sin'dorei elves even put the hostilities aside in order to work together with the nightfallen led by Thalyssra. They aided them in their revolution to liberate Suramar City from Elisande the Legion. Following the deaths of Gul'dan and Kil'jaeden, Prophet Velen called on the Alliance and Horde members to Azuremyst Isle in order to travel to Argus.

Following the Argus Campaign, however, both factions converged on the destroyed Silithus, spying and thwarting each other's efforts, as well as engaging on skirmishes on the newly uncovered Seething Shore where they fought to control the first Azerite nodes and ore.

Before the Storm

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Main article: Gathering (event)

Thanks to the efforts of King Anduin Wrynn, the Forsaken of the Desolate Council met with the chosen human relatives and friends from Stormwind in the Gathering in Arathi Highlands. The meeting wasn't about bringing peace between the two factions, but it reunited long-stranded persons and brought a cease-fire for one day. As Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner and Anduin were aware that their factions are not ready for a war, they agreed to the terms of the Gathering and promised they would not harm the other faction's members. The Gathering, however, ended up in a disaster. Upon seeing the Forsaken trying to defect to the Alliance, Sylvanas ordered her dark rangers to kill her people but spare the humans as to not start a war.

New allies

As the Silithus battles raged on, the Alliance and Horde opened new embassies where the leaders of their respective factions discussed how to prepare against the opposite faction. Following the Legion wars, the Alliance and Horde ranks were depleted so they needed to gain new allies. As such, Lady Liadrin and Baine Bloodhoof recruited the nightborne elves of Suramar, who already distrusted the night elves, and the Highmountain tauren tribes of Highmountain, respectively. Thanks to the efforts of Turalyon and Alleria Windrunner, the Alliance gained new allies in the Lightforged draenei of the Grand Army of the Light and the exiled Thalassian blood elves who became void elves.

Jaina: Reunion

As the Alliance and Horde entered the new conflict, Kul Tirans learned about it, and Lord Admiral Katherine Proudmoore remained persistent that they will stay neutral and won't rejoin the Alliance. Jaina Proudmoore, impersonating an old woman and hearing the dialogue, resolved to convince them otherwise.

Beginning of the war

This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

Burning of Teldrassil

Main article: War of the Thorns

Following the War with the Burning Legion, the Alliance and Horde's navies were diminished. With both factions debilitated in their ability to reinforce Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms, the Horde came up with a plan to secure Kalimdor and elicit a political crisis in the Alliance that would lead to its downfall. After luring a majority of the night elven forces to Silithus through misinformation, the Horde would seek to hold Darnassus hostage and use the political crisis to sow division in the Alliance. Furthermore, Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner wanted to kill Malfurion Stormrage in order to kill the kaldorei's spirit and end them as a nation. The invasion of the night elven lands was successful, but High Overlord Saurfang had allowed Malfurion Stormrage to escape alive. News of Malfurion's survival upset Sylvanas and she felt Darnassus' conquering would not be enough of a fatal wound for the Alliance. Thus, Sylvanas had Teldrassil burned down in order to inflict a painful wound on the Alliance that could give the Horde a chance at victory.

Battle for Lordaeron

Main article: Battle for Lordaeron

The genocide at Teldrassil had rallied the Alliance to seek retribution. The Alliance amassed their armies to take back the Ruins of Lordaeron and bring Sylvanas Windrunner to justice. The Horde had managed to evacuate their citizens but division began to erupt between High Overlord Saurfang and Sylvanas over the Banshee Queen's use of unscrupulous tactics. Despite the Horde's use of Azerite weapons, the Forsaken Blight, and necromancy; the Alliance managed to breach the city and route the Horde army. The Alliance leadership pursued Sylvanas to the Imperial chamber where they demanded her surrender. Sylvanas however, had rigged all of Lordaeron Keep to be blighted, and had lured the Alliance leadership into a collapsing Imperial chamber as a trap. Although both the Alliance and Horde leadership managed to escape the blast, the the Ruins of Lordaeron and the Undercity became saturated with Blight.

War Campaigns

Great Sea, Zandalar and Kul Tiras theaters

Main articles: War in Kul Tiras, War in Zandalar

The Alliance had managed to capture high value targets of the Zandalar Empire, Princess Talanji, heir to Zandalar and Prophet Zul of the Zanchuli Council, who were imprisoned in Stormwind's Stockades. The Horde had learned of the fact and sent a small group of operatives to rescue the prisoners in hopes of establishing diplomatic relations with the increasingly isolated troll nation, which had a powerful navy at its disposal - an invaluable asset for the Horde's dominance over the seas.

In response to these developments, the Alliance focused on re-establishing friendly relations with another great naval power, the islander human kingdom of Kul Tiras, which was still resentful over Jaina Proudmoore's inaction during the Tirassian Invasion of Durotar which led to Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore's death that promptly pushed the Proudmoore Admiratly to withdraw from the bloc.

In recognition of the Dark Iron dwarves' contributions to the Alliance, King Anduin Wrynn formalized the induction of the Dark Iron dwarves into the Alliance.

Meanwhile, Eitrigg traveled to the alternate Draenor to recruit the Mag'har orc clans that the Horde saved from Garrosh Hellscream's meddling and the Burning Legion's corruption. After Eitrigg and the Horde Speaker helped the Mag'har escape from the Lightbound, the Mag'har decides to make Azeroth their new home. Their leader, Overlord Geya'rah, speaks with Warchief Sylvanas and pledges the Mag'har's loyalty to the Horde.

Lordaeron theater

Main article: Battle for Stromgarde

Northern Kalimdor theater

Main article: Battle for Darkshore

Ever since the War of the Thorns, the Horde maintained a firm grip on Darkshore, and the Forsaken have moved into the area. The Alliance intends to launch a counter-attack in order to regain control over the region for the night elves.

Notes

• The name "Blood War" may partly be in reference to the conflict's focus on Azerite, the blood of Azeroth herself.