World boss

Current Hailstone Construct Azurethos, The Winged Typhoon T'zane Warbringer Yenajz Dunegorger Kraulok Ji'arak

Previous expansions Ana-Mouz Calamir Drugon the Frostblood Flotsam Humongris Levantus Na'zak the Fiend Nithogg Shar'thos The Soultakers Withered J'im Drov the Ruiner Rukhmar Tarlna the Ageless Teluur <Watcher of the Wilds> Savage Whale Shark (Patch 6.2) Supreme Lord Kazzak (Patch 6.2) Salyis's Warband ( Galleon) Sha of Anger Nalak <The Storm Lord> (Patch 5.2) Oondasta (Patch 5.2) Doom Lord Kazzak (level 70) Doomwalker (level 70) Omen (during Lunar Festival)

This page contains a short overview of all world bosses in game, including those that were nerfed, removed, or just not updated for the level cap. These bosses are considered raid bosses since it takes more than a party of 5 players to down them. Blizzard seems to have lost interest for a time in the idea of world bosses as none had been added between the Burning Crusade expansion and Mists of Pandaria.

Spawn rates

This section concerns content that is potentially inaccurate.

Some people have roughly estimated their spawn rates:^{[citation needed]}

Initial spawn:

• Tuesday Night, very late (~25-45%)
• Wednesday Night (75-90%)
• Thursday Night (55-80%)

Respawn:

• 2 days after previous kill (60%)
• 3 days after previous kill (70%)
• 4 days after previous kill (80%)

Server crashing or going down counts as that world boss having been killed, and starts its respawn timer

Old spawn trivia

At the time of the testing,  Azuregos/ Lord Kazzak used to spawn a little earlier than the world dragons. The dragons spawn one unique per the 4 spawn locations, typically all at the same time. One continent being down without the other desyncs the dragons, possibly making them spawn duplicates. (Thus occasionally spawning 2 of exactly the same bosses in different locations).

History of World Raid Bosses

Originally,  Azuregos and  Doom Lord Kazzak were added early in World of Warcraft. They were two of the game's greatest promotions of intra-guild cooperation and inter-guild rivalry, as killing them required tracking their spawn, forming a raid, beating the encounter, AND the opposing faction (and at times same faction griefers). Their loot was also among the best at the time of their popularity.

Shortly before the Ahn'Qiraj event, the four Dragons of Nightmare were created, and added an entire new round of World Raid bosses. They were initially killed for having the best items for their slots, and later farmed for their nature resistant gear when it became apparent that some Temple of Ahn'Qiraj encounters required it. They were also involved in the Scepter of the Shifting Sands green piece questline.

As time passed, and Naxxramas came out without accompanying world raid bosses, the popularity of the world raid bosses began to fade.

With patch 2.0,  Highlord Kruul began to terrorize Azeroth, in place of Lord Kazzak (and his Azeroth loot table).

After the Burning Crusade came out, two new world raid bosses were introduced, Doom Lord Kazzak and  Doomwalker (there were others initially shown in databases as ?? bosses, including a rare spawn from a quest in Blade's Edge in which you can spawn a raid boss who flies away, but is unaggro-able. But currently it is accepted that there are 2 BC world raid bosses). The popularity of the two was short-lived. After a couple months it became apparent that loot off of Karazhan was on par or better, while not having the additional faction vs. faction griefing factor.

In Patch 2.2, world bosses were often left untouched for long periods of time. There were occasional guilds that use them as either practice for raiding, or under-geared guilds trying to gear up. But with a couple of announcements by blue post that they did not plan to add additional world raid bosses, the days of a new world raid boss came to an end.

Blizzard did not add any world raid bosses for Wrath of the Lich King or Cataclysm.

Outdoor bosses

In some rare elites were added that were more like outdoor dungeon bosses that usually required a good 5-man group or more to kill and loot. They technically were not raid bosses, but the closest since Burning Crusade to a world boss.

Dragons of Nightmare

The subject of this section has been removed from World of Warcraft as of Patch 4.0.3.

These world bosses were removed from the game in Cataclysm.

 Emeriss

Emeriss

Location: The Great Trees

Raid 25? (was 40)

One of the Four Dragons corrupted by the Nightmare, Emeriss is a gruesome, rotting monstrosity. Along with her AoE Sleep, she also casts a disease which damages nearby allies, and turns the corpses of the dead into deadly mushrooms. And every 25%, she casts Corruption of Earth, a Shadow DoT that deals 100% damage to the players health over 8 seconds.

 Lethon

Lethon

Location: The Great Trees

Raid 25? (was 40)

One of the Four Dragons corrupted by the Nightmare, Lethon has become exceedingly evil, enough so to darken the hue of his scales, and his eyes have also been forced open, an oddity amongst Green Dragons. He has a massive Shadowbolt Volley, and every 25% he extracts shades from his enemy that will heal him.

 Ysondre

Ysondre

Location: The Great Trees

Raid 25? (was 40)

One of the Four Dragons corrupted by the Nightmare, Ysondre's once beneficial healing powers have given way to dark magics. Casts an AoE Lightning Wave that deals direct Nature damage, and summons fiendish Druids every 25%.

 Taerar

Taerar

Location: The Great Trees

Raid 25? (was 40)

One of the Four Dragons corrupted by the Nightmare, Taerar was perhaps the most affected of Ysera's lieutenants. His corporeal form has been shattered and he exists as a specter. Has an AoE Fear, and creates 3 Shades of himself every 25%.

Others - Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor

 Azuregos

This section concerns content exclusive to Cataclysm.

Azuregos

As of Cataclysm, Azuregos is not a real world boss, but more of a curiosity. He was not technically removed, but does not give a chance for loot drops.

Location: Azshara

Raid 25 (no longer a world boss as of Cataclysm)

A mighty blue dragon who resides in the wilderness of Azshara, perusing over the countless magical artifacts there. He randomly teleports himself and all players within 30 feet a short distance, wiping aggro, casts a blizzard-like spell that eats mana, and occasionally puts up a magic reflection shield. Also, in order to prevent graveyard-zerging, he places a debuff on players that he kills. Any living players with this debuff will freeze whenever they go near him.

 Highlord Kruul

The subject of this section has been removed from World of Warcraft as of Patch 2.0.3.

Highlord Kruul

Location: Blasted Lands

Raid 25? (was 40)

Highlord Kruul is a doomguard boss who appears in various parts of Azeroth during the Dark Portal Opens event, introduced in patch 2.0.3. After the Dark Portal reopened, he officially replaced Lord Kazzak (now Doom Lord Kazzak in Outland's Hellfire Peninsula) as the Burning Legion's field commander in Azeroth, residing in the Tainted Scar in the Blasted Lands, southwest of the Portal.

He has since been removed from the game as of the release of The Burning Crusade.

 Teremus the Devourer

Teremus the Devourer

As of Cataclysm, Teremus is not a real world boss, but has been converted to a rare mob, so still drops some decent loot for lower level characters.

Location: Blasted Lands

Raid 10? (no longer a world boss as of Cataclysm)

Teremus was an immensely powerful black drake found in the Blasted Lands. He had an AoE Lifesteal, and wipes aggro when he uses a knockback attack. When he gets down to 20% health, he regenerates to full health, making him one of the most difficult and prolonged fights in the game.

He used to be a popular target for the makers of machinima, most frequently being kited by a hunter and a priest from the Blasted Lands to Stormwind or Ironforge, but as of some past patches, he is now chained to the Blasted Lands and will leash back when a player tries to kite him out of the zone.

Event/Quest - Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor

 Omen

Omen

Location: Moonglade

Raid 25? (was 40)

Omen is a demon boss summoned in the Moonglade during the Lunar Festival.

Others - Outland

Doom Lord Kazzak

This section concerns content exclusive to The Burning Crusade.

Doom Lord Kazzak

 Doom Lord Kazzak

Location: Hellfire Peninsula

Raid 25 (at level 70)

Former commander of the Burning Legion forces in the Blasted Lands, the former-Doomguard, now crowned Doom Lord Kazzak, awaits with his formidable troops for the heroes of Azeroth to challenge his reign as Commander of the Burning Legion in Outland. He consumes the soul of all beings he slays to heal himself, casts a curse on players that makes their mana pools combust and if he isn't killed in 3 minutes, goes into his "supreme mode," allowing him to completely obliterate everything in his path.

 Supreme Lord Kazzak also appears in northern Tanaan Jungle, Draenor as a new world boss.

Doomwalker

This section concerns content exclusive to The Burning Crusade.

Doomwalker

 Doomwalker

Location: Shadowmoon Valley - In front of The Black Temple

Raid 25 (at level 70)

Doomwalker is a powerful Fel Reaver sent by Kil'jaeden to assault the gates of the Black Temple in Shadowmoon Valley. He's a clear reminder for Illidan that Kil'jaeden hasn't forgotten about him...

Others - Pandaria

This section concerns content exclusive to Mists of Pandaria.

Salyis's Warband

 Salyis's Warband

Location: Valley of the Four Winds

Raid 25 (at level 90)

This is actually a group of bosses, one of which is the colossal mushan,  Galleon^ω ϖ, and are led by the saurok,  Chief Salyis^ω ϖ.

Sha of Anger

 Sha of Anger

Location: Kun-Lai Summit

Raid 25 (at level 90)

A massive sha that appears in various locations around southeastern Kun-Lai summit.

The Storm Lord

 Nalak <The Storm Lord>

Location: Isle of Thunder

Raid 25 (at level 90)

A cloud serpent who guards one of the entrances to the Throne of Thunder. Introduced in Patch 5.2.

Oondasta

 Oondasta

Location: Isle of Giants

Heroic Raid 25 (at level 90)

A strange and huge bipedal lizard adorned with baroque stone armor. Introduced in Patch 5.2.

Others - Draenor

This section concerns content exclusive to Warlords of Draenor.

Drov the Ruiner

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 Drov the Ruiner

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 100)

Rukhmar

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 Rukhmar

Location: Spires of Arak

Raid type? (at level 100)

Tarlna the Ageless

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 Tarlna the Ageless

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 100)

Teluur

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 Teluur

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 100)

Savage Whale Shark (Patch 6.2)

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 Savage Whale Shark

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 100)

Supreme Lord Kazzak (Patch 6.2)

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 Supreme Lord Kazzak

Location: Tanaan Jungle

Raid type? (at level 100)

Others - Broken Isles

This section concerns content exclusive to Legion.

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Ana-Mouz

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 Ana-Mouz

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 110)

Calamir

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 Calamir

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 110)

Drugon the Frostblood

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 Drugon the Frostblood

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 110)

Flotsam

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 Flotsam

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 110)

Humongris

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 Humongris

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 110)

Levantus

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 Levantus

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 110)

Na'zak the Fiend

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 Na'zak the Fiend

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 110)

Nithogg

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 Nithogg

Location: Highmountain

Raid type? (at level 110)

Shar'thos

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 Shar'thos

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 110)

The Soultakers

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 The Soultakers

Location: ?

Raid type? (at level 110)

Withered J'im

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 Withered J'im

Location: Azsuna?

Raid type? (at level 110)

Others - Kul Tiras and Zandalar

This section concerns content exclusive to Battle for Azeroth.

Available as of Patch 8.0.1hotfix5.

Defeating Warbringer Yenajz, T'zane, Dunegorger Kraulok, Hailstone Construct, Ji'arak, and Azurethos will reward the achievement  Unbound Monstrosities.

Hailstone Construct

 Hailstone Construct

Location: Drustvar

Raid type? (at level 120)

Lore: Built by the original inhabitants of Drustvar, the Hailstone Construct was built to defend these lands from any invaders. However, years of dormancy have left it addled, and it now sees all residents as threats, vowing to destroy them all.

Azurethos, The Winged Typhoon

 Azurethos, The Winged Typhoon

Location: Kul Tiras (all of it?)

Raid type? (at level 120)

Lore: Azurethos, The Winged Typhoon||Azurethos}}, the terror of the Kul Tiran seas, marshals the power of wind to force enemies out of its roost, cause waterspouts, and capsize ships. He has earned his reputation as one of the deadliest beasts in Kul Tiras.

T'zane

 T'zane

Location: Nazmir

Raid type? (at level 120)

Lore: Animated by the powerful voodoo of the nearby Necropolis, T'zane stalks the swamps of Nazmir in search of more souls to consume.

Warbringer Yenajz

 Warbringer Yenajz

Location: Stormsong Valley

Raid type? (at level 120)

Lore: Dark whispers shroud Stormsong Valley, as rumors of eldritch creatures spread throughout the countryside and families mark their doors with runes from the local scribes. Often dismissed as exaggeration, sometimes housewives' tales fall far short of the true horrors that lurk in the realm beyond our sight.

Dunegorger Kraulok

 Dunegorger Kraulok

Location: Vol'dun

Raid type? (at level 120)

Lore: Revered by all trolls but the Zandalari especially, the bones of the giant reptiles of Zandalar dot the landscape. But as dark energies stir beneath the sands, sometimes that which was meant to remain dead, does not. Kraulok walks the sands once again, blinded by rage and the endless agony of his dying moments. Woe to those who find themselves in the beast's path.

Ji'arak

 Ji'arak

Location: Zuldazar

Raid type? (at level 120)

Lore: This mighty pterrodax has a roost high up in the mountains of Zuldazar, where the air is too thin for most lungs to draw breath, and life struggles to take hold. Occassionally she descends upon the swamps below in search of heartier meals to bring back to her brood.

See also

• Outdoor boss
• Rare mob

External links

News

Official WoW Site (US) Unleashed Monstrosities: A Look at World Bosses by Blizzard Entertainment September 28th, 2016

News

Official WoW Site (US) Uldir Mythic and Raid Finder Wing 1 Available! by Blizzard Entertainment September 11th, 2018

BlizzardWatch WoW Archivist: Classic’s world bosses By Scott F. Andrews August 30, 2016 at 3:00pm

Engadget (archive of WoW Insider) The unspoken etiquette of world boss encounters by Matt Low Apr 17th 2012 at 5:00PM

β News

WoW Official Game Site (US) World Boss Preview Now Available! by Frost, Aug 6, 2012 4:47 PM PDT

WoW Official Game Site (EU) World Boss Preview Now Available! by Blizzard Entertainment, 07 Aug 2012 12:20 UTC