Top 10 World Of Warcraft Bosses

Some of the worst foes are the ones we create. Former warchief Thrall must be feeling that here, with the rise of the warmongering Garrosh Hellscream. When Thrall stepped down from leading the orcish Horde, Garrosh was his eventual pick as replacement... only for Garrosh's violent and hot-headed tendencies to become evident. In combat, Hellscream alternates between using vicious magical attacks and sending in his Horde allies, marking him as a tactically-savvy foe.

Given Warcraft's fantasy setting, it makes sense for at least one boss to be a dragon. That would be Nefarian, also known as Blackwing, a fierce black dragon and son of Deathwing the Destroyer. Besides being able to wipe out players with shadowflame, Nefarian's deal is that he seeks to use science to create an unstoppable dragon army. Add to that a cunning sense of strategy and the as-yet unclarified ability to return from death, and you have quite the frightening opponent.

On the subject of terror, what could inspire fear more than an outright god? In the early days of “World of Warcraft”, a player's greatest challenge was to survive an encounter with the Old God, C'thun. Being one of five entities ruling over theworld of Azeroth, C'thun is undoubtedly powerful – and it shows in battle. If one were to face the beast in the Temple ofAhn'Qiraj, expect the following: eye beams, damaging Dark Glares, and aggressive tentacles coming to wreck havoc on a team's plans. Blizzard actually had to nerf this guy in a patch, as he was impossible to beat solo as without anyone to help you if you got eaten, it was an instant kill.

Rarely does a beast demand such anguish and contempt. Yet that is the situation Deathwing the Destroyer finds himself in, as a former Dragon Aspect who turned on his kin during the War of the Ancients. Though he was presumed dead for many years, Deathwing reappeared in the “Cataclysm” expansion to kickstart the titular world-reshaping event. His sheer omnipotence translates into combat, where he fights players in two forms and unveils numerous destructive powers. He can even attempt to repeat the Cataclysm; apparently once wasn't enough for Deathwing.

Stand aside, for the Raid Destroyer approaches. This denizen of the Celestial Planetarium also acts as a notable difficulty boost in the core game, having been added as part of Patch 3.1. Algalon the Observer hails from the future, having been sent by the titans to determine if Azeroth is corrupted beyond salvation. Despite being known for observation, Algalon's no picnic in battle; his powers include summoning massive boulders, creating explosive black holes, and even attacking players with the Big Bang.

The elements can be a dangerous thing. Just ask Ragnaros, an Elemental Lord and master of the fire elementals. As a distinguished servant of the Old Gods, this fire-themed being maintained his base of operations in the core of Blackrock Mountain. Whether confronted in his lair or battled during an invasion of Hyjals, Ragnaros sticks to his preferred element; besides some seismic attacks, the Elemental Lord strikes out at adventures with melting spells and fire blasts. Things can get hot and heavy, to say the least.

Another day, another Old God to fight. In the case of Yogg Saron, though, it's more a matter of preventing him from wrecking havoc. According to the lore, this reptile-faced creature was seen as such a threat that the Titans imprisoned him deep in the dungeon of Ulduar. Players coming to blows with the beast will quickly understand why – in addition to tentacles capable of crushing people, Yogg Saron also boasts a range of weakening or madness-inducing spells. Even when its head is exposed Yogg Saron's powers can be quite deadly.

A demon lord and leader of a legion – not many bosses can claim to have that pedigree. For this eredar commander, though, that's merely a means to achieve his true goal: the assimilation of all races into the Burning Legion. Kil'jaeden is as fierce in combat as he is commanding his armies, with his shadow-based attacks being particularly debilitating. He's also fought in five stages, for anyone who thought that such a battle would at least end quickly. Oh, and he created the Lich King. You're welcome, world.

Who knew someone of simple origins could become so imposing? The story of Illidan Stormrage is simple: he began as a curious sorcerer whose interest in the arcane lead him to commit truly horrific acts, before being imprisoned for 10'000 years. That time must have served him well, as Illidan's power set includes the likes of fire blasts, summoning shadow beings, and incredibly damaging melee strikes. Plus Illidan can take on a winged Demon Form – something which in retrospect we should have expected.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Kael'thas Sunstrider
Paragons of the Klaxxi
Majordomo Staghelm
Sinestra

With an undisputed significance to the lore and an expansion to his name, this malevolent conqueror stands out among the rest. Leading the Scourge faction in their war to control Azeroth, the Lich King initially began as a servant of the Burning Legion... until he merged with human hero Arthas Menethil. When faced in “Wrath of the Lich King” he poses the gravest ofthreats; the Lich King's ice blasts lead into soul-ripping, ghoul-summoning, plague-inducing and even resurrecting spells. And when Arthas finally falls, the King merely finds another body with which to merge. Truly, he is eternal.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite World of Warcraft boss? For more crafty Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.