God is a Geek’s Top 5 World of Warcraft End Boss Encounters

This week we have a very different Top 5 List and perhaps an acquired taste for some. Yes, this week we are looking at our top 5 World of Warcraft End Boss Encounters. Those of you that are not fans of WoW should definitely read on, think of it as a peak into a foreign world that perhaps you do not understand.

Fans of Blizzard’s MMO may disagree with some of the choices and that is understandable as every experience is personal, effecting players in a variety of ways. In any case, read on for GodisaGeek’s top 5 World of Warcraft End Boss Encounters.

5) Ragnaros

The king of vanilla WoW, the final raid boss of the first 40 man raid dungeon, Ragnross was a sight to behold for raiders that had made it all the way through the Molten Core. Taking a look at the encounter mechanics you could easily argue that the firelord is a little out-dated, but it does not matter. Ragnaros was and still is an epic encounter, the amount of planning and preperation to kit out an entire 40 man raid in fire resistant gear only added to the daunting task of taking on Molten Core’s keeper.

4) Lady Vashj

The lovely Lady Vashj made her appearance in the first WoW expansion, The Burning Crusade. Vashj is the last encounter in the under water raid dungeon Serpent Shrine Cavern. The encounter certainly offered players something new, previous encounters were very predictable but Vashj threw players off with some well implemented mechanics. Phase 2 of the encounter was and perhaps still is testing for raid groups as it relies on controlling a number enemies whilst coordinating what can only be described as a game of tainted netball.

The encounter is probably most famous for the bugs encountered during the world first kill, the guild Nihilum had downed the boss only to see her respawn instantly and deny access to the then powerful loot.

3) Illidan

We skip forward a little in the time line to the Black Temple and Illidan.”You Are Not Prepared!”, the immortal words of a mortal boss.

Illidan the Betrayer was the poster boy for The Burning Crusade expansion and for some, the expansion ended when Illidan met his maker. The Illidan encounter means a lot of different things to different people. If you ask the lore nerds they will tell you of how they had waited so long to see the story from Warcraft 3 unfold, Rogues will speak of the legendary war glaives they did or could have looted, tanks speak of the most challenging phase they had ever encountered and Warlocks will remember the time they had to soak damage from afar.

Whatever your role was in the Illidan encounter you are bound to remember it. The grueling five phase encounter had something for every one, challenged every one  and was a fitting end to a great raid dungeon.

2) Kael’thas

Prince Kael, leader of the Blood Elves, the good guy turned bad. Kael’thas Sunstrider got involved with the wrong crowd and ultimately went against his people. Lore aside the Kael’thas encounter is rather epic and a well deserved runner up. The encounter is another five phase epic, this time involving quirky advisor’s that act as mini-bosses, legendary weapons with unique abilities and a prince high on fel-magic.

There is certainly nothing like the Tempest Keep Kael’thas encounter, which is why it is our runner up.

1)Kil’Jaeden

Whilst Illidan may have been the end for some, Kil’Jaeden was most certainly the curtain call of The Burning Crusade expansion. The encounter tied up the loose ends and was certianly a fitting end to our favourite WoW expansion to date.

As far as mechanics go Kil’Jaeden may look simple on paper but in practice this is by far the most heart pumping, exciting and visually stunning end boss fight of them all. Each phase notched things up a level and just when you thought you hit the ceiling the roof was blown off.

It is quite impossible to describe that first kill and thankfully I do not have to. Check out the video below of SK Gaming’s world first Kil’Jaeden kill. Whatever you do, make sure you watch the first minute!

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