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The Rise and Fall of the Lich King - The Lore Behind Hearthstone's Newest Villain

For those who haven’t been keeping up with the news, the upcoming Hearthstone expansion – Knights of the Frozen Throne – tells the story of what might have happened had our nine main Hearthstone heroes fought and been defeated by the Lich King, then raised as his servants. A chilling visual, waving aside the fact that Jaina Proudmoore was the only hero actually there – that’s probably why she narrated the announcement cinematic, incidentally.

Just who is the Lich King, though? People passionately talk about him as one of Warcraft’s most famous and epic villains, a truly evil being, but for those out of the loop, we’re here to help explain just why you should be so terrified of this guy who thus far in Hearthstone has taken over an esports team and sold us delicious* ice cream.

*Full disclosure, I have no idea if the ice cream is actually any good. Isn’t all ice cream, though?

DIY for Demons – Your Very Own Unspeakably Evil Lich King

With Draenor, the homeworld of the orcs, reduced to a lifeless husk by Gul'dan – really, can we get a less genocidal Warlock hero already? – and ravaged by the Second War, everybody tried to flee to other worlds. For Ner’zhul, an orcish shaman, this meant opening as many portals as possible, trying to find somewhere habitable for himself and the Death Knights of the Horde who’d allied themselves with him. Unfortunately, they were almost immediately captured by Kil’jaeden, an immensely powerful demon lord who did not take kindly to the intrusion. He showed his irritation by tearing apart Ner’zhul’s body, keeping his spirit intact and aware to torture him.

Ner’zhul begged to be killed, but Kil’jaeden had other plans. Offering him a place serving under him in the Burning Legion or eternal torment, Ner’zhul chose to serve him. Which, to be fair, not exactly the wrong choice, given that he was somehow kept alive despite being completely shredded. I wouldn’t mess with someone like that.

So now that Kil’jaeden had a ‘willing’ servant, he brought forth a block of incredibly hard, dense ice from the depths of the Twisting Nether – yeah, that’s a whole realm with demons in it, not just a ‘kill-all-the-things’ card – and encased his spirit in it. Within this icy prison, warped by the demonic powers of the demon, Ner’zhul become a terrifying spirit of unmatched power – the Lich King.

Oh, and his Death Knight friends became the first Liches, too. You know the old saying – the family that flees their doomed homeworld together becomes terrifying liches together.

Demonic Invasion Step One: Kill the Spiders, They’re Scary

The newly born Lich King was sent to Azeroth with one goal in mind – weaken this world so that the Burning Legion just has to stroll in and conquer them fairly easily. Landing in Northrend and conveniently shaping his icy prison into a stylish throne, Ner’zhul began testing his new necromantic and psychic powers, enslaving the local lifeforms and creating the Scourge, an undead army completely loyal to him. He was not alone, however – a council of dreadlords was sent to watch over him, to make sure his loyalty stayed with the Legion.

As his power grew, the Lich King entered into conflict with the ancient kingdom of Azjol-Nerub, the inhabitants of which were immune to the plague of undeath sweeping the land. This decade long War of the Spider eventually ended in a major victory for Ner’zhul – while he could not sway the living Nerubians, he could reanimate their corpses. Bolstered by this win and urged on by the dreadlords, a telepathic message was sent out to any dark being who would answer his summons.

Kel'Thuzad, a prominent member of Dalaran’s Kirin Tor, answered, and became the first member of the Cult of the Damned, who worshipped the Lich King as a god and used necromancy to help their undead army.

Together, Kel’thuzad and the dreadlord Mal'Ganis were given orders to begin the plan to pave the way for the Burning Legion. Meanwhile, Ner’zhul plotted to escape his prison, wary of the schemes of his masters.

Something tells me that Kel’thuzad isn’t going to fare well in this venture. Call it a hunch.

More Like Lordeadron, am I Right?

After months of preparation, Kel'Thuzad and the rest of the Cult of the Damned struck the first blow of the coming war, unleashing the plague upon Lordaeron. Prince Arthas Menethil and Jaina Proudmoore led the search for an answer to this threat, though the northernmost settlements were utterly destroyed.

Arthas took up the fight against the undead, and even managed to slay Kel’thuzad – called it – but this did little to stem the swelling tide of undead from the north, whose numbers grew with every fallen fighter. Driven to madness by this seemingly impossible threat, Arthas started issuing more and more erratic orders, eventually straight up calling for the killing of everyone in Stratholme, so that the infected residents would not fall under the control of Mal'Ganis. Needless to say, his companions were less than enthused with his ‘mercy killing’, and warned him he was losing his humanity as he set off for Northrend to chase down Mal’ganis.

Believing Mal’ganis to be the leader of the Scourge and herald of the plague, Arthas went to great lengths to stop him, following Muradin Bronzebeard to a cursed runeblade that they hoped would hold the power to defeat the Scourge. This, however, was a trap set by the Lich King, and his plan all along. In taking up the cursed blade, Frostmourne, Arthas fell under the lure of the Lich King, beginning to lose his soul and become the first of the great Death Knights. Arthas did manage to kill Mal’ganis, but in doing so he only removed one of Ner’zhul’s jailors and lost his soul completely. Sanity gone and completely enthralled, Arthas led the Scourge to Lordaeron, devastating the Kingdom and killing his own father, King Terenas Menethil II.

As far as crowning achievements go, this is a bloody good one.

Playing the Long Game

Remember how everyone’s favourite Naxxramas boss, Kel'Thuzad, totally died in that last section, and also wasn’t a skeletal lich yet? Turns out the dreadlords kind of needed him to summon Archimonde – another leader of the eredar – to the realm, so their leader Tichondrius ordered Arthas to the elven kingdom of Quel’Thalas. There, he easily overpowered the high elves and ransacked Silvermoon, before using the ancient Sunwell to resurrect Kel’thuzad in his familiar lichy form. The Lich King was totally okay with this, given that Kel’thuzad was supremely loyal to him, not the demons.

Despite wanting to break free from the control of the demons, the plan had progressed too far at this point to abandon it, so the Lich King laid siege to Dalaran in order to obtain a book of Medivh. Arthas slayed Archmage Antonidas, his blood spilling on the book that was then used to summon Archimonde, who crushed Dalaran to rubble before relieving Ner’zhul of control of the Scourge, giving it over to Tichondrius.

The Lich King had foreseen this passing, however, and was prepared to help orchestrate the downfall of Archimonde in order to ensure his own power. Sending Arthas to talk with a newly broken-out-of-prison Illidan Stormrage, he told him of the Skull of Gul'dan – oh yeah, he’s dead, scrub – and how magically powerful it was. Illidan, unable to resist it, took its power and used it to kill Tichondrius, gaining a more demonic form in the process.

Without Tichondrius’s back-up, Archimonde’s assault on Mount Hyjal and the World Tree ended in defeat at the hands of a crap-ton of Wisps, at the command of Malfurion Stormrage. The Lich King was now free of their control.

That’s Archimonde there, getting absolutely wrecked by Wisps. He must get jokes about that all the time back in the Nether after reforming.

Revenge - A Dish Best Served Murderously

Realising that Ner’zhul had likely betrayed them and helped in Archimonde’s demise, Kil’jaeden confronted Illidan, offering him immense power and a place at his side in exchange for the destruction of the Lich King. Illidan agreed, of course – if his Hearthstone card is any indication, he needs all the help he can get, power-wise.

Knowing he would need immense power to even damage the Frozen Throne, Illidan followed Gul'dan’s memories to find the Tomb of Sargeras, the Dark Titan who helped set the Burning Legion on their path. With the help of the naga and Lady Vashj, he obtained the Eye of Sargeras and travelled to Dalaran, where the intersecting leylines strengthened his magic. Using the Eye, he cast a terrible destructive spell at the distant Northrend, obliterating the Ner’zhul’s defences and tearing through the roof of the world. With no means of protecting himself, the Lich King would have been forever banished had Malfurion not stepped in, stopping Illidan as he was causing immense damage to the world.

I feel less bad about him becoming a Death Knight now. Not one of his best moves.

The King in the North

Following this attack, Ner’zhul was panicked. He correctly realised that Kil’jaeden and his followers would be out for his blood – well, not his blood, but his… ectoplasm? – now that he had openly defied them, and at the worst possible time. Illidan’s spell had caused a crack in his tomb, causing his power to spill out like bl-ectoplasm from a wound. Arthas, too, was losing power, as his power came from Frostmourne, which was directly connected to the Frozen Throne.

Ner’zhul, desperate to save himself, called Arthas to his side. Arthas was caught up in his own troubles, however; with the weakening will of the Lich King, many of the Scourge had broken free and became the Forsaken, led by Sylvanas Windrunner. These rebel undead waged civil war against the Scourge. Leaving Kel'Thuzad to fight them, Arthas fled to Northrend to answer the summons. The Forsaken would eventually take over the capital and try and drive Kel’thuzad and his minions from Lordaeron, the Lich King powerless to stop them.

Determined to save his master, Arthas trekked north, but was confronted by Illidan’s naga and blood elf forces. With his nerubian allies, led by Anub'arak, he raced to the Frozen Throne, desperate to protect his master.

Let’s just take a moment to appreciate the stellar translation of these characters into Hearthstone.
It’s a good indication for what this expansion will shape up to be!

Fighting off the invading forces and going up against Prince Kael’thas and Illidan himself, Arthas defeated them all, despite his weakened state. Walking towards the armour encased in ice, Arthas hears voices from the past, warning him about what he is about to do. Ignoring them all, and listening only to the voice of Ner’zhul, he used Frostmourne to shatter the ice in a chilling explosion. Gathering the helm and placing it upon his head, Arthas completed the Lich King’s plan – they merged into one being.

No longer was there Ner’zhul or Arthas – there was only the Lich King*.

*Technically, it’s heavily implied that Arthas took over as the personality, keeping only Ner’zhul’s immense power. As in, he straight up stabbed Ner’zhul in a dream sequence. Not a particularly nice fellow, tbh.

So what do you think would suck worse to sit on, the Frozen Throne or the Iron Throne?

Recruitment Drive

After spending several years in a dormant state, only telepathically communicating with his minions, the Lich King awoke and decided it was high time he set about ruling the world like he’d intended. Taking the time to revive Sindragosa as a massive Frost Wyrm and to remove his own heart in a bid to be less mortal, he then set about an attack on Light’s Hope Chapel, looking to revive the thousands of Alliance heroes buried there.

To start with, he attacked the Alliance and Horde capitals, first with infected grain that turned people into ghouls and then outright with forces of Frost Wyrms and Abominations. This caused both factions to begin rallying their strongest troops to send north to defeat him. This was part of the Lich King’s plan, intending to corrupt the heroes he lures north – like he managed to do in Hearthstone!

After also driving out the Scarlet Crusade from the plaguelands, Arthas set his sights on the Light’s Hope Chapel. Tirion Fordring confronts him, and with the help of Darion Mograine, a death knight who felt betrayed at being sacrificed to draw out Tirion, and a newly uncorrupted Ashbringer, the lich King is driven back. It is here that two of the greatest opponents of the Lich King – the Argent Crusade led by Tirion; and the Knights of the Ebon Blade led by Darion – were created.

If the inevitable Lich King legendary doesn’t have 6 health a great opportunity has been missed.

Deus Ex Menethil

After holding the Argent Tournament to recruit the strongest heroes from the Horde and Alliance to the cause, resulting in the death of Anub'arak, Tirion Fordring led bands of adventurers to take out the Lich King once and for all.

Seeing an opening to the Lich King’s chambers, adventurers split off from the main group. If you were an Alliance player, Jaina Proudmoore would be the leader splitting off after entering Icecrown Citadel; for Horde players, Sylvanas Windrunner snuck past. Either way, they meet with the spirit of Uther Lightbringer, trapped inside an unattended Frostmourne. He informs them that the only place to kill the Lich King would be where he fused together, at the top of the Frozen Throne. He also warns that someone must take the mantle of Lich King after Arthas falls, lest the Scourge run amok and destroy Azeroth. Arthas then enters, forcing the captains to flee on their respective gunships.

Tirion and the adventurers assaulted the Frozen Throne, but were easily overpowered – Tirion, encased in ice, is forced to watch as all the heroes are slain in a single blow, to be resurrected by Arthas as Death Knights. For us Hearthstone players, this is where the story ends. The Lich King is triumphant, and turns all the Heroes into Death Knights.

Despite the fact that Jaina just left; Uther and Gul’dan are super dead (we literally just saw Uther's Ghost); Anduin is like 12; and most of the rest of the heroes weren’t even involved. Ah, who cares, it's all made up anyway.

WoW players get a nice little happy ending, though. Well, as happy as this murder filled, Game of Thrones inspiring horror show could end, I guess. Tirion breaks free of his bonds, shattering Frostmourne with Ashbringer. The souls of those killed by Frostmourne start attacking the Lich King, and King Terenas Menethil II – remember him? – resurrects the heroes to have them kill his son.

As I said, even the happy ending is kinda messed up.

Tirion picks up the helm of the Lich King, intending to take on the role himself in order to keep the Scourge under control. However, he is stopped by Bolvar Fordragon, who offers himself in place – he is badly wounded, and has little else left to offer the world but this final sacrifice, while Tirion still has much to offer. Tirion leaves him, telling the world the Lich King is dead, and that Bolvar died with him, as per Bolvar’s last request.

What is dead, may never die...

All’s Chill That Ends Chill

So there you have it! The story of the Lich King, how he became who he is and just why he is revered as one of the best villains in Warcraft – no, videogame history. Can’t wait to see all the different ice cream flavours he lets you Discover in KFT – I’m thinking I might go with Vanilla, I’ve heard everything since has just been getting worse and worse.

Learn More About Knights of the Frozen Throne

Looking to learn more about Hearthstone's sixth expansion? Visit our adventure guide for Knights of the Frozen Throne!