Originally Posted by
OwenBurton
This is a longer, and largely speculatory thread. While you don't have to take this entirely seriously -- I am genuinely very curious all the same. The Lich King was one of the most powerful entities ever to exist, but in the end, he was slain nevertheless by the combined efforts of Tirion Fordring and the champions of Azeroth.
I am wondering though -- if the mightiest members of the factions, the greatest of the Alliance and the Horde leaders, rather than their champions (who were still common people from ordinary backgrounds) had engaged Arthas, either separately or together, what would have happened? Could they have actually won? Or would all the leaders have inevitably perished?
First of all, the Lich King was NOT invincible -- he was wounded by the Blight unleashed at the Wrath Gate and was forced to almost immediately retreat; Arthas was actually choking, and might have actually died there had he not done so. Uther was winning their battle at first, and with other experienced Silver Hand paladins such as Turalyon to assist him, might have crushed Arthas (who won according to the novel, because he had the faster weapon and fighting style, not because of combat superiority). Illidan and Kael'thas (whose Artifact weapon Felo'melorn could actually withstand Frostmourne) were also able to fight evenly with him for a while, and under slightly different circumstances and with a little more backup might have actually defeated him; Sylvanas paralyzed and nearly defeated him earlier with a single poisoned arrow (but this was admittedly before he was empowered, so maybe let's forget that). Tirion successfully drove him from Light's Hope Chapel, so he is vulnerable to the Light somewhat.
If you go to the dungeon, Jaina and Sylvanas were able to reduce his health by nearly half in their reunion / confrontation at the Halls of Reflection, and were able to bind him briefly in place as well with a spell, so he was not entirely immune to either of their powers. I personally think even unaided, leaders like Velen alone could conceivably match or at least hold off Arthas (he briefly stalemated Kil'jaeden after all, and his instantly purifying a fallen naaru seems comparable a feat to the shard of a single naaru in Ashbringer, breaking Frostmourne).
Let's try to imagine different scenarios, how such a colossal battle would play out --
1. The Alliance leaders attack Arthas directly -- fighting him at Icecrown at the final battle. As he originally intended, King Varian personally leads the charge against his old friend, backed by Tyrande Whisperwind calling upon Elune's guidance and protection; Malfurion Stormrage invoking the aid of the Emerald Dream and the Ancients and Wild Gods (the green dragons' powers are especially strong against the Scourge in Dragonblight); Magni Bronzebeard; and Velen, summoning the naaru's power and doing what he can to predict Lich King's moves, massively healing the other leaders constantly. Add in Jaina Proudmoore fighting her ex-lover's Frost with Frost, sweeping away his Remorseless Winters with her Blizzard, launching enormous Pyroblasts to break through his defenses, and also manipulating time and space using arcane magic, and Gelbin, equipped with his high-level technology and providing aerial support soaring around in his robo-suit, if you want as well.
- Essentially, Tank: Varian; Healer: Velen; DPS: Tyrande, Malfurion, Magni (possibly with Jaina and Gelbin in the background)
2. The Horde leaders attack Arthas directly -- Cairne Bloodhoof leading the charge, the tauren having the greatest stamina and strength out of all of them; Thrall with his full shaman powers engaging Arthas, using his considerable power over Life to counter the powers of Arthas over Death; Lor'themar Theron providing melee and ranged backup from the sidelines; Vol'jin using his own unique shadow hunter powers to support and heal his allies; Sylvanas doing what she can to disrupt his Scourge powers, flying around firing arrows and using her Banshee scream and her other abilities, and perhaps secretly and portably weaponizing the Blight as well as an emergency move if all else fails to defeat him
- Essentially, Tank: Cairne; Healer: Thrall; DPS: Lor'themar, Vol'jin, and Sylvanas (possibly with additional backup from Rommath, Liadrin, Saurfang and Garrosh)
3. All the Alliance and Horde leaders put aside their differences and unite to attack Arthas together.
- Essentially, Tanks: Varian, Cairne; Healers: Velen and Thrall; DPS: Tyrande, Malfurion, Magni, Jaina, Gelbin fighting alongside Lor'themar, Vol'jin, Sylvanas, Liadrin, Rommath, Saurfang and Garrosh
4. Other scenarios, such as Jaina engaging Arthas again, with the combined forces of all the members of the Council of Six at her side -- what would have happened in this scenario? Or the Kirin Tor trying to drop a massive mana bomb on Icecrown? Could other beings such as the Dragon Aspects have easily defeated him, Alexstrasza and the red dragons trying to incinerate him with their flames?
What do you think honestly could have happened? If the Alliance and Horde leaders / Council of Six / Alexstrasza and the other Dragon Aspects have attacked Arthas?