Two Bosses Enter: Eregos a finalist; Anub'Arak faces Ymiron
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!
Welcome, one and all, to the last semi-final match of this season of Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves! This week, we'll pit semi-finalists Anub'Arak (Azjol-Nerub) against King Ymiron (Utgarde Pinnacle). Both bosses enter on the wings of strong victories. Anub'Arak comes to the Thunderdome with a 64.5% approval rating from his last match, while King Ymiron brings a 64.1% rating from his own supporters.
But first, a big upset from last week's Thunderdome. In a spectacular reversal of their July deathmatch, Ley-Guardian Eregos pulled out a decisive victory over Loken. After being voted back in to the Thunderdome despite his earlier loss, Eregos showed new confidence to claim a position in this season's finals. A solid 56.5% of spectators gave Eregos the upper hand this time around, compared to only 36.9% the last time he faced off against Loken. We'll recap the battle as well as opening up voting for Anub'Arak versus King Ymiron, after the break.
Last week: Ley-Guardian Eregos rematches Loken
Qot: Last time, Loken beat Eregos 60% to 35%. Since then, Eregos has been nerfed but now drops a mount. Since I'm already on record saying people are voting for the more popular boss rather than the one who would likely win (and, as Tirion Fordring himself said, players would drop kittens off a cliff for a mount), I'd bet dollars to donuts that Eregos closes that margin and I'd take even money that Eregos wins.
DruidGuard: Well, let's see. In overall damaging abilities, Eregos comes out on top without a problem. He has an instant damaging attack to match Loken's and a short cast, but also the ability to berserk and do a significant amount of damage very quickly. While it is true that if Loken stays away, Eregos will take a large amount of damage from Pulsing Shockwave, it really isn't a HUGE amount. It will deal several thousand damage every two seconds, true, but by doing so Loken is not able to use his auto-attack. Not to mention Eregos can spawn adds which, while not too deadly, will give Loken trouble.
Truthfully, Loken's best shot at this would be to run around the arena and pray the Shockwave kills Eregos. That, however, doesn't seem like the kind of thing a deranged Keeper would do (at least not initially), so I have to say with such odds stacked against him, Loken gets burned. Victory goes to Eregos.
This week: Anub'Arak versus King Ymiron
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.
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.
Learn more about Anub'Arak's strategies, and review comments from players who've battled him.
In Corner Two: King Ymiron of Utgarde Pinnacle
You invade my home and then dare to challenge me? I will tear the hearts from your chests and offer them as gifts to the death god! Rualg nja gaborr!
King Ymiron is the slumbering king of Northrend's Vrykul, the leader of the Dragonflayer clan who lies sleeping within Gjalerbron. Fanatically adored by his people, the now undead king has proven his worth to the Lich King.
Like the kingly Vrykul he is, King Ymiron hits like Thor's hammer. Normal hits are hard, and his Dark Slash cuts down 50 percent of the target's health. The king protects himself with Bane and complicates matters with the random cast of Fetid Rot.
Periodically during battle, King Ymiron's Screams of the Dead paralyze opponents for 8 seconds. During this time, he runs to one of the four longboats in the room to channel a spell from a Vrykul ancestor there. He will use that ability until the longboat burns shortly thereafter.
Spectators may choose a different scenario for the sake of this match's neutral setting, but Ymiron will continue to have access to the usual longboat abilities. Longboat abilities include:
Summons an orb that causes AoE shadow damage and moves around the room.
Summons minions
Read more about King Ymiron's abilities, and look over comments from players who've battled the king.
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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Join us next week as the winner of Anub'Arak vs. King Ymiron goes up for the title against finalist Ley-Guardian Eregos!
Who rocks Wrath's five-man world? Add your own narrative on what would happen when these mighty opponents meet up inside the Two Bosses Thunderdome. Anything's possible in the semi-finals of Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves: The Original Wrath Five-Man Season.
