Who has more Power? Arthas or Illidan?

[Eazy]

Wait what? I may be remembering wrong, but Illidan only managed to defeat Magtheridon with the help of quite a few people, I don't remember him soloing the Pit Lord.

Read Illidan by William King. He's OP there.

LK had "leaked" most of his power already, he was incredibly weak. There's no way that Arthas at the end of WC3 was at "LK level of power".

I'm wondering how powerful is really LK Arthas compared to the Arthas in the end of Wc3:TFT.

[caervek]

Depends, Arthas was more powerful than Illidan in WC3 hence defeating him, he was then more powerful than him in WoW until Illidan's death.

However the retconned Illidan in Legion is probably more powerful than Arthas was even with Lich King power.

[CaptainV]

Before The Retcon: Arthas

After Illidan Novel: Illidan.

Illidan literally took out a Planet, he managed to trump Arthas in OP levels.

He might have lost to him in Wc3, but in the novel he literally destroys a *planet*.

[Reza2001]

Depends, Arthas was more powerful than Illidan in WC3 hence defeating him, he was then more powerful than him in WoW until Illidan's death.

In the novel "Arthas : Rise of the Lich King" , It was clearly stating that Illidan was "physically" stronger than Arthas , And being stronger than someone else doesn't mean you win over that person , Illidan was using Lethal attacks to kill Arthas off . Right when the Killing blow was coming for Arthas , Frostmourne urged him to rally , So he managed to land 1 (aka another) hit on Illidan's body and winning the fight ...

- - - Updated - - -

Before The Retcon: Arthas

After Illidan Novel: Illidan.

Illidan literally took out a Planet, he managed to trump Arthas in OP levels.

He might have lost to him in Wc3, but in the novel he literally destroys a *planet*.

Illidan used the same trick Ner'zhul did to destroy the Nathrezim's Homeworld (Nathreza) : Open countless portals on the planet and eventually draining the planent's stability , Resulting in the destruction of the planet

[Magnagarde]

Everyone keeps forgetting that Arthas defeated Illidan in a weakend state; not only was he not the Lich King yet, but he was weakened. He hurried to Northrend because the Lich King was losing power and so was he.

Arthas as the Lich King would easily finish off Illidan.

[Jaylock]

Easy, Illidan.

Illidan is level 110

Arthas is level 80

Illidan can flick arthas and he would die.

[Reza2001]

I'm wondering how powerful is really LK Arthas compared to the Arthas in the end of Wc3:TFT.

The difference is really small
Given the fact that each mile away (Or close) from The Frozen Throne affects Arthas's power , They were right near there fighting each other ...
The Lich King Ner'zhul gave his entire power to Arthas at that fight , yet the Novel was stating that Illidan was stronger than him . Only Frostmourne's "Urged to rally" shit saved his ass from getting killed by Illidan

[TriHard]

Illidan is immortal, Arthas is not, therefore Illidan wins.

[Aggrophobic]

I personally feel that Arthas has more power, but you may feel differently.

They both have their power due to the Legion, sooo....

Arthas is dead so... Illidan?

[Reza2001]

Everyone keeps forgetting that Arthas defeated Illidan in a weakend state; not only was he not the Lich King yet, but he was weakened. He hurried to Northrend because the Lich King was losing power and so was he.

Arthas as the Lich King would easily finish off Illidan.

Arthas wasn't weakened
He was close to The Frozen Throne . It affects his power by like a huge number , why ? Because he was right near the Lich King
Ner'zhul empowered Arthas greatly yet the novel has stated that Illidan was "physically" stronger than him
Also 1 fel-ball from Illidan was enough to make Arthas scream in pain

[Houle]

Which Arthas? LK Arthas or DK Arthas? Big difference here.
DK Arthas was weaker than Illidan, he only won because Illidan got cocky af.
LK Arthas on the other hand would smoke Illidan, it's pretty amusing to see how many people on here underestimate the LK. He maybe not a fully powered Lei Shen/Deathwing/Titan-Soul, but still one of the most powerful enemies we've ever faced. And this comes from an Illidan-fanboy

[Magnagarde]

Arthas wasn't weakened
He was close to The Frozen Throne . It affects his power by like a huge number , why ? Because he was right near the Lich King
Ner'zhul empowered Arthas greatly yet the novel has stated that Illidan was "physically" stronger than him
Also 1 fel-ball from Illidan was enough to make Arthas scream in pain

Arthas was weakened, he wasn't even in his strongest form and didn't become the Lich King, yet he cut down Illidan and obliterated his allied forces. However, people still come and talk about how Illidan would best him. How many other lore facts need to be brought up in addition to this.

I sincerely suggest you replay the game and stop making up your own lore/your own facts, such as "he was close to the Frozen Throne, so it means he wasn't weakened!". The proximity was never revealed to be a matter in the lore. As a matter of fact, the frequency of Arthas feeling powerless increased as time went on, even though he was in Northrend.

People need to draw a line between fandom and facts.

[McNeil]

Arthas has defeated Illidan in a weakened state while Illidan was at his prime (the book literally tells how exhausted Arthas has gotten after his fight with Kael that he had barely a minute ago), he did gain back his power but it wasn't more than he already had before Ner'Zhul started to suck his powers out. Illidan may have physically more power, but being just physically stronger doesn't make you the better fighter. Arthas took advantage of Illidans cockyness and therefor he's the better fighter.

[mrsohta]

No way to know for sure, these threads are pointless and I've seen this question 1000 times now...

[Leyre]

-Illidan trapped us all in the second while being nearly on the deathbed, with like ~5% of his power left, or even less, if it wasn't for Maiev he could kill us aswell,

Did illidan killed us? nope, he's just a stupid boy with power, he should have know from the very beggining to not trust Akama, Arthas on the other hand, took care inmediately of Tirion

[Magnagarde]

No way to know for sure.

You literally have a W3 cinematic that asures you of one of the two given options.

[Elim Garak]

My artifact actually

[Aestholus]

Illidan died but got over it.
Arthas didn't.

[Reza2001]

Arthas was weakened, he wasn't even in his strongest form and didn't become the Lich King, yet he cut down Illidan and obliterated his allied forces. However, people still come and talk about how Illidan would best him. How many other lore facts need to be brought up in addition to this.

I sincerely suggest you replay the game and stop making up your own lore/your own facts, such as "he was close to the Frozen Throne, so it means he wasn't weakened!". The proximity was never revealed to be a matter in the lore. As a matter of fact, the frequency of Arthas feeling powerless increased as time went on, even though he was in Northrend.

People need to draw a line between fandom and facts.

Lol it's not my own lore/fact . Go read the book before calling that wrong
So you've played the game and you're telling me he wasn't close to the Frozen Throne ? Plz tell me , weren't those gates the doors to the Frozen Throne ? Yes they were , so they were close to it
I will copy-paste the entire fight scene , here it goes (Taken from the Novel Arthas : Rise of the Lich King)

: “Hello, Arthas.”
Deep and sinister, the voice had changed, but not as much as the kaldorei’s body. It was still the
same pale lavender hue, etched with the same tattoos and scarifications. But the legs, the wings, the
horns…Arthas immediately understood what must have happened. So that was why Illidan had
become so powerful.
“You look different, Illidan. I guess the Skull of Gul’dan didn’t agree with you.”
Illidan threw back his horned head. Dark, rich laughter rumbled from him. “On the contrary, I have
never felt better. In a way, I suppose I should thank you for my present state, Arthas.”
“Show your appreciation by stepping out of the way, then.” Arthas’s voice was suddenly cold, and
there was no trace of humor in it. “The Frozen Throne is mine, demon. Step aside. Leave this world
and never return. If you do, I’ll be waiting.”
“We both have our masters, boy. Mine demands the destruction of the Frozen Throne. It would
seem we are at odds,” Illidan replied, and lifted the weapon Arthas had fought once before. His
powerful hands with their sharp black nails closed on the weapon’s center and he whirled it with grace
and a deceptive casualness. Arthas knew a ripple of uncertainty at the display. He had just finished a
fight with Kael’thas, and while he would have been the victor had not the elf, coward that he was,
teleported out at the last instant, he had been taxed by the battle. There was no hint of weariness in
Illidan’s bearing.
Illidan’s smile grew as he noticed his enemy’s discomfiture. He allowed himself a moment more of
uncannily masterful handling of the unusual, demonic weapon, then struck a position, settling in,
preparing for combat. “It must be done!”
“Your troops are either in pieces or part of my army.” Arthas drew Frostmourne. Its runes glowed
brightly, and mist curled up from its hilt. Behind the blindfold, Illidan’s eyes—much brighter and more
intensely green than he remembered—narrowed at the sight of the runeblade. If the demonicallychanged
kaldorei had a powerful weapon, so too did Arthas. “You’ll end up one or the other.”
“Doubtful,” Illidan sneered. “I am stronger than you know, and my master created yours! Come,
pawn. I’ll dispatch the servant before I dispatch your pathetic—”

Arthas charged. Frostmourne glowed and hummed in his hands, as eager for Illidan’s death as he
was. The elf did not seem at all startled by the sudden rush, and with the utmost ease lifted his doublebladed
weapon to parry. Frostmourne had broken ancient and powerful swords before, but this time, it
simply clanged and grated against the glowing green metal.
Illidan gave him a smirk as he held his ground. Arthas again felt unease flicker through him. Illidan
was indeed changed by absorbing the power of the Skull of Gul’dan; for one thing, he was physically
much stronger than he had been. Illidan chuckled, a deep and ugly sound, then shoved forcefully. It
was Arthas who was forced to fall back, dropping to one knee to defend himself as the demon bore
down on him.
“It is sweet to turn the tables thus,” Illidan growled. “I might just kill you quickly, death knight, if
you give me a good fight.”
Arthas didn’t waste breath on insults. He gritted his teeth and concentrated on battling back the
blows that were being rained upon him. The weapon was a swirl of glowing green. He could feel the
power of demonic energy radiating from it, just as he knew that Illidan could sense Frostmourne’s grim
darkness.
Suddenly Illidan was not there and Arthas lurched forward, his momentum taking him off balance.
He heard a flapping sound and whirled to see Illidan overhead, his great, leathery wings creating a
strong wind as he hovered out of reach.
They eyed each other, Arthas catching his breath. He could see Illidan was not unaffected by the
battle either. Sweat gleamed on the massive, lavender- hued torso. Arthas settled himself, Frostmourne
at the ready for when Illidan would swoop in for a renewed assault.
Then Illidan did something utterly unexpected. He laughed, shifted the weapon in his hands—and
in a flurry of motion seemingly snapped it in two. Each powerful hand now held a single blade.
“Behold the Twin Blades of Azzinoth,” Illidan gloated. He flew up higher, whirling the blades in
his left and right hands, and Arthas realized that he favored neither one. “Two magnificent warglaives.
They can be wielded as a single devastating weapon…or, as you see, as two. It was the favored weapon
of a doomguard—a powerful demon captain whom I slew. Ten thousand years ago. How long have
you fought with your pretty blade, human? How well do you know it?”
The words were intended to unsettle the death knight. Instead, they invigorated him. Illidan might
have had this admittedly powerful weapon for longer—but Frostmourne was bound to Arthas, and he
to it. It was not a sword as much as an extension of himself. He had known it when he first had the
vision of it, when he had just arrived in Northrend. He had been certain of the connection when he laid
eyes upon it, waiting for him. And now he felt it surge in his hand, confirming their unity.
The demon blades gleamed. Illidan dropped down on Arthas like a stone. Arthas cried out and
countered, more certain of this blow than of any he had dealt with the runeblade before, swinging
Frostmourne up underneath the descending demon. And as he knew must happen, he felt the sword
bite deep into flesh. He pulled, drawing the gash across Illidan’s torso, and felt a deep satisfaction as
the former kaldorei screamed in agony.
And yet the bastard would not fall. Illidan’s wings beat erratically, still somehow keeping him aloft,
and then before Arthas’s shocked gaze his body seemed to shift and darken…almost as if it was made of
writhing black, purple, and green smoke.
“This is what you have given me,” Illidan cried. His voice, bass to begin with, had somehow grown
even deeper. Arthas felt it shiver along his bones. The demon’s eyes glowed fiercely in the swirling
darkness that was his face. “This gift—this power. And it will destroy you!”
A scream was torn from Arthas’s throat, and he fell again to his knees. Blazing green fire chased
itself along his armor, seared his flesh, even dulled Frostmourne’s blue glow for a moment. Over the
raw cry of his own torment he heard Illidan laughing. Again the fel fire cascaded over him and Arthas
fell forward, gasping. But as the fire faded and he saw Illidan swooping in for the kill, he felt the
ancient runeblade he still managed to grasp urge him to rally.
Frostmourne was his, and he its, and so united, they were invincible.
Just as Illidan lifted his blades for the kill, Arthas raised Frostmourne, thrusting upward with all his
strength. He felt the blade connect, pierce flesh, strike deep.
Illidan fell hard to the ground. Blood gushed from his bare torso, melting the snow around it with a
slow hissing sound. His chest rose and fell in gasps. His vaunted twin blades were of no use now. One
had been knocked from his grasp, the other lay in a hand that could not even curl around its hilt. Arthas
got to his feet, his body still tingling with the remnants of the fel fire Illidan had hurled at him. He
stared at him for a long moment, branding the sight into his mind. He thought about dealing the
killing blow, but decided to let the merciless cold of the place do it for him. A greater need burned in
him now, and he turned, lifting his eyes to the spire that towered above him.
He swallowed hard and simply stood for a moment, knowing, without knowing how he knew it,
that something was about to fundamentally change. Then he took a deep breath and entered the
cavern."
People really need to go read a book before acting like a fanboy ...

[SirCowdog]

People really need to go read a book before acting like a fanboy ...

You're ansolutely right when you said people need to go read a book before they post stupid fanboy crap. Additionally, many points that have been made in this thread so far have been glossed over completely, for both Illidan AND Arthas.

If we only use the information available from your quoted section of the Arthas book, of course it seems as though he is the stronger of the two. But we're not talking about who won a single fight in the past, we're talking about a theoretical battle between the two of them at the height of their power. And to do that people need to compare it with the Illidan book, as well as the current expansion info. Both of them are stupidly, ridiculously powerful in their own right.