Summary
- The infamous Corrupted Blood incident has unexpectedly reappeared in World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery.
- The Zul'Gurub raid, introduced in Phase 5, re-introduced the Corrupted Blood spell, causing widespread chaos.
- Players are unintentionally replicating the 2005 event by spreading the plague in Stormwind City, triggering a wave of nostalgic chaos and concern.
A notorious chapter in World of Warcraft history, the Corrupted Blood incident, has resurfaced, albeit accidentally, in the Season of Discovery servers. Videos circulating online showcase the deadly plague's resurgence in major cities, sparking both amusement and apprehension among players, particularly regarding its potential impact on Hardcore realms.
Initially unleashed in September 2005 with Patch 1.7, Rise of the Blood God, the Zul'Gurub raid, a 20-player instance featuring Hakkar the Soulflayer, returned in Season of Discovery's Phase 5 (September 2024). Hakkar's Corrupted Blood spell, inflicting damage over time and spreading to nearby players, typically posed a manageable threat with sufficient healing.
However, for almost a month following Zul'Gurub's release, Corrupted Blood affected both players and their companions, enabling its malicious spread beyond the raid, creating widespread pandemonium. A recent 20-second video on r/classicwow, posted by Lightstruckx, depicts the debuff's uncontrolled spread in Stormwind City's Trade District, mirroring the 2005 incident's "pet bomb" strategy. The video showcases the rapid demise of multiple players, underscoring the spell's potent and contagious nature.
World of Warcraft Players Inadvertently Recreate the Corrupted Blood Incident
Some players attribute the Corrupted Blood debuff's return to unresolved issues, while others voice concerns about its weaponization in Hardcore mode. Unlike Season of Discovery, Hardcore mode features permadeath, making the uncontrolled spread of Corrupted Blood a significant threat.
Despite past attempts at remediation, the Corrupted Blood incident's legacy persists. With Season of Discovery's seventh phase slated for early 2025, the timing of Blizzard's intervention to address this latest outbreak remains uncertain.
