During A Light in the Dark – the final campaign chapter of World of Warcraft: The War Within – one of Xal’atath’s lines is completely different depending on several factors, including if the character is a Shadow Priest who met her in Legion. Players can get up to four different lines during the World of Warcraft story chapter based on what parts of the game their character has experienced before.
Not long ago, World of Warcraft opened up the final max level campaign for The War Within. This chapter had the heroes thwart one of Xal’atath’s many schemes, and revealed the truth behind Khadgar’s fate at the beginning of the World of Warcraft expansion.
However, there is a special Easter egg in the lead-up to this climax that not every player may be aware of. During the fight against Xal’atath’s forces, the enigmatic antagonist whispers a threat directly to the character that differs depending on two factors: if the individual is a Shadow Priest who has completed the artifact questline from Legion, and if they still have the Eye of N’zoth obtained during the His Eye Upon You quest in Battle for Azeroth. According to WoW senior game designer Sarah Cotner on Twitter, there are four pieces of dialogue available, with two of them only being available for Priests who met Xal’atath back in Legion.
Variable Xal’atath Dialogue in WoW: The War Within
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Shadow Priest Dagger acquired, Eye of N’zoth cleansed/Never obtained
- “After we shared so much, you simply threw me away. I will savor the taste of your insanity. Just let go.”
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Shadow Priest Dagger acquired, Eye of N’zoth present
- “Yes, bring your 'allies' to me, my blade. Drive them to the brink! For you have become the weapon that I now wield.”
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No Dagger/Not Shadow Priest, Eye of N’zoth cleansed/Never obtained
- “Your world is dying. Breathe deep and accept that you have caused your end.”
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No Dagger/Not Shadow Priest, Eye of N’zoth present
- “I told you that you were destined for great things. Rejoice, for you have aided the end of all things.”
Shadow Priests first encountered Xal’atath in World of Warcraft as the artifact weapon for their specialization in Legion, where the dagger would periodically whisper secrets to them. She reappeared in Battle for Azeroth, where all players finally had the chance to encounter her in the lead-up to Ny’alotha. During this storyline, some characters are "gifted" with the Eye of N’zoth, which permanently appears on their head, allowing them to see other corrupted characters and occasionally have special interactions with NPCs. Completing the quest removes the effect, but some fans choose to keep the gift to see what unique dialogue they might find – such as these new lines in The War Within.
Needless to say, Xal’atath has been a popular villain among World of Warcraft fans. Though some might not have even known who she was at the beginning of the expansion, The War Within has done a good job establishing the mysterious foe throughout its storyline, with plenty of exposure to her for new players, but clever Easter eggs for those who already know her.
According to executive creative director of Warcraft Chris Metzen, Xal’atath isn’t going to be a one-expansion villain like some previous antagonists. Fans can expect to face off against Xal’atath during all of the Worldsoul Saga in World of Warcraft, so Shadow Priests should keep their eye out for other Easter eggs like this one in the future.
- Released
- August 26, 2024
- Base Game
- World of Warcraft
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard
- Publisher(s)
- Blizzard
WHERE TO PLAY
In this opening chapter of The Worldsoul Saga, you’ll journey through never-before-seen subterranean worlds filled with hidden wonders and lurking perils, down to the dark depths of the Nerubian empire, where the inscrutable Harbinger of the Void has gathered her arachnid forces to bring Azeroth to its knees.
