Tidal guardian

This article is about the race. For the Warcraft III unit, see Tidal Guardian (Warcraft III). For the Nazjatar mob, see Tidal Guardian (mob). For the unrelated elementals, see Tidal Guardian (NPC).

A tidal guardian in World of Warcraft.

Tidal guardians are huge, aquatic, electrical worms that can spit lightning and are mainly found in Nazjatar. They have lived among the naga as guardians of their caves for as long as both Artisan Itanu (of the Waveblade Ankoan) and Finder Palta (of the Unshackled) can remember, and neither of them have ever seen a tidal guardian in the wild, leading Palta to think that the guardians and the naga have always been intertwined. The ankoan use tidal guardian mandibles to create spearheads and electrified traps, while the Unshackled mix their ground mandibles into drinks. During the ascension of the Lich King, Illidan's Naga used stationary pools with tidal guardians as defensive structures.

Similar-looking siltworms are found on the Isle of Dorn and in the Ringing Deeps in Khaz Algar. They share the tidal guardians' lightning powers and aquatic habitat, but it is unclear if the two are related.

A tidal guardian in Warcraft III: Reforged.

In Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne and Warcraft III: Reforged, tidal guardians are depicted as reptilian snake-like creatures, whereas in World of Warcraft, they are depicted as worms similar in appearance to legless centipedes.

Notable

•   Cracklemaw Colossus
•   Rijz'x the Devourer
•   Shiz'narasz the Consumer
•   Siltsliver
•   Voltgorger
•   Vor'koth
•   Wekemara

As a hunter pet

Main article: Worm#As a hunter pet

Tidal guardians are tamable by hunters as part of the worm family.

In the RPG

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

Tube wyrms, or tubeworms, are serpent-like creatures that live on the ocean floor, a type of sea serpent. A thick, emerald-colored hide forms this creature's monstrous body, but countless tiny scales of dark blue and deep purple shades cover its serpentine skin. These form a tough natural armor that shimmers iridescently wherever light shines upon it.

Occasionally, naga capture and train tube wyrms to serve them as defenders (particularly in Nazjatar), though this strategy is not widespread. Naga refer to these tamed tube wyrms as Tidal Guardians. Tube wyrms thrive in heated, sulfur-rich, acidic waters. Heated gas emerges from thermal vents in some areas, and tube wyrms consume this gas and convert it into nutrients. One such area is the Pillar Deep, in the Eye. On first sighting this area, an undersea explorer sees enormous pillars rising from the ocean floor. Closer inspection, however, reveals that these "pillars" are tube wyrms, grown to enormous size in these rich waters. Tube wyrms protect the tubes in which they live and the surrounding area. Some varieties spit acid and/or grapple foes.

Speculation

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

They may have inspired later naga serpents like Serpentrix. Though feral, it is a similar creature that lives in a series of holes.

Gallery

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  A Tidal Guardian in Warcraft III.
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  A partially submerged tidal guardian.