History of Warcraft #1: the beginning

September 17, 2026•Lore•Brendo Arruda

"History of Warcraft" series — Episode 1 of 8. The story told in order, like a book, from the beginning of the universe to the end of WoW Classic. Each episode covers one era and points to in-depth posts for anyone who wants more detail.

The history of Warcraft begins long before the orcs and the humans: it begins with the Titans bringing order to the universe, the Old Gods rotting Azeroth from within and a war that split the world in half. This first episode covers that long road, up to the moment Prince Arthas takes up the sword Frostmourne in Northrend.

The history of Warcraft from the beginning: Titans and Old Gods

In the beginning there were the Light and the Void. From the remnants of that clash came the world-souls, spirits of titans sleeping inside planets. The awakened titans, led by the Pantheon, traveled the cosmos looking for these sleeping souls.

When they reached Azeroth, they found the planet infested. The Old Gods, creatures of the Void, had taken root on the surface to corrupt the world-soul growing inside. The titans and their servants, the titan-forged, defeated the Old Gods and imprisoned them underground, but did not kill them: killing one could harm Azeroth itself.

The titan-forged stayed. The Keepers of Ulduar finished shaping the world, and it was through them that the titans empowered the five Dragon Aspects, charged with protecting it. Meanwhile, Sargeras, the greatest warrior of the Pantheon, became convinced that the whole universe was doomed to the Void and created the Burning Legion to burn it before that could happen. Almost every enemy you face in the game comes from this betrayal.

The trolls, the night elves and the War of the Ancients

The first great empires of Azeroth belonged to the trolls. One troll tribe settled on the shores of the Well of Eternity, a lake of pure magic at the center of the only continent of the time. Over generations, the Well's energy transformed them into the kaldorei, the night elves.

Under Queen Azshara, the night elves built a brilliant civilization. The Highborne, the nobility tied to magic, used the Well so intensely that they drew Sargeras' attention. Azshara opened the way for the Burning Legion to enter the world.

The War of the Ancients began. Malfurion Stormrage, the first druid, his beloved Tyrande Whisperwind and Malfurion's twin brother, Illidan, led the resistance alongside dragons and demigods. In the end, the destruction of the Well caused the Great Sundering: the continent broke apart, and the center of the world became the Maelstrom.

Illidan created a new Well atop Mount Hyjal, believing that magic had to be preserved. He was imprisoned for it. The surviving Highborne were later exiled, crossed the sea and founded Quel'Thalas in the Eastern Kingdoms: they are the ancestors of the high elves and the blood elves.

The humans, the Seven Kingdoms and the Guardians of Tirisfal

Thousands of years later, the human tribes united under King Thoradin and founded Arathor. To defeat the Amani trolls, the humans made a pact with the elves of Quel'Thalas, who taught magic to one hundred humans. From this alliance came the mages of Dalaran and, in time, the Seven Kingdoms: Lordaeron, Stromgarde, Gilneas, Kul Tiras, Alterac, Dalaran and Azeroth (the kingdom of Stormwind).

The use of magic attracted demons, so the Council of Tirisfal was created, choosing a Guardian to fight the Legion in secret. The most powerful Guardian was Aegwynn, who defeated an avatar of Sargeras. What she did not know was that the titan's spirit hid inside her and passed on to her son: Medivh, the last Guardian.

Draenor: how the orcs were corrupted

On another world, Draenor, the orcs lived in shamanic clans. The demon Kil'jaeden deceived the old shaman Ner'zhul and, later, his apprentice Gul'dan, who traded the spirits of the elements for the Legion's fel power.

Gul'dan created the Shadow Council, taught warlock magic to the clans and led the chieftains to drink the blood of the demon Mannoroth. The orcs' skin turned green, their fury became bloodlust, and the Horde slaughtered the draenei, a people who had lived on Draenor for centuries. Only one clan refused the blood: Durotan's Frostwolves.

The Dark Portal and the First War

With Sargeras hidden inside him, Medivh helped Gul'dan open the Dark Portal, linking Draenor to the Black Morass, south of the kingdom of Azeroth. The Horde crossed over and began the First War.

The kingdom of Stormwind held out for years, led by King Llane and the commander Anduin Lothar. Lothar and the young mage Khadgar discovered the truth about Medivh and killed him in Karazhan, but it was too late. The half-orc Garona assassinated King Llane, and Orgrim Doomhammer took command of the Horde. Stormwind fell, and Lothar led the survivors across the sea to Lordaeron.

The Second War and the internment camps

In Lordaeron, King Terenas Menethil united the human kingdoms, the dwarves of Ironforge, the gnomes and the elves of Quel'Thalas in the Alliance of Lordaeron. The Horde returned larger, with Amani trolls and red dragons enslaved at Grim Batol.

The Second War was decided when Gul'dan betrayed the Horde to search for the Tomb of Sargeras, splitting the orc army. Lothar died in the final battle, at the foot of Blackrock Spire, in a duel with Orgrim. Then his lieutenant Turalyon defeated Orgrim. The Horde was beaten, and the surviving orcs were locked away in internment camps.

Soon after, an Alliance expedition crossed the Dark Portal to stop Ner'zhul from opening new portals. Ner'zhul's spells tore Draenor apart, and it became Outland. Ner'zhul was captured by Kil'jaeden, and that detail is the seed of the Lich King.

The plague, Stratholme and Frostmourne

Kil'jaeden punished Ner'zhul: he tore out his spirit and had the dreadlords bind it to a suit of armor and a helm. Sealed in a block of ice, it was hurled into Northrend as the Lich King. His mission was to prepare Azeroth for the Legion's next invasion.

The Lich King created the Cult of the Damned, led by the mage Kel'Thuzad, and spread a plague through Lordaeron's grain. Anyone who ate the grain died and came back as an undead of the Scourge.

Prince Arthas Menethil, a paladin of the Silver Hand, decided he would save his people at any cost. In Stratholme, he ordered the population killed before it could turn undead, and Uther and Jaina refused to follow him. Arthas pursued the demon Mal'Ganis to Northrend and, to defeat him, took up the runeblade Frostmourne. The sword took his soul, and the prince who wanted to save Lordaeron became the Lich King's most powerful death knight.

Where to see it in WotLK

Caverns of Time, in Tanaris: the dungeon The Culling of Stratholme puts you alongside Arthas on the night of the Culling.
Karazhan, in Deadwind Pass: Medivh's tower, where the Dark Portal was planned.
Blasted Lands: the Dark Portal is still there, and it is how you reach Outland.
Ulduar, in the Storm Peaks: the prison of the Old God Yogg-Saron and the city of the titan Keepers.
Icecrown: where Arthas ends the path that began with Frostmourne.

Frequently asked questions

What is the beginning of the Warcraft story?

The beginning is the creation of the universe by the Light and the Void, followed by the arrival of the Titans on Azeroth and the imprisonment of the Old Gods. The playable part starts thousands of years later, with the orc invasion in Warcraft I.

Why did the orcs invade Azeroth?

Because they were corrupted by the demon Kil'jaeden on Draenor. Gul'dan and Medivh opened the Dark Portal so the Horde could serve the Burning Legion on Azeroth.

What is the Lich King?

It is the spirit of the orc shaman Ner'zhul, trapped in a suit of armor and a helm, inside a block of ice in Northrend, on Kil'jaeden's orders. Later, Arthas merges with him and becomes the new Lich King.

In what order should I play Warcraft to understand the story?

Warcraft I, Warcraft II, Warcraft III and the expansion The Frozen Throne, and only then World of Warcraft. This series follows the same order.

Series episodes

Next episode → History of Warcraft #2: Sylvanas Windrunner

Want the full timeline in one place? See the complete history of Azeroth, from beginning to end.