Necromancy

Necromancy (also called the dark artsInstructor Chillheart#Dungeon JournalExarch Maladaar#Dungeon Journal or the black arts) is the study and use of magic to raise and control the dead.Ultimate Visual Guide, pg. 21 In the Great Dark Beyond, necromantic magic (or necrotic and death magic) is the manifestation of Death, and the main source of magic used to practice necromancy. This art of "animating unliving flesh" may also be empowered by the magic of any cosmic forces,House of Plagues (quest) and can be used to reconstruct the flesh and bones of undead creatures, allowing them to function again even after the foul monsters have been destroyed.The Schools of Arcane Magic - Necromancy The most common practitioners of necromancy are known as necromancers and others include death knights, necrolytes, necrolords, as well as the nathrezim.
==Origins and characteristics==
In the Shadowlands, Maldraxxus is the birthplace of necromantic magic, where necromancy was developed by the Primus. He is responsible for the creation of Maldraxxi rune magic, who devised this unique language of intricate symbols, each individually representing a specific word tied to the very foundations of Maldraxxus and the might of the five houses, from simple commands, to necromantic energy manipulation. In order to imprison his brother, Zovaal, the Primus invented an even more potent death runic language: Domination. Its sole purpose was to be the utter suppression of another.
In the Shadowlands, anima is the source that is drawn upon when using death magic, and is comparable to the mana used in the Great Dark Beyond.
The Primus established the House of Rituals and its liches to constantly innovate and advance the art of necromancy with new incantations and formulae.Errant Enchantments
Necromantic magic is considered to be a dark, corruptive energy and its use was made illegal in the Seven Kingdoms.Road to Damnation In the Magocracy of Dalaran, researching into banned fields of magic such as necromancy is expressly forbidden by laws almost as old as the Kirin Tor itself. For the mages, necromantic magic is highly illegal, should be avoided at all costs, and they only discussed to have a basic understanding of its use, as any practitioner of necromancy is the enemy of the Kirin Tor. Those who persist are censored, stripped of their power and influence, and banned from the kingdom.
According to Margrave Sin'dane, necromancy is just the art of animating unliving flesh, which is mainly performed through the magic of Death, but can also be empowered by the magic of any cosmic forces. Raised by the naaru Saa'ra, Calia Menethil is an example of someone brought back to undeath through the Light.Before the Storm During the War of the Ancients, Krasus used magic to temporarily resurrect a dead goblin, citing himself as a servant of Life.The Sundering, chapter 6 During the Troll Wars, the mage Meryl Winterstorm raised himself as an undead through Arcane magic.The First Guardian During the Cataclysm, the black dragons Sintharia and Nefarian were raised through Void magic by cultists of the Twilight's Hammer. During the war in Draenor, raised the annihilan Mannoroth through Fel magic.Mannoroth (tactics)
Blood magic and Voodoo can also be used to perform necromantic rituals, notably to enslave spiritsMinshina's Skull (quest) and raise the dead.Darkest Mojo (quest)Not Just Any Body
On Azeroth, the first known examples of necromancy were the not-living, undead proto-dragons raised by Galakrond through unknown means after having cannibalized them.Dawn of the Aspects During the Third War, the studies of necromancy took an important role and were used heavily by the Cult of the Damned, which spread the plague across Lordaeron, resurrecting its denizens under the control of the Lich King.
==Uses==
While necromantic magic is mainly used to perform necromancy, in order to raise and control the dead, necromancers can also bestow a number of dark enchantments upon their fellow undead warriors, and greatly accelerate an undead's movement and attack rates, however, those under the influence of this spell find themselves moving so quickly that their bodies begin to burn and ache, slowly dying from the effects of their unholy frenzy. They can cause their enemies' muscles to suddenly spasm and quake, leaving them immobile and effectively helpless.Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, Undead Units, Necromancer
During the Second War, the death knights of the Old Horde were able to channel their necromantic powers to create a field of dark energy that drains the life-force from any who come in contact with it, replenishing their strength with the life force consumed. By enveloping their truncheons with their dark essence, they depleted vital energies from those they lash out against. They were also able to transform a portion of a being's life force into an unearthly, phantasmal suit of armor that would absorb the damage from any attack for a limited amount of time.Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Death Knight Spells
Through their necromantic powers, modern death knights can call upon the forces of darkness at will, causing bolts of death to issue from their hands. They can absorb the unholy energies of their minions to heal themselves, and also exude a dark and raging battle aura, which causes the near undead to move and regenerate faster.Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, Undead Hero Units, Death Knight They can spread infection, channel runic power and corrupt life energy to sustain themself,https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/game/talent-calculator#death-knight/ but also curse, draw and strangulate their target, fire blast of unholy energy, and attack the mind. To gain the advantage in battle, they can increase their speed, use an aura that create ice beneath their feet, protect themselves with an anti-magic shell and dominate an undead, controlling it for a period of time.
The swirling negative energies known as the "Death and Decay" spell are favored by the liches for their power to decompose, rot and destroy everything. They can also destroy their minions, in order to absorb their energies to replenish their dark magical powers.Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, Undead Units, Lich By melding the powers of necromancy and the warped music of their screams, banshees can form protective shells around any creatures, which makes them impervious to all magics for a short period of time. They can also channel the powers of their unholy screams, which cause their enemies to temporarily lose their honed combat skills.Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, Undead Units, Banshee
The necromantic runic language, which serves to manipulate necromantic energy, is notably used through the runes found on the runeforged weaponry of Azerothian death knights. Their runeblades are emblazoned with words of power set in runes, each with translations such as "Razorice" and "Fallen Crusader". The rune "Taam", known as "the mark of the Lich", is used in various death magic rituals, such as the creation of aberrations and bone golems, but can be employed in many rituals requiring powerful death magics.Invocations of the Scourge The necrolytes in the Maw of Neltharion also used necromantic runes to deposit the power they've drained from dead dragons.The Best of Intentions
Necrotic magic can also be used to bind and restrain individuals.Keys to the Ruin While it can hold lightspawn captured, the Light can dispel the binding necrotic energies.Freeing the Light It can also be used to summon magical shields and portals.No Hesitation, No SurrenderSustain, In Vain
===Effects on beings===
Those who practice death magic gradually become undead, and thus don't need to be killed and brought back from the dead. They end up losing their soul, if they haven't already sold it, and their bodies bear the marks of decay. In the Scourge, they receive a Scourgestone upon their "birth", like all the other undead who are "created".The Scourgestone Without being killed, Arthas Menethil ends up becoming an undead after he took Frostmourne and became a death knight in the service of the Lich King.
According to Jaina Proudmoore, it is believed that if necromancers are not perfectly precise in their magical workings, or if they are killed, then they are subject to begin to rot immediately. A rumor that was confirmed after Arthas killed Kel'Thuzad, as the necromancer's body decomposition, which should have taken days, occurred in just a few seconds.Arthas: Rise of the Lich King, pg. 89 - 90
The Plague of Undeath was created by the Lich King Ner'zhul, in order for those who die from it to be only lying "dormant" in their graves, awaiting one skillful in necromancy to awaken them. According to Antonidas, the long-term affliction of the plague causes a certain reanimation of activity in the dead, as if the corpse is waiting for further commands.Journal of Archmage Antonidas
In the Great Dark Beyond, the souls of the undead are imperfectly attached to their bodies; the necromantic magic that sustains them is a buffer that prevents their souls from properly joining with their bodies. This is why undead feel only faint sensations of pain or discomfort from most physical stimuli, and why the Light is so painful to their existence.Nyorloth on the Official Forums - 09/02/2012
At some point in the ancient past, the Jailer's nathrezim infused the titan world-soul of the planet Argus with death magic, turning him into a resurrection engine that would allow the Burning Legion's armies to resurrect instantaneously. In truth, they transformed him into a weapon able to neutralize the Arbiter, the being responsible for judging mortal souls in the Shadowlands.Acquaintances ForgottenWorld of Warcraft: Sylvanas, chapter 25
At the end of the Scourge invasion of Quel'Thalas, the Sunwell was tainted by Arthas' ritual to resurrect Kel'Thuzad, corrupting it with necromantic energies. Afterward, the corrupted powers of the well permeated not only the elves, but all that they had built. Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider soon learned this and surmised that the energies would kill the elves and cause a catastrophe. Kael'thas painfully concluded that the Sunwell had to be destroyed.Blood of the Highborne, chapter 3
==Practitioners==
===Necromancers===
The necromancers are the most known practitioners of necromancy. As the masters of this tainted field of magic, they can conjure festering diseases, harness the shadows into bolts of incendiary energy, and chill the living with the power of death. Necromancers are the enemies of life itself, and all hands are raised against them. Some of the worst evils in Azeroth's history have been perpetrated by necromancers, and they deserve their malevolent reputation. Few things are as abhorrent and horrifying as necromancy.
===Death knights===
The original death knights were created for Orgrim Doomhammer by Gul'dan as powerful soldiers of the Horde. These death knights were created by placing the souls of the slain warlocks of the Shadow Council into the corpses of fallen Stormwind knights. Unlike modern death knights of the Scourge, these ghoulish fiends were not battle-hardened warriors; they were insidious necromancers who possessed a superior intellect and tremendous magical power. Further empowered with magical energies culled from the slain necrolytes, the death knights wielded an arsenal of necromantic and elemental spells that mete out all but certain death to the enemies of the Horde.Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Ground Units of the Orcish Horde, Death Knight
The modern death knights were the former champions of the Scourge. While they managed to free themselves from the Lich King’s grasp, some death knights still embody the ever-corrupting nature of the Scourge plague that once threatened to consume Azeroth. They fortify their bodies and drain life energy itself with the power of blood, sharpen their blades and strike powerfully with the power of frost, and raise the dead while striking with the unholy fervor granted by undeath. No matter their allegiance or cause, they remain defilers of life; and nowhere is their callousness more on display than when threatened. Inflictors of the most aggressive of diseases—and masters of raising unhallowed minions from the ground—these unholy death knights are vicious melee combatants, capable of striking with the force of an undead legion and unleashing pestilence that would bring their foes to ruin.Legion Class Preview Series: Death Knight Under the Lich King, the death knight Arthas wielded necromantic magic and used it to raise Invincible.Arthas: Rise of the Lich King
===Necrolytes===
In pursuit of furthering the Shadow Council's magical resources, Gul'dan opened a new school of magical discipline that became known as necromancy. The Shadow Council began training young warlocks in the arcane mysteries of life and death. Again, with tutelage from the demon Kil'jaeden, these necrolytes delved into the dark arts, eventually gaining power enough to animate and control the bodies of the newly dead.Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual#The Rise of the Shadow Council
By the time of the war against Deathwing, the Dark Horde would still have necromancers among their ranks.Blackrock Necromancer
On the , the warlocks of the were desecrating the dead in the Icescar Boneyard,Desecration of the Dead summoning demons to inhabit the bones of the dead.Stop the Flow After sacrificed the heart and soul of his tribe in an attempt to join the Iron Horde, the formed necrolytes who employed necromancy by using the power of the Void.Shadowmoon Burial Grounds - Ner'zhul - Adventure Guide
===Scourge===
Among the necromancers of the Scourge, the former archmage Kel'Thuzad is the most notable example of a modern necromancer. He greatly contributed to the initial spread of the Scourge and the fall of Lordaeron. Many modern necromancers were trained by Kel'Thuzad and his agents in the Scholomance beneath Caer Darrow, otherwise known as the School of Necromancy. The school contains notable figures such as the lich Ras Frostwhisper, as well as the headmaster of the facility, Darkmaster Gandling. The Lich King Ner'zhul granted these malevolent sorcerers true power over the dead in exchange for their loyalty and obedience.Necromancer (Warcraft III)
The Cult of the Damned is the organization of living beings who served the Lich King, and was formed years before the Third War. They aspire to become undead, and remain alive because undeath is considered an honor one must earn, and because living beings are useful for their ability to spy, and recruit powerful individuals from among the living.Magistrate Marduke#Quotes An elite branch of necromancers, under the command of the dark master Maleki the Pallid, refer to themselves as the Thuzadin, in honor of their lord and first of their kind, Kel'Thuzad.
===Maldraxxi===
The Maldraxxi are the undead that inhabit the eponymous realm of the Shadowlands known as Maldraxxus and make up the forces of the Undying Army. They are an immortal army charged with the defense of the Shadowlands,Necrolord Covenant: A Closer Look Inside the Might of Maldraxxus with masters of the powers of death turning legions of ambitious souls into relentless immortal armies, and necrotic soldiers being forged by an eternity of war or are made from the bodies taken as spoils of war. All necrolords receive a portion of the Primus' power in order to carry out their duty of defending the Shadowlands from external forces.Power of the Primus
===Demons===
During the War of the Ancients, the Burning Legion started to experiment with creating an army of unliving, but Kalimdor was probably not the only place that they've been attempting this.The Demon Soul, chapter 14 When Illidan Stormrage found out that the eredar warlocks could raise the dead, he admired the audacity of the demons.The Demon Soul, chapter 15 During the raid on the Sunwell Plateau, the annihilan Brutallus raised the skeletal remains of blue dragon Madrigosa as Felmyst, a fel dragon. The demons guarding the Tomb of Sargeras also knew necromancy and raised many orcs into undeath.The Tomb of Sargeras (WC2x Orc) Intro: "Although the inhabitants of this place died long ago, their bodies have been torn from earthen graves by the vile magics of the Daemons and made to stalk this region for all eternity."Pit Lord (Tomb of Sargeras)
The dreadlord Balnazzar used his necromantic power to raise the humans of the Scarlet Crusade in Stratholme as vile undead slaves known as the Risen.The Dreadlord Balnazzar
===Mogu===
During the Age of a Hundred Kings, the mogu found necromancy. Powerful mogu necro-lords ruled their tribes from crypts dug deep beneath the surface.Ancient Crypt Key (quest)
The mogu appear to have abandoned the practice of necromancy at some point before the reign of Emperor Shaohao, but have resumed it in recent times.An Urgent Plea Among them, the magically gifted mogu race practice "spirit-capture magic",Cracked Mogu Runestone allowing them to capture and bind willing or unwilling spirits in constructs,Spirit Binders bend them to their will,Unleashed Spirits and even summon spirits from beyond the grave.Incantation of GuraBreak the Cycle While the schools of magic practiced by the mogu do not fall within the ordinary class categories, the deathspeakers and possibly the spiritbinders can be referred to as necromancers.When The Dead Speak The Rajani openly call this magic necromancy, which they call forbidden and disgraceful arts.Built to Fall
===Ogres===
The ogre magi were originally a small band of extremely loyal ogre enforcers, transformed by Gul'dan into scheming and malicious sorcerers. By warping and twisting the elf-magiks of the Runestone at Caer Darrow, Gul'dan was able to infuse the magical abilities of long dead warlocks into the bodies of these unsuspecting hosts. Once hulking simpletons, the transformed ogre-magi can direct their death magiks as easily as their lesser cousins would deliver a crushing blow to any foolish enough to stand in their path.Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Ground Units of the Orcish Horde, Ogre-Mage
The Gor'vosh ogres found on practiced necromancy as well, where they raised the dead in the Ashmaul Burial Grounds.Gor'vosh Necromancer Their connection to the and the is unknown, so it is not known if they were influenced by either group or if these ogres discovered necromancy on their own.
The Darkmaul ogres spread necrotic energies on Exile's Reach and created a massive undead army. Their end goal was to sacrifice enough souls to raise the dragon Ravnyr into undeath.
===Trolls===
After the Great Sundering, Hakkar taught the Atal'ai jungle trolls necromancy for their unwavering loyalty.Troll Compendium/Jungle Troll Tribes#The Atal'ai - The Atal'ai knew that they needed greater numbers to achieve their goal. Fortunately, their unwavering loyalty to Hakkar had pleased him greatly, and he taught them further dark magics, including necromancy. Centuries later, the troll Zanzil was exiled from the Skullsplitter tribe for using his necromantic poisons on several of his unsuspecting fellow trolls, but his exile has not been the punishment that his kindred had hoped. Indeed, since that time, several witch doctors have joined Zanzil. With their assistance, he has built up an undead army that is loyal to him alone.Troll Compendium/Other Trolls#Zanzil the Outcast and His Followers It is well-known that his toxic elixirs can even rouse the dead from their graves.Zanzil (tactics)#Dungeon Journal
The Sandfury sand trolls practice necromancy with voodoo.
The Shadowpine troll priests tried to bolster their numbers through necromantic means, as they were raising mummies. Deathstalker Maltendis believed that Shadowpine troll priests used the unknown power unknown power source within :Troll Juju to animate the dead.Troll Juju (quest)
In the aftermath of the Lich King's defeat, the Icetusk tribe of ice trolls was formed by Drakani Death-Defilers. The group settled upon a chain of islands known as the Dread Chain. In order to survive, the Icetusk turned to necromancy, with many of their dead having been risen as servants. They mined :Azerite along the isles, and came into conflict with adventurers looking to do the same.Icetusk Fur Cloak (quest)
Blood trolls fuel their voodoo with profane blood rituals, harnessing undead monstrosities to do their bidding. They have necromancer in their ranks such as the Bloodfire and Nazmani Necromancers.
===Vrykul===
While Northrend's vrykul naturally know little magic, some have been trained in necromancy by the Lich King.The Old Wizard's Almanac
From the vrykul in his service, the Lich King learned of the Val'kyr and their ability to corral spirits and even delve into the Shadowlands, the realm of the death, and managed to create some at his service. The Scourge Val'kyr are sisters who chose to continue their service in death, and were created from the female vrykul of Valkyrion, who fought and trained to receive the Lich King's unusual gift.Off With Their Black Wings During competitions for the chance to become powerful undead servants of the Lich King, these winged spirits with vast necromantic powers were charged with raising the elite vrykul warriors into powerful undead known as the Ymirjar;Blood of the Chosen (Horde) while those who were not successful were turned into vargul instead.The Duke
===Others===
As they are the servants of Life, the red dragonflight has some knowledge of necromancy as well. They are able to raise the dead as animated corpses for a short amount of time, though they take no joy in it.The Sundering, pg. 202 Members of the black dragonflight such as Searinox and Lord Valthalak were shown to possess necromantic powers.
At the time of the Third War, living nerubians such as Nerubian Webspinners, Nerubian Seers, Nerubian Queens and the Nerubian Lord could use the Raise Dead ability.
The centaurs of Kalimdor are known to have necromancers among them.Centaur DeathcallerOutcast Necromancer On the Dragon Isles, the Clan Ukhel practice necromancy and committed greater sacrilege by raising the spirits of long-deceased ancestors and khans to fight during the Nokhud Offensive.
The Scourge lich Amnennar the Coldbringer recruited the Razorfen quilboar of Razorfen Downs, creating the new Death's Head tribe, which includes necromancers.
The Deadtalkers once tended to the sacred burial grounds of the yaungol tribes and held funerals for fallen warriors,The Deadtalker Cipher but for unknown reasons they recently began using dark magic to defile the corpses of their former clanmates.Assault Deadtalker's Plateau
Through the traitorous mage of the Argent Crusade named Magus Bisp, who supplied and perhaps even trained the Redpine tribe,Bagging Bisp some gnolls of the Redpine tribe have learned the art of necromancy.Three Little Pygmies
The Necrofin tribe of deep sea murlocs is known to practice necromancy. Legend has it that they discovered necromancy on a series of runed tablets at the bottom of the sea.Necrofin Tadpole
The quilboar on Exile's Reach, working under the Darkmaul ogres that rule the island, performed necromantic rituals on expedition captives.Down with the Quilboar
The Witch doctors of the Oomlot tribe on the Lost Isles can create zombies.Three Little Pygmies
==Items and objects==
==Notes and trivia==
*Draenei tails are potent necromantic ingredients when ground finely.Draenei Tail
*Every year around Hallow's End in , the Bonefleet, a pirate fleet of skeletal orcs, attempt to spread their undead curse onto dry land. Like a sickness, it will slowly overtake the landscape if left unchecked. The stench of undeath permeates the barrels of fertilizer they use to sow their dread crops. They are the source of the spreading plague.Foul Fertilizer
==Gallery==
;Trading Card Game
Army of the Dead TCG.jpg|Army of the Dead (Scourgewar)
Wow tcg lich king by james ryman.jpg|Ashes to Ashes (Assault on Icecrown Citadel)
Black Blood TCG.jpg|Black Blood (Worldbreaker)
BloodChill.jpg|Blood Chill 
Blood Plague TCG.jpg|Blood Plague (Icecrown)
Boundless Winter TCG.jpg|Boundless Winter
Corpse Explosion TCG.jpg|Corpse Explosion (Scourgewar)
Death Coil (Death Knight) TCG.jpg|Death Coil (Fires of Outland)
Death Grip TCG.jpg|Death Grip (TCG Death Knight Deluxe Starter)
FavorOfAcherus.jpg|Favor of Acherus
Frost Burst TCG.jpg|Frost Burst
Frost Presence TCG.jpg|Frost Presence (TCG Death Knight Deluxe Starter)
Frost Strike TCG.jpg|Frost Strike (Icecrown)
Obliterate TCG.jpg|Obliterate (Scourgewar)
Raise Dead TCG.jpg|Raise Dead (TCG Death Knight Deluxe Starter)
Rod of Necromancy.jpg|Rod of Necromancy (Reign of Fire)
Vampiric Siphon.jpg|Vampiric Siphon
Will from Beyond TCG.jpg|Will from Beyond
Word of Blight TCG.jpg|Word of Blight
Extract of Necromantic Power TCG.jpg|Extract of Necromantic Power (Scourgewar)
;Hearthstone
File:Army of the Dead HS.jpg|
File:Call of the Grave HS.jpg|
File:Deathborne HS.jpg|
File:Deathweaver Aura HS.jpg|
File:Graveyard Shift HS.jpg|
File:Life from Death HS.jpg|
File:The Primus Runes of the Unholy HS.jpg|
File:School Spirits HS.jpg|
File:Servants of undeath.jpg|
File:Tol'vir Necromancy HS.jpg|
File:Undying Allies HS.jpg|
File:Vision of Darkness HS.jpg|
==References==
 
Category:Religions
Category:Lore