Crypt fiend

Crypt fiend
Faction/Affiliation	Scourge
Character classes	Webspinner, Worker, Warrior
Racial capital	Azjol-Nerub
Homeworld	Azeroth
Language(s)	Nerubian

For the Warcraft III unit, see Crypt Fiend (Warcraft III). For the Battle for Mount Hyjal mob, see Crypt Fiend (Hyjal Summit).

Crypt fiends (or cryptfiends)^[1] are undead nerubians. These large, mummified creatures appear to be a genetic cross between humans and spiders. Their lower bodies are supported by six spindly arachnid limbs and their heavily bandaged torsos are human in form.^[2] Crypt fiends can be found most notably in Northrend, but also in the Ghostlands, Eastern Plaguelands, Stratholme, and Scholomance. There is also a crypt fiend in Razorfen Downs and another one in the Blackrock Depths.

Background

The cunning crypt fiends were once the lords of the ancient spider kingdom of Azjol-Nerub that spanned the entirety of Northrend in ancient times. However, the crypt fiends' power base was destroyed by the Lich King, Ner'zhul, when he and his undead Scourge took control of the frozen continent. The nerubians that had fallen in the war were resurrected as slaves for the Lich King's army. These reanimated insectoids became known as the crypt fiends because they still wear the tattered remains of the linens in which their corpses were mummified. These aberrant creatures are capable of summoning swarms of vile insects and projecting web-like strands to incapacitate and harm their enemies.^[2]

The crypt fiends appear in many places around Northrend, fighting for the Scourge. Crypt fiends also appear scattered throughout the Ghostlands and the Plaguelands, defending territory claimed by the Scourge. Weaker crypt fiends called Nerubis Guards can be found at the destroyed village of Suncrown Village. There is a bounty on their leader, Anok'suten. The Scourge's stronger crypt fiends defend Deatholme.

Notable

Name	Role	Status	Location
Anok'suten	Leader of the undead nerubians at Suncrown Village	Killable	Suncrown Village, Ghostlands
Anub'shiah	Ring of Law gladiator	Killable	Ring of the Law, Blackrock Depths
Nerub'enkan	Guardian of a ziggurat in Stratholme	Killable	Gauntlet, Stratholme Service Entrance
Nerubian Overseer	Overseer	Killable	Terrorweb Tunnel, Eastern Plaguelands
High Priest Talet-Kha	One of three high priests in the Temple City of En'kilah	Killable	Spire of Pain, Borean Tundra
Tuten'kash	One of the Scourge's deadliest crypt fiend commanders	Deceased	Formerly Caller's Chamber, Razorfen Downs

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Vasilii

Types

As a companion pet

[Crypt Fiend] is sold by Sean Wilkers in Eastern Plaguelands for 2 [Cleansed Remains].
[N'Ruby] is sold for 2,750 by Baron Sliver at Tyrhold Reservoir in Thaldraszus.

Notes

Although they were always envisioned and canonically described as having six legs and two arms, crypt fiends are depicted with only four legs in Warcraft III: Classic due to technical limitations. In World of Warcraft and Warcraft III: Reforged they have the correct number of six legs.^[3]
During Warcraft III's development, the crypt fiend was originally planned to be a female hero unit and had a different design with the torso of a humanoid woman, before being demoted to a base unit and receiving a visual redesign.^[4]
"Crypt fiend" is an acquired template in the Warcraft RPG and World of Warcraft RPG.

Gallery

A crypt fiend in World of Warcraft.
A crypt fiend in Warcraft III.
Crypt fiend unit icon in Warcraft III.
Living nerubian resistance fighters holding crypt fiends prisoners, in The Forgotten Ones.
A crypt fiend in Warcraft III: Reforged.
Crypt fiend unit icon in Warcraft III: Reforged.