Merely a setback
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This is a silly article.
The content of this article is not part of official Warcraft lore, but has nevertheless become part of the World of Warcraft culture or community.
The content of this article is not part of official Warcraft lore, but has nevertheless become part of the World of Warcraft culture or community.
I'll get you next time Gadget! Next tiiime!
“Doesn't anyone stay dead anymore?”
Merely a setback is a catchphrase originated by Kael'thas Sunstrider in Magisters' Terrace. It has become a common utterance and a running gag whenever a boss who was previously defeated suddenly returns once again.
List of NPCs using the quote
- Kael'thas Sunstrider in Magisters' Terrace yells Don't look so smug! I know what you're thinking, but Tempest Keep was merely a set back[sic].
- When players defeat Kael'thas in Tempest Keep in the Memories of Azeroth raid, Chromie remarks If I remember correctly, he suffered quite a setback after that.
- In Shadowlands, one of his on-click quotes is "As you can see, Magister's Terrace was merely a setback."
- Prince Valanar in Icecrown Citadel yells Naxxanar was merely a setback!
- Hogger in the Stockades yells Forest just setback!
- Crusader Lord Valdelmar in Tyr's Hand yells The Scarlet Crusade is not over! Undeath is merely a setback!
- Analynn in Ashenvale when defeated says You do not understand. I have not been defeated, merely set back.
- The announcer of the Brawler's Guild introduces Millhouse Manastorm by saying We have a special guest today: the always-endearing, ever-resilient, Millhouse Manastorm! Stonecore was merely a setback!
- After he is resurrected as a death knight, one of Nazgrim's click quotes is "Death was merely a setback."
- Raimond Mildenhall at the Mildenhall Meadery during
[30-60] Back to the Lab says Ha ha! Don't worry my dear Ancel, it's merely a setback! We'll be back up and running in no time. - Taelia upon completion of the world quest [50WQ] Treasure in the Tides says This could have been a huge loss for the Proudmoore Guard. Thanks to you, it was merely a setback.
List of setbacks
The Burning Crusade
Dar'Khan Drathir three times. Once in the Sunwell Trilogy, once again in Blood of the Highborne, and once more in Deatholme.
Wrath of the Lich King
Archmage Arugal in Shadowfang Keep and Bloodmoon Isle
Baron Rivendare in Stratholme and Naxxramas
Kel'Thuzad in the original and new Naxxramas
Anub'arak in Azjol-Nerub and Trial of the Crusader
Prince Keleseth in Utgarde Keep and Icecrown Citadel- Prince Valanar in Naxxanar and Icecrown Citadel
- Prince Taldaram in Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom and Icecrown Citadel
Rimefang in the Pit of Saron and Icecrown Citadel
Sicco Thermaplugg in Gnomeregan and during Operation: Gnomeregan
Princess Theradras in Maraudon and during the Elemental Unrest
Cataclysm
Hogger in Elwynn Forest and Stormwind Stockade
Lord Godfrey (as well as fellow nobles Ashbury and Walden) in Gilneas and in Shadowfang Keep
Crusader Lord Valdelmar in Tyr's Hand
Ranger Lord Renthar Hawkspear in Eastern Plaguelands- Malor the Zealous in the original and new Stratholme as Commander Malor
- Crimson Hammersmith in the original and new Stratholme as the Risen Hammersmith
- Cannon Master Willey in the original and new Stratholme as Willey Hopebreaker
- Archivist Galford in the original and new Stratholme as Instructor Galford
Balnazzar in the original and new Stratholme
Baron Geddon in Molten Core and the Circle of Cinders
Garr in Molten Core and near Sulfuron Spire
Ragnaros in Molten Core, the Inner Spire and the Firelands
Nefarian in Blackwing Lair and Blackwing Descent where he yells Oh, I do hope this 'raid' will amuse me more than the last!
Onyxia in her original, her new lair and Blackwing Descent
Valiona in Grim Batol and Bastion of Twilight
Sintharia in Night of the Dragon and the Bastion of Twilight
High Priest Venoxis in the original and new Zul'Gurub- Bloodlord Mandokir in the original and new Zul'Gurub
- Zanzil the Outcast in Stranglethorn Vale and Zul'Gurub
- Jin'do in the original and new Zul'Gurub
Akil'zon in the original and new Zul'Aman
Nalorakk in the original and new Zul'Aman
Jan'alai in the original and new Zul'Aman
Halazzi in the original and new Zul'Aman
Hex Lord Malacrass in the original and new Zul'Aman
Mists of Pandaria
Bloodmage Thalnos in the original and new Scarlet Monastery
High Inquisitor Sally Whitemane in the original and new Scarlet Monastery
Jandice Barov in the original and new Scholomance
Rattlegore in the original and new Scholomance- Darkmaster Gandling in the original and new Scholomance
- James Vishas in the original Scarlet Monastery and the Brawler's Guild
Gara'jal the Spiritbinder in the Mogu'shan Vaults and the Throne of Thunder
High Priestess Mar'li in the original Zul'Gurub and the Throne of Thunder
Warlords of Draenor
Garrosh Hellscream in the Siege of Orgrimmar and at the Stones of Prophecy
Teron'gor in Auchindoun and in Hellfire Citadel as Gorefiend
Shadow-Sage Iskar in Spires of Arak and in Hellfire Citadel as Shadow-Lord Iskar
Socrethar in Talador and in Hellfire Citadel as Socrethar the Eternal
During the Patch 6.2 PTR, Mannoroth's Hellfire Citadel placeholder Adventure Guide entry read: "[PH] Don't look so smug - I know what you're thinking, but the cinematic was merely a setback."
Archimonde in Hyjal Summit and in Hellfire Citadel
Legion
Gul'dan in Hellfire Citadel and the Nighthold
Illidan Stormrage in the Black Temple and the Nighthold
Xavius five times: he was killed as a night elf in The Well of Eternity, returned as a satyr but got transformed into a tree in the The Demon Soul, killed again in Stormrage, returned in Legion and defeated as a shade in Darkheart Thicket, and finally killed once more in the Emerald Nightmare.
Cordana Felsong in Talador and the Vault of the Wardens
King Ymiron in Utgarde Pinnacle and the Maw of Souls as Ymiron, the Fallen King
Helya in Maw of Souls and Trial of Valor
Kil'jaeden in Sunwell Plateau and Tomb of Sargeras
Vagath in Shadowmoon Valley and Nath'raxas Hold
Varimathras during the Battle for the Undercity and in Antorus, the Burning Throne- Taerar has been defeated three times, at the dream portals in Classic, in Feralas and in the Emerald Nightmare.
Battle for Azeroth
Zalazane in the Echo Isles, during Zalazane's Fall and The Shadow Hunter questline
Zul in Zuldazar and Uldir
Grong, the Jungle Lord in the Battle of Dazar'alor and 
Grong, the Revenant later in the same raid
Priscilla Ashvane in the Siege of Boralus and the Eternal Palace
Vexiona in the Twilight Highlands and Ny'alotha, the Waking City
Il'gynoth in the Emerald Nightmare and Ny'alotha, the Waking City
Shadowlands
Nathanos Blightcaller in Eastern Plaguelands during Classic and in the Shadowlands pre-patch.
The Black Knight five times: He was killed as a human at the Argent Tournament, as an undead, as a skeleton and as a ghost during the Trial of the Champion dungeon and once more in Icecrown when he was reanimated by the Mawsworn.
Hakkar the Soulflayer in the original Zul'Gurub and De Other Side.
Millhouse Manastorm in the Stonecore, the Brawler's Guild, and De Other Side.
Mal'Ganis in Culling of Stratholme and Sepulcher of the First Ones.
Millificent Manastorm in the Assault on Violet Hold and De Other Side.
Kael'thas Sunstrider in Tempest Keep, Magisters' Terrace, and Castle Nathria.
General Kaal in Sanguine Depths and Castle Nathria.
Artificer Xy'mox in Castle Nathria and Sepulcher of the First Ones.
Notes
- Despite popular belief, Kael'thas was not the first character to use the catchphrase. It was actually Illidan Stormrage during the Alliance Campaign finale - Kil'jaeden's Command in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. Illidan explained his failed attempt to destroy the Lich King with these words:
- "Kil'jaeden! I was merely set back. I was attempting to bolster my forces. The Lich King will be destroyed, I promise you!"
- One of the possible quotes from the removed
[Confession] glyph (as well as its replacement, the 
[Scarlet Confessional Book]) is: "This is just a setback." - The
[Merely a Set] achievement is a reference to the meme. - The phrase is referenced in Smokywood Pastures Presents: A Winter Veil Carol.
- The phrase is referenced in An Ode to Returning Heroes.
- Mike Morhaime used the phrase for Onyxia, after announcing the revamp of the classic raid Onyxia's Lair at BlizzCon 2009.
In other games
The phrase has carried over into other Blizzard games:
- In the StarCraft II campaign mission A Sinister Turn, the player fights a protoss/zerg hybrid that repeatedly spawns and attacks the player. One of the quotes he utters upon killing one of his incarnations is "merely a temporary setback".
- In Heroes of the Storm, when your character is killed for the first time as part of the tutorial, Uther will tell them that "death is merely a setback." In addition, Kael'thas makes a variety of references to the phrase:
- Upon reviving after being killed, he may say: "Merely a setback."
- If his entire team is killed, he may say: "This is not a defeat. It is merely a setback."
- One of his click quotes is: "I don't suffer setbacks. I revel in them."
- Upon killing Kael'thas, Jaina may say: "That ought to set you back a bit."
- In one of Medivh's interactions with Kael'thas at the start of a game, he says: "My death wasn't quite the... setback that yours was."
- Kael'thas Sunstrider's flavor text in Hearthstone: Ashes of Outland is "Descent of Dragons was merely a set back!", referencing how Descent of Dragons was the card set preceding Ashes of Outland. Additionally, his death quote is "Merely a setback."