Skeleton

Skeletons are undead beings that have been reanimated by magic, often being used as fodder or shock troops by their masters. While gangly and seemingly frail, skeletons can possess superhuman strength and be highly resistant to most physical attacks.The World of Warcraft Townhall/Beastiary#Skeleton Some have retained their consciousness and intellect, and are capable of attacking with weapons and magic. They can be summoned by necromancers, liches, death knights, and dark rangers.
Many skeletons are found among the ranks of the Scourge, Forsaken and Knights of the Ebon Blade. In the past skeletons were notably used by the Old Horde and Horde of Draenor.
==History==
===First War===
Uncontrolled spirits of the underworld sometimes roam the lands where their bodies were slain. Rotted cloth and flesh hangs from their bones as they seek revenge upon those who caused them to endure this eternal damnation. Held together by forces too dark for most to comprehend, they are more difficult to destroy than might be anticipated.Warcraft: Orcs & Humans manual, Creatures of the Land, Skeleton
These abominations are magical constructs made from the bones of the dead. They roam the forbidden lands and forgotten realms of Azeroth, seeking to take their anguish out on the living. They know only pain and death, and strive to embrace the living in their arms so they may drag them into the pits of hell.Warcraft: Orcs & Humans manual, Monster Descriptions, Skeleton
===Second War===
These unfortunate warriors gave their lives in battle only to be brought back into soulless servitude by arcane Orc magiks to fight for the Horde. Rising up from the battlefield, the Undead tirelessly hack and slash at their terrified enemies. These skeletal horrors retain none of the personality or emotions that permeated their living bodies and thus will do their master's bidding until they are destroyed. Only mortal creatures such as the Humans, Elves, Orcs, Trolls, and Ogres can be bound by these dark powers and be remade into the Undead.Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Creatures of the Land, The Undead
===Third War===
 
Called forth from the grave by the insidious necromancers, skeletal warriors are mindless slaves of the Lich King's powers. These lumbering fighters are highly resilient and tireless. When operating in great numbers, skeleton warriors serve as an invaluable part of the Scourge's combat force.Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Game Manual, pg. 42
In the early days of the Third War, skeletons, and other undead beings, were seen terrorizing the human villages of the kingdom of Lordaeron.Ravages of the Plague (WC3 Human)
During the Third War, Thrall encountered several skeletons in the Stonetalon Peak caverns.The Oracle (WC3 Orc)
Corrupted Ancients were a group of in service of the Burning Legion that had skeletons in their ranks. They operated in Winterspring where they were defeated by the Sentinels led by Tyrande Whisperwind and Malfurion Stormrage, and in Felwood where they were encountered by Illidan Stormrage.
Drak'thul was haunted by skeletal orcs until Maiev Shadowsong destroyed them.The Broken Isles (WC3 NightElf)
The Tomb of the Ancients hosted skeletons led by Lord Talendar.
===World of Warcraft===
 
A strange darkness has recently engulfed the region of Duskwood, bringing out skeletons and other undead creatures from deep within the shadows. Though it is unclear whom the skeletons work for or whether they serve a greater purpose at all, it is alarmingly clear that they seek to destroy anything in their paths.
Mordresh Fire Eye found in Razorfen Downs can be seen talking to and encouraging his brethren, holding a speech about how the undead Scourge will consume the whole of Kalimdor.
Large concentration of skeletons are in the Dead Scar in the Ghostlands and in the Bone Wastes in Terokkar Forest and in Auchindoun.
===Wrath of the Lich King===
First introduced with the Wrath of the Lich King expansion, a more menacing looking skeleton was added and mostly appeared in only Northrend until World of Warcraft: Cataclysm made them available in several other locations. These skeletons were used for the risen skeletons of vrykul, storm giants, and frost giants, but they seem to be used for any undead skeleton to give a stronger appearance.
===Cataclysm===
When the Alliance and Horde fought for control of Andorhal, Araj the Summoner called skeletons to his aid through magical towers.The Endless FlowAraj the Summoner (quest)
Uldum temples contain skeletons.
===Warlords of Draenor===
Warlords of Draenor introduced a new skeleton model, mainly used for skeletal orcs.
During the encounter with an alternate version of Ner'zhul in the Shadowmoon Burial Grounds, Ner'zhul used tendrils of void to bind ritual bones together, creating an army of the dead.
The Shadow Council warlock Ogzor the Necrothurge has spellcasting skeletons called Ogzor's Bones serving him. These spellcasting skeletons seem to have been imbued with necromantic knowledge as they are shown casting Shadow Bolts.
A pirate fleet of skeletal orcs, known as the Bonefleet, appear in southern during Hallow's End.
===Battle for Azeroth===
The individuals who fell at the Battle for Lordaeron were raised into skeletal Blighted Soldiers by the Forsaken Blight.
There are skeletal trolls, devilsaurs and raptors raised in Zandalar.
The Drust on Kul Tiras appear as skeletons.
===Shadowlands===
In the Death Rising event skeletons are raised among the forces of the Scourge.
In the Shadowlands there are skeletons in Maldraxxus, in Torghast in the Maw and skeletal trolls in Ardenweald.
==Notable==
==Types==
Major humanoid types:
* Lich 
* Skeletal archer
* Skeletal mage
* Skeletal orc
* Skeletal troll
* Skeletal warrior
Maldraxxus only types:
* Maldraxxi necromancer
* Maldraxxi skeleton
* Slime giant
Minor humanoid types:
* Skeletal draenei
* Skeletal drust
* Skeletal dwarf
* Skeletal giant
* Skeletal gnome
* Skeletal goblin
* Skeletal human
* Skeletal tauren
* Skeletal vrykul
Skeletal animals:
* Skeletal bird of prey
* Skeletal devilsaur
* Skeletal gryphon
* Skeletal horse
* Skeletal hound
* Skeletal monkey
* Skeletal raptor
* Skeletal wind serpent
* Slime cat
Skeletal dragons:
* Frost wyrm
* Others
Skeletal constructs:
* Bone golem
* Bone wraith
* Boneguard
Miscellaneous:
* Crawling spine
* Floating skull
* Skeletal crawling hand
* Skeletal pit lord
==Groups==
*Splinterbone
==As a companion pet==
*Macabre Marionette is rewarded from The Grateful Dead during the Day of the Dead.
*Rattling Bones is a rare drop from Conflagros in Darkshore.
==In Warcraft III==
Many skeletons can be summoned or are found as creeps.
* Skeleton Warrior (summonable in multiple ways or creep)
* Skeletal Mage (summoned by necromancers) 
* Skeleton Archer (creep or summoned form an item)
* Burning Archer (creep)
* Skeletal Marksman (creep)
* Giant Skeleton Warrior (creep)
* Skeletal Orc (creep) 
* Skeletal Orc Grunt (creep) 
* Skeletal Orc Champion (creep) 
* Dark Minion (summoned by Dark Ranger's Black Arrow abbility) 
*Skeletal Archer (campaign only enemy unit)
* Skeletal Orc Archer (campaign only enemy unit) 
SkeletonWarriorWC3.gif|Skeletal Warrior
Skeletonarcher.gif|Skeletal Archer
Skeletal mage.gif|Skeletal Mage
Skeletalorc.gif|Skeletal Orc
Skeleton Warriors and Skeletal Mages can be summoned by Necromancers from corpses. Book of the Dead summons 4 Skeleton Warriors and 4 Skeleton Archers. Rod of Necromancy creates 2 Skeleton Warriors from a corpse.
==In the RPG==
A skeletal creature is the reanimated bone structure of a formerly living creature, a type of undead. Necromantic magic powers the skeleton, forcing it back into a parody of its living self. Most skeletons are mindless automatons, servants of necromancers or other spellcasters, but a few possess some degree of sentience and free will. A skeleton is seldom garbed in anything more than the rotting remnants of any clothing or armor it was wearing when slain. A mindless skeleton does only what it is ordered to do; it can draw no conclusions of its own and has no iniative. Because of this limitation, its instructions must always be simple. A skeleton ordered to attack does so without pause and fights until destroyed.Monster Guide, pg. 125-126
===Risen===
The risen are skeletal guardians created from the bones and corpses of dead warriors. Unlike a typical skeletal soldier, risen are exceptionally tough and resistant to damage. They also retain the fighting skills they had in life, so they make excellent guards, defenders, or skirmishers. Risen often accompany columns of ordinary skeletons into battle.
Risen typically wear plate or chain armor, although it is often ragged and poorly maintained. Some of the more powerful risen are garbed in magic armor and given magic weapons.
Although virtually mindless, a risen retains a high degree of cunning regarding combat, always employing feats to the best of its ability.Monster Guide, pg. 114-115
Risen centaur warrior is a centaur that has risen in undeath into a skeletal creature.
===Sapient skeletons===
Every so often, a skeleton retains its intellect or develops sapience over long years of undeath. No one has been able to create this circumstance intentionally, nor does anyone understand why or how it happens.Monster Guide, pg. 126
==Notes and trivia==
*According to Crusader Kevin Frost, huge piles of skeleton skulls seem to keep the waves of undead away.Add 'em to the Pile
*Older skeletons use the animations of male Forsaken.
*Skeletal draenei in Auchenai Crypts look like any other skeleton, even though in the loading screen art for the dungeon shows draenei skulls that look different.
*Fire elemental Hell hounds have a skeletal appearance and Ragnaros and Warcraft III Firelords have a skull like face.
*The dark energy that flows through the bodies of reanimated skeletons tends to accumulate primarily in their spine. Blood elf mages discovered a method of instilling this energy into a potion that boosts their magical abilities against the undead.Spinal Dust (quest)
==Gallery==
Darkeye Bonecaster.jpg|A skeleton casting a spell.
Commander Felstrom.jpg|A skeletal warrior
Uprez Skeleton Warrior model.jpg|Updated Skeletal warrior model from patch 8.1.
Cursed Mage.jpg|A skeletal mage in World of Warcraft.
Coldwraith.jpg|A skeletal mage in Wrath of the Lich King.
Wrathbone Flayer.jpg|Skeleton with the same animations as a playable undead male.
Blighted Soldier (orc).jpg|An orc Blighted Soldier
Blighted Soldier (human).jpg|A human Blighted Soldier
Blighted Soldier (dwarf).jpg|A dwarf Blighted Soldier
Blighted Soldier (gnome).jpg|A gnome Blighted Soldier
Blighted Soldier (tauren).jpg|A tauren Blighted Soldier
Blighted Soldier (goblin).jpg|A goblin Blighted Soldier
Recruit of the Damned.jpg|Skeletal troll
Risen Vrykul Ancestor.jpg|A Risen Vrykul Ancestor
Drust Evoker.jpg|A Drust Evoker
Bone Giant.jpg|A giant skeleton
Reanimated Pit Lord.jpg|A skeletal pit lord
Cleanskin Survivor.png|A Maldraxxi skeleton
Slimed Skeleton.png|A Slimed Skeleton
Giant skeleton wcr.png|Giant skeleton
Failed Scalecommander Haerothal.png|Dracthyr skeleton 
===Cinematics===
Skeletons in the 2001 Cinematic Trailer.jpg|Skeletons in the 2001 Cinematic Trailer.
Undead army WotLK Cinematic.jpg|Skeletons in the Wrath of the Lich King cinematic.
Shadowlands Cinematic artstation 1.jpg|Skeletons in the Shadowlands cinematic.
===Art===
Warcraft I - Skeleton.jpg|Skeletons from the Warcraft I manual.
Undeassecondwar.JPG|Skeleton from the Warcraft II manual.
Afterlives - House of Rituals.png|Maldraxxi skeletons in Afterlives: Maldraxxus.
Traveler The Bone Pile.jpg|Skeletons including those of quillboar, tauren and a harpy in Traveler: The Spiral Path.
Turov the Risen.jpg|Turov the Risen, a skeletal mage in the Trading Card Game.
Soldier of the Frozen Wastes TCG.jpg|Soldier of the Frozen Wastes in the TCG.
Valthak Spiritdrinker full.jpg|Valthak Spiritdrinker, a skeletal warlock in the TCG.
Death and Decay TCG.jpg|Death and Decay in the TCG.
Frost Burst TCG.jpg|Frost Burst in the TCG.
Khankrenka.JPG|Krenka becoming a risen centaur warrior from the Warcraft RPG.
Hearthstone
Plagued Champion TCG.jpg|
Skeletal Enforcer.jpg|
Skeletal Knight.jpg|
Skeletal Sidekick HS.jpg|
Risen Skeleton HS.jpg|
The Skeleton Knight.jpg|
Volatile Skeleton HS.jpg|
Wicked Skeleton.jpg|
Coldwraith HS.jpg|
Eternal Knight HS.jpg|
Jolly Roger HS.jpg|
Rattling Rascal.jpg|
Rime Sculptor HS.jpg|
Risen Groom HS.jpg|
Soulsplitter HS.jpg|
Soulstealer HS.jpg|
Wyrmguard.jpg|
Cold Case HS.jpg|
==Patch changes==
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==References==
 
es:Esqueleto
fr:Squelette