Why is Arthas the only lore figure that Blizzard has refused to bring back?

[mmowin]

It's weird. Arthas is the one lore figure that blizzard has refused to resurrect or bring back. Was Arthas' death different from other lore figures?

[Aeluron Lightsong]

Because his story concluded at Icecrown Citadel in Wrath. There's not much else to do aside from flashbacks and so forth. Illidan being brought back was well BC was a bit messy and confusing. That and they made Kael'thas(Wish they'd bring this guy back) a villain cause boss to fight.

[Friendlyimmolation]

Keal'thas is back?
Vanceef is back?
Ragnaros is back?
Etc. There are many things we kill which don't come back.

[Nethlord]

It's weird. Arthas is the one lore figure that blizzard has refused to resurrect or bring back. Was Arthas' death different from other lore figures?

Because other than other characters, he isn't just dead, he's dead-dead. We know through the lore he is residing in what equates to hell, there is no AU version of Arthas, whatever bit of him that resided in frostmourne is (has) been destroyed/defeated. He ain't coming back, and even if they did what does he bring? He's a fallen paladin turned deathknight that became the lich king, take those three things away and you have a whiny brat of a person that was too self-absorbed to care about doing the right thing (He just did what HE thought was the right thing, even when others told him otherwise....even with proof!!)

Basically, we'd end up with Azeroth's version of Kanye....

[Aucald]

You do get to encounter a memory or echo of Arthas in Legion.

[Mehrunes]

You do get to encounter a memory or echo of Arthas in Legion.

Both I think.

[mmowin]

You do get to encounter a memory or echo of Arthas in Legion.

I know. It was a cool easter egg by blizzard.

[Nerevar]

Keal'thas is back?
Vanceef is back?
Ragnaros is back?
Etc. There are many things we kill which don't come back.

Well Ragnaros came back after we defeated him in MC. Kael did come back the same expansion after we defeated him in TK. VanCleef - not so much, apart from his daughter.

[Aeriel]

Well Ragnaros came back after we defeated him in MC. Kael did come back the same expansion after we defeated him in TK. VanCleef - not so much, apart from his daughter.

Ragnaros made some sense though. He was not fully "formed" in MC, and the Elemental Lords could only be killed in their plane. KT was weird though.

[Tanthoris]

Arthas got the end of his story in WotLK... Hell he had a whole story based expansion based on him, unlike Illidan in BC. Arthas died when we killed his body which hosted the Lich King. He is dead. Dead. D E A D. DEAD! He won't come back, we do see memories of him and we do encounter his soul, well DKs do at least, but he is gone. His soul is/was trapped inside Frostmourne and now the Frost DK blades.

[Kralljin]

I have enough trouble with Illidan fanboys.

Please stop it.

[Aquamonkey]

Kael did come back the same expansion after we defeated him in TK.

That's on us for leaving him with a pulse in TK. We corrected that mistake in MGT.

[Raetary]

Ragnaros made some sense though. He was not fully "formed" in MC, and the Elemental Lords could only be killed in their plane. KT was weird though.

kael'thas never died in tempest keep, we left him there barely alive, then priestess delrissa brought him back up to his feet.
we finished him off in magisters' terrace.

[ravenmoon]

I have enough trouble with Illidan fanboys.

Please stop it.

indeed, the lore is what the lore is, you thought Illidan was evil, he actually wasn't - not like ARthas at all, he shoudl finish what he started, he's sacrificed enough already i think.

[Deleted]

No king rules forever.

[Nero Duskwind]

I wouldn't go as far as to say Arthas is completely gone from WOW. Dead and story arc concluded? Yes. However, as others have already pointed out, memories of Arthas are scattered throughout the Broken Isles and accessible only to Frost DKs, suggesting that remnants of his soul still linger within the daughter blades of Frostmourne. Blizzard loves to play "never say never" with their pet characters so, while it's highly unlikely Arthas would return in any significant capacity, it is not outside the realm of possibility.

[McNeil]

Keal'thas is back?
Vanceef is back?
Ragnaros is back?
Etc. There are many things we kill which don't come back.

Kael'thas came back after Tempest Keep. He should be dead for reals now after handing over his head to a quest giver, but who knows with Blizzard.
VanCleef somewhat lives forward in his daughter Vanessa, but its not like Edwin has been a big character in the first place.
Ragnaros obviously came back after Molten Core, and considering him being a huge WoW icon I wouldn't be surprised if they somehow brought him back again.

I don't think they bring back Arthas (as of yet) back because his story had a proper conclusion, and bringing him back just for the sake of fanservice or something would ruin his character. If they do bring him back they should atleast bring back the good Arthas before he picked up Frostmourne, but even then there's not much that Arthas can do by himself at this point. Maybe its best that they don't bring him back, they are already ruining Illidan the more I progress his storyline...

[Lupinemancer]

Arthas the only one?
Anduin Lother hasn't returned.
Antonidas has't returned.
MU Gul'dan hasn't returned.
Uther the Lightbringer hasn't returned, only as a ghost.
Daelin Proudmoore has't returned.
Edwin VanCleef has't returned.
Cairne Bloodhoof hasn't returned.
MU Durotan and Draka hasn't returned.
MU Blackhand hasn't returned.
Nekros Skullcrusher hasn't returned.

I don't know how many Lore characters you are aware of, or rather how few, but there is a whole lot of Lore characters they aren't bringing back, not just Arthas!

[Kellorion]

Because the Arthas/LK wciii-wotlk arc was perfectly handled so perfectly, all they could do now is fuck it up.
Whatever the hell is going with Bolvar LK gives Blizzard ways to continue the Scourge w/o messing him up

[Golden Yak]

Give it time.