Behold, the first pack expansion in Hearthstone, Goblins versus Gnomes! I talked a bit about goblins and gnomes in previous articles, so I won't repeat myself with them. Besides, the main focus of the Goblins vs Gnomes expansion are the mechs, anyway, and those are not represented all that much in the Classic/Basic set, so those are the ones we'll talk about now. This article will split up all the spells and weapons at the end, then go through the minions -- first the mechs, then the goblins and gnomes, and then all the other races afterwards. GvG, being the first expansion, does have the distinction of not fitting every single card to the theme of the set, which is why randomly between mechs, goblins and gnomes you find things like a regular murloc or a random tallstrider.Goblins vs. Gnomes do feature a significant amount of Hearthstone-original cards and characters, so bear in mind if some of the entries are just me going "X card is original to Hearthstone"
Click here for a list of previous Lore of Hearthstone articles.
We'll start of with the legendaries of Goblins vs. Gnomes. GvG is a little weird because part of them consists of a lot of named robots from World of Warcraft, and said named robots don't actually have much lore behind them... and then you have dudes like Vol'jin and Bolvar who really doesn't have anything to do with goblins and gnomes and feel more like legendaries left out of the original Classic set.
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The Legendaries
Blingtron 3000
Iron Juggernaut
Mimiron's Head/V-07-TR-0N
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| V-07-TR-0N (WoW) |
In Wrath of the Lich King,
Mimiron stayed within the titan facility of Ulduar, one of the four
Titan Keepers (alongside Freya, Thorim and Hodir) to be sealed within
the facility by Loken's duplicity, and driven insane by the whispers of
the Old God Yogg-Saron, sealed deep within the facility. Mimiron served
as a boss within Ulduar, where he would battle the adventurers with his
inventions. The first phase used a 'Mark II' version of the Flame
Leviathan (see below), the second phase use the VX-001 Anti-Personnel
Assault Cannon, and the third phase uses the Aerial Command Unit. The
Aerial Command Unit is what the card artwork of Mimiron's Head depicts,
and in WoW it launched lesser robots at the adventurers until defeated.
When the Aerial Command Unit was defeated, Mimiron then combined the
three parts into a giant robot, the V-07-TR-0N. The V-07-TR-0N,
obviously named after the real-life cartoon and toyline series Voltron,
and is how I'll be typing the name for the remainder of this paragraph,
serves as the final phase of the boss fight. Upon being defeated,
Mimiron's mind would be cleared, and he would subsequently participate
in assisting the adventurers in the final battle against Yogg-Saron. The
name 'Mimiron's Head' specifically borrows from the obtainable mount that emulates
the Aerial Command Unit, which is dropped from the Yogg-Saron encounter.Flame Leviathan
Foe Reaper 4000
Sneed's Old Shredder
Sneed's Shredder, and its master, the goblin Sneed, are bosses in the dungeon known as the Deadmines. Sneed is the lumber-master serving the leader of the Defias, Edwin VanCleef, and is the second boss in the original, pre-Cataclysm iteration of the Deadmines. During the battle, Sneed's Shredder will be destroyed, and Sneed will be ejected to battle the adventurers. During Cataclysm, with the progression of the Westfall storyline, Edwin and a majority of the original bosses in the Deadmines are permanently dead. The Hearthstone card and the flavour text states that Sneed's Shredder is sold after his death to an 'anonymous buyer', which is whatever legendary minion that drops out of there.
Trade Prince Gallywix
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| old model |
Gallywix himself oversaw goblin operations in Pandaria from his uber-zeppelin, much to the ire of his people, although Gallywix keeps many of the artifacts he covers for himself as 'leverage'. Gallywix and the goblins would be the last members of the Horde to join Vol'jin's Darkspear rebellion, serving Garrosh up until his excavation of the Heart of Y'Shaarj. The reason they left was because Garrosh refused to pay them the full amount of the money promised in their contract. Gallywix was present on Garrosh's defeat, tipping his hat at the anointment of Vol'jin as warchief. Gallywix is also present in Legion when Sylvanas was crowned warchief after him, and, in a rare moment of action, would ride his spider tank and personally lead the defense of Azshara during the Legion Invasion there. Gallywix's Pleasure Palace would also be the target of a mission for a Rogue player's class order quest in Legion.
Gazlowe
Gazlowe would be contacted by Thrall to help rebuild Orgrimmar when fire elementals ravaged his city, and again by Baine Bloodhoof when he needed funds and zeppelins to help retake Thunder Bluff from the treacherous Grimtotem tribe. Despite his neutrality and his obvious reluctance, Gazlowe actually reduced the price of both encounters, having respect for the original founders of the Horde. In Cataclysm, despite wanting to keep Ratchet neutral, the Alliance rear admiral Hartley caused a blockade and prevented Horde members from using Ratchet's port, and Gazlowe would send Horde adventurers to sink Hartley's ship.
In Warlords of Draenor, Gazlowe would assist in constructing the garrison in the alternate timeline Draenor's Frostfire Ridge, and would assist players in constructing towers and garrisons. Gazlowe would also participate in the battle against the Iron Horde, reverse-engineering an Iron Star siege engine and using it against the Iron Horde. Gazlowe was contracted, by adventurers to help investigate the Iron Horde facility Siegeworks, and discover that his rival, the dwarf Thaelin Darkanvil, was actually captured and forced to work on it. Gazlowe rescued his rival, killed an orc that had a bounty on his head, and reutnred quite rich. Gazlowe would continue to prove useful in the subsequent conflicts, assisting the alternate-universe Durotan in destroying the Tanaan Gate, and sending his Steamwheedle Goblins to assist in the war. He returned to Azeroth in time for Legion, where he would ride a shredder and defend Ratchet from the enroaching demons.
Dr. Boom
Due to his poopularity, Dr. Boom has been represented many times in Hearthstone, showing up as the hero card "Dr. Boom, Mad Genius" in Boomsday Project and as the legendary warrior minion "Blastmaster Boom" in Risde of Shadows. In addition, Dr. Boom is essentially the main character of the Boomsday Project expansion, and is featured as one of the main characters in the Rise of Shadows and Descent of Dragons story modes.
Toshley
Toshley was added in Burning Crusade, being in
charge of Toshley's Station in Blade's Edge Mountains in Outland.
Toshley himself is a quest-giver, asking Alliance players to help
solidify their position by slaying the nearby ogres, ethereals and wind
serpents, as well as gather material for the gnomish inventions in his
town. Particularly, the quest that inspired his opening line, "Show them
gnome mercy!" involves sending adventurers to deal with
ethereals who have been trapping gnome souls to power their magical
orbs, asking Alliance adventurers to slay the ethereal Nexus-Prince
Razaan. Toshley's name is a reference to Tosche Station, which is a
settlement on Tatooine from Star Wars, and indeed many of the
quests in Toshley Station do contain references to the franchise.
Notable that the monstrous bug-like creature seen in Toshley's artwork
is a
Ravager, a savage insectoid beast native to Draenor and one of the
creatures that Toshley's gnomes had to deal with. Ravagers won't be
featured in Hearthstone until Corpse Widow in the Knights of the Frozen Throne expansion.
Mekgineer Thermaplugg
Mekgineer Sicco Thermaplugg was a proud and ambitious
gnomish engineer that sought to make Gnomeregan great, and was a good
friend to Gelbin Mekkatorque. However, when Gelbin was chosen as High
Tinker instead of Thermaplugg, jealousy consumed him. He served Gelbin
as an advisor while secretly coveting his position, and his chance would
come during the trogg invasion of Gnomeregan prior to the Third War,
Thermaplugg proposed filling the city with radiation to kill the troggs.
Thermaplugg planned to trick Gelbin, fooling him into thinking that the
radiation would be safe to the gnomes and only kill the troggs.
Thermaplugg's plan was for the radiation and gas to go a bit out of
control, and then swoop in to save the day, but the radiation went way out
of control, killing a majority of the gnomish population and turning
the survivors into leper gnomes. Thermaplugg himself was one of those
driven insane and turned into a leper gnome, declaring himself the 'King
of Gnomeregan'.
In World of Warcraft, Mekkatorque would mark Thermaplugg for death after his survival was determined by the gnomes. Thermaplugg has gone absolutely insane in his time in the irradiated Gnomeregan. Thermaplugg rules over the leper gnomes from the Tinker's Court in Gnomeregan, building more and more explosive inventions in his madness. In World of Warcraft, adventurers who went deep into the irradiated Gnomeregan and slew Mekgineer Thermaplugg (who fought atop a huge warsuit) would be told by Mekkatorque that all they managed to defeat was a fascimile of the treacherous gnome. In Wrath of the Lich King, Mekkatorque launched Operation: Gnomeregan to take over a sizable chunk of the city and establish New Tinker Town, but Thermaplugg detonated a bomb that forced a retreat before they could take over all of Gnomeregan. A subsequent confrontation between Mekkatorque and Thermaplugg caused Thermaplugg to be sliced in half by one of his own traps, and Mekkatorque leaves his old friend for dead, although his death isn't certain.
In Legion, as an easter egg, after defeating Mekgineer Thermaplugg in the Gnomeregan dungeon, if you press a button with 'push me' written on it, you could summon a green, larger version of him called Endgineer Omegaplugg, although the canonicity of this little easter egg is suspect.
Mogor the Ogre
Mogor the Ogre was introduced in Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, as
one of the few ogres (alongside Cho'gall) to rise into a leadership
role among the Old Horde. Mogor, a powerful ogre mage, commanded the
Laughing Skull Clan. Mogor did not cross the Dark Portal to Azeroth and
remained on Draenor, and was subjected to a bit of an infighting within
the Horde when Ner'zhul sent a force to subjugate the death knights (orc
warlocks whose souls have been placed in human bodies, not the same
with the undead death knights of the Scourge seen in WCIII and WoW) that
Mogor has under his command. Mogor was defeated, and apparently was
subjugated as part of the Horde once more. When the forces of the
Alliance Expedition besieged Ner'zhul's fortress in Shadowmoon Valley in
order to retrieve the Book of Medivh, Mogor approached the Alliance
forces. Wanting to strengthen the Laughing Skull's holdings, Mogor made
the Alliance an offer -- the Book of Medivh for the Alliance's aid in
defeating the Thunderlord and Bonechewer clans. The Alliance aided Mogor
in this endeavour, and Mogor was, surprisingly, true to his word.
Presumably Ner'zhul never knew of this treachery, or was killed before
he had a chance to do anything about it.
Draenor would be destroyed during the final battle between Ner'zhul and the Alliance Expedition, shattering Draenor into Outland. Decades later, Mogor would be discovered by Alliance and Horde adventurers in World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade, now the leader of the Warmaul ogre clan. Ironically, Mogor's Warmaul clan resided in the Laughing Skull Ruins, while the Laughing Skull Clan has been absorbed into the Fel Horde led by Kargath Bladefist. Adventurers would fight in the Ring of Blood, and Mogor the Ogre would be the final boss in that encounter where he would be finally slain by the adventurers. Mogor's writing has been inconsistent between games, with the Mogor of Warcraft II being described as shrewd and intelligent, while the Mogor in WoW can't even pronounce 'destroy' properly. Maybe the shattering of Draenor into Outland broke his mind, or something? In the alternate timeline of Warlords of Draenor, Mogor (with one head, since Gul'dan giving the ogres two heads didn't happen in that timeline) would appear once more in the Ring of Blood.
Troggzor the Earthinator
Troggzor the Earthinator, added in Cataclysm,
is a green-skinned trogg, and the battle leader of the stone troggs, a
sub-species of the troggs that has not been afflicted by the Curse of
Flesh. Troggzor (a homage to the Homestar Runner character Trogdor the
Burninator) is located in the Fractured Battlefront, in the elemental
plane of Deepholm. Adventurers will be sent by the earthen to slay
Troggzor to stop the stone troggs from overrunning their territory.
There's otherwise not really that much else about Troggzor, but he is one of the few named troggs in World of Warcraft to really adapt into a legendary card for the troggs.
Hemet Nesingwary
Hemet Nesingwary (his name is an anagram of real-life writer Ernest Hemingway) is a popular recurring character throughout World of Warcraft. In the original World of Warcraft,
he would be found in Stranglethorn Vale and task adventurers to prove
themselves in hunting the local raptors, and after you have slain the
mighty Tethis, as well as other hunting quests in Stranglethorn, Hemet
will send you to hunt after the great white tiger, King Bangalash (which
his tutorial quest in Hearthstone alludes to). In each
subsequent expansion, Hemet would move to a new location, hunting bigger
and bigger game. His final quest in vanilla is called 'big game
hunter', likely the inspiration for the Classic Hearthstone minion. In Burning Crusade,
Hemet has travelled to Nagrand in Outland, hunting the Clefthoof there.
He would task adventurers to hunt the clefthoof, including the mighty
clefthoof Banthar, as well as the great elekk Tusker. In Wrath of the Lich King,
he can be found in Sholazar Basin, where he would establish the
Nesingwary Base Camp, tasking adventurers to hunt down the local rhinos.
During this period, the organization DEHTA (Druids for the Ethical and
Humane Treatment of Animals) will be opposed against Hemet, and DEHTA
will give adventurers quests to hunt down Hemet's hunters. In Cataclysm, Hemet Nesingwary is among the many protectors of Azeroth to help defent Mt. Hyjal, and a possibly ally.
In Mists of Pandaria, Hemet Nesingwary and his son, Hemet Nesingwary Jr, appear in the Valley of the Four Winds, having established the Nesingwary's Safari after travelling there by hot air balloon (marking the first time Hemet didn't crash). Hemet tasks the adventurers to hunt the mighty mushan called Darkhide, and later assists adventurers from saving his son from the mistlurker called Torjar's Bane. In Warlords of Draenor, Hemet travels to the alternate-timeline Nagrand, invited by the Alliance and the Horde, but when he is tasked to hunt the Warsong wolves, Hemet is disappointed for what he wanted was to hunt big game, not domesticated wolves. He did not give any quests in this expansion, busying himself drinking. In Legion, Hemet would appear in Highmountain, competing with a brand-new gnome hunter, sending adventurers to hunt down multiple beasts, culminating in slaying the mighty roc Irewing. Hunter players will be able to recruit Hemet Nesingwary to their class order in Trueshot Lodge.
Malorne
The great stag Malorne (also called Apa'ro) is one of the mighty Wild Gods, one of the beings born of the nature of Azeroth itself. The origins of Malorne and the other Wild Gods (sometimes Eternals or Ancients) aren't really clear until the relatively recent release of the Chronicle books, but he's an immensely powerful spirit of nature that takes the form of a giant, ghostly wild stag. Malorne was, by legend, the lover of the moon goddess Elune, and he would sire the demigod Cenarius with her. Malorne and the other Wild Gods were appealed to by Cenarius and the night elves to join the Burning Legion. Many of Malorne's fellow Wild Gods fell in combat, but Malorne's arrival spun the tide onto the defenders' advantage. Malorne's strength was so great that the leader of the demons, Archimonde himself, had to come and do battle with Malorne. Malorne and Archimonde's fight was great and shook the world, but eventually Archimonde managed to snap Malorne's neck and kill him. The death of Malorne caused her close friend, the green dragon aspect Ysera, to open her eyes and unleash a loud shriek of power that decimated a large amount of the demon forces. After his death, Malorne was worshipped by the druids of the antler, who are able to transform into stags in his honour, although these druids were particularly reclusive and would not be seen until Legion.
Despite Malorne's death in the War of the Ancients, his spirits linger, and in Cataclysm, to combat the coming forces of Ragnaros and his fire elementals intent on razing Mt. Hyjal, Malfurion Stormrage managed to successfully resurrect Malorne's spirit in desperation. Malorne emerged, and defeats many of Ragnaros's lieutenants, among them Lord Rhyolith. Thus restored, Malorne would stay in his sanctuary in Hyjal. In Legion, as part of the druid class order quests, druids would gather to call upon Malorne's spirit to investigate the Emerald Nightmare. Malorne notes how his mind has grown clouded, and ventures into the Emerald Dream to destroy the Nightmare's source, but was trapped instead. With the aid of the Keeper of the Grove Remulos, druids would enter the Emerald Nightmare where Malorne was trapped in his darkest nightmare -- a recreation of his death during the War of the Ancients. The druids would have to stave off the images conjured by Malorne's nightmares and freeing Malorne from the nightmare. Thus freed, Malorne would grant the archdruid (the druid player character) his blessing.
Gahz'rilla
Gahz'rilla is a gigantic hydra -- gigantic three headed aquatic lizards with two legs and a tail. Hydras were first seen in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne,
where some hydras had the capability to split into two smaller hydras
upon death. Gahz'rilla (obviously a homage to the real-life cultural
icon, the kaiju Godzilla) was a particularly mighty hydra that some
claim to be either a demigod, or an adored pet of the Old Gods. The Sand
Trolls of the Sandfury tribe, who lived in the city of Zul'Farrak in
the Tanaris desert, has a sacred pool in the city where the trolls, with
a certain ritual, would summon the mighty Gahz'rilla and offer
sacrifices to her. The Sandfury trolls appear to worship Gahz'rilla, and
speak of her in great reverence. In World of Warcraft, with the
aid of master angler Nat Pagle (see the Classic legendaries section),
adventurers that venture into Zul'Farrak will be able to discover the
ritual to summon Gahz'rilla and slay her. Gahz'rilla is a mighty beast
able to command the powers of ice, something that few other hydras are
able to do. In Wrath of the Lich King, the quest to summon Gahz'rilla is removed, and she is just always there in Zul'Farrak. In Cataclysm, during
the great elemental upheaval, the Sandfury sorcerer Hydromancer
Kulratha summoned Gahz'rilla and intends to unleash Gahz'rilla upon
Stormwind and Thunder Bluff, but a combined force led by Varian Wrynn
and Cairne Bloodhoof slew Gahz'rilla.
Bolvar Fordragon
Regent-Lord
Bolvar Fordragon was a noble paladin and a loyal servant of the nation
of Stormwind. When Varian Wrynn was missing at the beginning of World of Warcraft,
Bolvar Fordragon and Lady Katrana Prestor (actually the evil black
dragon Onyxia in disguise) served as advisors to the ten-year-old
boy-king Anduin Wrynn. When Varian seemingly returned, Bolvar sensed
that something was not right, and alongside young Anduin, would
investigate matters further, especially when Varian seemed to follow
Lady Katrana Prestor's every whim. It is soon revealed that Varian was
actually split into two personalities by Onyxia -- King Varian and the
gladiator Lo'gosh, each with differing aspects of the true Varian's
personality. Onyxia was eventually slain, and Varian would be placed as
the rightful king once more, with Bolvar Fordragon serving at his side.
Throughout World of Warcraft and Burning Crusade, Bolvar would give quests to players.
In Wrath of the Lich King, Bolvar Fordragon
would be at the forefront of the Alliance expedition to Northrend to end
the reign of the undead Scourge once and for all. He would aid Alliance
players in killing the lich Thel'zan the Duskbringer, and alongside the
orc champion Dranosh Saurfang, Bolvar would lead the combined forces of
Alliance and Horde against Angrathar the Wrathgate, the entrance to
Icecrown Citadel. After defeating a contingent of Scourge minions,
Bolvar would taunt the Lich King, causing him to finally make an
appearance on the battlefield. The Lich King engaged Bolvar and Saurfang
personally, first slaying Saurfang and is about to do battle with
Bolvar when suddenly the treacherous forsaken Grand Apothecary Putress
launched a deadly plague on all forces -- Alliance, Horde and Scourge,
killing many. Bolvar ordered his troops to fall back, but succumbed to
the gas. Alexstrasza the Lifebinder and her red dragons would scour the
battlefield with flames and dispel the gas, and Bolvar's presumed death
enraged King Varian, who immediately led an assault on the Forsaken
capital of Undercity to bring Putress to justice.
However, Bolvar was not dead, but captured by the Scourge. He is kept between life and death, with his skin burned black and burning due to the flames of the red dragons, and chained above the Lich King's Frozen Throne. The Lich King tried to corrupt Bolvar and turn him into one of his minions, but Bolvar refused to yield. Champions of the Alliance and Horde, as well as the paladin Tirion Fordring, would succeed in slaying Arthas, the Lich King. However, as the ghost of King Terenas and Uther Lightbringer warned those assembled that 'there must always be a Lich King', someone would have to take the place of the slain Arthas. Tirion was prepared to don the Lich King's helm, but Bolvar stopped Tirion. Already half-dead due to the plague and the red dragons' fire, Bolvar tells Tirion that he will take the burden as a last act of service to Azeroth. As the new Jailer of the Damned, Bolvar will keep the Scourge under his control, and as the Lich King's helm was placed upon his head, Bolvar Fordragon would become the new Lich King, asking Tirion to keep his current state a secret. His deeds as the new Lich King will be covered in the future, when we actually reach the Bolvar Fireblood card in Knights of the Frozen Throne since this article has already ran relatively long.
Vol'jin, Warchief of the Horde
Vol'jin's lore could take us quite a while.
Vol'jin was the son of the leader of the Darkspear tribe, Sen'jin, and
an apprentice to his father in the arts of being a witch doctor. Vol'jin
is also trained in the arts of the Shadow Hunter, a unique position
among the Darkspear tribes that's like a mixture of being a hunter, a
shaman and a shadow priest, if we're using World of Warcraft terms.
Prior to the Third War, in Warcraft III's prologue mission, the
Darkspear trolls would be attacked by a swarm of savage murlocs led by a
Sea Witch, and only with assistance by the orc shaman Thrall that they
are able to survive. While a large number of trolls would follow Thrall
off the island, Vol'jin would apparently remain behind, helping the rest
of his people recover and gather supplies before leaving to Durotar
around a year after. Vol'jin would be first seen in-game in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne,
represented as a witch doctor (although many other sources in WoW
onwards would have him be a shadow hunter) NPC and quickly proved loyal
allies to Thrall's horde. Vol'jin settled the tribe upon the Echo Isles,
close to the orcish capital of Orgrimmar, but a combination of local
threats and the enroaching human navy under the banner of Admiral Daelin
Proudmoore caused Vol'jin to seek the help of a group of Horde
champions led by Rexxar. After evacuating the Darkspear trolls from
danger, Vol'jin would assist in transforming them temporarily into
spirit wyverns, allowing them to fly and attack the Alliance fleet with
the aid of Vol'jin's army of bat riders. The trolls are forced to
retreat, but Vol'jin would continue to assist the Horde, and would
instruct Rexxar to seek aid from their tauren allies.
Prior to World of Warcraft, the Darkspear tribe would be betrayed by Vol'jin's old friend, a witch doctor called Zalazane, who used dark magic to enslave many of the Darkspear trolls. Vol'jin and the rest of the trolls that kept their sanity were forced to retreat into Orgrimmar, seeking aid from the orcs (just like gnomes seeking aid from the dwarves at the start of WoW, explaining why their starting areas are the same). Vol'jin would found Sen'jin Village, named after his father, on the Southern coast of Durotar as a base to strike back at Zalazane, who took over the Echo Isles. Throughout early WoW, Vol'jin would be found in Thrall's fortress in Orgrimmar, acting as the warchief's advisor. In Wrath of the Lich King, Vol'jin would personally participate with several other Horde leaders in the battle to retake Undercity, sending adventurers in to assist Sylvanas and Thrall in reclaiming Undercity while he maintained a perimeter around the area.
Prior to Cataclysm, after adventurers of the Horde did many battles against Zalazane, Vol'jin would ride into battle with a largre amount of trolls and orcs, as well as other champions of the Horde to liberate Echo Isles from Zalazane. Vol'jin also had to make amends with the Darkspears' patron loa (powerful spirits that the trolls worship) Bwonsamdi. Vol'jin would cut down Zalazane's lieutenants, and finally do battle against Zalazane himself. Zalazane used dark voodoo to trap Vol'jin (who had been ready to allow for Zalazane's surrender), and as Zalazane creates a barrier that will keep out the living, Bwonsamdi manifests, and kills Zalazane for perverting the dead, for the dead of the trolls belongs to Bwonsamdi.
During Cataclysm, Vol'jin butted
heads with the new warchief of the Horde, Garrosh Hellscream,
disapproving of Garrosh's lust for war. At this point, the trolls would
depart Orgrimmar and live on the Darkspear Isle, and Vol'jin would be
heavily involved in the new troll starting quests introduced in that
expansion. Vol'jin would threaten to kill Garrosh should he corrupt the
Horde, but after a conversation with Thrall, notes that he would stay as
with the Horde as long as its intentions remain noble. He would do
battle against Zar'jira, a naga sea witch and the true form of the Sea
Witch that killed his father so many years ago. Vol'jin kills Zar'jira
in the ensuing battle.
The ancient and mightiest of all troll tribes, Zandalar, would send an emissary, Zul, to contact all the other troll tribes. Vol'jin, representing the Darkspear, would attend a meeting between the leaders of all the troll tribes of Azeroth. Zul would tell them about how the sand trolls of Zul'Farrak and the ice trolls of Zul'Drak have fallen, and how the Amani and Gurubashi trolls are nothing but shadows of their former selves. Zul wanted to unite the troll tribes and form a new troll empire to crush all before them, and while all the other troll tribes agreed, Vol'jin would walk away. The other trolls asks Vol'jin if he would turn his back on his people, but Vol'jin replied that the Horde is his people, and he will defend them if necessary. Following this, Vol'jin would send Darkspear emissaries to both Horde and Alliance forces, knowing that the Horde alone cannot stand against the Zandalari. Vol'jin would work together with the Horde champion Halduron Brightwing and the Alliance champion Vereesa Windrunner to take down the Amani trolls in Zul'Aman. After the Amani tribe's city is sequestered, Vol'jin would arrive in Stranglethorn Vale and organize the resistance against Zul'Gurub and the Gurubashi tribe there.
Afterwards, Garrosh's increasing bloodlust, and
particularly his actions in the battle and subsequent bombing of
Theramore, caused Vol'jin and Baine Bloodhoof to start converse about
their warchief's leadership, and begun openly questioning Garrosh. In Mists of Pandaria, Garrosh's
Kor'kron soldiers would attempt to assassinate Vol'jin during a mission
to Pandaria. Vol'jin managed to escape his assailants, although he was
grievously injured. He was found by Chen Stormstout, who he met during
the Third War, and Vol'jin recuperated among the Pandaren. During this
period, he was constantly visited by the loa Bwonsamdi, who was
displeased with Vol'jin relative pacifism in dealing with Garrosh, but
was impressed enough with Vol'jin's resolute determination. Vol'jin,
while healing in the Shado-pan monastery, befriended its leader Taran
Zhu, as well as a human, Tyrathan Knort. There, Vol'jin contemplated
many meanings -- what it means to be a member of the Horde, and what it
means to be a troll, with his assassination by the warchief of the Horde
shaking the shadow hunter greatly. Vol'jin, Chen and Tyrathan would
then participate in defending the pandaren towns from an army of
Zandalari trolls, who wanted to take over Pandaria and resurrect their
ancient ally, Lei Shen, the emperor of the mogu. Various loa spirits
would reveal to Vol'jin the plans and backstory of the Zandalari tribe,
and in his soul searching, Vol'jin realized that Garrosh Hellscream is
the enemy of the Horde, and he should not suffer a crisis of identity
because of it. Throughout their conflicts against the Zandalari, Vol'jin
would be captured, and the Zandalari would offer Vol'jin the same offer
that they once made before. And in the wake of the attempt on his life
by Garrosh, the offer tempted Vol'jin greatly, and he pretended to serve
the Zandalari at this moment, before betraying them and foiling the
Zandalari attempts to invade the Shado-Pan monastery. Tyrathan was
mortally wounded, and Vol'jin pleaded with Bwonsamdi to help heal him,
something that the loa granted.
Vol'jin would, in the Mists of Pandaria game, meet Horde champions while recuperating, and task Horde champions to help free the Darkspear trolls from the tyrannical rule of Garrosh's Kor'kron, who declared martial law of the Echo Isles. Vol'jin also tells the Horde champions to continue make Garrosh trust them, and is in contact with Baine Bloodhoof in this time, building up a coalition to finally overthrow Garrosh, eventually gaining the support of the blood elven regent lord, Lor'themar Theron. With these allies, Vol'jin makes his rebellion public, basing himself at Sen'jin Village, beating back the Kor'kron invaders and marching to Razor Hill, while Thrall travels to Orgrimmar to gather orcs that are not loyal to Garrosh to join the rebellion. At this point, Vol'jin would be joined by the rest of the Horde leaders, and be contacted by the Alliance leaders, and they will launch a two-pronged attack to take down Orgrimmar and take Garrosh down. Vol'jin and Baine would personally lead the Darkspear rebellion during the Siege of Orgrimmar, and do battle against General Nazgrim and the Iron Juggernaut (see below), cutting a swathe alongside Horde champions against the Kor'kron orcs. Vol'jin would finally see Garrosh defeated, and Vol'jin tells Thrall that the Horde needs its true warchief back. Thrall agrees, but notes that Vol'jin was the one who held the Horde together in his absence, and thus, he should lead. Thus, Vol'jin would step up as the third warchief of the Horde, and the first non-orc to hold the title. Vol'jin would partricipate in Garrosh's trial and be called to witness, and would send a letter to the grief-stricken Jaina, telling her that he understood her recent actions and he bode her no ill will.
In Warlords of Draenor, Warchief Vol'jin would send the Horde forces into the alternate timeline Draenor to hunt down Garrosh and bring him to justice, although he remained in Azeroth. Vol'jin would finally arrive on Draenor to plan the invasion of Tanaan, although he took no part in the actual fights against Garrosh or the Iron Horde. In Legion, Vol'jin would lead the Horde battle against the Broken Shore, battling against demons. Working together with the Alliance, the Horde took care of a high ridge while the Alliance forces confronted the architect of the Burning Legion's return, Gul'dan. However, while battling the large army of demons, Vol'jin was dealt a mortal blow by an army of felguards. While Vol'jin dealt with his attackers, he falls onto the ground. Sylvanas would rescue Vol'jin, and, realizing the battle is lost, orders a Horde retreat, leaving the Alliance to be overrun. Upon returning to Orgrimmar, Vol'jin suffers from fel poisoning, and calls the Horde leadership together. Vol'jin tells them that he knows death would come for him soon, and admits that while he never trusted Sylvanas before, he knew that Sylvanas is the right choice for the future of the Horde, telling her to step out of the shadows and declaring her to be the new Warchief of the Horde. Vol'jin then died of his wounds, and was cremated on a ritual pyre.
Steamwheedle Sniper: The Steamwheedle Sniper is original to Hearthstone, but takes his name from the Steamwheedle Cartel, one of the largest goblin cartels in Azeroth. The Steamwheedle Cartel was the goblin faction that sided with the Horde during the Second War, but the defeat of the Horde and the severe monetary deficits that followed caused the Steamwheedle Cartel to swear neutrality in any future conflicts, which was the stance it took in Warcraft III and World of Warcraft. In particular, they are the faction behind the neutral towns of Gadgetzan and Booty Bay. During Warlords of Draenor, the Steamwheedle Cartel has a presence in Draenor as the Steamwheedle Preservation Society, which commissions adventurers to retrieve artifacts and valuables for them. Various well-known neural goblins like Mayor Noggenfogger and Gazlowe are part of the Steamwheedle Cartel.
Gilblin Stalker: The Gilblins, properly Gilgoblins, are a subspecies of aquatic goblins that appeared in Cataclysm, and are mainly found in the depths of Vashj'ir. Possessing fin-like ears and gills in their necks, as well as a nose without nostrils, Gilblins are able to breathe underwater. The goblin engineer Hobart Grapplehammer was responsible for the creation for the Gilblins. The adaptations that allowed Gilblins to breathe underwater has apparently drained some of the Gilblins' higher brain functions and have regressed into a more primitive state, although they still retain the goblins' greed. Gilblin Stalker is a mob found in the Swamp of Sorrows.
Hobgoblin: Hobgoblins, like Gilgoblins, are a subspecies of mutated goblins. Hobgoblins are first seen in Cataclysm, acting as dumb mooks for the goblin cartels, being just smart enough to follow orders. Hobgoblins are reportedly goblins that are mutated by foul alchemy to become tough but "dumber than an ogre with a hangover". Goblin characters in World of Warcraft have an ability, 'Pack Hobgoblin', that will summon their buddy Gobber that would allow goblins to access their bank anywhere they want to via Gobber.
The following are otherwise original to Hearthstone: One-Eyed Cheat, Shadowbomber, Goblin Blastmage, Bomb Lobber, Madder Bomber. They are all crazy boom-boom goblins!
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Flying Machine: The Flying Machine, which looked like a mixture of real-life helicopters and planes, first appeared in Warcraft II as one of the many contributions that the gnomes brought to the Alliance. During Warcraft III, these helicopter-esque flying machines were called 'Gyrocopters', and were piloted by dwarves. In Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, the Gyrocopters would be replaced with a brand-new version of the Flying Machine (pictured here) that featured two planes. Flying Machines in Warcraft III are air units that excel in combat with other air units, and when properly upgraded, are able to attack ground units, and use flak cannons to attack multiple air units at once. In World of Warcraft, gnomes and dwarves alike would continue improving on the flying machine design, creating various different variations. The Flying Machine card's quotes ("What's the flight plan", "Stay on target" and "they came from... BEHIND!") are taken from the quotes of the Warcraft III unit.
Gnomeregan Infantry: Gnomeregan Infantry are gnomish warriors armed with a haz-mat suit to protect them from the radiation within Gnomeregan, and make up the bulk of Gelbin Mekkatorque's forces during Operation: Gnomeregan, which took place prior to the Cataclysm. Gnomeregan Infantry would be removed after the operation, although they would make a return in Legion, participating and guarding Alliance holdings during the Legion Invasion events.
Tinkertown Technician: While no specific NPC called Tinkertown Technician exists, the original Tinker Town (parsed with a space), introduced in World of Warcraft, is the part of Ironforge set aside for gnomes, where gnomish refugees lived after driven out of Gnomeregan by the troggs. After the Cataclysm, New Tinker Town would be founded just outside Gnomeregan, with Gelbin Mekkatorque's operation having taken a relatively significant chunk of Gnomeregan from the troggs and leper gnomes.
These gnomes are all original to Hearthstone: Shieldmaiden, Gnomish Experimenter, Recombobulator, Cogmaster, Mini-Mage, Illuminator, Salty Dog, Lil' Exorcist, Wee Spellstopper and Shrinkmeister. They are all crazy gnomes!
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TROGGS
Troggs get their own section because of their importance as enemies to the gnomes, as well as their debut as a race within Hearthstone. Troggs were first introduced in World of Warcraft, and subsequent backstory would tell that the troggs were created by the Titanforged, but the stone-skinned and brutish troggs were savage and unthinking, causing the Titanforged to seal them away, not being able to bear killing the troggs. The Titanforged would then perfect their design and create the earthen, the precursor race to the modern-day dwarves. The troggs were mostly sealed within the titan facility of Uldaman, but in recent years, prior to the Third War, the troggs would burst out of deep beneath the earth, attacking the gnomish capital of Gnomeregan. The gnomes would fight the troggs, and the whole story about how Gnomeregan fall can be read here. The troggs would continue to infest the ruins of Gnomeregan as well as the areas around it, coming into great conflict with the nearby dwarves and gnomes. During the Cataclysm, some of the troggs' homes would be destroyed by the earthquakes that ravaged Azeroth, which drove the troggs into even greater frenzy, having blamed the dwarves for the earthquake. In Hearthstone, troggs get more powerful when an enemy spell is cast. Troggs are unable to learn magic, and this possibly represents their anger at seeing spells cast near them.
Stonesplinter Trogg: Stonesplinter Troggs are mobs that could be found in Loch Modan. The local dwarf Captain Rugelfuss tasks adventurers to help curb the local trogg population by slaying the nearby Stonesplinter Troggs.
Burly Rockjaw Trogg: The Burly Rockjaw Trogg is a mob that could be found in Coldridge Valley in Dun Morogh, although they were removed during the Cataclysm. The Rockjaw Troggs have gray and blue fur, and reside in Coldridge Valley and Gol'bolar Quarry of Dun Morogh (with the dwarven mining in Gol'bolar Quarry being the expedition that unleashed the Rockjaw troggs in the first place), but during the Cataclsym, the earthquakes have driven the Rockjaw tribe out of their homes,
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Ogre Brute: The Ogre Brute in Warcraft III are neutral creeps that serve the Stonemaul ogre lord Mug'thol. Alongside their lord, they were possessed and brainwashed by the Banshees serving Sylvanas Windrunner during the events of the Civil War of the Scourge in the Plaguelands. In WoW, many ogres do have the title 'brute' as their classification. The 'clumsy' mechanic of having a 50% chance to attack the wrong target represents the ogre race's relative stupidity, as well as two-headed ogres not reaching a decision with their two heads.
Ogre Ninja: What ogre? The artwork clearly depicts a tree.
Dunemaul Shaman: The Dunemaul is a tribe of ogres that reside in Tanaris. The Dunemaul tribe would be brought over to the Horde by the actions of the goblin Megs Dreadshredder and adventurers who would challenge and slay the former chieftain, Sandscraper. Although the Dunemaul camp contains many generic ogres, none of them are identified as a shaman. In Legion, the Dunemaul ogres are attacked by the invading Legion, and the ogres are enslaved by dreadlords. Adventurers could free these enslaved ogres.
Druid of the Fang: The Druids of the Fang are a sect of night elven druids led by Naralex, who had discovered a network of undeground caverns known as the Wailing Caverns. Once noble and seeking to cleanse the Barrens, their vision became one of nightmare and corruption thanks to Naralex being corrupted with the Emerald Nightmare. Naralex was forced into a slumber, and his nightmares would affect the Wailing Caverns around him, warping his disciples into the Druids of the Fang, druids who now took the form of savage snakes. (There's a mob in the dungeon called just 'Druid of the Fang' too). The Druids of the Fang were challenged by adventurers, and after the slumbering Naralex is awakened, the Nightmare would be over, and the druids of the fang would once more return to tend the Barrens and restore its lushness.
Scarlet Purifier: We talked about the Scarlet Crusade in the human section. The Scarlet Purifier are level 32 mobs that are found in the Scarlet Monastery instance, able to cast flame-based spells on any who come near.
Quartermaster: Quartermasters in World of Warcraft tend to be titles held by NPCs that sell items to players that have earned sufficient reputation with the faction they are allied with, particularly NPCs associated with dungeon reputations.
Grove Tender: The Grove Tender is a dryad. Dryads are introduced in Warcraft III as a ranged anti-magic unit that is able to abolish buffs from an enemy unit, is immune to spells, and is able to poison the enemy. Dryads are the daughters of the demigod Cenarius, having the upper body of a night elf and the lower body of a deer. Dryads appear in World of Warcraft in various night elven areas, and the Grove Tender are guard NPCs that are found at the Grove of Aessina in Mt. Hyjal. The voice lines for the Grove Tender ("Ah, the great outdoors" and "Trouble?") are voice lines from the Dryad unit in Warcraft III.
Floating Watcher: The Floating Watcher is a demon known as an Observer (sometimes also called Floating Eyes or Beholders, the name of the iconic D&D monster it's based upon). Resembling floating heads with multiple eyes, a huge fang and tentacles, Observers are able to use their eyes to unleash torrents of magical energy at their enemies. Some Observers are agents of the Burning Legion, but some are simply independent demons. Very little lore is known of the Observers, other than the fact that they are creepy demon things. Observers would become summonable by Warlock players in Mists of Pandaria. No actual mob is called Floating Watcher, though.
Lost Tallstrider: Tallstriders (also known as Plainstriders) are huge flightless birds equivalent to an angrier ostrich from the real world. They are found mostly in Kalimdor, although they've been spotted elsewhere on Azeroth. While there isn't a mob called a Lost Tallstrider, there are several quests, in the post-Cataclysm Durotar in particular, that involves adventurers having to find Tallstriders that have gotten lost, called Wayward Plainstriders. Tallstriders are the starting pet for Tauren Hunters, and they are probably chosen to be represented in GvG due to the fact that the gnomish racial mount is the Mechano-Strider, mechanical robots that are based on the Tallstrider.
Ship's Cannon: Cannons are used in World of Warcraft as artillery, similar to real life. While they're not exclusively tied to pirates, many pirate ships do feature cannons mounted on their boats and bases. The usage of cannons dates back to at least the Second War, where Alliance ships and towers mounted cannons on them.
The following are otherwise original to Hearthstone: Puddlestomper, Vitality Totem, King of Beasts, and Mistress of Pain. They are just a Murloc, a Totem, a lion and a succubus with no real equivalent in World of Warcraft. There is a mob called Mistress of Pain in WoW, but she's a Shivarra instead of a Succubus.
Click under the break for the spells, weapons, as well as a bunch of bonus Hearthstone/WoW TCG character segment!
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Tree of Life: The Tree of Life is an ancient born of the World Tree, Nordrassil, from which the night elves draw their energies. In Warcraft III, Trees of Life act as the night elves' equivalent to a town hall, being the main building of a base. Trees of Life can train Wisps and entangle gold mines, and can be upgraded into Tree of Ages, and subsequently Tree of Eternity. In World of Warcraft, Tree of Life would not appear until Legion, where they received a brand-new model. Druids, however, has had a talent called Tree of Life since Burning Crusade. Having gone through several changes in the past (and used to turn druids into a treant instead of a Tree of Life) it allows the druid to shapeshift into an ancient, increasing the armour and healing of the druid.
Call Pet: Call Pet is a basic ability that all Hunters in World of Warcraft can use, allowing them to immediately call their pet to them. Hunters have several pet slots depending on their level, but can only have one active at a time.
Feign Death: Feign Death is a hunter ability that has been around since vanilla World of Warcraft. When a Hunter uses Feign Death, they will drop onto the ground and remove any threat on them, with enemies thinking that the Hunter has fallen dead, although more powerful enemies are able to resist this effect.
Cobra Shot: Cobra Shot is a Beast Mastery Hunter ability, added in Cataclysm, that deals instant damage onto the enemy.
Flamecannon: Flamecannon is a brand-new Mage talent that was added in Legion, although unlike the Hearthstone card, mages don't actually need a gigantic goblin tank to do so. Flamecannon in WoW is a passive ability that, after standing still in combat, the mage will have buffed health, damage and range. (Some of these spells that originate in Hearthstone and added to WoW warms my heart)
Unstable Portal: Portals are spells that WoW mages can cast in order to travel instantly to several fixed locations, mostly capital cities. Its usage is presumably based on the item Scroll of Town Portal from Warcraft III, which allowed any hero to instantly teleport to your home base after a brief casting time. The Unstable Portal's artwork depicts the exterior of the dwarven city of Ironforge.
Echo of Medivh: The Echo of Medivh, of course, references Medivh (who we'll cover when we reach the alternate heroes), the mighty Magus and Guardian of Tirisfal. Even after his death, Medivh's magic is so powerful, especially in his tower of Karazhan, that an Echo of Medivh -- remnants of his power that carry a copy of his personality -- remain behind, one notably being responsible for fighting against you in the Chess Event boss fight.
Seal of Light: Seal of Light is a paladin talent that was recently removed in Legion. It went through several revisions, and its final version before being removed was granting an increase of movement speed based on the holy power you spend. An older version of Seal of Light seems to be the basis for the Hearthstone card, with that spell healing the paladin whenever he attacks.
Light of the Naaru: While the Naaru themselves have not been represented in-game itself, they are wise, godlike angelic beings shaped like geometric figures made entirely of the powers of the Light, and are a major figure in shaping the draenei's future. Naarus play great roles in the Burning Crusade and Legion expansions. Light of the Naaru has recently been added as a passive Priest Talent in Legion, buffing the Priest's Serendipity spell.
Imp-losion: Imp-losion is, obviously, a pun on the D&D spell Implosion... but instead of imploding your enemy, Hearthstone's Imp-losion summons imps. Because, y'know, puns! In Legion, as one of the many Hearthstone-original abilities to be added, Imp-losion would be one that sticks the closest to its Hearthstone counterpart, a Demonology warlock talent, albeit WoW's Imp-losion sucks in imps towards the enemy and causes them to explode violently onto the target.
Crush: Crush is a Battle Pet ability in WoW, added in Mists of Pandaria. Several bosses also have the ability Crush. No Warrior ability with 'Crush' currently exists in WoW.
The following are all abilities and spells original to Hearthstone: Recycle, Muster from Battle, Demonheart, Bouncing Blade, Crackle, Ancestor's Call, Darkbomb, Lightbomb, Velen's Chosen, Sabotage, Tinker's Sharpsword Oil.
All of the weapons in Goblins vs. Gnomes -- Glaivezooka, Coghammer, Cogmaster's Wrench, Powermace and Ogre Warmaul -- are all original to Hearthstone, although Cogmaster's Wrench might be vaguely based on the gigantic wrench Wrenchcalibur that the gnomish leader Gelbin Mekkatorque uses as a weapon.
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Hearthstone and the WoW TCG
Goblins vs. Gnomes is the first huge expansion, and an expansion that mostly relies on original designs -- and as such, a far larger amount of the artwork utilized in this set ends up being original to Hearthstone as opposed to using artwork repurposed from the TCG. GvG isn't entirely about mechs, goblins and gnomes, however, having a fair amount of cards that are just generic WoW-flavoured cards. So yeah, as usual, we're going to rapid-fire through the reused artwork that actually corresponds to actual WoW NPC's and characters.
Mal'Ganis's artwork actually depicts a completely different dreadlord, Varimathras. Varimathras is one of the many Nathrezim Dreadlords in service to the Burning Legion, and Varimathras is among the group of Dreadlords that were sent to Azeroth to weaken the defenses of the world prior to the Burning Legion's arrival. Mal'Ganis and Tichondrius were the ones that took the most active role during this period, while the three brothers Varimathras, Detheroc and Balnazzar, took a back-seat. Prior to the events of the Frozen Throne, the three Dreadlord brothers were put in charge over the undead forces in Lordaeron, blissfully unaware of the Burning Legion's sound defeat and Archimonde's death during the climactic Battle of Mt. Hyjal. This left the dreadlord brothers unprepared when Arthas, Death Knight champion of the Scourge, burst in and attempted to slay them, for the Burning Legion's hold upon the Scourge has weakened. The three Dreadlords escaped, hiding in the Plaguelands and attempting to bide their time to take down Arthas. To this end, they colluded with one of Arthas's minions, the dark ranger Sylvanas Windrunner (who has broken free of the Scourge's control on her), and their unlikely alliance very nearly killed Arthas if not for the interference of Arthas's loyal majordomo, Kel'thuzad. Arthas left Lordaeron afterwards, however, intent on finding out what is wrong with the Frozen Throne in Northrend.
However, the Dreadlords underestimated Sylvanas, who quickly made her own play for power, leading her undead armies (now called Forsaken) to take control of Lordaeron. Varimathras attempted to offer Sylvanas a place as a minion of the Burning Legion, but the Banshee Queen refused, and the two factions began to wage war against each other. Sylvanas's army grew larger and she used her banshees to take over the most powerful locals in the region, and swooped down upon the first dreadlord -- Varimathras. Knowing that it's his only chance of survival, Varimathras swore loyalty to Sylvanas, offering service and knowledge. Sylvanas accepted this, but only if Varimathras would help her slay his own brothers. With Varimathras's intel, Sylvanas was able to wipe out Detheroc's forces, as well as that of the human Lord Garithos, under the influence of Detheroc. Detheroc was quickly slain, and they moved against the final Dreadlord, Balnazzar. With her assembled army, Sylvanas led a two-pronged attack on Balnazzar's stronghold in the Lordaeron capital. In order to ensure Varimathras's loyalty, Sylvanas instructed Varimathras to kill his own brother, which Varimathras appeared to do.
Varimathras ended up serving as Sylvanas's advisor as the Forsaken people were established in the Undercity, hanging out next to Sylvanas in her throne room in the Undercity in the original World of Warcraft, being a quest-giver that would ask Horde adventurers to help deal with the Scarlet Monastery, and he helped to orchestrate assaults on Alliance forces. Tie-in comics would reveal that Varimathras, was, in fact, hiding his true intentions and loyalties, actually being in contact with other agents of the Burning Legion, like his brother Balnazzar (who faked his own death and is infiltrating the Scarlet Crusade). During the events of Wrath of the Lich King, Varimathras's true loyalties are shown as it's revealed that he has gotten a group of the Forsaken under his command, and with the aid of Grand Apothecary Putress, unleashed a surprise assault onto the combatants battling the Lich King at the Wrathgate, resulting the deaths of hundreds of Alliance and Horde soldiers. Sylvanas, Warchief Thrall and a massive group of adventurers arrived to retake the Undercity from Varmiathras's control. While he summoned a large amount of reinforcements from the Legion, Varimathras was ultimately slain and defeated. When he returned to the Twisting Nether, Varimathras was severely punished by his superiors, and during the events of Legion, Varimathras is fought in the Antorus raid, where it's revealed that owing to his multiple failures, Varimathras was tortured by the Coven of Shivarra, where his flesh and sanity were stripped, leaving Varimathras as a crazed, barely-sane beast. Varimathras was ultimately put down for good by adventurers of the Alliance and the Horde.
Mini-Mage uses artwork for Zooti Fizzlefury, who started off as a TCG-original character before showing up in Warlords of Draenor as a level-100 gnome NPC that is affiliated with the Kirin Tor, researching time in Khadgar's Tower in Talador. Zooti is a close confidant of notable Kirin Tor Archmage Vargoth, and he would give quests to members of the Tirisgarde to examine a set of various mysterious equipment pieces .
Toshley's card art is that of Razak Ironsides in the WoW TCG, one of the members of Toshley's Station in Blade's Edge Mountains. As leader of security, Razak Ironsides will assign adventurers to help out in hunting down the raptors and ravagers around the location. Razak would reappear in Battle for Azeroth in Island Expeditions, as well as being part of Tinkmaster Overspark's group that goes off to Mechagon Island. Razak and a group of adventurers would help defend the Rustbolt Resistance against the mechanical armies of King Mechagon, with Razak giving daily quests for adventurers to defeat the mechanical armies of Mechagon Island.
Scarlet Purifier uses card art of Interrogator James Vishas, a member of the Scarlet Crusade. First appearing in vanilla World of Warcraft, James Vishas was one of the bosses in the original Scarlet Monastery raid. James Vishas enjoyed his job of interrogation and torture -- perhaps a bit too much, enjoyingtorturing undead with a great amount of sadism. Horde adventurers would be given a quest by one of Vishas's victims, the dying Vorrel Sengutz, who would task adventurers in reclaiming the wedding ring stolen from him. Horde adventurers would slay Vishas, as well as his wife Nancy, and reclaim the ring for the fallen Forsaken. Vishas has a brief cameo in Burning Crusade as a child when adventurers time-travelled to Old Hillsbrad. Presumed to be killed in the Scarlet Monastery, in Mists of Pandaria, Vishas turns out to have been taken in by the Brawler's Guild, serving as one of the encounters as Dungeon Master Vishas.
Muster for Battle uses card art for Aurius Rivendare. Aurius was once a paladin of the Silver Hand, but during the invasion of the Scourge in the Third War, a near-death experience caused Aurius's faith to waver, and he fled to Alonsus Chapel in Stratholme, thinking that the chapel's holy ground would stave off the Scourge's invasion. Aurius helped to defend the chapel's flame alongside with a group of paladin ghosts from members of the Blood Knights. Aurius would be a quest-giver to adventurers, asking them to defeat his father, Baron Rivendare, who has been transformed into one of the Scourge's Death Knights. Aurius finally ended up gathering enough courage to join the adventurers in battle against his father, but was killed in battle. Prior to Cataclysm, Baron Rivendare left Stratholme and became the leader of the Four Horsemen of Naxxramas, and the corpse of Aurius Rivendare was raised as a Death Knight, becoming one of the bosses in the Stratholme raid in the place of his father. Aurius's desecrated corpse was finally put down by a group of adventurers, and laid to rest in Stratholme's crypt.
King of Beasts borrows card art of Akhet, the lion pet of King Phaoris, the Tol'vir king of Ramhaken in Uldum. Akhet isn't really involved in any questlines, he's just there to be a good kitty to King Phaoris. He still got a card in the WoW TCG, though!
Powermace borrows artwork for the Devout Aurastone Hammer, a one-handed hammer that is bound via the 'heirloom' mechanic, being able to be purchased and upgraded from heirloom vendors.
Crush uses the artwork taken from one of the many cards that depict Magtheridon in the Magtheridon's Lair raid deck. We'll cover Magtheridon way down the line in Ashes of Outland.
Toshley
Mekgineer Thermaplugg
In World of Warcraft, Mekkatorque would mark Thermaplugg for death after his survival was determined by the gnomes. Thermaplugg has gone absolutely insane in his time in the irradiated Gnomeregan. Thermaplugg rules over the leper gnomes from the Tinker's Court in Gnomeregan, building more and more explosive inventions in his madness. In World of Warcraft, adventurers who went deep into the irradiated Gnomeregan and slew Mekgineer Thermaplugg (who fought atop a huge warsuit) would be told by Mekkatorque that all they managed to defeat was a fascimile of the treacherous gnome. In Wrath of the Lich King, Mekkatorque launched Operation: Gnomeregan to take over a sizable chunk of the city and establish New Tinker Town, but Thermaplugg detonated a bomb that forced a retreat before they could take over all of Gnomeregan. A subsequent confrontation between Mekkatorque and Thermaplugg caused Thermaplugg to be sliced in half by one of his own traps, and Mekkatorque leaves his old friend for dead, although his death isn't certain.
In Legion, as an easter egg, after defeating Mekgineer Thermaplugg in the Gnomeregan dungeon, if you press a button with 'push me' written on it, you could summon a green, larger version of him called Endgineer Omegaplugg, although the canonicity of this little easter egg is suspect.
Mogor the Ogre
Draenor would be destroyed during the final battle between Ner'zhul and the Alliance Expedition, shattering Draenor into Outland. Decades later, Mogor would be discovered by Alliance and Horde adventurers in World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade, now the leader of the Warmaul ogre clan. Ironically, Mogor's Warmaul clan resided in the Laughing Skull Ruins, while the Laughing Skull Clan has been absorbed into the Fel Horde led by Kargath Bladefist. Adventurers would fight in the Ring of Blood, and Mogor the Ogre would be the final boss in that encounter where he would be finally slain by the adventurers. Mogor's writing has been inconsistent between games, with the Mogor of Warcraft II being described as shrewd and intelligent, while the Mogor in WoW can't even pronounce 'destroy' properly. Maybe the shattering of Draenor into Outland broke his mind, or something? In the alternate timeline of Warlords of Draenor, Mogor (with one head, since Gul'dan giving the ogres two heads didn't happen in that timeline) would appear once more in the Ring of Blood.
Troggzor the Earthinator
Hemet Nesingwary
In Mists of Pandaria, Hemet Nesingwary and his son, Hemet Nesingwary Jr, appear in the Valley of the Four Winds, having established the Nesingwary's Safari after travelling there by hot air balloon (marking the first time Hemet didn't crash). Hemet tasks the adventurers to hunt the mighty mushan called Darkhide, and later assists adventurers from saving his son from the mistlurker called Torjar's Bane. In Warlords of Draenor, Hemet travels to the alternate-timeline Nagrand, invited by the Alliance and the Horde, but when he is tasked to hunt the Warsong wolves, Hemet is disappointed for what he wanted was to hunt big game, not domesticated wolves. He did not give any quests in this expansion, busying himself drinking. In Legion, Hemet would appear in Highmountain, competing with a brand-new gnome hunter, sending adventurers to hunt down multiple beasts, culminating in slaying the mighty roc Irewing. Hunter players will be able to recruit Hemet Nesingwary to their class order in Trueshot Lodge.
Malorne
The great stag Malorne (also called Apa'ro) is one of the mighty Wild Gods, one of the beings born of the nature of Azeroth itself. The origins of Malorne and the other Wild Gods (sometimes Eternals or Ancients) aren't really clear until the relatively recent release of the Chronicle books, but he's an immensely powerful spirit of nature that takes the form of a giant, ghostly wild stag. Malorne was, by legend, the lover of the moon goddess Elune, and he would sire the demigod Cenarius with her. Malorne and the other Wild Gods were appealed to by Cenarius and the night elves to join the Burning Legion. Many of Malorne's fellow Wild Gods fell in combat, but Malorne's arrival spun the tide onto the defenders' advantage. Malorne's strength was so great that the leader of the demons, Archimonde himself, had to come and do battle with Malorne. Malorne and Archimonde's fight was great and shook the world, but eventually Archimonde managed to snap Malorne's neck and kill him. The death of Malorne caused her close friend, the green dragon aspect Ysera, to open her eyes and unleash a loud shriek of power that decimated a large amount of the demon forces. After his death, Malorne was worshipped by the druids of the antler, who are able to transform into stags in his honour, although these druids were particularly reclusive and would not be seen until Legion.
Despite Malorne's death in the War of the Ancients, his spirits linger, and in Cataclysm, to combat the coming forces of Ragnaros and his fire elementals intent on razing Mt. Hyjal, Malfurion Stormrage managed to successfully resurrect Malorne's spirit in desperation. Malorne emerged, and defeats many of Ragnaros's lieutenants, among them Lord Rhyolith. Thus restored, Malorne would stay in his sanctuary in Hyjal. In Legion, as part of the druid class order quests, druids would gather to call upon Malorne's spirit to investigate the Emerald Nightmare. Malorne notes how his mind has grown clouded, and ventures into the Emerald Dream to destroy the Nightmare's source, but was trapped instead. With the aid of the Keeper of the Grove Remulos, druids would enter the Emerald Nightmare where Malorne was trapped in his darkest nightmare -- a recreation of his death during the War of the Ancients. The druids would have to stave off the images conjured by Malorne's nightmares and freeing Malorne from the nightmare. Thus freed, Malorne would grant the archdruid (the druid player character) his blessing.
Gahz'rilla
Bolvar Fordragon
However, Bolvar was not dead, but captured by the Scourge. He is kept between life and death, with his skin burned black and burning due to the flames of the red dragons, and chained above the Lich King's Frozen Throne. The Lich King tried to corrupt Bolvar and turn him into one of his minions, but Bolvar refused to yield. Champions of the Alliance and Horde, as well as the paladin Tirion Fordring, would succeed in slaying Arthas, the Lich King. However, as the ghost of King Terenas and Uther Lightbringer warned those assembled that 'there must always be a Lich King', someone would have to take the place of the slain Arthas. Tirion was prepared to don the Lich King's helm, but Bolvar stopped Tirion. Already half-dead due to the plague and the red dragons' fire, Bolvar tells Tirion that he will take the burden as a last act of service to Azeroth. As the new Jailer of the Damned, Bolvar will keep the Scourge under his control, and as the Lich King's helm was placed upon his head, Bolvar Fordragon would become the new Lich King, asking Tirion to keep his current state a secret. His deeds as the new Lich King will be covered in the future, when we actually reach the Bolvar Fireblood card in Knights of the Frozen Throne since this article has already ran relatively long.
Vol'jin, Warchief of the Horde
Prior to World of Warcraft, the Darkspear tribe would be betrayed by Vol'jin's old friend, a witch doctor called Zalazane, who used dark magic to enslave many of the Darkspear trolls. Vol'jin and the rest of the trolls that kept their sanity were forced to retreat into Orgrimmar, seeking aid from the orcs (just like gnomes seeking aid from the dwarves at the start of WoW, explaining why their starting areas are the same). Vol'jin would found Sen'jin Village, named after his father, on the Southern coast of Durotar as a base to strike back at Zalazane, who took over the Echo Isles. Throughout early WoW, Vol'jin would be found in Thrall's fortress in Orgrimmar, acting as the warchief's advisor. In Wrath of the Lich King, Vol'jin would personally participate with several other Horde leaders in the battle to retake Undercity, sending adventurers in to assist Sylvanas and Thrall in reclaiming Undercity while he maintained a perimeter around the area.
Prior to Cataclysm, after adventurers of the Horde did many battles against Zalazane, Vol'jin would ride into battle with a largre amount of trolls and orcs, as well as other champions of the Horde to liberate Echo Isles from Zalazane. Vol'jin also had to make amends with the Darkspears' patron loa (powerful spirits that the trolls worship) Bwonsamdi. Vol'jin would cut down Zalazane's lieutenants, and finally do battle against Zalazane himself. Zalazane used dark voodoo to trap Vol'jin (who had been ready to allow for Zalazane's surrender), and as Zalazane creates a barrier that will keep out the living, Bwonsamdi manifests, and kills Zalazane for perverting the dead, for the dead of the trolls belongs to Bwonsamdi.
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| Vol'jin (WoW, old model) |
The ancient and mightiest of all troll tribes, Zandalar, would send an emissary, Zul, to contact all the other troll tribes. Vol'jin, representing the Darkspear, would attend a meeting between the leaders of all the troll tribes of Azeroth. Zul would tell them about how the sand trolls of Zul'Farrak and the ice trolls of Zul'Drak have fallen, and how the Amani and Gurubashi trolls are nothing but shadows of their former selves. Zul wanted to unite the troll tribes and form a new troll empire to crush all before them, and while all the other troll tribes agreed, Vol'jin would walk away. The other trolls asks Vol'jin if he would turn his back on his people, but Vol'jin replied that the Horde is his people, and he will defend them if necessary. Following this, Vol'jin would send Darkspear emissaries to both Horde and Alliance forces, knowing that the Horde alone cannot stand against the Zandalari. Vol'jin would work together with the Horde champion Halduron Brightwing and the Alliance champion Vereesa Windrunner to take down the Amani trolls in Zul'Aman. After the Amani tribe's city is sequestered, Vol'jin would arrive in Stranglethorn Vale and organize the resistance against Zul'Gurub and the Gurubashi tribe there.
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Vol'jin would, in the Mists of Pandaria game, meet Horde champions while recuperating, and task Horde champions to help free the Darkspear trolls from the tyrannical rule of Garrosh's Kor'kron, who declared martial law of the Echo Isles. Vol'jin also tells the Horde champions to continue make Garrosh trust them, and is in contact with Baine Bloodhoof in this time, building up a coalition to finally overthrow Garrosh, eventually gaining the support of the blood elven regent lord, Lor'themar Theron. With these allies, Vol'jin makes his rebellion public, basing himself at Sen'jin Village, beating back the Kor'kron invaders and marching to Razor Hill, while Thrall travels to Orgrimmar to gather orcs that are not loyal to Garrosh to join the rebellion. At this point, Vol'jin would be joined by the rest of the Horde leaders, and be contacted by the Alliance leaders, and they will launch a two-pronged attack to take down Orgrimmar and take Garrosh down. Vol'jin and Baine would personally lead the Darkspear rebellion during the Siege of Orgrimmar, and do battle against General Nazgrim and the Iron Juggernaut (see below), cutting a swathe alongside Horde champions against the Kor'kron orcs. Vol'jin would finally see Garrosh defeated, and Vol'jin tells Thrall that the Horde needs its true warchief back. Thrall agrees, but notes that Vol'jin was the one who held the Horde together in his absence, and thus, he should lead. Thus, Vol'jin would step up as the third warchief of the Horde, and the first non-orc to hold the title. Vol'jin would partricipate in Garrosh's trial and be called to witness, and would send a letter to the grief-stricken Jaina, telling her that he understood her recent actions and he bode her no ill will.
In Warlords of Draenor, Warchief Vol'jin would send the Horde forces into the alternate timeline Draenor to hunt down Garrosh and bring him to justice, although he remained in Azeroth. Vol'jin would finally arrive on Draenor to plan the invasion of Tanaan, although he took no part in the actual fights against Garrosh or the Iron Horde. In Legion, Vol'jin would lead the Horde battle against the Broken Shore, battling against demons. Working together with the Alliance, the Horde took care of a high ridge while the Alliance forces confronted the architect of the Burning Legion's return, Gul'dan. However, while battling the large army of demons, Vol'jin was dealt a mortal blow by an army of felguards. While Vol'jin dealt with his attackers, he falls onto the ground. Sylvanas would rescue Vol'jin, and, realizing the battle is lost, orders a Horde retreat, leaving the Alliance to be overrun. Upon returning to Orgrimmar, Vol'jin suffers from fel poisoning, and calls the Horde leadership together. Vol'jin tells them that he knows death would come for him soon, and admits that while he never trusted Sylvanas before, he knew that Sylvanas is the right choice for the future of the Horde, telling her to step out of the shadows and declaring her to be the new Warchief of the Horde. Vol'jin then died of his wounds, and was cremated on a ritual pyre.
In addition to this card, Vol'jin would later be represented as "Shadow Hunter Vol'jin" in Forged in the Barrens.
Neptulon, the Tidehunter
We talked about the Elemental Lords and their backstory in the Ragnaros section of the Classic legendaries, and Neptulon is no different. The Tidehunter (his title was cut out of the Hearthstone card
for length problems) is the mighty lord of water, and is noted to be
the wisest of the four. After their enslavement and subsequent defeat,
Neptulon and the water elementals were banished into the Abyssal Maw.
Neptulon's lower body is a whirling mass of water, and his hair is a
mass of tentacles. While Neptulon is content to keep within his realm of
the Abyssal Maw, he had sent several of his minions, like the Tribunal
of the Tides, in war against fire elementals in World of Warcraft. Neptulon would figure greatly in Cataclysm,
where he is central to the Throne of the Tides raid. Neptulon had not
joined Deathwing the way Ragnaros and Al'Akir had, but his realm of the
Abyssal Maw was assaulted by an army of naga and faceless ones, who were
fighting against Neptulon for the domination of water. Neptulon's
mastery of water allowed him to gain the upper hand against the naga
leader, Lady Naz'jar, but the arrival of the father of krakens, the
mighty Ozumat, attacked Neptulon and dragged him into the depths of the
Abyssal Maw. Neptulon was last seen still locked in combat with Neptulon
and the naga, and his story would remain unresolved for nearly six
real-life years until the current Legion expansion where it's revealed that, hey, he won. I mean, Elemental Lord of all Water, against a big octopus?
In Legion, a powerful shaman of the Earthen Ring (the player character, obviously), would head off to unite the four Elemental Lords to fight against the incoming forces of the Burning Legion. Neptulon, being the least hostile of the four, was the first approached by the shaman. Neptulon mused that in the past, the Elemental Lords have worked together before, but found it unlikely. Still, he quickly pledged his allegiance to the Earthen Ring, sending his champions Duke Hydraxis and Champion Aquaclease to assist in beating back the Burning Legion.
Mal'Ganis
The dreadlord (sometimes Dread Lord) Mal'Ganis was
one of the many that were involved with the scheming of the Burning
Legion that would lead into the Third War. Introduced in Warcraft III,
the mighty dreadlord Mal'Ganis appeared to be the leader of the Undead
Scourge. In reality, Mal'Ganis served the Scourge's masters, the Burning
Legion -- and it was the Burning Legion that the Lich King Ner'zhul
attempted to overthrow. Dreadlords, or Nathrezim in their own tongue,
are the mightiest demons that revel in duplicity and manipulation, often
arriving as emissaries and leaders of lesser demons in the field of
war, destabilizing worlds by turning nations against each other before
the Burning Legion even arrives. With massive bat-like wings, pale
corpse-like skin, horns, and gigantic claws, the dreadlords are also
mighty sorcerers. Despite their uneasy alliance with the undead Scourge,
the Dread Lord is one of the four playable undead heroes in Warcraft III.
Most generic dreadlords are able to summon carrion swarms, put enemies
to sleep, enable their allies to have a vampiric bite, and summon a
gignatic infernal from the sky. However, named dreadlords in the
campaign sometimes have extra skills unique to them.
Mal'Ganis led a swathe of destruction throughout Lordaeron, destroying towns and turning their inhabitants into the undead before the young paladin Arthas. Arthas quickly vowed vengeance against Mal'Ganis, especially after the traumatic culling of Stratholme. After Arthas was forced to slaughter his subjects in Stratholme, Mal'Ganis mocked Arthas and asked him to come hunt him down in Northrend. Arthas's campaign in Northrend would eventually lead him to claiming the blade Frostmourne, which was placed there by the Lich King. Corrupted by Frostmourne and driven by his obsession, Arthas faced off against Mal'Ganis. Pleased that Arthas has become a servant of the Scourge, Mal'Ganis was shocked when the Lich King instead ordered that Arthas cut down Mal'Ganis, destroying the dreadlord.
Of course, this was before it is revealed that
demons, when slain, returned to the twisting nether and could reform.
Mal'Ganis took some time, returning in Wrath of the Lich King. His
past self could be fought in the Caverns of Time: Stratholme encounter,
but in the present day, players who investigated the fanatical Scarlet
Onslaught (see the Scarlet Crusader entry)
would discover that the leader of the Scarlet Onslaught, Barean
Westwind, was actually Mal'Ganis in disguise, manipulating the
organization just as Balnazzar did with the original Scarlet Crusade,
apparently wanting to take revenge on Arthas for his past defeat. Death
Knight players would arrive in Onslaught Harbour and force Mal'Ganis to
reveal his true form. (His iconic summon quote, "I am Mal'Ganis, I AM
ETERNAAAAL!" was taken from this fight) Mal'Ganis was assaulted by
adventurers, but when his health was lowered enough, Mal'Ganis would
open a portal and escape back into the twisting nether, vowing
vengeance. Very recently, in Legion, Mal'Ganis and practically
every other named demon in the past, would be among the massive force
summoned by Gul'dan in the Broken Shore.
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Here we go with the non legendary cards!
THE MECHS:
Target Dummy: Practice dummies are found in multiple starting zones in cities, but the Target Dummy that this card is based on is the Target Dummy device that engineers can craft and then deploy. Target Dummies are spring-loaded wooden dummies of a human that draw aggro, which is basically, well, taunting, but is unable to attack enemies.
Clockwork Gnome: The Clockwork Gnome is a vanity pet that players of the Archaeology profession can summon. The Clockwork Gnome is a member of the Mechagnome race, and delving into that will actually bring us way back to a time even before the War of the Ancients. Some of the first races in Azeroth were created by the Titanforged, who, in turn are created by the godlike Pantheon of Titans. The mechagnomes are beings created out of steel and gear, created by the Titan Keeper Mimiron (who we'll talk about in the Legendaries section). The mechagnomes would live alongside their earthen brethen, beings created of stone. However, when infighting between the titanforged happened, the mechagnomes and the earthen, as well as many other of the 'old' races, would find themselves succumbing to a mysterious malady known as the Curse of Flesh. Instead of being made out of sturdy, essentially-immortal metals, they transformed into beings of flesh, blood and bone, as the Old Gods from deep within Azeroth corrupted its denizens. (Yes, the fleshy bits of Azerothians are actually imperfection). Most of the mechagnomes are afflicted by the Curse of Flesh and would become the ancestors of modern-day gnomes, but a small group were hidden away within the titanic facility of Ulduar in Northrend. In Wrath of the Lich King, these mechagnomes would be freed, but the corruption of the Old God Yogg-Saron have corrupted them during their slumber, turning them against the forces of the living. After Yogg-Saron was slain by adventurers, Mimiron and the mechagnomes would be freed and once again safeguard Azeroth. (The fact that engineers can create mechagnomes kind of mean that in addition to actual living mechagnomes, there are other, less sentient mechagnomes out there)
The Clockwork Gnome refers to 'Mechazod', which is a reference to the mechagnome leader, Gearmaster Mechazod, who served as a Tavern Brawl co-op boss once or twice. Mechazod was found by a group of gnomes in the Borean Tundra and repaired, but Mechazod saw the Curse of Flesh as a disease, and sought to forcibly transform any gnome he could find into mechagnomes. Mechazod's out-of-control zeal caused Alliance and Horde forces to put a bounty on Mechazod's head, and he was eventually slain.
As of Battle for Azeroth, the Mechagnomes of Mechagon (which are gnomes that have changed part of their bodies into metal, striking a balance between flesh and metal) are formally integrated into the Alliance, and are a playable 'allied race'.
Jeeves: Jeeves is a mechagnome that engineers can craft and summon, acting like a superior version of the Repair Bot (described below), but far more sir-like and in addition to allowing to buy, sell and repair items, Jeeves will also grant bank access. Jeeves is added in Wrath of the Lich King. Jeeves, of course, draws his name from the British slang of 'Jeeves', which is the quintessential name for a butler or a valet.
Explosive Sheep: The Explosive Sheep is an item in World of Warcraft that can be made by those with the Engineering profession. Upon usage, a robotic sheep would be deployed that would move towards an enemy and subsequently explode, damaging the enemy.
Warbot: The Warbot, on the other hand, is based on the companion pet Warbot, a clockwork robot that was given out during a real-life promotion. Prior to the Battle Pets system, Warbots could be filled up with blue or red coloured fuel, and they will automatically attack other nearby Warbots with the opposing colour. In Mists of Pandaria, Warbots become purchaseable from toy vendors.
Spider Tank: The Spider Tank, often called Mechano-tanks, are a piece of gnomish invention. Based on spiders, having a gatling gun attached, and mounting a single person, gnomes make use of these one-man weapon emplacements to great use. While designed by gnomes, the leper gnomes also took over many of these spider tanks when they took over Gnomeregan. Gelbin Mekkatorque made great use of these Spider Tanks during his own operation to retake Gnomeregan, and gnomish Spider Tanks would participate in various battles, including the battle against the Lich King and the Burning Legion. Quite bizarrely, despite being a gnomish invention, the goblin leader Trade Prince Gallywix rode around in a Spider Tank.
Arcane Nullifier X21: The Arcane Nullifier X-21 is a type of gnomish construction that is found in the Gnomeregan dungeon in WoW, and are able to dispel harmful effects from allies. The Arcane Nullifier (sometimes referred to as Repair Bots or Crowd Pummeler, we don't exactly have a proper term for them) model, with three-clawed hands, a single eye, and two steam chimneys, is employed by both gnomes and goblins as shock troops, and are found in various locations.
Upgraded Repair Bot: Similar to the Repair Bot token summoned by the Gelbin Mekkatorque card, the Upgraded Repair Bot is based on the Field Repair Bot. Engineer players in WoW are able to construct these Repair Bots (two variations, 74A and 110G, can be made) and, upon construction, will function as a merchant with a repair ability, helping you to fix your broken gear and will purchase items from players.
Mechanical Yeti: The Mechanical Yeti is a guardian pet that is obtained as the reward of a quest in Everlook, where you are tasked to assist to collect yeti furs to help construct a mechanical yeti. The mechanical yeti in World of Warcraft is covered with fur, so it actually looks like a normal yeti, whereas the Hearthstone version is a fully-orange-and-mechanical yeti. Obviously, the statline and cost of the Mechanical Yeti card is a reference to the Chillwind Yeti, the first card in Hearthstone's history to be a variant of another card. (We'll see a lot of these in Whispers of the Old Gods)
Fel Reaver: The mighty Fel Reavers are one of the most powerful war machines used by the Burning Legion. Crafted by the mo'arg demons, the Fel Reavers are mighty demonic machines that is powered by fel energy. The Fel Reavers are first seen in Burning Crusade, where they patrol the blasted lands of Outland. The mob simply called called Fel Reaver is the weakest, found in Hellfire Peninsula, and mightiest among them is the terrifying Fel Reaver called Doomwalker, sent by Kil'jaeden to besiege Illidan's Black Temple, but is quite happy to trample any in his path, announcing his arrival with a loud, blaring horn. In Legion, the Burning Legion's third invasion would feature a new model of Fel Reavers, with a circular core and a far more streamlined design. A particularly large Fel Reaver would have destroyed the Alliance command's gunship had it not been stopped by Varian Wrynn's heroic charge. (I like Fel Reavers, they're cool).
Piloted Shredder: Goblin Shredders are introduced in Warcraft III. Giant suits of metal with a giant claw on one hand and a buzzsaw on the other, and a snarling face built into the 'chest' portion of the Shredder, Goblin Shredders are sold by Goblin Merchants to any who is willing to pay their price in gold to help harvest lumber far, far more efficiently than any peasant could. The Goblin Shredders are particularly notable for their role in Ashenvale during the Third War, where they were commissioned by members of the Horde to help deforest the trees, earning the wrath of the night elves and Cenarius. In World of Warcraft, Shredders are a common sight among goblin settlements and bases, and can be found as both enemies and allies. Apparently, goblins of Kezan have a sport called Footbomb, where goblins play football... but kick around bombs while piloting Shredders. Because them goblins be insane, yo. The Hearthstone mechanic of Shredders summoning a weaker minion is a reference to how some Shredder enemies in WoW would have their pilot eject out after you defeat the Shredder, and then proceed to fight you hand-to-hand.
Piloted Sky Golem: Added in Mists of Pandaria, the Sky Golem was first seen as the custom armour of the goblin Siegecrafter Blackfuse, a boss in the Siege of Orgrimmar raid. Unlike normal Shredders, Blackfuse's armour was sleeker, more powerful, and more importantly, not designed for cutting down trees. It was a machine of war, and it was equipped with wings and rocket engines that allowed it to fly. Player characters with a high enough Engineering skill would be able to craft the Sky Golem and ride it as an aerial mount.
Clockwork Giant: Clockwork Giants are a very rare gigantic robots introduced in Wrath of the Lich King, with the only known specimen for some time being the XT-002 Deconstructor, a boss in the Ulduar raid. XT-002, the Clockwork Giant, is created by Mimiron. In Warlords of Draenor, a second Clockwork Giant, Pleasure-Bot 8000 (not that kind of pleasure, get your mind out of the gutter), is introduced and is a follower. The Clockwork Giant in WoW and Hearthstone have different heads, though.
Anodized Robo Cub: Anodized Robo Cub is a clockwork bear added in Mists of Pandaria as a battle pet. Apparently, the Anodized Robo Cub are test models created by the engineering wizards in Everlook that went rogue and ran out into the wild
Anima Golem: The Anima Golem is a mob found in the Dark Animus boss fight in the Throne of Thunder dungeon. The Anima Golem is a type of blood golem, first introduced in Mists of Pandaria. Blood golems are mechanical creations made by minions of the mogu Thunder King, Lei Shen. The blood golems are animated by the substance known as Anima, a strange blood-like fluid that the mogu use in their vile flesh-shaping rituals. After the mogu were defeated, the blood elves of the Horde managed to acquire anima golems to study, and would employ them in Legion in Suramar during the Nightfallen rebellion.
Fel Cannon: The Fel Cannon is a mob found in Burning Crusade, as cannons that shoot fel fire in Hellfire Peninsula. Various other variants of the Fel Cannon emplacements can be found throughout Legion forces in Outland. The Burning Legion employs other variations of siege engines and cannons that launch fel fire.
Siege Engine: Siege Engines were introduced in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. Created by the dwarves of the Alliance from the blueprints of the gnomish tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque, Siege Engines would replace the dwarven Siege Tanks that are used earlier in the Third War. Compared to their predecessor, Siege Engines is able to unleash a barrage of missiles onto air targets. Both Siege Engines and Steam Tanks would make appearances in World of Warcraft. In Wrath of the Lich King, Siege Engine variants that replaced the front roller with wheels and a car shaped front would be used by Alliance forces, and that particular model seems to be what the Hearthstone card is based on .
The following mechs are all original to Hearthstone, although they share models with WoW mechs: Enhance-o-Mechano, Soot Spewer, Antique Healbot and Micro Machine
The following mechs are original designs to Hearthstone entirely: Annoy-o-tron, Screwjank Clunker, Iron Sensei, Whirling Zap-o-Matic, Goblin Auto-Barber, Shadowboxer, Cobalt Guardian, Snowchugger, Mech-Bear-Cat, Metaltooth Leaper, Shielded Minibot, Force-Tank MAX, Junkbot, Mechwarper
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THE GOBLINS
Kezan Mystic: The Kezan Mystic is presumably a priest from Kezan. Kezan is a tropical island and the homeland of the goblins, located southwest of the Maelstrom, where the various goblin cartels are based off prior to the Cataclysm. During the Cataclysm, Kezan would serve as the starting area for goblin players, where they would witness Deathwing arriving, and causing the explosion of Kezan's volcano, Mt. Kajaro. The eruption of Mt. Kajaro has caused the goblins to evacuate Kezan, and while apparently there was plans by the WoW creators to have Kezan be a fully-fledged area, we have not returned to Kezan yet.
Neptulon, the Tidehunter
In Legion, a powerful shaman of the Earthen Ring (the player character, obviously), would head off to unite the four Elemental Lords to fight against the incoming forces of the Burning Legion. Neptulon, being the least hostile of the four, was the first approached by the shaman. Neptulon mused that in the past, the Elemental Lords have worked together before, but found it unlikely. Still, he quickly pledged his allegiance to the Earthen Ring, sending his champions Duke Hydraxis and Champion Aquaclease to assist in beating back the Burning Legion.
Mal'Ganis
Mal'Ganis led a swathe of destruction throughout Lordaeron, destroying towns and turning their inhabitants into the undead before the young paladin Arthas. Arthas quickly vowed vengeance against Mal'Ganis, especially after the traumatic culling of Stratholme. After Arthas was forced to slaughter his subjects in Stratholme, Mal'Ganis mocked Arthas and asked him to come hunt him down in Northrend. Arthas's campaign in Northrend would eventually lead him to claiming the blade Frostmourne, which was placed there by the Lich King. Corrupted by Frostmourne and driven by his obsession, Arthas faced off against Mal'Ganis. Pleased that Arthas has become a servant of the Scourge, Mal'Ganis was shocked when the Lich King instead ordered that Arthas cut down Mal'Ganis, destroying the dreadlord.
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| Mal'Ganis (WCIII) |
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Here we go with the non legendary cards!
THE MECHS:
Target Dummy: Practice dummies are found in multiple starting zones in cities, but the Target Dummy that this card is based on is the Target Dummy device that engineers can craft and then deploy. Target Dummies are spring-loaded wooden dummies of a human that draw aggro, which is basically, well, taunting, but is unable to attack enemies.
The Clockwork Gnome refers to 'Mechazod', which is a reference to the mechagnome leader, Gearmaster Mechazod, who served as a Tavern Brawl co-op boss once or twice. Mechazod was found by a group of gnomes in the Borean Tundra and repaired, but Mechazod saw the Curse of Flesh as a disease, and sought to forcibly transform any gnome he could find into mechagnomes. Mechazod's out-of-control zeal caused Alliance and Horde forces to put a bounty on Mechazod's head, and he was eventually slain.
As of Battle for Azeroth, the Mechagnomes of Mechagon (which are gnomes that have changed part of their bodies into metal, striking a balance between flesh and metal) are formally integrated into the Alliance, and are a playable 'allied race'.
Jeeves: Jeeves is a mechagnome that engineers can craft and summon, acting like a superior version of the Repair Bot (described below), but far more sir-like and in addition to allowing to buy, sell and repair items, Jeeves will also grant bank access. Jeeves is added in Wrath of the Lich King. Jeeves, of course, draws his name from the British slang of 'Jeeves', which is the quintessential name for a butler or a valet.
Explosive Sheep: The Explosive Sheep is an item in World of Warcraft that can be made by those with the Engineering profession. Upon usage, a robotic sheep would be deployed that would move towards an enemy and subsequently explode, damaging the enemy.
Warbot: The Warbot, on the other hand, is based on the companion pet Warbot, a clockwork robot that was given out during a real-life promotion. Prior to the Battle Pets system, Warbots could be filled up with blue or red coloured fuel, and they will automatically attack other nearby Warbots with the opposing colour. In Mists of Pandaria, Warbots become purchaseable from toy vendors.
Arcane Nullifier X21: The Arcane Nullifier X-21 is a type of gnomish construction that is found in the Gnomeregan dungeon in WoW, and are able to dispel harmful effects from allies. The Arcane Nullifier (sometimes referred to as Repair Bots or Crowd Pummeler, we don't exactly have a proper term for them) model, with three-clawed hands, a single eye, and two steam chimneys, is employed by both gnomes and goblins as shock troops, and are found in various locations.
Upgraded Repair Bot: Similar to the Repair Bot token summoned by the Gelbin Mekkatorque card, the Upgraded Repair Bot is based on the Field Repair Bot. Engineer players in WoW are able to construct these Repair Bots (two variations, 74A and 110G, can be made) and, upon construction, will function as a merchant with a repair ability, helping you to fix your broken gear and will purchase items from players.
Mechanical Yeti: The Mechanical Yeti is a guardian pet that is obtained as the reward of a quest in Everlook, where you are tasked to assist to collect yeti furs to help construct a mechanical yeti. The mechanical yeti in World of Warcraft is covered with fur, so it actually looks like a normal yeti, whereas the Hearthstone version is a fully-orange-and-mechanical yeti. Obviously, the statline and cost of the Mechanical Yeti card is a reference to the Chillwind Yeti, the first card in Hearthstone's history to be a variant of another card. (We'll see a lot of these in Whispers of the Old Gods)
Piloted Sky Golem: Added in Mists of Pandaria, the Sky Golem was first seen as the custom armour of the goblin Siegecrafter Blackfuse, a boss in the Siege of Orgrimmar raid. Unlike normal Shredders, Blackfuse's armour was sleeker, more powerful, and more importantly, not designed for cutting down trees. It was a machine of war, and it was equipped with wings and rocket engines that allowed it to fly. Player characters with a high enough Engineering skill would be able to craft the Sky Golem and ride it as an aerial mount.
Clockwork Giant: Clockwork Giants are a very rare gigantic robots introduced in Wrath of the Lich King, with the only known specimen for some time being the XT-002 Deconstructor, a boss in the Ulduar raid. XT-002, the Clockwork Giant, is created by Mimiron. In Warlords of Draenor, a second Clockwork Giant, Pleasure-Bot 8000 (not that kind of pleasure, get your mind out of the gutter), is introduced and is a follower. The Clockwork Giant in WoW and Hearthstone have different heads, though.
Anodized Robo Cub: Anodized Robo Cub is a clockwork bear added in Mists of Pandaria as a battle pet. Apparently, the Anodized Robo Cub are test models created by the engineering wizards in Everlook that went rogue and ran out into the wild
Anima Golem: The Anima Golem is a mob found in the Dark Animus boss fight in the Throne of Thunder dungeon. The Anima Golem is a type of blood golem, first introduced in Mists of Pandaria. Blood golems are mechanical creations made by minions of the mogu Thunder King, Lei Shen. The blood golems are animated by the substance known as Anima, a strange blood-like fluid that the mogu use in their vile flesh-shaping rituals. After the mogu were defeated, the blood elves of the Horde managed to acquire anima golems to study, and would employ them in Legion in Suramar during the Nightfallen rebellion.
Fel Cannon: The Fel Cannon is a mob found in Burning Crusade, as cannons that shoot fel fire in Hellfire Peninsula. Various other variants of the Fel Cannon emplacements can be found throughout Legion forces in Outland. The Burning Legion employs other variations of siege engines and cannons that launch fel fire.
The following mechs are all original to Hearthstone, although they share models with WoW mechs: Enhance-o-Mechano, Soot Spewer, Antique Healbot and Micro Machine
The following mechs are original designs to Hearthstone entirely: Annoy-o-tron, Screwjank Clunker, Iron Sensei, Whirling Zap-o-Matic, Goblin Auto-Barber, Shadowboxer, Cobalt Guardian, Snowchugger, Mech-Bear-Cat, Metaltooth Leaper, Shielded Minibot, Force-Tank MAX, Junkbot, Mechwarper
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THE GOBLINS
Kezan Mystic: The Kezan Mystic is presumably a priest from Kezan. Kezan is a tropical island and the homeland of the goblins, located southwest of the Maelstrom, where the various goblin cartels are based off prior to the Cataclysm. During the Cataclysm, Kezan would serve as the starting area for goblin players, where they would witness Deathwing arriving, and causing the explosion of Kezan's volcano, Mt. Kajaro. The eruption of Mt. Kajaro has caused the goblins to evacuate Kezan, and while apparently there was plans by the WoW creators to have Kezan be a fully-fledged area, we have not returned to Kezan yet.
Goblin Sapper: Goblin Sappers first appeared in Warcraft II as a minion produced in the Goblin Alchemist building. The Sappers are comprised of three suicidal goblins that are armed with explosives that allow them to level enemy structures and weapon emplacements. In Warcraft III, the Goblin Sappers are neutral units, still a team of three goblins (the third goblin is in that brown barrel) that are unable to attack, but has the astonishingly powerful ability of Kaboom, where the Goblin Sappers will self-destruct, destroying themselves but also dealing a gigantic amount of damage, particularly to buildings. Goblin Sappers in Warcraft III are neutral, and can be hired from Goblin Laboratories if they are available in maps. The quotes of the Goblin Sapper in Hearthstone ("What's sappening?" and "Light the fuse!") are quotes said by the Goblin Sapper in Warcraft III. In World of Warcraft, various goblin NPC and enemies have the rank of Sapper (although apparently less suicidal than their Warcraft III counterparts), although a specific mob called Goblin Sapper can be found in the Storm Peaks.
Gilblin Stalker: The Gilblins, properly Gilgoblins, are a subspecies of aquatic goblins that appeared in Cataclysm, and are mainly found in the depths of Vashj'ir. Possessing fin-like ears and gills in their necks, as well as a nose without nostrils, Gilblins are able to breathe underwater. The goblin engineer Hobart Grapplehammer was responsible for the creation for the Gilblins. The adaptations that allowed Gilblins to breathe underwater has apparently drained some of the Gilblins' higher brain functions and have regressed into a more primitive state, although they still retain the goblins' greed. Gilblin Stalker is a mob found in the Swamp of Sorrows.
Hobgoblin: Hobgoblins, like Gilgoblins, are a subspecies of mutated goblins. Hobgoblins are first seen in Cataclysm, acting as dumb mooks for the goblin cartels, being just smart enough to follow orders. Hobgoblins are reportedly goblins that are mutated by foul alchemy to become tough but "dumber than an ogre with a hangover". Goblin characters in World of Warcraft have an ability, 'Pack Hobgoblin', that will summon their buddy Gobber that would allow goblins to access their bank anywhere they want to via Gobber.
The following are otherwise original to Hearthstone: One-Eyed Cheat, Shadowbomber, Goblin Blastmage, Bomb Lobber, Madder Bomber. They are all crazy boom-boom goblins!
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THE GNOMES:
Gnomeregan Infantry: Gnomeregan Infantry are gnomish warriors armed with a haz-mat suit to protect them from the radiation within Gnomeregan, and make up the bulk of Gelbin Mekkatorque's forces during Operation: Gnomeregan, which took place prior to the Cataclysm. Gnomeregan Infantry would be removed after the operation, although they would make a return in Legion, participating and guarding Alliance holdings during the Legion Invasion events.
Tinkertown Technician: While no specific NPC called Tinkertown Technician exists, the original Tinker Town (parsed with a space), introduced in World of Warcraft, is the part of Ironforge set aside for gnomes, where gnomish refugees lived after driven out of Gnomeregan by the troggs. After the Cataclysm, New Tinker Town would be founded just outside Gnomeregan, with Gelbin Mekkatorque's operation having taken a relatively significant chunk of Gnomeregan from the troggs and leper gnomes.
These gnomes are all original to Hearthstone: Shieldmaiden, Gnomish Experimenter, Recombobulator, Cogmaster, Mini-Mage, Illuminator, Salty Dog, Lil' Exorcist, Wee Spellstopper and Shrinkmeister. They are all crazy gnomes!
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TROGGS
Stonesplinter Trogg: Stonesplinter Troggs are mobs that could be found in Loch Modan. The local dwarf Captain Rugelfuss tasks adventurers to help curb the local trogg population by slaying the nearby Stonesplinter Troggs.
Burly Rockjaw Trogg: The Burly Rockjaw Trogg is a mob that could be found in Coldridge Valley in Dun Morogh, although they were removed during the Cataclysm. The Rockjaw Troggs have gray and blue fur, and reside in Coldridge Valley and Gol'bolar Quarry of Dun Morogh (with the dwarven mining in Gol'bolar Quarry being the expedition that unleashed the Rockjaw troggs in the first place), but during the Cataclsym, the earthquakes have driven the Rockjaw tribe out of their homes,
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MISCELLANEOUS RACES:
This section will list all the other minions that don't fit into any of the categories on top. First, we'll start off with the Ogres, who received a bit of a sub-theme within GvG, then continue on with the assorted humanoids in the set, then the two Murlocs, the smattering of demons, and the other assorted minions that don't fit anywhere else.Ogre Brute: The Ogre Brute in Warcraft III are neutral creeps that serve the Stonemaul ogre lord Mug'thol. Alongside their lord, they were possessed and brainwashed by the Banshees serving Sylvanas Windrunner during the events of the Civil War of the Scourge in the Plaguelands. In WoW, many ogres do have the title 'brute' as their classification. The 'clumsy' mechanic of having a 50% chance to attack the wrong target represents the ogre race's relative stupidity, as well as two-headed ogres not reaching a decision with their two heads.
Ogre Ninja: What ogre? The artwork clearly depicts a tree.
Dunemaul Shaman: The Dunemaul is a tribe of ogres that reside in Tanaris. The Dunemaul tribe would be brought over to the Horde by the actions of the goblin Megs Dreadshredder and adventurers who would challenge and slay the former chieftain, Sandscraper. Although the Dunemaul camp contains many generic ogres, none of them are identified as a shaman. In Legion, the Dunemaul ogres are attacked by the invading Legion, and the ogres are enslaved by dreadlords. Adventurers could free these enslaved ogres.
Druid of the Fang: The Druids of the Fang are a sect of night elven druids led by Naralex, who had discovered a network of undeground caverns known as the Wailing Caverns. Once noble and seeking to cleanse the Barrens, their vision became one of nightmare and corruption thanks to Naralex being corrupted with the Emerald Nightmare. Naralex was forced into a slumber, and his nightmares would affect the Wailing Caverns around him, warping his disciples into the Druids of the Fang, druids who now took the form of savage snakes. (There's a mob in the dungeon called just 'Druid of the Fang' too). The Druids of the Fang were challenged by adventurers, and after the slumbering Naralex is awakened, the Nightmare would be over, and the druids of the fang would once more return to tend the Barrens and restore its lushness.
Scarlet Purifier: We talked about the Scarlet Crusade in the human section. The Scarlet Purifier are level 32 mobs that are found in the Scarlet Monastery instance, able to cast flame-based spells on any who come near.
Quartermaster: Quartermasters in World of Warcraft tend to be titles held by NPCs that sell items to players that have earned sufficient reputation with the faction they are allied with, particularly NPCs associated with dungeon reputations.
Grove Tender: The Grove Tender is a dryad. Dryads are introduced in Warcraft III as a ranged anti-magic unit that is able to abolish buffs from an enemy unit, is immune to spells, and is able to poison the enemy. Dryads are the daughters of the demigod Cenarius, having the upper body of a night elf and the lower body of a deer. Dryads appear in World of Warcraft in various night elven areas, and the Grove Tender are guard NPCs that are found at the Grove of Aessina in Mt. Hyjal. The voice lines for the Grove Tender ("Ah, the great outdoors" and "Trouble?") are voice lines from the Dryad unit in Warcraft III.
Siltfin Spiritwalker: The Siltfin tribe is a tribe of murlocs found on Azuremyst and Silvermyst Isle, the draenei starting zones. They are led by their leader Murgurgula. No murlocs, as far as I know, are given the rank Spiritwalker, which is something reserved to Tauren shamans with a particularly powerful affinity to their ancestral spirits, born with white fur and having the ability to turn into an ethereal form.
Ship's Cannon: Cannons are used in World of Warcraft as artillery, similar to real life. While they're not exclusively tied to pirates, many pirate ships do feature cannons mounted on their boats and bases. The usage of cannons dates back to at least the Second War, where Alliance ships and towers mounted cannons on them.
The following are otherwise original to Hearthstone: Puddlestomper, Vitality Totem, King of Beasts, and Mistress of Pain. They are just a Murloc, a Totem, a lion and a succubus with no real equivalent in World of Warcraft. There is a mob called Mistress of Pain in WoW, but she's a Shivarra instead of a Succubus.
Click under the break for the spells, weapons, as well as a bunch of bonus Hearthstone/WoW TCG character segment!
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ABILITIES & SKILLS:
Dark Wispers: The druid spell Dark Wispers (or Dark Whispers, at any rate) isn't based on any Druid spell, but the card art depicts the end of the Third War and the Battle of Mt. Hyjal, with Malfurion using the Horn of Cenarius to summon the masses of ancient wisps that resided in Kalimdor to assault the mighty demon lord Archimonde as he is about to destroy the world tree Nordrassil, causing the demon lord to erupt instead. Watch it here.Tree of Life: The Tree of Life is an ancient born of the World Tree, Nordrassil, from which the night elves draw their energies. In Warcraft III, Trees of Life act as the night elves' equivalent to a town hall, being the main building of a base. Trees of Life can train Wisps and entangle gold mines, and can be upgraded into Tree of Ages, and subsequently Tree of Eternity. In World of Warcraft, Tree of Life would not appear until Legion, where they received a brand-new model. Druids, however, has had a talent called Tree of Life since Burning Crusade. Having gone through several changes in the past (and used to turn druids into a treant instead of a Tree of Life) it allows the druid to shapeshift into an ancient, increasing the armour and healing of the druid.
Call Pet: Call Pet is a basic ability that all Hunters in World of Warcraft can use, allowing them to immediately call their pet to them. Hunters have several pet slots depending on their level, but can only have one active at a time.
Feign Death: Feign Death is a hunter ability that has been around since vanilla World of Warcraft. When a Hunter uses Feign Death, they will drop onto the ground and remove any threat on them, with enemies thinking that the Hunter has fallen dead, although more powerful enemies are able to resist this effect.
Cobra Shot: Cobra Shot is a Beast Mastery Hunter ability, added in Cataclysm, that deals instant damage onto the enemy.
Flamecannon: Flamecannon is a brand-new Mage talent that was added in Legion, although unlike the Hearthstone card, mages don't actually need a gigantic goblin tank to do so. Flamecannon in WoW is a passive ability that, after standing still in combat, the mage will have buffed health, damage and range. (Some of these spells that originate in Hearthstone and added to WoW warms my heart)
Unstable Portal: Portals are spells that WoW mages can cast in order to travel instantly to several fixed locations, mostly capital cities. Its usage is presumably based on the item Scroll of Town Portal from Warcraft III, which allowed any hero to instantly teleport to your home base after a brief casting time. The Unstable Portal's artwork depicts the exterior of the dwarven city of Ironforge.
Echo of Medivh: The Echo of Medivh, of course, references Medivh (who we'll cover when we reach the alternate heroes), the mighty Magus and Guardian of Tirisfal. Even after his death, Medivh's magic is so powerful, especially in his tower of Karazhan, that an Echo of Medivh -- remnants of his power that carry a copy of his personality -- remain behind, one notably being responsible for fighting against you in the Chess Event boss fight.
Seal of Light: Seal of Light is a paladin talent that was recently removed in Legion. It went through several revisions, and its final version before being removed was granting an increase of movement speed based on the holy power you spend. An older version of Seal of Light seems to be the basis for the Hearthstone card, with that spell healing the paladin whenever he attacks.
Imp-losion: Imp-losion is, obviously, a pun on the D&D spell Implosion... but instead of imploding your enemy, Hearthstone's Imp-losion summons imps. Because, y'know, puns! In Legion, as one of the many Hearthstone-original abilities to be added, Imp-losion would be one that sticks the closest to its Hearthstone counterpart, a Demonology warlock talent, albeit WoW's Imp-losion sucks in imps towards the enemy and causes them to explode violently onto the target.
Crush: Crush is a Battle Pet ability in WoW, added in Mists of Pandaria. Several bosses also have the ability Crush. No Warrior ability with 'Crush' currently exists in WoW.
The following are all abilities and spells original to Hearthstone: Recycle, Muster from Battle, Demonheart, Bouncing Blade, Crackle, Ancestor's Call, Darkbomb, Lightbomb, Velen's Chosen, Sabotage, Tinker's Sharpsword Oil.
All of the weapons in Goblins vs. Gnomes -- Glaivezooka, Coghammer, Cogmaster's Wrench, Powermace and Ogre Warmaul -- are all original to Hearthstone, although Cogmaster's Wrench might be vaguely based on the gigantic wrench Wrenchcalibur that the gnomish leader Gelbin Mekkatorque uses as a weapon.
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Hearthstone and the WoW TCG
Goblins vs. Gnomes is the first huge expansion, and an expansion that mostly relies on original designs -- and as such, a far larger amount of the artwork utilized in this set ends up being original to Hearthstone as opposed to using artwork repurposed from the TCG. GvG isn't entirely about mechs, goblins and gnomes, however, having a fair amount of cards that are just generic WoW-flavoured cards. So yeah, as usual, we're going to rapid-fire through the reused artwork that actually corresponds to actual WoW NPC's and characters.
Mal'Ganis's artwork actually depicts a completely different dreadlord, Varimathras. Varimathras is one of the many Nathrezim Dreadlords in service to the Burning Legion, and Varimathras is among the group of Dreadlords that were sent to Azeroth to weaken the defenses of the world prior to the Burning Legion's arrival. Mal'Ganis and Tichondrius were the ones that took the most active role during this period, while the three brothers Varimathras, Detheroc and Balnazzar, took a back-seat. Prior to the events of the Frozen Throne, the three Dreadlord brothers were put in charge over the undead forces in Lordaeron, blissfully unaware of the Burning Legion's sound defeat and Archimonde's death during the climactic Battle of Mt. Hyjal. This left the dreadlord brothers unprepared when Arthas, Death Knight champion of the Scourge, burst in and attempted to slay them, for the Burning Legion's hold upon the Scourge has weakened. The three Dreadlords escaped, hiding in the Plaguelands and attempting to bide their time to take down Arthas. To this end, they colluded with one of Arthas's minions, the dark ranger Sylvanas Windrunner (who has broken free of the Scourge's control on her), and their unlikely alliance very nearly killed Arthas if not for the interference of Arthas's loyal majordomo, Kel'thuzad. Arthas left Lordaeron afterwards, however, intent on finding out what is wrong with the Frozen Throne in Northrend.
However, the Dreadlords underestimated Sylvanas, who quickly made her own play for power, leading her undead armies (now called Forsaken) to take control of Lordaeron. Varimathras attempted to offer Sylvanas a place as a minion of the Burning Legion, but the Banshee Queen refused, and the two factions began to wage war against each other. Sylvanas's army grew larger and she used her banshees to take over the most powerful locals in the region, and swooped down upon the first dreadlord -- Varimathras. Knowing that it's his only chance of survival, Varimathras swore loyalty to Sylvanas, offering service and knowledge. Sylvanas accepted this, but only if Varimathras would help her slay his own brothers. With Varimathras's intel, Sylvanas was able to wipe out Detheroc's forces, as well as that of the human Lord Garithos, under the influence of Detheroc. Detheroc was quickly slain, and they moved against the final Dreadlord, Balnazzar. With her assembled army, Sylvanas led a two-pronged attack on Balnazzar's stronghold in the Lordaeron capital. In order to ensure Varimathras's loyalty, Sylvanas instructed Varimathras to kill his own brother, which Varimathras appeared to do.
Varimathras ended up serving as Sylvanas's advisor as the Forsaken people were established in the Undercity, hanging out next to Sylvanas in her throne room in the Undercity in the original World of Warcraft, being a quest-giver that would ask Horde adventurers to help deal with the Scarlet Monastery, and he helped to orchestrate assaults on Alliance forces. Tie-in comics would reveal that Varimathras, was, in fact, hiding his true intentions and loyalties, actually being in contact with other agents of the Burning Legion, like his brother Balnazzar (who faked his own death and is infiltrating the Scarlet Crusade). During the events of Wrath of the Lich King, Varimathras's true loyalties are shown as it's revealed that he has gotten a group of the Forsaken under his command, and with the aid of Grand Apothecary Putress, unleashed a surprise assault onto the combatants battling the Lich King at the Wrathgate, resulting the deaths of hundreds of Alliance and Horde soldiers. Sylvanas, Warchief Thrall and a massive group of adventurers arrived to retake the Undercity from Varmiathras's control. While he summoned a large amount of reinforcements from the Legion, Varimathras was ultimately slain and defeated. When he returned to the Twisting Nether, Varimathras was severely punished by his superiors, and during the events of Legion, Varimathras is fought in the Antorus raid, where it's revealed that owing to his multiple failures, Varimathras was tortured by the Coven of Shivarra, where his flesh and sanity were stripped, leaving Varimathras as a crazed, barely-sane beast. Varimathras was ultimately put down for good by adventurers of the Alliance and the Horde. Mini-Mage uses artwork for Zooti Fizzlefury, who started off as a TCG-original character before showing up in Warlords of Draenor as a level-100 gnome NPC that is affiliated with the Kirin Tor, researching time in Khadgar's Tower in Talador. Zooti is a close confidant of notable Kirin Tor Archmage Vargoth, and he would give quests to members of the Tirisgarde to examine a set of various mysterious equipment pieces .
Toshley's card art is that of Razak Ironsides in the WoW TCG, one of the members of Toshley's Station in Blade's Edge Mountains. As leader of security, Razak Ironsides will assign adventurers to help out in hunting down the raptors and ravagers around the location. Razak would reappear in Battle for Azeroth in Island Expeditions, as well as being part of Tinkmaster Overspark's group that goes off to Mechagon Island. Razak and a group of adventurers would help defend the Rustbolt Resistance against the mechanical armies of King Mechagon, with Razak giving daily quests for adventurers to defeat the mechanical armies of Mechagon Island.
Scarlet Purifier uses card art of Interrogator James Vishas, a member of the Scarlet Crusade. First appearing in vanilla World of Warcraft, James Vishas was one of the bosses in the original Scarlet Monastery raid. James Vishas enjoyed his job of interrogation and torture -- perhaps a bit too much, enjoyingtorturing undead with a great amount of sadism. Horde adventurers would be given a quest by one of Vishas's victims, the dying Vorrel Sengutz, who would task adventurers in reclaiming the wedding ring stolen from him. Horde adventurers would slay Vishas, as well as his wife Nancy, and reclaim the ring for the fallen Forsaken. Vishas has a brief cameo in Burning Crusade as a child when adventurers time-travelled to Old Hillsbrad. Presumed to be killed in the Scarlet Monastery, in Mists of Pandaria, Vishas turns out to have been taken in by the Brawler's Guild, serving as one of the encounters as Dungeon Master Vishas.
Muster for Battle uses card art for Aurius Rivendare. Aurius was once a paladin of the Silver Hand, but during the invasion of the Scourge in the Third War, a near-death experience caused Aurius's faith to waver, and he fled to Alonsus Chapel in Stratholme, thinking that the chapel's holy ground would stave off the Scourge's invasion. Aurius helped to defend the chapel's flame alongside with a group of paladin ghosts from members of the Blood Knights. Aurius would be a quest-giver to adventurers, asking them to defeat his father, Baron Rivendare, who has been transformed into one of the Scourge's Death Knights. Aurius finally ended up gathering enough courage to join the adventurers in battle against his father, but was killed in battle. Prior to Cataclysm, Baron Rivendare left Stratholme and became the leader of the Four Horsemen of Naxxramas, and the corpse of Aurius Rivendare was raised as a Death Knight, becoming one of the bosses in the Stratholme raid in the place of his father. Aurius's desecrated corpse was finally put down by a group of adventurers, and laid to rest in Stratholme's crypt.
King of Beasts borrows card art of Akhet, the lion pet of King Phaoris, the Tol'vir king of Ramhaken in Uldum. Akhet isn't really involved in any questlines, he's just there to be a good kitty to King Phaoris. He still got a card in the WoW TCG, though!
Powermace borrows artwork for the Devout Aurastone Hammer, a one-handed hammer that is bound via the 'heirloom' mechanic, being able to be purchased and upgraded from heirloom vendors.
Crush uses the artwork taken from one of the many cards that depict Magtheridon in the Magtheridon's Lair raid deck. We'll cover Magtheridon way down the line in Ashes of Outland.
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