Khadgar is perhaps World of Warcraft’s most important hero, as his origin story set the wheels of the Warcraft universe in motion. He’s been through countless calamities and averted even more, truly living up to his moniker as Azeroth’s Guardian. But Guardian used to be more than just a title.
Many World of Warcraft players may be familiar with Khadgar’s enduring presence and unrelenting wit, but his predecessor, Medivh, was the Guardian who began it all. Medivh’s actions catalyzed the initial invasion of Azeroth by the orcish Horde, way back when the Warcraft franchise was in its infancy.
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The Guardian of Tirisfal Has Shaped WoW's History
Medivh was Azeroth’s Guardian for only a short while compared to his predecessors, many of whom lived for hundreds of years. The Guardian’s charge was to protect the human kingdoms from demonic attacks, as the Burning Legion was looking for any weakness to exploit. Unfortunately for Medivh, he was that weakness, and he had been corrupted from the moment of his birth. The actions of his mother Aegwynn, the Guardian before him, set this grand plan in motion, so there was little Medivh could have done to avert his tragic fate.
The errant Guardian, a mage imbued with incredible arcane abilities, instead used that power to threaten all of Azeroth by opening the Dark Portal. It was his curious apprentice, Khadgar, who unraveled the mysteries and defeated his own mentor in an epic battle. Khadgar was supposed to succeed Medivh, but it was decided that no single individual should wield such power, a sentiment that even Medivh agreed with.
Why Khadgar Didn't Become Warcraft's Next Guardian
Instead of receiving an official title and the immense power that came with it, Khadgar remained a Guardian in name only. Before Medivh died, he told Khadgar that Azeroth already had its next Guardian, and that his apprentice would succeed where he had failed. Thus, technically, Medivh was the final Guardian of Tirisfal, but Khadgar symbolically took up the role, and has been protecting Azeroth ever since. Medivh would later return in Warcraft 3 and guide several mortal heroes to save the world, though his current whereabouts and status are unknown.
How Khadgar Has Still Lived Up to the Guardian Role
Khadgar personally oversaw the final defeat of the Burning Legion in WoW' s Legion expansion, so in no small way, he fulfilled the Guardian's purpose. Despite his many years and his being the most skilled and learned mage in current World of Warcraft, Khadgar met his match in The War Within. When defending Dalaran from Xal’atath, the Harbinger, he was overwhelmed by her potent void magic. She destroyed the floating city and held onto Khadgar, though the Archmage was close to death.
Medivh Was Alone, But Khadgar Has Loyal Friends
Only through the efforts of his dear friends was Khadgar saved from certain demise. Alleria Windrunner forced Xal’atath to release him, while Anduin Wrynn found the strength to cast a vital healing spell. For a heavy moment, it was thought that the legendary Archmage had cracked his last dad joke, but just as Medivh had said, being a Guardian doesn’t require the power of a god.
At least for now, Archmage Khadgar is set to stick around, but even if he had passed on, he wouldn’t have named another Guardian as his successor. The Order of Tirisfal, the group of mages who would bestow a Guardian's power, no longer exists anyway. Azeroth has many more brave souls who would give their lives for the world they care about, and that's all that's needed. The story of the Guardian is one written in suffering and destruction, and it was Khadgar who changed that dark narrative for the better.
- Released
- August 26, 2024
- Base Game
- World of Warcraft
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard
- Publisher(s)
- Blizzard
