Dragon Aspects

Dragon Aspects (aka Great Aspects Great Archdragons Great Guardians Great Leviathans Great Givers Great Incarnates Great Embodiments Great Gods There Patriarchs and Two Matriarchs Great Stewards Great Three Kings and Two Queens Archdragons of Azeroth Great Masters Great Three Lords and Two Ladies Three Lords and Two Ladies of Azeroth Aspects of Azeroth Dragon Masters Masters of Azeroth Great Masters or simply Masters Aspects Archdragons Guardians Leviathans Givers Incarnates Embodiments Gods Three Patriarchs and Two Matriarchs Stewards Three Kings and Two Queens Archdragons Three Lords and Two Ladies Gods) are leaders of five dragonflights, and were proto-dragons altered by the titans as a reward for defeating the proto-dragon known as Galakrond. The titans empowered the five dragons, each with specific powers, to lead the major dragonflights and watch over ancient Kalimdor and its evolution (at the time, the sole continent of Azeroth).

The Aspects appeared to have process to transfer the powers of an Aspect to a successor, but how this works beyond the events of the Blue Dragonflight transfer (via an astronomical event called "The Embrace") is unknown. Unfortunately, to defeat Deathwing after his cataclysmic return, the Aspects drained most of their remaining power to defeat him. It is possible that these powers could be restored, though it is unknown how.

The Dragon Aspects

• Nozdormu, the Timeless One

  The great bronze wyrm chosen by Aman'Thul to guard time itself and police the ever-spinning pathways of fate and destiny.

• Alexstrasza, the Life-Binder

  The immense red leviathan chosen by Eonar to safeguard all life on the world.

• Ysera, the Dreamer

  The lithe  green wyrm, and Alexstrasza's younger sister, chosen by Eonar to watch over the growing wilds of the world from her verdant realm, the Emerald Dream.

• Malygos, the Spell-Weaver - Original

  The sinuous blue leviathan chosen by Norgannon as the guardian of magic and hidden arcanum.

  • Kalecgos, the Spell-Weaver - New

    After Malygos was defeated, Kalecgos was chosen by the Blue Dragonflight to replace Malygos.

• Neltharion, the Earth-Warder - Original

  The mighty black leviathan chosen by Khaz'goroth and given dominion over the earth and the deep places of the world. He was driven mad by the whisperings of the Old Gods and managed to drive the Blue Dragonflight to near extinction. He is now known as Deathwing.

  It was unclear whether the remaining Aspects would choose a replacement for Neltharion. Due to the Aspects being drained of their power at the end of Patch 4.3.0, it seemed unlikely. The most likely outcome was a power struggle amongst the Black Dragonflight resulting in a new leader for the flight, but not a Dragon Aspect.

  • Thrall, World Shaman, Aspect of Earth - New

    During the battle to defeat Deathwing, Thrall of the Frostwolf Clan served as the Aspect of Earth to replace Neltharion, but whether he is still considered an Aspect is unclear (especially because he is an orc and not a dragon).

Possible Dragon Aspects

 This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials.*

• Murozond

  It is questionable as to whether Murozond counts as a Dragon Aspect, as he is the leader of the Infinite Dragonflight, a major flight of dragons, and he is the future, corrupted version of the current Aspect of the Bronze Dragonflight, Nozdormu.

The Aspects in World of Warcraft

This section concerns content exclusive to World of Warcraft.

All of the Aspects appear in one form or another, but were not seen until the 2nd expansion:

• Malygos was the first Aspect confirmed to appear in Wrath of the Lich King. He is the boss of the Eye of Eternity within the Nexus, the homebase of the Blue Dragonflight, on the island of Coldarra in the Borean Tundra. Malygos led his dragonflight in a war against all mortal spellcasters, believing that magic was running amok throughout the world because of mortals' reckless use of its powers. Malygos can be killed by players, thus making him the first of the Dragon Aspects to die.
  • Kalecgos was later chosen by the Blue Dragonflight to replace Malygos, and represents them during the Dragon Soul raid as the "Aspect of Magic".
• Alexstrasza appears in humanoid form at the Wyrmrest Temple in Dragonblight. The Red Dragonflight appears to be at the forefront in defending the mortal races in the Nexus War against Malygos and the Blue Dragonflight, both in keeping with their charge to preserve life and honoring Alexstrasza's agreement with Rhonin that the races of those who had freed her from the Dragonmaw clan would not come to harm. Alexstrasza aids the players in the battle against Malygos in the Eye of Eternity. She also appears at Angrathar the Wrathgate in dragon form after the conclusion of the Veteran of the Wrathgate quest chain.
• Ysera appears at the Emerald Dragonshrine in Dragonblight. Lord Itharius, brother of her consort Eranikus, has been sent as her ambassador to Alexstrasza's Wyrmrest Accord. She later appears at Mount Hyjal under the World Tree Nordrassil with the Cataclysm expansion.
• Nozdormu appears briefly during  [??] Mystery of the Infinite at the Bronze Dragonshrine. Chronormu (alias Chromie) is Nozdormu's ambassador to the Wyrmrest Accord.
• Deathwing appears (as Neltharion) in humanoid form in a flashback in the Prison of Yogg-Saron in Ulduar, during a vision showing the creation of the Dragon Soul. He makes his full return in Cataclysm as the main antagonist, and will be second of the original Dragon Aspects to die as of Patch 4.3. Nalice is Deathwing's ambassador to the Wyrmrest Accord.

During a Q&A session at Blizzcon 2008 on October 11, 2008, a question was asked as to whether Deathwing will ever be seen within World of Warcraft. The response, while vague, was positive, indicating that, at some unspecified future time, Deathwing would in fact appear in-world. He finally made his appearance (albeit as something of a cameo) in Ulduar, and is the main antagonist of the Cataclysm expansion.

During the Lore section for Blizzcon 2010, Chris Metzen stated that Kalecgos will become the "new blue aspect." He did not explain how this would happen. Previously, the Titans gave a portion their power to each Dragon Aspect. This would imply that Norgannon, the Titan master magician could return as he was the Titan who gave Malygos his power.

In Patch 4.3

This section concerns content exclusive to Cataclysm.

During the final Deathwing encounter, the Dragon Aspects channel all their power into the Dragon Soul to finish him; when the cinematic plays we find out they no longer have their powers and are now mortal beings (As much as any dragons who can live for hundreds of millennia can be mortal), shown through their humanoid forms losing the eye glow and, more noticeably, Nozdormu's pauldron being broken, leaking sand. Some of the last spark of the Aspect's power resides in the Heart of the Aspects mounts and the Soul of the Aspects companions.

Trivia

• Many similarities can be observed between Dragon Aspects and Angiris Council of Diablo franchise. These include:
• Both Dragon Aspects and Angiris Council are Rulers of the Dragonflights Wyrmrest Temple Heavenly Host and High Heavens.
• Many similarities can be observed between Dragon Aspects and Aspects of the Protoss of StarCraft franchise. These include:
• Both Dragon Aspects and Aspects of the Protoss are Rulers of the Dragonflights and Protoss.

Media

Videos

Dragon Soul - End Cinematic Cataclysm Epilogue

Wow Pro Lore Episode 2 The Titans and Azeroth Machinima

The Titans empower the Dragon Aspects

Warcraft History & Lore Episode 4 - The Charge of the Dragons

Nobdy Enoon's video series on Warcraft History & Lore

External links

WoW Insider Know Your Lore: Cataclysm's end by Anne Stickney Dec 4th 2011 at 6:00PM

WoW Insider Know Your Lore: The Eternals part three -- the Titans by Anne Stickney Jul 24th 2010 at 6:00PM

See also: Legacy of the Aspects