Mountain king

The mountain kings, or thanes as they are known in Khaz Modan, are the mightiest dwarven warriors under the mountain. Wielding both enchanted warhammers and hand axes, these fierce fighters live to test themselves against worthy opponents. Unconcerned with their race's preoccupation with mechanical devices and mining precious minerals, Mountain Kings live only for battle. Dedicated to safeguarding the Alliance which saved their kingdom during the Second War, the mountain kings can be counted upon to rally behind any banner that stands between freedom and the ever looming shadow of evil.
==Third War==
During the Third War they served the Alliance in various battles. The most notable one being Muradin Bronzebeard who in Northrend led Arthas to claim Frostmourne. For more information on others see: random mountain king.
File:BTNHeroMountainKing.png|Unit icon from Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.
File:Mountain king The Art of Warcraft.jpg|Warcraft III concept art of a mountain king from The Art of Warcraft.
File:Reforged credits art 18.png|Mountain king in Warcraft III: Reforged.
File:BTNHeroMountainKing-Reforged.png|Unit icon in Warcraft III: Reforged.
File:BTNMuradinBronzebeard.png|Muradin campaign mountain king unit icon in Warcraft III: Reforged.
==Known==
* Magni BronzebeardReturn of the Warrior KingAzeroth's Fortune mini-game page of the Cataclysm homepage
* Muradin Bronzebeard, aka Yorg Stormheart
* Modimus Anvilmar
* Baelgun Flamebeard
* Murgen Hammerfall
* Vanndar Stormpike
* Thane Stonehearth
* Aegrim Bronzebeard
===Others===
Bor Stonebreaker, Munin Ironcliff, Thorgas Broadaxe, Kelv Sternhammer, Grim Thunderbrew, Buri Frostbeard, Huginn Ironcliff, Thordin Rockbeard, Bandis Forgefire, Gar Doomforge, Beazel Bludstone, Modi Stonesmith, Aggronor the Mighty
==Heritage armor==
The first dwarf to forge the Bulwark of the Mountain King in generations was an adventurer who discovered an ancient tablet that describes how to forge it.Ancient Armor, Ancient MysteryForging the Armor The armor is also simply known as the Heritage of the Bronzebeard.
==Warcraft III abilities==
*Storm Bolt
**The dwarves of the Aerie Peaks often practice hurling hammers, for sport and for war. But, only the mountain kings of Ironforge can hurl a hammer so hard that it stuns their enemies senseless. Thus, the Storm Bolt is one of the most dangerous and powerful attacks of the mighty mountain kings.
*Thunder Clap
**First used by Murgen Hammerfall to decimate a swathe of invading gnolls in the Alterac Mountains, this powerful ability allows the mountain kings to slam the ground and cause destructive shockwaves of energy to damage their nearby enemies.
*Bash
**Mountain kings who learn the Bash technique strike with such fury that their normal attacks can often stun and crush an enemy.
*Avatar
**By focusing the energies of the dwarves' "newly discovered enchanted heritage", the mountain kings can grow in size and strength – and take on the physical characteristics of carved stone. In this form, they are impervious to magical attacks and have greatly increased durability.
==In the RPG==
===Description===
The most respected and revered of the Ironforge dwarves' warriors, mountain kings represent mighty champions of their race. While some Ironforge dwarves are enamored of the new firearms, and others unlock the secrets of their titan heritage, mountain kings continue a legacy that has existed for millennia. This is a legacy of beer, blood, booze, and thunder, of red-glinting axes and crushing hammers. It is a legacy continued by some of Ironforge's renowned heroes, including Muradin Bronzebeard, deceased brother of King Magni Bronzebeard of Ironforge.
Mountain kings boast prodigious combat abilities. They are ferocious in melee combat, wielding the traditional weapons of their race to decimate their foes. Their attacks leave opponents stunned and reeling. While they do not focus their efforts on discovering the secrets of the titans, they have long known of a powerful spark within every Ironforge dwarf - and mountain kings draw upon this spark and fan it into a raging flame. They conjure magic hammers and axes to hurl at their targets, stunning and slowing them so they can get close enough to use their real weapons. They transform themselves into silver-sheened creatures of living stone, shrugging off all attacks and hacking through flesh and bone with frightening ease.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 55
===Mountain kings in the world===
Mountain kings are champions of Ironforge, and as such they protect Ironforge's interests. Some remain in Khaz Modan, protecting their homelands from the depredations of trolls, troggs, and worse creatures. Others travel the world searching for the foes of Ironforge and, by extension, the Alliance — demons, undead, Dark Iron dwarves, troggs, and ice trolls. They are crusaders for their race, stamping out their enemies before they have a chance to strike at Ironforge or Stormwind. Other mountain kings travel the world on missions provided by their king, the Explorers' Guild, other patrons, or perhaps themselves.
Mountain kings have a tradition of proving themselves against mighty foes. Some Mountain kings fall to dragons, demons, or other ferocious creatures, but mountain kings are famous for overcoming these challenges and then seeking out another, even mightier beast. Mountain kings live only for battle; they are unconcerned with their race's preoccupation with technological gadgets, with mining precious materials, or with crafting great weapons. They feel a debt to the Alliance, which saved their kingdom during the Second War. Wherever the banner is raised against the forces of evil, there stand mountain kings, gripping their axes, slugging back ale, and loudly asking why the battle has yet to begin.
Ironforge dwarves also call mountain kings "thanes," an honorary title that respects the mighty warriors' prowess and strength. This moniker also recalls the day when most, if not all, mountain kings truly were kings of the mountains, leading the dwarf clans in the deep caves. In modern times, Ironforge has a single king - but many mountain kings are nobles or other honorary personages, the scions of families whose names and deeds echo through the generations. Other mountain kings are the first of their kith to attain such greatness, and look to carve their names into Ironforge's history.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 55-56
===Typical mountain king===
Mountain kings are the elite of the Ironforge warriors, imposing ﬁghters who tap into mystic powers to become true champions of their race. Many mountain kings remain in Khaz Modan, defending their people against attack. Others wander the world, however, ﬁghting alongside other Alliance forces to destroy all manner of evil creatures. Mountain kings are impressive in combat both for their own skill and for their ability to direct troops, and they are often found leading elite forces against powerful opponents. They have the respect of every Alliance ﬁghter, and many treat them with awe and a little fear.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 186 One such mountain king is Grim Thunderbrew.
===Race===
Mountain kings are Ironforge dwarves only. Some speculate that Dark Iron dwarves may have their own, perverted version of this heritage.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 56
===Affiliation===
Any mountain kings who leave the Alliance are branded as traitors and outcasts.
===Class features===
Though they willingly battle under any circumstances, mountain kings spent much time in their people’s tunnels and are adept at fighting in the dark places below the earth. Some of this ability is skill and some of it is morale and conﬁdence.
Mountain kings are more than proficient with their ancestral weapons — axes and hammers. They draw upon their traditions and ancient techniques to enhance the deadly powers of these weapons, finding vulnerable areas and swinging with extreme force and from the appropriate angle to add extra oomph to their blows. A mountain king can strike so hard he sends his opponents reeling with the power of his blows.
The mountain king can use storm hammers as a spell-like ability. The mountain king can use thunderclap and avatar. Mountain kings have learned tricks with their axes and hammers to enable them to strike past their opponents’ defenses. The mountain king’s blows are so strong that he leaves his opponents dazed and unable to act. Through his internal drive and the titan forces that reside in all Ironforge dwarves, the mountain king is able to turn his flesh to stone casting stoneﬂesh. The mountain king’s blows can be so strong that he leaves his opponents stunned and unable to act or defend themselves.
==Notes==
*In World of Warcraft, three warrior class abilities are taken from the Warcraft III mountain king: Avatar (warrior ability), Storm Bolt and Thunder Clap
*There's also a drogbar called mountain king.
*In Tides of Darkness, Anduin Lothar thought of Thoras Trollbane as a mountain king due to the geography of his kingdom.Tides of Darkness, chapter 5
==Speculation==
There are thanes among Wildhammer dwarves, Dark Iron dwarves, and iron dwarves, but it's unknown if they are considered mountain kings, which they could be, or if the thane title is differently used.
The Dark Iron Thanes all use the Avatar ability, which is an ability used by mountain kings.
The Dark Iron Emperor Dagran Thaurissan uses an Avatar of Flame. Avatar is a mountain king spell from Warcraft III that transformed the mountain king into a giant, increasing health, armor, damage, and granting spell immunity. However, it did not have a fire element.
Judging by his title, the independent Dark Iron dwarf Mountain-Lord Rendan might be a mountain king.
==Gallery==
File:Christmas '02 by Samwise.jpg|Mountain king on art by Samwise Didier for Christmas '02.
File:Modimus Anvilmar statue.jpg|Modimus Anvilmar's statue in Ironforge, it looks very close to the Warcraft III mountain king concept art.
File:Muradin WoD.jpg|Muradin Bronzebeard
File:Thane Stonehearth.jpg|Thane Stonehearth
File:Vanndar Stormpike TCG.jpg|Vanndar Stormpike in the TCG.
File:Mountain king Starcraft II editor.jpg|Unique Starcraft II editor remodeled asset from Warcraft III. 
;Heroes of the Storm
File:Muradin HotS.jpg|Muradin from Heroes of the Storm.
File:Muradin Avatar HotS.jpg|Muradin using the Heroic ability :Avatar in Heroes of the Storm.
==See also==
*Chalice of the Mountain Kings
*Singed Page
*Dwarven avatar
*Sister of steel
==References==
 
Category:Dwarves
Category:NPC occupations
Category:Prestige classes