Summary
One of the central storylines and themes of theWarcraftuniverse is the conflict between two major world factions: theAlliance and the Horde. The Horde was first comprised of orcish clans on Draenor as they tried to conquer a new world, while the Alliance was a pact formed between humans, dwarves, and high elves to defend their lands against the Horde. However, the composition of those factions changed over the years.
Across allWarcraftgames, those two pacts have been a part of an endless battle for domination, whether because of resources, differing ideals, or outside manipulation. InBattle for Azeroth,the conflict seems to have come to its conclusion and has not continued ever since. Still, the factions left a trail of battles as bloody and decimating as they were epic and grand in their scale.
11Stormheim Expedition
Genn’s Quest For Vengeance
TheLegionexpansion started with tragedy for both factions. Despite the unified front between the Alliance and the Horde on the Broken Shore, the Horde’s retreat due to their war chief getting mortally wounded led to Varian Wrynn, the Alliance king, losing his life. Genn Greymane and his associates sought revenge against the new war chief, Sylvanas.
Genn’s sudden attack at Stormheim disrupted the hunt for Aegis of Aggramar and turned the ancient land into a war zone between two factions. Eventually, Genn managed to engage Sylvanas in a swift yet ferocious duel, stealing her bid for immortal existence for her and other forsaken right before her eyes.
10Battle Of The Black Temple
Draenor Torn Apart
The Alliance’s Expedition to Draenor was a daring attempt to destroy the Horde before it launched a counterattack. It was led by Paladin Turalyon, Archmage Khadgar, and Alleria Windrunner. Their army clashed with the remnants of the Hordeled by Ner’zhulall across Draenor until the climactic battle in the Shadowmoon Valley.
This battle was getting close to a decisive victory for the Alliance. Still, Ner’zhul unleashed his last trick: magical earthquakes that emerged due to countless portals opening simultaneously around Draenor. This led to the destruction of the world and its transformation into Outland, as well as the Alliance’s army being stranded on the other side of the Portal.
9Krasarang Wilds Campaign
Offensive On A New Continent
The momentPandaria was discovered, leaders of both the Alliance and Horde saw an opportunity, as this land was brimming with resources, secrets, and potential allies. This led to Varian Wrynn and Garrosh Hellscream launching offensives into the southernmost part of the continent, the Krasarang Wilds.
The campaign spread throughout Pandaria, with members of different races participating, but the Wilds became the epicenter of the battle. Soldiers from both factions clashed with each other without mercy, forever tarnishing the once-peaceful land through bloodshed and war.
8The Siege Of Stormwind
A City Razed
The First War ended in a ravaging conquest of Stormwind. The Horde, still under the influence of the demonic forces of the Legion, charged into the city, annihilating everyone in its path. Stormwind was razed to the ground. There were countless victims, including King Llane Wrynn, who was murdered by the assassin Garona.
However, this desecration paved the way for the birth of the Alliance. Anduin Lothar was in charge of defending the city and bringing survivors to Lordaeron. After showing how dire the threat of the Horde became, the remaining kingdoms United into an Alliance, which became a major opposing force to the Horde.
7Battle For Gilneas
While this conflict started with the Horde attacking a neutral kingdom, iteventually became part of the larger conflict. Genn Greymane and his people hid behind a large wall that separated their peninsula from the rest of the world, but the Cataclysm damaged it, creating an opportunity for the Forsaken to attack.
At first, Sylvanas’s Armin’s drove the Gilneans away from their home, which brought the latter into the Alliance with the help of the Night Elves. After a counterattack, Gilneas became a battlefield between the Alliance forces and the Forsaken for many years, a conflict that wasn’t resolved until after the Battle for Azeroth.
6Battle For Dazar’alor
Alliance’s Counterattack
TheBattle for Azerothbegan with the Alliance’s devastating defeats, notably the burning of Teldrassil. However, the faction was preparing a counterattack. In patch 8.1, Tides of Vengeance, the Alliance attackedthe Zandalari city of Dazar’alorin full force. The battle began with the destruction of the Zadalari fleet and the advance of the Kul Tiran navy into the harbor.
This battle is unique, because it is made into a raid with different perspectives depending on the faction the player belongs to. It includes a climactic battle against King Rastakhan, in his throne room and one against Jaina Proudmoore when she ensures a safe escape for her fleet.
5Battle For Ashenvale
An Endless Struggle For Resources
Kalimdor remained a peaceful continent for 10,000 years, but this changed once the Orcs set foot on its land. They lived in a harsh region of Durotar with few resources to spare, while the Kaldorei had fertile forests at their disposal. This led to a prolonged conflict between those factions, which became more prominent inCataclysm.
The bulk of the conflict occurred between the Orcs and theNight Elves, with the two races struggling for control of Ashenvale. The Horde employed various technological wonders, such as shredders, to cut through the trees, while the Night Elves relied on the power of nature and Druidism to shield their lands.
4Fall Of Theramore
Garrosh’s Onslaught
At the time of its announcement,Mists of Pandariaseemed like a lighthearted expansion that contrasts with Cataclysm, but its introduction painted a very different picture. It had Garrosh marching his armies to Theramore, the city that belonged toJaina Proudmooreand was established as a significant location back inWarcraft 3.
Players of both factions received a playable scenario showing the fall of Theramore, with distinct versions for the Horde and the Alliance. This battle shows how ruthless Garrosh can be, setting him up as the expansion’s antagonist while also showing Jaina’s transition away from being an idealistic pacifist.
3The War Of Thorns
A Declaration Of War
The War Of Thorns was a swift and bloody beginning to the Battle for Azeroth. Sylvanas Windrunner launched her campaign against the night elves to secure Kalimdor for the Horde. While her motives were later revealed to have been selfish, most of the Horde pursued this plan and fought in the conflict.
As the Horde soldiers made their way through Ashenvale, they had to battle night elves, including their powerful leaders, such as Malfurion Stormrage. In the end, Sylvanas ordered the burning of Teldrassil, which infuriated Varok Saurfang and sparked the last major war between the two enemy factions.
2The Battle At The Dark Portal
The Old Horde’s Downfall
The Second War ravaged the Eastern Kingdoms as the Horde pushed to the north, trying to conquer everything. Its string of victories was interrupted by Gul’dan’s betrayal, leaving the Horde open to a counterattack by the Alliance forces. They were led by Anduin Lothar, who lost his life in a battle against Orgrim Doomhammer.
After Lothar’s death, his protege, Turalyon, took charge. He drove the Horde to the south back to the Dark Portal, where an all-out battle between the factions ensued. Despite heavy losses from both sides, the Alliance was victorious in crushing the Horde’s armies and bringing Doomhammer to his knees.
