Darkfallen
- For the Krokul sometimes referred to as Darkfallen, see Argussian Reach.
| Darkfallen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Faction/Affiliation |
San'layn (Scourge), Forsaken, Quel'Thalas (Horde), Ren'dorei, Darnassus (Alliance),[1] Knights of the Ebon Blade |
| Character classes | Blood mage, Dark ranger, Death knight, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Warden, Warlock, Warrior |
| Homeworld | Azeroth |
| Language(s) | Thalassian, Darnassian |
The Darkfallen[2][3][4][5] (also spelled darkfallen)[6] are undead elves, including the dark rangers of the Forsaken, the vampiric San'layn of the Scourge, and the death knights of the Ebon Blade.
Darkfallen are accessible as a playable option in the form of a skintone for the void elf, night elf, and blood elf races upon the first completion of the 
[Return to Lordaeron] achievement, or by simply playing one of those races as a death knight.
History
Third War
When Prince Arthas Menethil invaded Quel'Thalas, he raised the fallen members of Sylvanas Windrunner's army either as incorporeal banshee or as intact bodies. These fallen high elves would become known as Darkfallen, prowling the lands as either dark rangers or blood mages for the Scourge.[2] Others were reanimated as death knights, becoming the Lich King's champions.[7]
When the Lich King slowly began to lose his power after Illidan's failed attempt to kill him in Northrend, many Darkfallen dark rangers had their conscious will restored. They later joined Sylvanas Windrunner and her Forsaken and, shunned by their living brethren in Silvermoon, made a new home in the ruins of Lordaeron.[1] Darkfallen most prominently served as elite agents and personal guards of the Banshee Queen.
The Frozen Throne
In the aftermath of the Third War, the blood elves were cut off from their source of magic, the Sunwell. Desperate for aid, their prince Kael'thas Sunstrider pledged allegiance to Illidan Stormrage, whose teachings permitted the blood elves a reprieve from their arcane thirst.[8] The blood elves, or Sunfury, seeking to avenge their fallen brethren, participated in Illidan's attempt to destroy the Lich King.[9] Arthas intervened, and the two armies clashed, but the undead ultimately defeated Illidan's forces at the foot of Icecrown.[9][10] Arthas raised the fallen blood elves as a new generation of vampyr Darkfallen in service to the Scourge,[11] organizing them in the sect known as the San'layn.[12]
Wrath of the Lich King
During the Battle for Light's Hope Chapel, the Death Knights of Acherus managed to free themselves from the will of the Lich King, among them were some Darkfallen death knights such as Koltira Deathweaver. Under the lead of Highlord Darion Mograine, they formed the Knights of the Ebon Blade, took control of Acherus: The Ebon Hold as their headquarters, and cooperated with the Argent Crusade to defeat Arthas Menethil during the Scourgewar.
Battle for Azeroth
Following the War of the Thorns, the Forsaken raised to undeath fallen night elves, turning them into Darkfallen dark rangers. While a few sided with Sylvanas Windrunner after she raised them, many of them including their leader Delaryn Summermoon joined Calia Menethil in a quest to learn about life as one of the undead.[13]
Blood Prince Dreven and his undead brethren joined the Horde, but were dealt with by the Alliance during the course of the war.
Shadowlands
Following the war against the Jailer, several Darkfallen joined the Forsaken as they mustered in the Tirisfal Glades. After the Ruins of Lordaeron were cleansed, Dark Ranger Velonara joined the Desolate Council, the new governing body of the Forsaken. While Delaryn and other Darkfallen night elves joined the Horde, Dark Ranger Velonara said those who wished to depart and rejoin the Alliance were free to do so.[1]
Dragonflight
Several Darkfallen night elves raised during the Fourth War rejoined their kaldorei people in the newly bloomed Amirdrassil on the Dragon Isles. Most of them are gathered at the Twilight Watchtower, along with demon hunters and death knights.
Appearance
Darkfallen mostly retain the builds of their still-living kin. Their once lustrous skin is now pale and lifeless, while the color of their eyes is displaced by a glow of crimson red or icy blue. In at least one case they may instead have what appear to be entire black eyes, or possibly no eyes at all.
Notable
Notes and trivia
- Prior to the release of the novel Sylvanas, the term "Darkfallen" was exclusively used in reference to the San'layn. The terms were not treated as synonymous (many mobs have "Darkfallen" in their name but use <The San'layn> as a title), but the exact distinction between them was never explained by Blizzard. Sylvanas clarified the issue by revealing that non-San'layn elves like dark rangers are also Darkfallen.
- Imhadria was notable before this by having the death knight "race" but clearly being a hunter.
- Nathanos Blightcaller is similar, being the only dark ranger derived from a human.
[Embrace of the Darkfallen] was a death knight Azerite trait which increased Leech when [Vampiric Blood] expired.- A "Darkfallen Handmaiden" mob was created in patch 7.3.0 but never added.
- Though the Darkfallen are listed in the World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Bestiary, their entry was never added.
Gallery
- World of Warcraft
Undead high elf
Undead high elf
Undead blood elf
Undead blood elf
Undead night elf
Undead night elf
Undead Dark Warden
San'layn Blood Prince
A painting depicting a Darkfallen San'layn.
"Dark ranger" customizations.
The San'layn banner.
The Blood Prince emblem.
.png)
.jpg)
- Cinematic stills
Sylvanas in the Legion cinematic.
Sylvanas in the Battle for Azeroth cinematic.
Sylvanas in the Shadowlands cinematic.
- Art
Dark ranger art for BlizzConline.
San'layn concept art from The Art of Wrath of the Lich King.
BlizzCon 2016 poster artwork.
A dark ranger in Curse of the Worgen.
.jpg)
- Hearthstone
- RTS series
Dark Ranger icon from Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.
Dark Ranger portrait in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.
Dark Ranger hero unit in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.
Dark Ranger portrait from Warcraft III: Reforged.
Dark Ranger art from Warcraft III: Reforged.
Sylvanas portrait from Warcraft III: Reforged.
- Heroes of the Storm
Sylvanas in Heroes of the Storm.
San'layn Dark Lady Sylvanas.
References
- ^ a b c
[50-80] Path of the Dark Rangers
- ^ a b World of Warcraft: Sylvanas, pg. 184
- ^ Prince Taldaram#Adventure Guide
- ^ Blood Prince Council - Prince Valanar yells: Do you see NOW the power of the Darkfallen?
- ^ Presence of the Darkfallen
- ^ Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 20
- ^ Classes of World of Warcraft
- ^ Fury of the Sunwell - archived page
- ^ a b The Return to Northrend (WC3 Undead)
- ^ A Symphony of Frost and Flame (WC3 Undead)
- ^
[25-30] Return To Caladis Brightspear
- ^
[60] Magus Installation
- ^ [50] The Hidden Need
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