Summary
- The infamous Corrupted Blood incident has unexpectedly reappeared in World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery.
- The Zul'Gurub raid, introduced in Phase 5, re-introduced the Corrupted Blood spell, causing widespread chaos.
- Players are unintentionally replicating the 2005 event by spreading the deadly plague in Stormwind City.
The notorious Corrupted Blood incident, a memorable event in World of Warcraft history, has resurfaced in the Season of Discovery servers, seemingly by accident. Videos circulating online show the deadly plague spreading through major cities, sparking both amusement and concern among players, particularly regarding the potential impact on Hardcore realms.
Initially launched in September 2005 with Patch 1.7, "Rise of the Blood God," the Zul'Gurub raid (a 20-player instance) featured Hakkar the Soulflayer, a powerful deity worshipped by Gurubashi trolls. Its return in Season of Discovery's Phase 5 (September 2024) brought back the Corrupted Blood spell, a damaging effect that spread to nearby players. While manageable with sufficient healing in normal circumstances, its uncontrolled spread in 2005 caused significant disruption.
A recent video on r/classicwow, posted by Lightstruckx, showcases Corrupted Blood's spread in Stormwind City's Trade District. The 20-second clip depicts the debuff rapidly incapacitating multiple players, mirroring the 2005 incident where "pet bombs" were used to spread the plague across the game world for nearly a month before Blizzard's intervention.
World of Warcraft Players Unintentionally Recreate the Corrupted Blood Incident
Some players attribute the Corrupted Blood debuff's resurgence to unresolved issues. Others express worry about its potential weaponization in Hardcore mode, where character death is permanent. Unlike Season of Discovery, Hardcore mode's permadeath mechanic adds a significant layer of risk.
Despite past attempts to address the issue, the Corrupted Blood incident's legacy persists. With Season of Discovery's seventh phase slated for early 2025, the timing of Blizzard's fix remains uncertain.
