Grimbane (Tactics)

For the biography, see Grimbane or Lucien Avaros. This page is for his encounter in Deathheim Fortress.
Grimbane is the final boss of Deathheim Fortress, and the final boss of the A Legend's Legacy: Rise of Grimbane expansion.
A former elven prince of good, Grimbane ultimately became a superior manifestation of death and decay. Led by a charge from Lucius Avaros, the Nova's March seeks to destroy the dark king once and for all, and in hopes to save his soul from the deathly responsibility of his Aspect. 
Grimbane is a highly challenging encounter, where mistakes made impact the rest of the fight, and if too many amalgamate, Grimbane is able to utilize his victims or empower them. Unquestionably, Grimbane is the toughest encounter in the Fortress, and in the expansion as a whole. His encounter consists of four phases with similar, but more difficult transitions - proper raid positioning and crowd control is key to success, as well as avoiding attacks involving the Devil Plague and his strong and persistent minions.
==Background==
===Dungeon Guide===
Grimbane is the ultimate fall of good to evil - a former elven prince on a destiny to be king succumbing to the infinite darkness of doubt, despair, and inundation. Now at the precipice of either his ultimate victory or defeat, his son, Lucius, leads a battle to save his soul from the damnations that have controlled him while the whole of Outhria hangs in the balance.
===Encounter Design===
Grimbane is meant to be a solid boss - in this case, making a mistake won't punish you temporarily, it does so permanently. Similar to stopping an invasion, you only can by changing against an enemy strategy. In that case, that is Grimbane, especially when he can empower himself at your own expense.
===Overview===
Grimbane's fight utilizes a mechanic in each phase which empowers his abilities, and some of them get buffed for the remainder of the fight if a raid member dies or does something too slow. His transitions are meant to test the raid's abilities to crowd control or fortify themselves in time for the next phase. In addition, with him destroying his throne the longer the raid takes to defeat him, positioning is key - but he will use abilities to ensure you're on your toes.
*On Master or above, Grimbane's Malevolence increases his damage by 7.5% a stack rather than 5%. In addition, his minions that he summons use poisonous attacks that lower your damage dealt to them, as well as increase the chance for them to critically hit the raid members.
==Abilities==
===Phase I: An Unescapable Darkness===
Grimbane unsheathes Sorg'alene, using its reanimatory powers to serve him.
*Grim Reaper: Passive. Every Plague Strike increases the damage of the next one by 4%. Stacks up to 30.
*Pack of Feasters: Summons five (six) Heim Feaster, adds that can sap health from their opponents.
**Soul Sap: Deals 68,432 to 72,443 damage every 2 seconds for 6 seconds, healing for 100% of the damage done, and can be used on a maximum of three targets.
*Summon Woemaker: Summons one (two) Woemaker, adds that can silence and asphyxiate opponents.
**Woe Shriek: Interrupts all enemies in a 30 yard cone, and decreases their haste by 10% for 3 seconds.
**Asphyxiate: Chokes the victim, dealing 63,000 - 66,432 damage every second for 5 seconds. While doing this, all cooldowns on the victim are frozen.
*Abyssal Hole: Summons a dread black abyssal hole that deals 45,364 - 48,432 damage to those who are standing in it, and also growing the size of the hole. If the hole gets big enough, it turns purple, and those within a short distance from the center are swallowed.
**Abyssal Swallow: Sucks in the victim into an abyssal expanse, killing them.
*Degradation: Stabs the target, dealing 135,432 damage - 143,221 damage, and then an additional 75% of the damage dealt over 30 seconds. 
*Plague Strike: Deals 89,654 - 98,332 damage and infects them with Plague.
**Plague: Deals 313,542 damage over 30 seconds to the target.
===Transition: Malevolence===
Grimbane enters the center of his throne arena, plunging Sorg'alene into the middle, exposing the raid to the darkness within.
*Malevolence: Passive. Players who die to Despair increase Grimbane's overall damage by 5%. Permanent for the rest of the encounter.
*Summon Unyielding Despair: Summons an Unyielding Despair, which become temporary immortal enemies.
**The Unyielding: Passive. When the Despair reaches 1%, its movement speed is decreased by 90%, and it begins breathing gas.
**Rot Gas: Deals 55,000 - 74,000 damage to those within 10 feet of the Despair.
*Blood Lance: Summons a large row of blood-covered ice that deals 234,425 damage and pushes those who are hit back 20 yards.
*Despair: Deals 150,000 damage to the target. A successful hit increases the damage of the next Despair by 5%.
*Shadows of Death: Unleashes darkened shadows ten times, with each time decreasing in diameter, but increasing in damage. Deals 240,000 damage initially, and decreases by 15,000 damage each use. Enemies hit by Shadows of Death take 35% more damage (40%) for 25 (30) seconds.
===Phase II: A Sinister Sin===
Grimbane pulls Sorg'alene out of the ground, empowering his blade with a more sinister plague.
*Sinister Grim Reaper: Passive. Every Sinister Slash increases the damage dealt by 4% and increases the damage of Decay by 10%.
*Summon Woemaker: Summons one (two) Woemaker, adds that can silence and asphyxiate opponents.
**Woe Shriek: Interrupts all enemies in a 30 yard cone, and decreases their haste by 10% for 3 seconds.
**Asphyxiate: Chokes the victim, dealing 63,000 - 66,432 damage every second for 5 seconds. While doing this, all cooldowns on the victim are frozen.
*Abyssal Hole: Summons a dread black abyssal hole that deals 45,364 - 48,432 damage to those who are standing in it, and also growing the size of the hole. If the hole gets big enough, it turns purple, and those within a short distance from the center are swallowed.
**Abyssal Swallow: Sucks in the victim into an abyssal expanse, killing them.
*Degradation: Stabs the target, dealing 135,432 damage - 143,221 damage, and then an additional 75% of the damage dealt over 30 seconds. 
*Decay: Deals 70,433 - 71,432 damage to those standing under it. Grimbane will target up to a maximum of 10 players to use Decay on.
*Sinister Slash: Deals 104,532 - 109,332 damage and infects them with Sinister Plague.
**Sinister Plague: Deals 406,738 damage over 30 seconds to the target and reduces their damage dealt by 10% for 5 seconds.
===Transition: Malevolence===
Grimbane enters the center of his throne arena, plunging Sorg'alene into the middle, exposing the raid to the darkness within.
*Malevolence: Passive. Players who die to Despair increase Grimbane's overall damage by 5%. Permanent for the rest of the encounter.
*Summon Unyielding Despair: Summons an Unyielding Despair, which become temporary immortal enemies.
**The Unyielding: Passive. When the Despair reaches 1%, its movement speed is decreased by 90%, and it begins breathing gas.
**Rot Gas: Deals 55,000 - 74,000 damage to those within 10 feet of the Despair.
*Blood Lance: Summons a large row of blood-covered ice that deals 234,425 damage and pushes those who are hit back 20 yards.
*Despair: Deals 150,000 damage to the target. A successful hit increases the damage of the next Despair by 5%.
*Shadows of Death: Unleashes darkened shadows ten times, with each time decreasing in diameter, but increasing in damage. Deals 240,000 damage initially, and decreases by 15,000 damage each use. Enemies hit by Shadows of Death take 35% more damage (40%) for 25 (30) seconds.
*Pain Blast: Deals 80,000 damage to half the raid, and 43,500 - 45,332 damage over 3 seconds.
===Phase III: Plague of the Devil===
Grimbane unleashes the Devil Plague, having enough of the Nova's March.
*Devil's Grim Reaper: Passive. Grimbane's aura periodically summons Vapors of the Devil Plague. He will absorb these and can also summon them upon using his abilities. Each vapor absorbed increases the damage of Devil Plague by 8%, at 5 can unleash a Devil Aura for 30 seconds, and can do so again every stack afterwards.
*Devil Plague: Deals 57,452 damage over 30 seconds. Devil Plague gains a stack every 3 seconds, and jumps to a player upon gaining a stack, maximum 20 stacks. All healing received and damage done by the afflicted is reduced by 20%.
*Summon Woemaker: Summons one (two) Woemaker, adds that can silence and asphyxiate opponents.
**Woe Shriek: Interrupts all enemies in a 30 yard cone, and decreases their haste by 10% for 3 seconds.
**Asphyxiate: Chokes the victim, dealing 63,000 - 66,432 damage every second for 5 seconds. While doing this, all cooldowns on the victim are frozen.
*Summon Angel of Death: Summons an Angel of Death, who can claim souls.
**Your Soul Is Mine: If an Angel targets a foe, it emits a beam for 20 seconds, dealing 25,000 damage per second. If the Angel isn't killed, the Angel consumes the victim's soul, fully healing them. On Master, casts on two targets.
*Devil Aura: Infuses with an aura, infecting all enemies within 5 yards with the Devil Plague. In addition to the 3 second stack, each second in the Aura will add another stack.
*Death's Grasp: Grabs all players, and reduces their movement speed by 50%. Uses before Fury of Grimbane.
**Fury of Grimbane: Grimbane absorbs the Devil Plague out of a victim, and unleashes a massive explosion, dealing 50,000 damage times the number of stacks to all enemies within 20 yards, and afflicting all affected with the Devil Plague.
*Deathly Decay: Deals 113,443 - 118,332 damage and adds a stack of Devil Plague.
*Infinite Blackness: Summons a hole dealing 73,000 - 80,000 damage to enemies near it. After taking damage from the hole 10 times, the target is debuffed with Blackened Soul, taking 60% more damage. Anyone affected with this allows Grimbane to use Black Lightning.
**Blackened Soul: Those afflicted with this take 60% more damage for 30 seconds.
**Black Lightning: Deals 806,543 damage in an area split amongst those hit, then sending three shockwaves for 124,543 - 154,332 damage. Four on Master.
*Darkness Burst: Releases deadly shadow blasts, dealing 214,342 - 216,321 damage. Targets hit by the blasts then gain Unstable Darkness, causing them to explode for 130,000 damage to them and nearby targets.
**Unstable Darkness: After 3 seconds, explodes for 130,000 damage to all players within 5 yards. Stacks up to 3.
===Transition: Malevolence===
Grimbane enters the center of his throne arena, plunging Sorg'alene into the middle, exposing the raid to the darkness within.
*Malevolence: Passive. Players who die to Despair increase Grimbane's overall damage by 5%. Permanent for the rest of the encounter.
*Summon Unyielding Despair: Summons an Unyielding Despair, which become temporary immortal enemies.
**The Unyielding: Passive. When the Despair reaches 1%, its movement speed is decreased by 90%, and it begins breathing gas.
**Rot Gas: Deals 55,000 - 74,000 damage to those within 10 feet of the Despair.
*Blood Lance: Summons a large row of blood-covered ice that deals 234,425 damage and pushes those who are hit back 20 yards.
*Despair: Deals 150,000 damage to the target. A successful hit increases the damage of the next Despair by 5%.
*Shadows of Death: Unleashes darkened shadows ten times, with each time decreasing in diameter, but increasing in damage. Deals 240,000 damage initially, and decreases by 15,000 damage each use. Enemies hit by Shadows of Death take 35% more damage (40%) for 25 (30) seconds.
*Pain Blast: Deals 80,000 damage to half the raid, and 43,500 - 45,332 damage over 3 seconds.
*Obliteration: Summons an apparition hand that carries Sorg'alene. After 3 seconds, strikes a random target for 502,432 damage. Avoidable.
===Phase IV: Save Your Soul===
Grimbane, fallen and out of energy, must pay the ultimate price to save the soul of the prince within.
*Visions of Despair: Four visions appear, turning the area into an even darker expanse. Defeating all of the visions will free Grimbane, and on their death reveal an aspect of his true despair.
**Death Bolt: Rains bolts of death, dealing 200,000 damage to five random targets.
**Fear Shriek: Causes those in a 15 yard cone to run away in fear for six seconds (seven on Master).
**The Face of Despair: Chooses a random target, and cannot be a target already afflicted with The Face of Despair. Deals 1,453,816 damage to the target over 30 sec. At the end of The Face of Despair, if the target doesn't have 50% or more health, they take 150,000 - 170,000 damage, and are afflicted with Fearful Horror.
***Fearful Horror: Reduces all damage dealt and healing received by 25%. Cannot benefit from abilities that increase attributes in any way.
**Realm of Suffering: After five minutes (four on Master), all the Visions combine, turning the throne into a Realm of Suffering, for 30 seconds. The transition deals 50,000 damage to all players times the number of Visions alive. While in the Realm of Suffering, all damage taken by the raid is increased by 20%.
**Release from Hell: When a Vision dies, it exposes who it is underneath (Luciph, Valia, Lucius, Esquire) and heals the raid for 30% of their maximum health.
*Nova's Beacon: Lucius shines down radiant light on all raid members, healing for 100,000 while standing in the beacons every three seconds.
==Strategy==
...
==Quotes==
===Intro===
*
*Lucius Avaros: He is close, I can feel it. Grimbane, my father, lies ahead.
*Lucius Avaros: As we advance these steps, be wary, steel yourselves, for we will face the
*epitome of despair.
*Lucius Avaros: It's him. Today I will save... my father. On your command, we will approach, and settle this once and for all.
*http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/wowwiki/images/f/fd/Gossipgossipicon.png/revision/latest?cb=20070607020201 Lucius, this is for you and your father, and for the world. For the Nova's March.
*Lucius Avaros: If we fall today, know that I never forget everything you have done.
*Lucius Avaros: Grimbane! Today, justice has finally come, for you, and the evil you have inflicted upon this planet. The gavel of righteousness, our March, will finally show you your end.
*Grimbane: Hahaha... so... the champion of Nordrasith - the leader of the March, and his band of subservients have come to stop me? To wreck my plans? To calm my infestations?
*Grimbane: You speak of folly - of a tireless, yet ineffective dream to save the one known as Lucien Avaros. But he is gone - his tormented and dead soul scattered amongst the ashes of the void.
*Grimbane: I have been set back far enough. To have you here makes matters trivial. After your defeat, nothing can stop me envelloping this world in a shadow of death.
*Lucius: Father, I know you're in there.
*Grimbane: Your calls for reckoning are useless.
*Lucius charges towards Grimbane. They have a vicious sword duel, before Grimbane impales Lucius, before lifting him in the air with Sorg'alene.
*Grimbane: Beg for mercy, and I may raise you as my champion.
*Lucius: Gah... never. Father...
*Grimbane tosses Lucius off his platform.
*Grimbane: Pitiful. Now, let us see if you are worthier than he was, at being my risen champions, and watching this world fall.
===Phases===
*This darkness is inescapable... you will suffer, as I have. (Phase I)
*Lucius picked a persistent selection of champions... now, rot. (Phase II)
*You only speed yourselves to the inevitable, either on the end of my blade, or wielding a part of it. Now, test the power of the Devil Plague! (Phase III)
*My despair... it was inevitable too. (Phase IV)
===Malevolence Transition===
*I will draw the shadows within, and show you the true face of malevolence!
===Minions===
*Feast on them, my minions. Make their souls yours.
*Know the meaning of woe.
*You can die. They are unyielding.
*Your death comes.
===Abilities===
*I will shatter your soul...
*Your soul is mine!
*Know despair!
*Death is close, and yours is inevitable.
===Final Phase===
*Grimbane: Hahahaha, even the purity of your righteousness can not defeat the malevolence of my despair. Now, you will suffer my wrath.
*Grimbane: Any last words, champions? Before I send you to a grave you never deserved?
*Lucius: ...Yes... You're going with them.
*Lucius fires a beam at Grimbane, weakening him.
*Grimbane: Still alive? You should've prayed to die.
*Grimbane grabs Lucius and throws him to the ground, asphyxiating him.
*Grimbane: Now you face true despair.
*Grimbane uses his Aspect power to show Lucius true despair. Seeing that it was the loss of his father, Grimbane gets off Lucius, and trembles in shock as his voice changes to become Lucien Avaros.
*Grimbane: This...
*Lucien Avaros: This is what you were truly worried about?
*Lucius Avaros: Adventurers! NOW! I will rip out his despair, please! SAVE HIM!
===Visions of Despair===
*You will know true despair!
*How can you hope to replace his void?
*Luciph Avaros: My son... I am still proud of you...
*Valia Attano: He never knew what he did wrong, for he was long gone...
*Lucius Avaros: Father... I know you're in there...
*Esquire: HAHAHAHA! Now, the games begin.
===Death===
*Lucien Avaros: Son, your blade...
*Lucius Avaros: Time to finish it.
*Lucien Avaros: DO IT!
*Lucius impales Lucien, destroying the outer shell of Grimbane completely, and the screen cuts to black.
===Outro===
*Lucien's shattered body rolls over, coughing. Lucius, weakened, crawls over and lifts his father up.
*Lucien Avaros: My son...
*Lucius Avaros: Don't speak, we're going to get you help!
*Lucien Avaros: No... it is too late. I just want...
*Lucius Avaros: Father?
*Lucien Avaros: ...to thank you, from freeing me from this curse. All of you...
*Lucien dies, breathing his last.
*Lucius Avaros: Father? Father?! 
*Lucius begins to tear up, then closes his father's eyes.
*Lucius Avaros: Damn you Esquire.... you will know my fury.
*Grimjaw: Lord Lucius Avaros...
*Lucius Avaros: Can you not give me a moment's peace?
*Lucius rests his father then picks up his blade.
*Lucius Avaros: The Brotherhood. The Confederacy.
*Rapturos: We understand it is a grave time for you. On our king's behalf, we wish to apologize that they wanted to end the life of this monstrosity.
*Lucius Avaros: My father... no one could do it but me. Where were they?
*Grimjaw: Grimbane and Esquire locked them in a prison near the river. They are now free but, they mourn for you. They want to do what they can to help you defeat the one who destroyed your father.
*Lucius Avaros: Let me give him his last rites, then we will proceed.
==Loot==
Grimbane drops his weapons, as well as pieces of the Deathheim Fortress uber set. He drops godly weapons.
*[Sorg'alene, Woe of Avarosia]*
*[Agosatr, the Prince's Redemption]
*[Casque of the Nexknight]
*[Pauldrons of the Nexknight]
*[Hauberk of the Nexknight]
*[Cuisse of the Nexknight]
*[Sabatons of the Nexknight]
*[Gauntlets of the Nexknight]
*[Jasal's Shattered Cloak]
*[Nexknight Defender]
*[Hand of Jasal]
*[Luciph's Scepter of Obedience] (Fabled Staff)
*[Gaze of the Hiding Void] (Fabled Bow)
*[The Prince's Facade] (Fabled Helm)
*[Fang of the Fortress] (Dagger)
*[Fragment of the Mortis]
**This list is incomplete.
An (*) asterisk indicates that this weapon drops from certain conditions. Specifically, in order for Sorg'alene to drop, Deathix must be defeated in both the Grim Foothold and Death'Mras, and then Jasal must be defeated without the "defeat" of Lucius.
==Achievements==
These achievements are related to the Grimbane encounter.
*http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080921040242/wowwiki/images/3/35/Money_achievement.png [Fall of the Damned King]: Defeat Grimbane.
*http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080921040242/wowwiki/images/3/35/Money_achievement.png [Master: Fall of the Damned King]: Defeat Grimbane on Master.
*http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080921040242/wowwiki/images/3/35/Money_achievement.png [Hardened: Fall of the Damned King]: Defeat Grimbane on Hardened.
*http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080921040242/wowwiki/images/3/35/Money_achievement.png [Well I'll Be Damned...]: Complete a flawless victory over Grimbane.
*http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080921040242/wowwiki/images/3/35/Money_achievement.png [Problems With Evil]: Let Devil's Grim Reaper reach twenty stacks, then defeat Grimbane on Standard or higher.
*http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080921040242/wowwiki/images/3/35/Money_achievement.png [The Fallen and the Furious]: Survive a Fury of Grimbane after Grimbane saps the Devil Plague from a victim absolutely infested with it, then defeat Grimbane on Standard or higher.
*http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080921040242/wowwiki/images/3/35/Money_achievement.png [Fallen Angel]: Defeat all Angel of Death summoned within fifteen seconds of its summoning, then defeat Grimbane on Standard or higher.
*http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080921040242/wowwiki/images/3/35/Money_achievement.png [Sorg'alene, Woe of Avarosia]: Wield Sorg'alene, Woe of Avarosia.
==Notes==
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