
Orc necromancer

Scourge necromancer
Necromancers are practitioners of necromancy, the study and use of magic to raise and control the dead. Necromancers are the enemies of life itself, and all hands are raised against them.[1]
Arcane mysteries
"...practitioners of unspeakable magic, macabre manipulators of life and death: necromancers."[2]
Arcane mysteries are the mysteries of life and death.[3] Death, in the form of necromantic magic, acts as a counterbalance to Life. It is an unavoidable force that breeds despair in mortal hearts and pushes everything toward a state of entropic decay and eventual oblivion. It is said that the only way to ensure the saving of another is the sacrifice of life.[4] Sacrificial magic was considered the greatest violation of life and the energies of Life, known commonly as nature magic, promote growth and renewal in all things.[5] However, energies can be so chaotic that they manifest as entropic horrors, pure fel magic given form to lash out at all life.[6] To fuel fel magic, but an insignificant sacrifice--a living fish or two, a few strands of seaweed--is required.
Mages
Mages of the arcane are diviners of secrets, balancing the ebb and flow of incredible mystic energies. Unparalleled skill is required to manipulate the volatile forces of the universe. These practitioners push their magical knowledge to its very limits—often to the brink of their own exhaustion, and at great risk to the world around them. Those who master this craft are capable of releasing a barrage of unrelenting power upon their enemies, drawing upon replenishing energies to maintain their assault for as long as the battle demands.[7]
Because the magi's arcane mysteries are necromantic mysteries (the mysteries of life and death), it can be stated that the magi's arcane magic is necromantic: If necromancy is a school of (or from) arcane magic, arcane magic is a magic that relates to necromancy and is therefore necromantic: of, from, or relating to, necromancy (or necromancers).
Warlocks
Warlocks, the equivalent to mages,[8] are magical practitioners who seek to understand darker, fel-based magics, including destructive spells.[9] According to the Blizzard employee known as Justin Parker, warlocks have overlapping abilities with necromancers but pursue a discipline different from them.[10] However, if warlocks have necromantic abilities (the abilities of necromancers) and practice necromancy, they are necromancers (practitioners of necromancy). If (key word: if) warlocks aren't necromancers and pursue a discipline different from necromancers, this "different discipline" has yet to be revealed.
In the face of demonic power (or warlock magics)[11], most heroes see death. Warlocks see only opportunity. Their aim is dominance and in the dark arts, they have found a path to it.[12] Demonic power would exist in - and be derived from - the Twisting Nether because demons (and the demonic powers they contain) are from the Twisting Nether. However, when someone asked if perhaps warlocks were harnessing their power from the Twisting Nether, Sean Copeland—Blizzard's very own Lead Historian—, replied, “No, that’d be magi, IIRC. They gain power by the destruction of another source (recall the undead warlock in original cinematic).[13] Additionally, the Blizzard employee stated that demons contain fel magic, but aren't "the" source.[14][15] As such, the warlock class or the warlocks' discipline seems non-canon to Justin Parker and Sean Copeland. Warlocks don't get their demonic fel magic from demons (the source of demonic fel magic) and warlocks don't get their power from the Twisting Nether (the source of demons).
The warlocks' discipline/knowledge is demonic and demons know how to raise undead.[16] This isn't to state that warlocks do raise undead but it does, however, raise the questions: How do warlocks know how to raise the dead and do they control the dead? By their very nature, demons are leeches on the living universe—but the demonologist has mastered harnessing the power of these malefic beings on the field of battle. Warlocks harvest the souls of their defeated enemies; those specialized in the ways of demonology use this life essence to tap into the Void, pulling all manner of abomination from the chaos of the Twisting Nether. While such a practice is often considered by outsiders to be wicked and reckless, the demonologist maintains absolute control over the summoned creatures. These malignant entities are fully beholden to—and empowered by—the will of the warlock, until banished to the realm from whence they came.[17]
Demons would be non-physical entities (incorporeal spirits—which are undead) because demons are from the Twisting Nether, an astral dimension separate from the physical universe. The physical is separate from the non-physical and if demons are physical beings, they would not be able to exist in a non-physical place. However, despite knowing that demons can't be physical beings who exist in a place separate from the physical universe, Matt Burns—Writer at Blizzard Entertainment—stated that he thinks there is physical stuff in TN when he was asked if demons are non-physical beings that warlocks can give physical shells to.[18] Presumably, he stated this because warlocks would be necromancers.
Notable necromancers
![]() | |||
---|---|---|---|
Name | Role | Condition | Magical Field |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Master of Naxxramas and Lich King majordomo; Final boss of Naxxramas and First Of The Necromancers | Defeatable | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Master of the Scourge in Quel'Thalas | Undead-Killable | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Second boss in The Military Quarter of Naxxramas | Killable | ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Second boss in The Plague Quarter of Naxxramas | Killable | ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
First boss in The Plague Quarter of Naxxramas | Killable | ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Second boss in The Culling of Stratholme instance in the Caverns of Time | Killable | ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Second/third boss in the Utgarde Keep instance | Killable | ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Boss in the Undead Side of Stratholme; Death required to kill Baron Rivendare | Killable | ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Headmaster of Scholomance | Killable | ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Boss in Scholomance | Killable | ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Boss in Scholomance; Holder of a piece of Lord Valthalak's Amulet | Killable | ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Scourge instructor and boss in Scholomance | Killable | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Leads the undead in Raven Hill Cemetery, Duskwood | Killable | ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Raised the entire village of Kirin'Var Village, Netherstorm | Killable | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Occupies the Echo Isles | Defeatable | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Master of Fenris Keep | Killable | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Quest giver in Raven Hill Cemetery, Duskwood | Alive | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Apprentice to Kel'Thuzad, killed while transforming into a lich in a cave near Southshore | Undead | ![]() |
Lore-only | |||
---|---|---|---|
Name | Role | Condition | Magical Field |
![]() |
Scourge Commander | Dead | ![]() |
Al'satt | Role unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
![]() |
Early member of the Cult of the Damned | Dead | ![]() |
Gul'zakar | Role unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
![]() |
Independent, last seen in Silverpine Forest | Alive | ![]() |
![]() |
Stationed at Plaguelands | Dead | ![]() |
![]() |
Leader of the Cult of the Damned | Alive | ![]() ![]() |
Ru'sad | In charge of the undead forces found in Zul'Aman | Unknown | Unknown |
Toren Snapjoint | Role unknown | Unknown | ![]() |
![]() |
Leader of the Cult of the Damned | Alive | ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
Role unknown | Alive | ![]() ![]() |
Necromancers in WoW can also be found guarding Ziggurats in place of crypt fiends. Without nearby corpses to manipulate, however, they lack suitable combat skills.
Warcraft III
See also Warcraft III Necromancer Quotes:

Heigan the Unclean has a striking resemblance to the WCIII necromancer.
From Necromancer at Battle.net:
- Though they retained their Humanity after making a pact with death, Necromancers became the most terrifying agents of the Scourge. These dark, insidious men were once thought to be aspiring geniuses by the Magocracy of Dalaran. However, their insatiable lust to delve into the secrets of the dark arts drove them to forsake their very souls. Ner'zhul, the Lich King, granted these malevolent sorcerers true power over the dead in exchange for their loyalty and obedience. The shadowy Necromancers have the power to command various types of Undead and even spread the foul undead plague as well.
World of Warcraft
Necromancers in World of Warcraft
- Acherus Necromancer
- The Scarlet Enclave, Eastern Plaguelands
- Anub'ar Necromancer
- Azjol-Nerub, Dragonblight
- Auchenai Necromancer
- Auchenai Crypts, Terokkar Forest
- Blackrock Necromancer
- Dreadmaul Rock, Burning Steppes
- Burning Depths Necromancer <Cult of the Damned>
- Obsidian Dragonshrine, Dragonblight
- Dark Necromancer
- Culling of Stratholme, Caverns of Time
- Death's Head Necromancer - Razorfen Downs, The Barrens
- Deatholme Necromancer
- Deatholme, Ghostlands
- Decrepit Necromancer
- Northeast Dragonblight
- En'kilah Necromancer
- Temple City of En'kilah, Borean Tundra
Necromancer <Cult of the Damned> - Stratholme, Eastern Plaguelands
- Frigid Necromancer <Cult of the Damned>
- Ruby Dragonshrine, Dragonblight
- Gor'vosh Necromancer
- Ashran
- Malefic Necromancer
- Southeastern Icecrown
- Master Necromancer
- Culling of Stratholme, Caverns of Time
- Outcast Necromancer - Desolace
- Redpine Necromancer
- Western Plaguelands
- Scholomance Necromancer - Scholomance, Western Plaguelands
- Scourge Necromancer
- Acherus: The Ebon Hold, Eastern Plaguelands
- Thuzadin Necromancer - Stratholme, Eastern Plaguelands
- Ymirjar Necromancer
- Utgarde Pinnacle, Howling Fjord
- Shadowy Necromancer
- Hyjal Summit, Caverns of Time, Tanaris
- Named
Gunther Arcanus <Lich>
In the RPG
Necromancers are spellcasters whose magics manipulate the power of death. In calling upon this power, necromancers risk being consumed by it — until eventually they join the ranks of the undead.[19] Necromancers twist arcane magic to manipulate the power of death. Commanding the undead, generally in the service of the Scourge, they gradually take on the characteristics of the dead — hollow eyes, shambling gaits, pallid and sunken skin, foul odors and so forth.[20] A few necromancers are uncorrupted[21] and the most experienced necromancers become epic necromancers.[22]
Forsaken necromancer
The Dark Lady, Sylvanas Windrunner, realized how valuable necromancy was to their cause. Though Forsaken heal naturally, many go to the priests of the Forgotten Shadow for "repairs". Necromancers can also free enslaved, mindless undead and research powerful spells that might one day return the Forsaken to life. Sylvanas knew she needed necromancers to heal, strengthen and replace her people, and she set about wooing necromancers away from the Scourge, mainly by force.[23]
Media
Videos
References
- ^ Ultimate Visual Guide
- ^ Paragons pg. 545 on iBooks
- ^ Warcraft II manual - The Rise of the Shadow Council
- ^ In the Hands of the Perverse
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1 pg. 16-17 on iBooks
- ^ Collecting Corruption
- ^ World of Warcraft > Legion Class Preview Series: Mage
- ^ Aaron Rosenberg on Twitter
- ^ Ultimate Visual Guide pg. 21
- ^ Justin Parker on Twitter
- ^ Orcish History (After the Second War) - Lethargy and Internment: Researching what little he could find of Orcish history, Antonidas learned that the Orcs had been under the crippling influence of demonic power (or warlock magics) for generations.
- ^ World of Warcraft > Game Guide > Classes > Warlock
- ^ Archived lore tweets from Loreology
- ^ MMO-Champion >> Forum >> World of Warcraft >> Lore >> Thinking with Fel Magic
- ^
Sean Copeland on Twitter - ^ Jeremy Feasel on Twitter
- ^ World of Warcraft > Legion Class Preview Series: Warlock
- ^ Matt Burns on Twitter
- ^ Alliance & Horde Compendium, 35
- ^ World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, 60
- ^ Horde Player's Guide, 14-15
- ^ Shadows & Light, 21
- ^ Horde Player's Guide, 90
See also
External links
- Lore
|