Light's Vengeance

For the Alliance draenei group, see Light's Vengeance (island expedition).

Light's Vengeance was Arthas Menethil's warhammer during his life as a paladin of the Order of the Silver Hand.

History

Light's Vengeance on the ground in front of Frostmourne's altar.

Light's Vengeance was an enormous, heavy-looking hammer, its silver head etched with runes and its sturdy haft wrapped in blue leather.^[1] It was given to Arthas by Archbishop Alonsus Faol when Arthas completed a ceremony held in the Cathedral of Light and joined the ranks of the Knights of the Silver Hand.^[2]

During his quest to destroy the dreadlord Mal'Ganis, Arthas discarded Light's Vengeance and left it behind in Frostmourne Cavern when he took up Frostmourne.^[3]

During the war against the Lich King, adventurers could relive this scene as a flashback of the last interactions between Arthas and Muradin Bronzebeard, with a surprise ending showing Muradin's survival.^[4] Next to Frostmourne's altar also lied Arthas' former hammer as well as Muradin's weapons, frozen in the snow.

During the assault on Icecrown Citadel, Darion Mograine sent adventurers of the Ashen Verdict to collect Light's Vengeance in order to create an artifact to rival Frostmourne, believing that only the hammer of Arthas himself would provide a worthy model for the weapon^[5] that would later become [Shadowmourne].^[6] The Lich King anticipated such a plan and tried to kill the adventurers by sending hordes of ghouls into the cavern, but they managed to escape by, ironically, using the sacred hammer against them.^[7]

Trivia

In Warcraft III, Light's Vengeance looked like any other paladin's hammer.
In World of Warcraft, Light's Vengeance shares its model with the [Grand Marshal's Battle Hammer].
Before the introduction of Light's Vengeance, it was a common speculation that Arthas' former mace was actually the [Might of Menethil].
A unique design for Light's Vengeance was created for the Crown Prince Arthas skin in Heroes of the Storm, but Blizzard felt players would confuse him with Uther and decided he should wield Frostmourne instead.^[8]
Arthas' weapon has been depicted differently throughout multiple sources. In Warcraft III, Arthas wielded Light's Vengeance, which looked like a simple-looking, dark warhammer. In World of Warcraft and TCG artwork however, his hammer used the [Grand Marshal's Battle Hammer] model instead. In Hearthstone, Arthas is wielding an even more ornate warhammer. In World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3 and Jaina's Visions, his hammer looks like its original Warcraft III depiction. Warcraft III: Reforged returns to depicting it with a more ornate design.

Gallery

Light's Vengeance in Warcraft III.
Arthas discards Light's Vengeance in favor of Frostmourne.
Arthas and his hammer in Jaina's nightmare version of the Culling of Stratholme.
TCG artwork of Arthas.
Arthas and his hammer in World of Warcraft.
Arthas in Stratholme from World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 3.
Concept art of Arthas with an adorned hammer for Heroes of the Storm
Prince Arthas in Hearthstone.
Light's Vengeance model used in the Battle for Azeroth the in-game cinematic "Realm Of Torment".
Concept art for Arthas in Warcraft III: Reforged.