Khadgar

Were you looking for the movie version of this character, Khadgar or the Harbingers animated short Part 2?

“

Perhaps the most accomplished of all living wizards, Khadgar was an apprentice to the Guardian Medivh until he helped defeat his master and destroy the Dark Portal created to summon the orcs to Azeroth. Though cursed with frailty and age, Khadgar nevertheless remains an exemplar for the Alliance, leading counterattacks against the Burning Legion and all who would threaten his world with annihilation. - Blizzard description

”

Khadgar
Title(s)	Leader of the Kirin Tor, The Apprentice, Young Trust
Gender	Male
Race	Human (Humanoid)
Level	120 Elite
Character class	Archmage of Kirin Tor, Mage, Wizard
Reaction	Alliance Horde
Affiliation	Alliance of Lordaeron (formerly) Alliance, Sons of Lothar, The Sha'tar, Dalaran, Kirin Tor, Council of Six, Armies of Legionfall
Position	Advisor to A'dal (current); Alliance Expedition leader, Archmage of Nethergarde, Kirin Tor archmage, Medivh's apprentice, Ruler of Nethergarde (previous)
Location	Terrace of Light, Shattrath City; Violet Citadel,  Dalaran
Status	Alive
Mentor(s)	Guzbah, Medivh
See

For Khadgar's Warcraft II statistics, see Warcraft II units.

Khadgar is one of the most powerful mages to have ever lived. He was the apprentice for the Last Guardian, Medivh, and went on to become one of the greatest heroes of the Alliance during the Second War and as a commander of the Alliance Expedition to Draenor.

His name means "trust" in Dwarven. This gave him an odd dichotomy with Medivh, whose name means "keeper of secrets" in Thalassian.

He is voiced by Tony Amendola in World of Warcraft.

Biography

Apprenticeship with Medivh

This section concerns content exclusive to the Warcraft novels or short stories.

At the young age of 17, Khadgar was sent by the Kirin Tor to apprentice under the wizard Medivh in his tower at Karazhan. At first, Khadgar believed Medivh to be nothing more than he appeared to be — a kindly, old, if slightly eccentric wizard.

But it was not long before he discovered that Medivh was, actually, a Guardian of Tirisfal, a lineage of incredibly powerful wizards empowered by a council to combat the forces of the Burning Legion. Soon after, he began to sense something was drastically wrong with his master. Although he never suspected that Medivh was actually being controlled by Sargeras, the Dark Titan, he became suspicious of his master's actions and motives.

Eventually, he unraveled Medivh's plot to open a portal between Azeroth and Draenor, after meeting a Horde emissary, the half-Orcish assassin Garona. Knowing it was already too late to stop the Dark Portal from opening further, Khadgar and Garona rushed to King Llane Wrynn of Azeroth for help. The pair, along with Lord Anduin Lothar and a group of soldiers, returned to Karazhan to find Medivh in psychic link with the Orcish warlock Gul'dan.

Khadgar managed to best his master and Sargeras by plunging a sword into Medivh's heart, but not before becoming cursed with frailty and old age. By the end of the events of The Last Guardian, Khadgar had gone from a young adult to an old man with a great white beard.

The Second War

Following Medivh's death and the fall of Stormwind to the orcs, Khadgar fled north with Lord Lothar and the rest of the refugees to Lordaeron.

He spent the Second War fighting with the Alliance of Lordaeron, all the while studying Medivh's spells and the nature of the Dark Portal.

When the tide of the war turned and the Alliance managed to push the Horde back to the Portal itself, Khadgar attempted to destroy the Dark Portal, effectively severing the link between Azeroth and Draenor. The rift between worlds remained, however. To guard against a second attack from Draenor, Khadgar oversaw the construction of Nethergarde Keep in the Blasted Lands.

The Alliance Expedition

Khadgar's fears would be validated only a year after Nethergarde's completion, when the portal opened again, and Orcish forces began pouring out, striking strategically to steal powerful artifacts. Fearing a second invasion, Khadgar led an Alliance Expedition to the orcish homeworld, where he quickly discovered that the situation was even worse than he had feared.

The orcs, under the leadership of the shaman Ner'zhul, were planning on opening doorways to new worlds for the Horde to plunder. Unable to stop Ner'zhul from opening his portals, and unable to contain the terrible energies that were unleashed by the many portals, Draenor was being torn apart.

To prevent the potential destruction of Azeroth, the archmage used Medivh's spellbook and the Skull of Gul'dan to close the Dark Portal from the other side, thereby shielding Azeroth from the final cataclysm of Draenor's destruction. Khadgar ushered the survivors into one of the rifts (he was trapped on the other side of the portal when Draenor exploded and was believed to be dead).

Khadgar in Warcraft II.

Khadgar in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness.

Khadgar closes the Dark Portal.

The Burning Crusade

Khadgar in Shattrath City, before his character model was updated.

Khadgar with A'dal.

This section concerns content exclusive to The Burning Crusade.

In World of Warcraft, Khadgar is a level 71 quest giver in the Terrace of Light of Shattrath City. He is affiliated with the Sha'tar.

He starts the following quests:

•  [65] City of Light
•  [65] Allegiance to the Aldor
•  [65] Allegiance to the Scryers
•  [65] Ishanah
•  [65] Voren'thal the Seer
•  [70+] Entry Into Karazhan (Dungeon)
•  [70+] The Second and Third Fragments (Dungeon)
•  [70+] The Master's Touch (Dungeon)
•  [70] The Violet Eye
•  [70] The Tempest Key

See List of Shattrath City NPCs.

Khadgar, now an advisor to the naaru called A'dal, can be found in the center dome of the Terrace of Light of Shattrath City, located in the western borders of Terokkar Forest. He appears as an NPC representing the need of the Alliance and the Horde to work together to defeat the Burning Legion (much like the Argent Dawn in Azeroth, which encourages the rival factions to ally against the Scourge).

It would appear that at some point in their travels, the Expedition encountered the Naaru, and have joined their holy quest to stop the Legion in its tracks. Because of Outland's nature, it is a strategic location in the Nether, and is the perfect staging ground for Legion invasions or a resistance.

Khadgar explains to the varied races of Azeroth that although they may have withstood the Burning Legion twice, the Burning Legion is still marching across the universe continuing their Burning Crusade, an ongoing war to snuff out life in the universe, burning planets and crushing everyone in their path and that adventurers must join the fight.

Khadgar's story in his own words

After touring Shattrath with his servant, this conversation opens with Khadgar:

I've heard your name spoken only in whispers, mage. Who are you?

I am Khadgar, former apprentice to the fallen Guardian, Medivh. I'm sure you've heard his name before.

It was I who discovered that Medivh had been possessed by the Evil One, Sargeras - and that he had opened the Dark Portal between this world and Azeroth. Though I honored my Master, I was forced to slay him and put his tortured soul to rest.

Go on, please.

I fought alongside Lord Anduin Lothar as we drove the Horde from our lands in Azeroth. As the heir of Medivh's legacy, I could do no less.

When the call finally came to invade this grim world - and put an end to the orcs' evil forever - I stepped forward along with my friends Turalyon, Alleria, Danath and Kurdran.

I see.

My comrades and I called ourselves the Sons of Lothar - in honor of the greatest, most selfless man we ever knew. We gave our all to defeat Ner'zhul and end his madness.

As this doomed world fell apart around us, we shattered the Dark Portal to prevent any further harm from befalling our beloved Azeroth.

What did you do then?

Trapped in this broken wasteland, we did our best to survive. Over time we sensed that a new evil was closing in around us from the Twisting Nether. More foul than the dark orcs - it was the Burning Legion itself that sought to take hold of this... Outland.

What happened next?

While my comrades held the line against the encroaching darkness, I used my magic to reach out into the Great Dark Beyond. There, I sensed beings of immense Light - of unfathomable purity.

It was A'dal and his naaru I had found. It was nothing short of... a miracle.

I see.

<Khadgar smiles to himself>

I convinced A'dal and his brethren to return here with me. I believe that only their power can drive the Legion from this universe. But as you will no doubt find - their power must first live in our hearts.

To combat the darkness, we must become beacons of their eternal Light.

As seen in the movie.

Wrath in Shattrath

For quotes and transcript of the video News From Outland: Crisis at Da Portal!, see Gnomeregan Gnews Gnetwork#News From Outland.

One day an unknown odor caused havoc in Shattrath City. Khadgar was interviewed by Strombone and he told that in all his days in Outland he had never smelled such a terrible stench. He said that there were refugees from all over in this city and it would be very hard to know where it comes from.

Strombone then asked if something like that had happened before, and Khadgar told him about Tobias the Filth Gorger. Finally it was discovered that Tobias was, indeed, the source of the odor.

Warlords of Draenor

This section concerns content exclusive to Warlords of Draenor.

Khadgar, together with Maraad and Thrall was one of the first people to enter the Dark Portal when it opened the way to the alternate Draenor. He is seen wielding Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian. Khadgar and the adventurers deactivated the Dark Portal on Draenor's side. While aiming the Worldbreaker, he and others fought off the Iron Horde. When the portal collapsed, they left on one of the Iron Horde's ships.

After reaching a safe location away from the Iron horde, Khadgar opened a portal for Gazlowe and Baros Alexston who oversaw the establishment of Garrisons at Frostfire Ridge and Lunarfall respectively. Khadgar stayed in Starfall Outpost in order to find Gul'dan using the All-Seeing Eye. He located Gul'dan in Gul'var, but Gul'dan escaped before an adventurer and Cordana Felsong could capture him. Khadgar retreated to Zangarra, where he was ambushed by Garona, who had been sent by Gul'dan. Sometime later, Khadgar was visited by Jaina at Zangarra in Talador, she told him he was forbidden to work with the Horde. Despite her warnings, Khadgar worked both with the Alliance and the Horde.

Khadgar participated in the Battle for Shattrath to free the city from Orgrim Doomhammer and Blackhand. Blackhand managed to kill Maraad and Orgrim (who had betrayed him when he saw the killing of innocents). With the help of Yrel and Durotan, Khadgar and adventurers freed the city.

Legendary Quest

A short time later, Khadgar sent the adventurer to obtain an Orb of Dominion, an artifact used by the Shadow Council to brainwash their spies, in order to break Gul'dan's hold over Garona's mind. The adventurer returned with the Orb, and Khadgar used it to expose Garona's Demon Within, a shadowy representation of Gul'dan's will. When the creature was slain, Garona thanked Khadgar and the adventurer for her freedom, vowing to fight alongside them.

Fury of Hellfire

Khadgar sent an adventurer to obtain a Tome of Chaos and Draenic Sea Chart from Hellfire Citadel, when the adventurer collected what Khadgar requested, he sent the adventurer to Cordana Felsong, so she could help them destroy the Tome and map. Unfortunately, Cordana had secretly aligned with Gul'dan and betrayed Khadgar by taking the Orb of Dominion, opening a portal and escaping. Khadgar was bitter when he heard about her betrayal. He teleported adventurers to Hellfire Citadel in order to thwart Gul'dan. He is seen shortly after Gorefiend's defeat. He teleported adventurers further into the citadel, accompanying Yrel and the rest of the forces assaulting Hellfire Citadel. Khadgar and the host of heroes ultimately defeated Archimonde atop the citadel. When the Defiler was defeated, Yrel asked Khadgar if it is over, but Khadgar expressed his fears that this was only the beginning.

Legion

This section concerns content exclusive to Legion.

Though he was unable to stop Gul'dan from opening the Tomb of Sargeras, allowing the Legion to flood into Azeroth once more, Khadgar is determined to find the means to reseal the portal and foil the Legion's invasion. He knows that the combined forces of the greatest champions of Azeroth are necessary to succeed, even as dissenting voices speak against a coalition and risk ultimate destruction by the demons.

In the animated Harbingers short, Khadgar travels to Kharazan in order to find anything - a weapon, a spell - that can help stop the most recent invasion of the Burning Legion. There, he meets with the spirit of Medivh, who urges him to consider becoming a Guardian. He presses that the Guardian's power is the only thing that can stop the invasion; further, he can pass along that mantle to Khadgar. All Khadgar has to do is absorb the energies from an ancient tome that Medivh imbued with his essence before his death.

Khadgar, despite the visions of destruction wrought by the Legion, refuses the tome. He knows the power is far too great a temptation. Instead, he burns the book, and in that moment, the "spirit" of Medivh is revealed to be nothing more than a dreadlord. The demon moves to finish him off, but Khadgar flings it from the topmost window of the tower using a beam of arcane energy.

Though he did not find a single weapon or spell, he came to the realization that success depended on combining the forces of the Alliance and Horde.

Authorship

As would be expected from an experienced and powerful mage, Khadgar has written a number of books and essays, including:

•  [Powers of the Void]
• Khadgar's Mystical Journal, Volume 1-8.
•  [Khadgar's Essays on Dimensional Convergence]​​​.

Khadgar's age and appearance

Khadgar in the WoW comic.

Medivh's curse caused Khadgar to grow old and his hair turn snow white, however in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness and Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, when he is first shown, he appears as a middle-aged man with a trimmed goatee and cropped, red hair.

Later in the game, he is shown to have a strip of white going through his hair and a longer, greying beard (much as his appearance in the artwork of Shadows & Light).

From here, one can assume that Khadgar somehow countered or at least reduced the severity of the curse, and went on to age naturally from a middle-aged man to an old man between the destruction of the Dark Portal and the events leading up to the Burning Crusade.

It is also possible that he may have cropped and dyed his hair and beard shortly before the end of Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, then let it grow out and lose the color during his time with the Alliance expedition in Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal. However, there is further confusion when we look at the monument erected in his honor in the Valley of Heroes. He is clearly shown as an old man with a long, white beard. This interpretation of him could not have been made unless this was how he was last seen since the closing of the Dark Portal.

In Beyond the Dark Portal, Khadgar states that he was cursed at age 17, and at the time of the Alliance Expedition's entering Draenor he was 22 years of age, putting him approximately in his late 30s or early 40s by Burning Crusade.

Khadgar, as seen in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor.

This section concerns content exclusive to Warlords of Draenor.

In Warlords of Draenor Khadgar's appearance is significantly different from the last time players saw him in the Outland version of Shattrath city. He appears to have not only shaved his beard and chopped off the majority of his hair, but also negated some of the aging-effects of Medivh's curse. It is also possible that he hides his cursed appearance behind an illusion, though there has been no official comment from Blizzard as to why his appearance has changed.

Personality

This section concerns content exclusive to the Warcraft RPG, and thus unlikely to be canon.

Khadgar was once young and excited to be following the path of magic. Now he understands the dangers; and though he has accumulated incredible magical powers, he has also paid a terrible price that causes him to act as he appears — old before his time.

His words are considered and thoughtful; since the corruption of a man he considered near to a father, his trust must be earned. He continues to accumulate arcane power out of a sense of duty calling him to protect Azeroth against an evil he knows all too well, and his pursuit of both knowledge and his enemies occasionally borders on the zealous.

Khadgar rarely enters a battle unprepared. He will retreat when needed, only to return with more than enough force to overcome his enemies. In one-on one combat, he will initially probe his opponent while raising his own defenses, then strike decisively. He is driven to utterly destroy Demonic and Orcish enemies, but often settles combats that arise through circumstance by simply teleporting himself or his enemies far from the field of battle.

Possesions

Khadgar’s Pipe of Insight

This section concerns content exclusive to the Warcraft RPG, and thus unlikely to be canon.

Khadgar’s Pipe of Insight

This section concerns content exclusive to Warcraft III.

The innovative archmage Khadgar created the first of these pipes while studying with acolytes in Dalaran. Though the pipe of insight can look like any pipe, it is most often made with a stem of gnarled wood and a deep bowl made of yellowed bone. Sometimes the bowl has mystical lettering or runes carved into it, likewise this item is also seen in Warcraft III.^{[citation needed]}

Khadgar’s Gem of Health

This section concerns content exclusive to Warcraft III.

This is a flawless sapphire, set in a platinum circlet, offset by tiny diamonds. The stones seem to glow with their own mystical life. When held or worn by a character, the flickering matches the owner’s heartbeat, this item is also seen in Warcraft III.^{[citation needed]}

The first of these special jewels was created by the archmage Khadgar to help keep him alive during his trials. Since then, others have been able to duplicate the creation.

Staff of Nethergarde

This simple oak staff is engraved with arcane glyphs and topped by a globe of cloudy crystal 6 inches in diameter. The staff of Nethergarde was crafted by Khadgar while studying portal magic in the Black Morass and protecting Azeroth against another invasion by the Horde.

Valley of Heroes Monument

Valley of Heroes

Khadgar's statue seen at Cataclysm cinematic.

Archmage Khadgar has since been immortalized in stone, along with the other leaders from the expeditionary force, in the Valley of Heroes in Stormwind.

Archmage Khadgar of the Kirin Tor

Former apprentice of Medivh. Supreme Commander of the Alliance Expedition that marched into the orcish homeworld of Draenor. Presumed deceased.

Never did one so selflessly delve into the dark heart of magic and warfare. We wish you well, bold wanderer. Wherever you are.

- Antonidas - Archmage of Dalaran

Notes

• He also has an herb named after him, Khadgar's Whisker.
• His essays on Dimensional Convergence are also highly valued by the mages of Stormwind and Nethergarde.
• Khadgar was given a unique voice during the video News From Outland: Crisis at Da Portal! and has a unique voice in-game.
• He respects the Mage Antonidas and mourns his death.
• Khadgar is the only person to ever shut down the Dark Portal, not just once, not just twice, but three times.
• Khadgar is a key character in the "Warcraft" movie, released in 2016. He is portrayed by young actor Ben Schnetzer.
• In Warlords of Draenor, Khadgar is voiced by Tony Amendola.^{[citation needed]}
• Khadgar can be seen as World of Warcraft's Medivh, as he unites the Alliance and the Horde against the Iron Horde and against the Burning Legion, which fits him as he is Medivh's apprentice.
• Khadgar's Gem and Pipe were in WarCraft III, the former gives extra health to the bearer, the latter gave Trueshot Aura, which boosts ranged attacks.

Media

Images

Khadgar in the Warcraft II manual.

Khadgar at Nethergarde Keep with Leyan Steelson.

Khadgar speaking with Med'an in the WoW comic.

Khadgar at the battle for Shattrath.

Khadgar in the Warcraft: The Beginning

Khadgar as he appears in Harbingers - Khadgar

Videos

Harbingers - Khadgar

Released prior to the launch of the expansion

Warcraft - "Khadgar" Character Video (HD)

Warcraft movie version feature from Legendary

Warcraft II Tides of Darkness — Human Outro

Warcraft 2 addon Human Outro

See also

• Khadgar

External links

Note: This is a generic section stub. You can help expand it by clicking  Edit to the right of the section title.

Official Lore

• WoW Official Game Site (US) The Characters of Warcraft > Archmage Khadgar

WoW Official Game Site (EU) The Characters of Warcraft > Archmage Khadgar

NPC

Burning Crusade	Warlords of Draenor: Iron Horde Invasion
Shattrath City	Blasted Lands	Orgrimmar, Stormwind City
Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB
	Blasted Lands, Orgrimmar, Stormwind City, and Vale of Eternal Blossoms (Shrine of Seven Stars, Shrine of Two Moons)
	Wowhead Thottbot WoWDB

Other

• IMDB: Warlords of Draenor Actors

Preceded by: None

Position: Master of Nethergarde Keep

Succeeded by: Archmage Thas'ranan and General Lordenson

Preceded by: None

Position: Leader of the Sons of Lothar

Succeeded by: Incumbent

Preceded by: Deathwing

Position: Wielder of The Skull of Gul'dan

Succeeded by: Burning Legion, eventually Illidan Stormrage