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Two Bosses Enter: Tyrannus joins ToC faction champs in season finale

Lisa Poisso
Updated ·6 min read

Two Bosses Enter ... but only One Boss Leaves, in WoW.com's series of fantasy death matches. Your votes, along with the decisions of our distinguished judges (representing WoW.com staff and readers), determine who makes it out alive.

It was a close match, but Scourgelord Tyrannus foiled Argent Confessor Paletress' attempt to snatch away a Thunderdome victory and get into the season's finals. It will be the Scourgelord who steps foot into the cage this week to face off against the Trial of the Champion PvP faction champs in the season finals of Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves. The vote was 51.5% in favor of Tyrannus, to Paletress' 44.9%; three out of four judges also handed the fight to the intimidating Scourgelord.

Now, it's time to clear the field and let the finalists square off: Scourgelord Tyrannus and his mount, Rimefang, versus all five of the Trial of the Champions PvP faction champions. For the final time in this season of Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls ... Dyin' time's here.



In Corner One: Scourgelord Tyrannus

Alas, brave, brave adventurers, your meddling has reached its end. Do you hear the clatter of bone and steel coming up the tunnel behind you? That is the sound of your impending demise.

Scourgelord Tyrannus is a human death knight mounted upon his frostbrood wyrm, Rimefang. He is encountered in the Pit of Saron, the second wing of the Frozen Halls. His abilities include Forceful Smash, Overlord's Brand and Unholy Power. His mount, Rimefang, can Mark of Rimefang, Hoarfrost, Icy Blast and Icy Blast.

Learn more about Tyrannus and Rimefang's tactics.

In Corner Two: ToC PvP Faction Champions

As in previous Thunderdome matches, we're going to pull out all five of the Trial of the Champions grand champions at once. (Players face only three of the champs during a given encounter.) There are no Argent Warhorse or lances here; the champions will be on foot for the duration of the match.


Read more about the Grand Champions encounter.

The judges make their calls

Judge Michael Gray
Victory: Scourgelord Tyrannus

Tyrannus. I mean, the ToC faction guys were fun. And their PvP nature totally warms the cockles of my honor-kill-loving heart. But they're just not fun. Maybe that's because they're hard to write about; you have to remember each member's name and try and find some personality among each person. But really, that's not going to happen. They're a nameless, faceless horde. And not even all of the players have seen all the faction champs -- the champs are different for the Horde and Alliance.

Tyrannus is a unifying presence in this series. Let us celebrate our new Scourgelord master and his stalwart mount, Rimefang.

Reader-Judge John Zakour
Victory: ToC PvP Faction Champions

Okay, here it is: the finals. The big showdown. I hate to be boring, but I have to go with the ToC Champs. They are a group of well geared champions, like any number of parties that have downed Tyrannus -- except with lots more hit points. They got heals, they got good DPS and a warrior who can double as a tank in a pinch. This is a tank and spank. The warrior takes the beating and gets in his licks (when the mark isn't on him) while the others down Tyrannus. It's the ToC Champs in a pretty easy fight. We don't call them the champs for nothing.

Reader-Judge Sky Paladin
Victory: ToC Faction Champions

I give this one to the Faction Champions. There are just too many of them. Tyrannus hits like a truck but won't be able to get enough heals back from Runok's weak healing to mitigate the amount of incoming nastiness. I think he'd be able to drag down one or two of them with him, though -- but in the immortal words of Ace Ventura http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109040/, "Fourrrrr darrrrts is toooooo muuuuuuuuch."

Judge Matthew Rossi
Victory: Scourgelord Tyrannus

Basically, my fevered forebrain believes that the ToC faction champs are essentially a group of adventurers. As a result of this belief, I usually give almost any of these matchups to them because I know a group of adventurers is suited to accomplishing the fights. But frankly, the ToC faction champs are a bad group of adventurers. The tanking is sub par, the healing abysmal -- in short, Tyrannus will crush them just like he does every PUG where the tank won't use cooldowns or the rogue keeps stabbing despite the damage sharing. Tyrannus. In a walk.

The laws of the Thunderdome

  • 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 visualize it inside the Thunderdome, visualize it someplace else -- but you must take into consideration all of each bosses' abilities and mechanics.

  • Assume that each opponent is intelligent and capable of strategic thinking.

  • All of the competitors' abilities work on their opponents, including crowd control and other effects to which bosses are usually immune (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; seeking balance is your goal as a spectator and judge.


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The 5-man Bosses of Icecrown Citadel and Trial of the Champion

Round One
Match 1: Bronjahm vs. The Black Knight
Match 2: Devourer of Souls vs. Forgemaster Garfrost
Match 3: Krick and Ick vs. Scourgelord Tyrannus
Match 4: Falric vs. Argent Confessor Paletress
Match 5: Marwyn vs. ToC PvP champions
Match 6: Eadric the Pure vs. The Lich King

Quarterfinals
Match 1: Scourgelord Tyrannus vs. Lich King (5-man, HoR version)
Match 2: ToC PvP champions vs. Devourer of Souls
Match 3: The Black Knight vs. Argent Confessor Paletress
Match 4: Vote back your favorite defeated gladiator

Semifinals
Match 1: ToC PvP Champions vs. Lich King (Halls of Reflection version)
Match 2: Scourgelord Tyrannus vs. Argent Confessor Paletress

Set aside the world order -- let the Thunderdome determine who's the champion of Icecrown! Come back next week to find out who'll be returning for the semi-finals of the Icecrown/Trial of the Champions season of Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves.