Summary
- The infamous Corrupted Blood Incident has reemerged in World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery.
- The Zul'Gurub raid in Phase 5 of Season of Discovery unintentionally reintroduced the Corrupted Blood spell, causing widespread chaos.
- Players have recreated the Corrupted Blood Incident by spreading the plague in Stormwind City, echoing the 2005 event.
The Corrupted Blood Incident, one of the most infamous moments in World of Warcraft, has unexpectedly resurfaced in the Season of Discovery realms. Players have shared videos capturing the deadly plague spreading through cities, sparking a mix of amusement and concern, particularly about its potential impact on Hardcore realms.
Originally introduced with Patch 1.7, Rise of the Blood God, in September 2005, the Zul'Gurub raid was a 20-player instance where players battled Hakkar the Soulflayer, a destructive deity revered by the Gurubashi trolls. Zul'Gurub returned in World of Warcraft: Season of Discovery during Phase 5, which was released in September 2024. Hakkar's signature spell, Corrupted Blood, inflicts damage over time and spreads to nearby players, typically manageable with strong healing from classes like Priests or Paladins.
However, for nearly a month following Zul'Gurub's release, Corrupted Blood could affect both players and their pets, enabling the plague to spread beyond the raid and wreak havoc across World of Warcraft. On the r/classicwow subreddit, user Lightstruckx posted a 20-second video showcasing the Corrupted Blood debuff in action within Stormwind City's Trade District. Using Priest spells like Flash Heal and Power Word: Shield, Lightstruckx managed to survive as the debuff rapidly felled other players, reminiscent of the original 2005 Corrupted Blood Incident where "pet bombs" were used to spread the plague across towns and cities for nearly a month before Blizzard could contain it.
World of Warcraft Players Accidentally Re-Create The Corrupted Blood Incident
Some players have voiced concerns that the reappearance of the Corrupted Blood debuff in Season of Discovery realms is a persistent issue that Blizzard has yet to resolve. There's particular worry about its potential misuse in Hardcore realms, where perma-death means characters must restart upon death, unlike in Season of Discovery.
Despite previous fixes implemented in World of Warcraft, the legacy of the Corrupted Blood Incident persists. With Season of Discovery's seventh phase slated for early 2025, it remains to be seen when Blizzard will address this latest outbreak of Corrupted Blood.
