Two Bosses Enter: Anub, Eregos meet in finale; search for judges
Two Bosses Enter ... but only One Boss Leaves, in WoW.com's series of fantasy death matches. We're moving from the quarter-finals into the semi-finals of the Original Five-Man Wrath of the Lich King season. Grab a seat, and let's get ready to rumble!
Anub'Arak scuttled King Ymiron and his longboats last week, 60.8% to 35.9%, to advance to this week's season finale of the Original Wrath Five-Man season of Two Bosses Enter. In the highly anticipated finals, Anub'Arak will burrow into the Thunderdome to face the dreaded Ley-Guardian Eregos. If you've never participated in a Two Boss Enters match before, please be sure to read the Thunderdome ground rules before casting your vote. Visit the comments first to get as broad a view of the match as possible before deciding whose pennant you'll be waving in the stands.
But first: We're taking a new angle inside the Thunderdome for upcoming seasons of Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves. Each match will be decided by a distinguished panel of judges -- and you're invited to sit on the panel! Details after the break.
Become a Thunderdome judge
The Thunderdome takes a more critical yet community-minded approach for future seasons with the addition of a panel of judges who will decide the outcome of our matches. The panel will feature five judges: two permanent WoW.com panelists (the esteemed Messieurs Michael Gray and Matthew Rossi have graciously accepted panel seats); one "celebrity" guest judge from the WoW community at large, who will serve from one to a handful of matches; and two reader judges -- that's you! -- who will serve for an entire Thunderdome season (from two to 16 weeks, depending on the season's lineup).
Think you have what it takes to make the Thunderdome calls? Let us know you're interested in the comments below. We'll base our selections off your Two Bosses comments, so a mind-blowing accounting of this week's final fight to the death will work in your favor!
Last week: Anub'Arak versus King Ymiron
Pyromelter: Anub'Arak is basically the Lich King's second lieutenant after KT. He also does massive damage with Pound, Ymiron is too slow to move from Impale, and all his minions will eat Ymiron alive. I think Ymiron would get a shot or two in, but Anub'Arak is just too darn epic for a minor boss like Ymiron to handle.
(Tossing my vote in for Anub over Eregos, too. Don't be lame and vote for Eregos next week just 'cuz his stupid gameplay mechanic makes people fail so much.)
Clydtsdk-Rivendare: I'm calling a win for Ymiron this time; Dark Slash is overpowered against bosses. More specifically, the fight goes like this: Ymiron runs in and Dark Slashes Anub. Anub goes "OH CARP" and burrows. Adds take Ymiron down a good bit. Ymiron stuns the adds and burns a boat, doing sufficient damage to down the adds. Anub comes out again. Ymiron Dark Slashes again. Anub burrows again. Adds take Ymiron down a few more notches; another boat-burning or two and Ymiron's basically got it. Anub might not even have time to Pound.
This week: SEASON FINALE – Anub'Arak versus Ley-Guardian Eregos
It is the five-man version of Anub'Arak who's fighting today. Please review his abilities with care.
The Two Bosses Thunderdome is considered neutral territory, where both combatants are able to access their usual encounter mechanics and abilities. If you can't imagine it inside the Thunderdome, imagine it someplace else -- but you must take into consideration all of each bosses' abilities and mechanics.
All of the competitors' abilities, including crowd control and other effects to which bosses are usually immune, work on their opponents (with apologies to considerations of lore on this point).
Assume that the opponents share similar levels, health pools and comparative overall damage output.
Don't get caught up in gameplay mechanics and what actual players might do in each encounter.
Don't neglect style, story and scale. Everything is a factor; only you can decide how it balances out.
And so, with no further ado: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls ... Dyin' time's here.
In Corner One:
Anub'Arak (Azjol-Nerub)
I was king of this empire once, long ago. In life I stood as champion. In death I returned as conqueror. Now I protect the kingdom once more. Ironic, yes?
Anub'Arak, the former king of Azjol-Nerub, was among the Nerubians slaughtered in the War of the Spider and later raised as Undead by Ner'zhul the Lich King to do his bidding. Read the extensive lore page on Anub'Arak to learn more about his background.
Anub'Arak's battle strategy includes truly relentless tactics. Besides wreaking havoc with vicious attacks and environmental damage, he swarms opponents with protective Locusts and nettling Carrion Beetles. He periodically burrows underground, besieging opponents with packs of summoned minions.
Take note: This is the five-man version of Anub'Arak from Azjol-Nerub.
Learn more about Anub'Arak's strategies, and review comments from players who've battled him.
In Corner Two: Ley-Guardian Eregos (The Oculus)
Simpletons! You cannot comprehend the forces you have set in motion. The ley line conduit will not be disrupted! Your defeat shall be absolute!
Ley-Guardian Eregos, the great Blue Dragon boss, flies at the pinnacle of The Oculus. Players normally battle him astride drake mounts with various abilities.
Inside the Two Bosses Thunderdome, there will be no player drake mechanic. Judge the battle on the basis of the abilities of Eregos and Anub'Arak themselves. Eregos may engage in battle in the air and/or on the ground -- your choice, neither is mandatory -- without the player drake mechanic.
Whelps Two to three spawn at a time; heavy DPS can push Eregos into a Planar Shift before he has a chance to summon
Learn more about Ley-Guardian Eregos' key abilities, and review comments from players who've battled him. (Remember: no player drakes!)
Inside the Thunderdome
Two Boss matchups are about substance and style, not game play and mechanics. Don't base your strategies on player tactics, which opponent has been easiest or most difficult for you personally, or the difficulty of each opponent relative to instance progression. Vote for the spirit of the battle as set forth above. Set aside differences in opponents' health pools, game level and actual damage output. Absolutely no game-mechanic nitpicking!
Before you cast your vote, join the debate in the comments. Who wins, and why? Style points go to spectators who use the comments to sway other readers to their point of view!
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Who rocks Wrath's five-man world? Come back next week to find out who is the Champion of the Original Wrath Five-Mans in the Two Bosses Thunderdome. Anything's possible in the finals of Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves: The Original Wrath Five-Man Season.
