Summary
- The infamous Corrupted Blood incident has unexpectedly reappeared in World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery.
- The Zul'Gurub raid, introduced in Phase 5, re-introduced the Corrupted Blood spell, causing widespread chaos.
- Players are unintentionally replicating the 2005 event by spreading the plague in Stormwind City, sparking both amusement and concern.
The notorious Corrupted Blood incident, a significant event in World of Warcraft history, has made an unforeseen return in Season of Discovery servers. Videos circulating online show the deadly plague spreading through major cities, prompting mixed reactions – some find it humorous, others worry about the implications for Hardcore realms.
Originally launched in September 2005 with Patch 1.7 (Rise of the Blood God), the Zul'Gurub raid, a 20-player instance featuring Hakkar the Soulflayer, was re-introduced in Season of Discovery's Phase 5 (September 2024). Hakkar's Corrupted Blood spell, dealing damage over time and spreading to nearby players, typically poses little threat due to readily available healing.
However, for nearly a month following Zul'Gurub's release in 2005, Corrupted Blood affected both players and their companions, allowing for the intentional spread of the plague beyond the raid, creating widespread pandemonium. A recent video on r/classicwow, posted by Lightstruckx, depicts the debuff spreading rapidly in Stormwind City's Trade District, mirroring the 2005 incident where "pet bombs" were used to spread the plague. The video shows the rapid spread and the desperate healing attempts needed to survive.
World of Warcraft Players Unintentionally Recreate the Corrupted Blood Incident
Some players attribute the Corrupted Blood debuff's resurgence to unresolved issues, while others express serious concerns about its potential misuse in Hardcore realms. Unlike Season of Discovery, Hardcore mode features permanent death, making the Corrupted Blood bug a potentially game-ending threat.
Despite previous attempts to address the issue, the Corrupted Blood incident's legacy persists. With Season of Discovery's seventh phase anticipated in early 2025, the timing of Blizzard's fix for this latest outbreak remains uncertain.
