Sunwell Plateau is the last raid of The Burning Crusade, where Kil'jaeden tries to use the Sunwell as a gateway into Azeroth. The heroes defeat his servants, Anveena sacrifices herself to weaken him, Kil'jaeden is banished and Velen relights the fount with the heart of the naaru M'uru.
This post tells the story of the raid boss by boss. If you want the story of the blood elves and the Sunwell as a whole, read Quel'Thalas, the blood elves and the restoration of the Sunwell.
What is Sunwell Plateau?
It is a 25-player raid on the Isle of Quel'Danas, north of Silvermoon. It arrived in patch 2.4.0, on March 25, 2008, and was built for players who already had Tier 6.
The last three bosses sat behind gates that opened over time. The first opened on April 8, 2008, the second on April 29 and the last on May 20. The gates are named Agamath, Rohendor and Archonisus.
The raid has open areas and closed halls. The last of them holds the Sunwell itself.
Why did Kil'jaeden want the Sunwell?
The Sunwell was born thousands of years ago. Dath'Remar Sunstrider and the Highborne poured water from the Well of Eternity into it. The fount became the heart of Quel'Thalas. Its origin is told in Legends of Warcraft #11: the Sunwell.
In the Third War, the traitor Dar'Khan Drathir bound the fount's energies for Arthas, who used it to bring Kel'Thuzad back. Once corrupted, the Sunwell was destroyed by Kael'thas in a great ritual.
But a remnant of its power survived. That power took the form of a human girl, Anveena Teague. The red dragon Korialstrasz gave her that form. Kil'jaeden's agents found Anveena and saw her as the key to turning the Sunwell into a gateway for the invasion of Azeroth.
Before the raid: Kael'thas returns in Magisters' Terrace
Kael'thas was defeated in Tempest Keep. Even so, he came back to the Isle of Quel'Danas, now serving Kil'jaeden the Deceiver. The plan was to relight the Sunwell and bring in his master.
Kael'thas kidnapped Anveena. With felblood elves, he attacked Silvermoon and took M'uru, the naaru that gave the Blood Knights their power.
Without M'uru, Lady Liadrin broke with Kael'thas and warned the Sha'tar. The Aldor and the Scryers set their feud aside and formed the Shattered Sun Offensive. To understand Kael's past, read The Frozen Throne #2: Kael and the blood elves.
Kael'thas died for good in Magisters' Terrace, the isle's dungeon. But the damage was done. He had drained energy from M'uru and Anveena to re-form the Sunwell. Then he used mana cells stolen in the Netherstorm to open Kil'jaeden's gateway.
The Sunwell Plateau bosses, one by one
Kalecgos and Sathrovarr the Corruptor
The first boss is the blue dragon Kalecgos, at Apex Point. He had come to the isle to protect Anveena, whom he loved. But the dreadlord Sathrovarr the Corruptor took hold of him.
During the fight, part of the group is pulled into the Inner Veil, a realm of shadow. There, Kalec fights Sathrovarr in his half-elf form so he will not be corrupted. The heroes defeat the demon and save Kalecgos.
Brutallus and Madrigosa
Brutallus is a giant pit lord, wingless and with blades for hands. He guards the Dead Scar inside the raid.
Before the fight, the blue dragon Madrigosa blocks the way with a wall of ice. She came with Kalecgos and wants to know where Anveena and Kalec are. Brutallus answers: "Death is the only answer you'll find here!" And he kills her.
Felmyst
When Brutallus falls, his fel blood seeps into the ground beneath Madrigosa's body. The blood dissolves her flesh and raises her skeleton as Felmyst, a fel dragon. The heroes have to kill her a second time.
The Eredar Twins
Behind the first gate, in the Witch's Sanctum, wait Lady Sacrolash and Grand Warlock Alythess. They are two eredar of the Burning Legion and fight together. They guard the way to the second gate.
M'uru and Entropius
In the Shrine of the Eclipse stands M'uru. Drained by Kael'thas, he became the guardian of the final gate. When the Offensive faces him, M'uru turns into Entropius, a void god.
It is one of the saddest moments of the raid. A being of Light, used until the end, becomes its opposite. To understand what the naaru are, read The naaru, entities of Light.
Kil'jaeden the Deceiver
The last boss rises from a rift deep in the Sunwell. Kil'jaeden is one of the leaders of the Burning Legion and the demon who corrupted the orcs on Draenor.
How was Kil'jaeden defeated?
The fight starts with three Hands of the Deceiver. They channel Anveena's power into the Sunwell. When they fall, Kil'jaeden appears and shouts: "The end has come!"
Kalecgos answers: "You are not alone." From above, the dragon strikes Kil'jaeden with arcane magic. He also powers the orbs of the blue dragonflight, which turn players into blue dragons for a short time.
At 25% of Kil'jaeden's health, Anveena realizes the heroes will not win alone. She unleashes all her power against the demon and sacrifices herself. Kil'jaeden is stunned and cries: "The powers of the Sunwell... turn... against me!"
Kil'jaeden does not die. Too weak, he is banished to the Twisting Nether, and the gateway closes. Kalecgos says goodbye: "Goodbye, Anveena, my love."
Before she died, Anveena secretly gave a part of her power to Kalec. Korialstrasz noticed this later, but respected her wish to keep it secret.
Velen, Liadrin and the purified Sunwell
The victory does not solve everything. The Sunwell's water was corrupted again and threatened Quel'Thalas. Regent Lor'themar Theron even thought about destroying the fount.
Then Velen, the Prophet, arrives with a repentant Liadrin. Velen recovers M'uru's heart, still pure, and uses it to purify the Sunwell. The fount is reborn with a mix of arcane magic and the Holy Light.
This changed the blood elves. The Blood Knights began to draw their power straight from the Sunwell, and no longer from a captive naaru. The Prophet's story is in Velen: ten thousand years running from Kil'jaeden.
Sunwell Plateau timeline
- Kael'thas returns, steals M'uru and kidnaps Anveena.
- Liadrin warns the Sha'tar, and the Shattered Sun Offensive is born.
- Kael'thas dies in Magisters' Terrace, but the gateway is already open.
- The heroes save Kalecgos and defeat Brutallus, Felmyst and the Twins.
- M'uru becomes Entropius and is defeated.
- Anveena sacrifices herself, and Kil'jaeden is banished.
- Velen uses M'uru's heart and purifies the Sunwell.
Who's who in Sunwell Plateau
| Name | Who they are | |------|--------| | Kil'jaeden | The Deceiver, leader of the Legion, final boss of the raid. | | M'uru | The drained naaru who becomes Entropius. | | Anveena Teague | The last power of the Sunwell in human form. | | Kalecgos | The blue dragon who loved Anveena. | | Madrigosa | The blue dragon killed by Brutallus, raised as Felmyst. | | Kael'thas | The prince who opened the gateway and died in Magisters' Terrace. | | Lady Liadrin | The leader of the Blood Knights, who broke with Kael. | | Velen | The Prophet who purified the Sunwell. |
What comes after Sunwell Plateau
The Burning Crusade ends here, and the focus moves to Northrend. The order of the expansion's events is in The Burning Crusade in order.
In Wrath of the Lich King, high elf pilgrims begin visiting the restored Sunwell, led by Captain Auric Sunchaser. Kil'jaeden only falls for good in Legion: Patch 7.2: Kil'jaeden and the Tomb of Sargeras. And the isle becomes a battlefield again in Midnight, against the Void: the siege of the Sunwell.
Where to see it in WotLK
- Isle of Quel'Danas: the zone is still in the game, with the Shattered Sun Offensive and the Sun's Reach base.
- Magisters' Terrace: the 5-player dungeon where Kael'thas is the last boss.
- Sunwell Plateau: the level 70, 25-player raid with the six bosses in this post.
- The Quel'Delar chain (patch 3.3): after The Halls Of Reflection, the quest Journey To The Sunwell takes you to Halduron Brightwing, at the entrance of Sunwell Plateau. After Thalorien Dawnseeker comes The Purification of Quel'Delar, given by Halduron Brightwing. A Warden of the Sunwell takes you into a special version of the raid, past M'uru's room. There, you dip the sword into the Sunwell in front of Lor'themar, Rommath, Auric Sunchaser and Liadrin.
If you are still leveling, the road to 80 is in the guide to reach level 80 faster.
Frequently asked questions
Does Kil'jaeden die in Sunwell Plateau?
No. He is weakened by Anveena's sacrifice and banished to the Twisting Nether. He only dies in Legion.
What happens to M'uru?
Drained by Kael'thas, he becomes Entropius and is defeated. Later, Velen uses his heart to purify the Sunwell.
Who is Anveena?
She is what was left of the Sunwell's power, in a human form created by Korialstrasz. She sacrifices herself against Kil'jaeden.
How many bosses does Sunwell Plateau have?
Six: Kalecgos, Brutallus, Felmyst, the Eredar Twins, M'uru and Kil'jaeden.
How do you get to Sunwell Plateau?
The entrance is on the Isle of Quel'Danas, near Sun's Reach, north of Silvermoon.
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