Rastakhan

For his Battle of Dazar'alor boss encounter, see King Rastakhan (tactics).

Rastakhan
Title	King, God King, Little King
Gender	Male
Race	Zandalari troll (Humanoid)
Level	??
Reaction	Alliance Horde
Affiliation(s)	Zandalari Empire, Warpack
Occupation	King of the Zandalari Empire
Location	Zuldazar, Zandalar
Status	Alive
Relative(s)	Talanji (daughter), Tezlekhan (great-grandfather)

God King Rastakhan (pronounced "RAH-stuh-kawn") is the ruler of the Zandalari Empire. He was blessed by the loa Rezan with a long life, swift healing, and strength beyond most trolls.

Biography

Background

King Rastakhan rests on a golden throne, lording over all of the Zandalari. Empowered by the Zandalari gods themselves to act as their voice, he has ruled over two hundred years. King Rastakhan is consulted before every battle or major decision by the Zanchuli Council, which both advises the King and ensures his every command is executed.

Rastakhan prefers that his opponents–some of which hail from the Zanchuli Council–are not able to get their hands on information meant for his ears. And while they underestimate him, his cleverness has resulted in him creating a special code that only he himself and his closest bodyguards, Zolani and her brother Habutu, understand.

Forty-six assassination attempts have been made on his life, whereof the latest assassin had also been his wife.

World of Warcraft

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

When the word of Hakkar the Soulflayer's presence in Zul'Gurub reached the Zandalar tribe in the South Seas King Rastakhan sent emissaries to Yojamba Isle. There the trolls recruited champions from Azeroth's many races to defeat Hakkar.

Cataclysm

A vision of Zul warning Rastakhan

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

Years ago Zul warned King Rastakhan of a terrible Cataclysm. For Zul had seen a vision of a great armored dragon clenching the world in his ferocious jaws. Months later Zul returned, bearing more grim news from his visions. Still, King Rastakhan did nothing. Finally, mere months before the Cataclysm, Zul returned. He described the golden capital of Zandalar slowly sinking beneath the waves in the aftermath of the Cataclysm, its once-great people drowning as their mighty works slipped forever beneath the sea. Zul advised the council and King Rastakhan to unite with the other troll tribes and to abandon their doomed homeland. Despite Zul's infamy, the council refused to believe in the scope of the disaster to come. Many felt that Zul was grandstanding to increase his own status and power. King Rastakhan grew tired of Zul and his troubling nightmares. To be rid of the prophet, he granted Zul the use of his largest ships, so that he and his followers could seek a new land if his visions came to pass. They scoffed as he and his followers began assembling a war fleet and reaching out to the lesser troll races.

Ultimately Zul's vision was a half-truth. While Deathwing's Cataclysm rocked Zandalar to its foundation it did not cause the island as a whole to sink. It did however cause heavy damage, with the region of Nazmir being most affected; sinking to near sea level and being transformed from a lush jungle into a fetid swamp. It was not the end for the Zandalari, however, and they managed to rebuild a significant portion of Zuldazar.

Zul, who had left with the Golden Fleet before the Cataclysm actually struck, was unaware of this however. He believed that the spine of the land had broken in two, and the city and all its riches were beginning to slide into the hungry sea. He believed he was the only Zandalari equipped to help his people. Those who had followed Zul were from all castes, and had flocked to join his expedition. Zul, and his Zandalari followers have issued a call to Azeroth's embattled troll populations: unite into a single mighty empire and save their race from extinction. Meanwhile, Zul believed Rastakhan to be still sitting on his throne in Zandalar as the island sinks around him.

Vol'jin believed Rastakhan supported Zul's efforts to make a new troll empire. However, recent events indicate that this was not the case, and may very well have been one of Zul's many lies. Rastakhan particularly disapproved of Zul's co-operation with Lei Shen.

Battle for Azeroth

This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

The Spirit of King Rastakhan.

Rastakhan pushes Zul off a ledge to his death

Seeking the Zandalari's legendary navy, the Horde arrived in Zandalar with Zul and Talanji, who had in turn sought the Horde out in secret to aid them against threats to the trolls. While General Jakra'zet of the Zanchuli Council was disgusted by the Horde presence on Zandalar, Rastakhan allowed them to stay because they saved Talanji from the Stormwind Stockades. He names a Horde adventurer the Speaker of the Horde, and assures them that while Talanji says he is ignoring the threats to his kingdom, he is not as blind as she thinks.

Seeing Rastakhan as a weak king and the loa as weak gods, Zul sought to overthrow Rastakhan and create a new troll empire with G'huun as its god. He also planned on reviving the first king, Dazar, to rule in Rastakhan's stead. Zul attacked Rastakhan and nearly killed him, but Rastakhan was saved by Pa'ku who brought him to Zeb'ahari. With Rastakhan unconscious, Bwonsamdi, the loa of death, claimed his soul. The Zandalari contacted Rezan, loa of kings, who forced Bwonsamdi to give up the king's soul, but Bwonsamdi promised he would be seeing Rastakhan again soon. At Rezan's temple, Zul's followers sought to drain Rezan of his power in the same way the Drakkari once did to their loa. Rastakhan and an adventurer slew Vilnak'dor, the troll performing the ritual, and once he was freed Rezan unleashed his fury upon the Atal'zul and their Kao-Tien allies. Afterward, Rezan convinced Rastakhan to realize he had grown soft and Rastakhan swore to take Zul's head.

When the time came to hunt Zul, Rastakhan gathered together the loa of Zuldazar and led the charge into Atal'Dazar atop Mount Mugamba. However, during the confrontation with Zul, Rezan was slain. Without his power keeping Bwonsamdi at bay, Rastakhan began aging fast. After a blood troll attack on Zuldazar, Rastakhan made a deal with Bwonsamdi: If Bwonsamdi gave him the power to take back his empire, then Rastakhan would elevate Bwonsamdi above all other loa in the Zandalari pantheon. Bwonsamdi accepted the deal on one condition: that the king's bloodline would be devoted to Bwonsamdi, to serve him in life and in death. Later, as Dazar'alor came under attack from Zul and Mythrax, Bwonsamdi empowered Rastakhan to kill Zul. He happily congratulated Rastakhan on taking back their empire.

Tides of Vengeance

The Alliance mounted an attack on Zuldazar via Nazmir, but it was a feint led by a suicide team as the main forces attacked Dazar'alor itself.

Rastakhan, empowered by Bwonsamdi, serves as a boss for Alliance players during the Siege of Zuldazar raid. Though the Alliance attempted to get him to surrender, he refused to do so and died defending his empire and people. He was succeeded by his daughter, Talanji, who also inherited his pact with Bwonsamdi. At Rastakhan's funeral, not only the Zandalari but also the Horde and even the other troll tribes were in attendance.

Quotes

Greetings

• Be you predator, or prey?
• Welcome to Zuldazar!
• You stand before king Rastakhan!
• <Laughter> It is good to be the king.

Pissed

• Hey, hey, hey, hey. Are all members of the Horde so.. touchy?
• <Laughter> That reminds me of the forty-sixth assassin that tried to kill me. Ah, she was a good wife.
• I find your lack of modesty... amusing.
• <Laughter> But do not make promises your body cannot keep.
• Do not throw off my groove.

Farewell

• Rezan grant you strength.
• Zandalar forever.
• May your foes tremble in your presence.

In the RPG

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

King Rastakhan is king of all trolls on Azeroth. He is an ancient and formidable witch doctor and keeper of troll lore. He is ancient and hoary, but his wire-hard muscles speak to his strength. A string of shrunken heads hangs from his neck, and a humanoid skull is impaled on his spear. He rules from Zuldazar on the island of Zandalar. While he technically is the king of all trolls throughout the world, it is not an entirely accurate description. This is because trolls often have trouble working with each other, despite conferences on Zandalar. King Rastakhan is strong, wise, insightful, cunning and visionary. He is a big part of the reason that Zandalar's influence is again felt in the world, as he is instrumental in organizing the 6-year troll conferences and in sending representatives to work against Hakkar. Most other trolls respect him as a powerful and wise leader. Numerous loyal priests and witch doctors assist Rastakhan, and he shows his wisdom in which advice he heeds and which he ignores. Rastakhan is a patient but decisive ruler.

Rastakhan, as king of all Azeroth's trolls, rarely enters combat when not accompanied by a host of barbarians, warriors, shamans, witch doctors and other support. He prefers to remain out of melee, decimating his foes from a distance with his spells. If he has time to prepare before battle, he doles out potions and alchemical concoctions to his elite: brews to increase their defenses and combat efficiency.

While he is the leader of the Zandalari trolls, it appears he is only a jungle troll.

In Hearthstone

This section contains information exclusive to Hearthstone and is considered non-canon.

King Rastakhan is an unlockable, alternate hero for the shaman class in Hearthstone, and the thirteenth alternate hero to be revealed. He is obtainable by purchasing the Rastakhan's Rumble "Rastakhan's Rumble!" pre-order bundle. His flavor text reads: "King Rastakhan rained over Zandalar for two hundred years. (It was a rain of frogs.)"

Notes and trivia

• Though Rastakhan's first in-game appearance was in Battle for Azeroth, he had been mentioned multiple times before, even as far back as Classic, and in the RPG.
  • The trolls part of the Zandalari intervention against Hakkar during Classic were called Exzhal (Servitor of Rastakhan), Ghaliri (Emissary of Rastakhan), Molthor (Hand of Rastakhan), Servant of the Hand (Hand of Rastakhan), Surkhan (Emissary of Rastakhan), and Hekima the Wise (Herald of Rastakhan).
  • Ghaliri greeted the Alliance adventurer in Rastakhan's name, and said he was was waiting for Rastakhan's message to strike against Zul'Gurub.
  • In Mists of Pandaria, the  [Iron-Bound Zandalari Journal] and  [Waterlogged Zandalari Journal] found on the Isle of Thunder mention Rastakhan and his palace. Rastakhan also appears in a story told by Lorewalker Cho about the Zandalari and Zul.
• Rastakhan is also directly served by Zolani (Blade of the King), Habutu (Shield of the King), Siegebreaker Druku (Tusk of the King), Atulanji (Hammer of the King), T'sarah (royal chef). In the beta, Natal'hakata was originally titled Voice of the King and Noshata was the royal flight master.
• Rastakhan knows how to make antitoxins. This may be a reference to the non-canon RPG, in which Rastakhan was described as an alchemist.
• His name is likely based on the words Rasta, referencing the Jamaican aspect of trolls in Warcraft, and khan, a Mongolian word for "king".
• His greeting quote "It is good to be the king" is a quote from the Mel Brooks film History of the World, Part I.
  • His other greeting "Do not throw off my groove" is a reference to the Disney film The Emperor's New Groove.
• Rastakhan is voiced by Kayi Ushe.

Gallery

• 

  Vision of Rastakhan in Mists of Pandaria

• 

  Rastakhan in Battle for Azeroth

• 

  Concept art

• 

  Rastakhan in Battle for Azeroth, shown at BlizzCon 2017

Patch changes

• Patch 8.0.1 (2018-07-17): Added as an NPC. Model updated.
  
• Patch 5.2.0 (2013-03-05): Added as a vision.
  

External links

• Wowhead
• WoWDB

Preceded by: Earliest known: Tezlekhan

Position: King of the Zandalari

Succeeded by: Talanji