Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire

Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire is one of the artifacts used by shadow priests in World of Warcraft: Legion. Equipping it will automatically place Secrets of the Void in your off-hand.
==Source==
This item is a quest reward from Blade in Twilight.
==History==
Xal'atath is truly ancient, dating back to the time of the Old Gods' Black Empire. Theories abound as to the nature of its creation: the more outlandish claim that the blade is the remains of a forgotten Old God who was consumed by its kin, while other theories state it is the claw of Y'Shaarj itself. Whatever the truth of its origin, the blade is infused with the Old Gods' power. Legends state that it can even grant its wielder visions of the Black Empire, though doing so inevitably drives the viewer mad.
After the Pantheon's titan-forged armies shattered the Black Empire and chained the Old Gods beneath Azeroth, Xal'atath remained free; changing hands many times over the millennia and sowing death and chaos wherever it went. Eventually, it found its way into the hands of a troll named Zan'do, an ambitious Gurubashi witch doctor ousted from his prestigious position by his rivals. Xal'atath easily twisted his mind, preying upon his anger and turning his thoughts of revenge into an obsession. Xal'atath guided Zan'do and his followers to a mound of black stone at the foot of the Zandalar mountains. Though the Zandalari mystics had forbidden all trolls from approaching it, Zan'do believed it held the power to defeat his rivals--a belief that was only magnified when he learned that it was the remains of a powerful creature named Kith'ix. Xal'atath encouraged Zan'do to make blood offerings to Kith'ix, and the witch doctor butchered his companions in a profane ritual. At its conclusion, Zan'do plunged Xal'atath into Kith'ix's hide. The beast awakened and rose once more, and Zan'do and his followers were never seen again.
Kith'ix awakened the slumbering aqir and sent them to scour the surface of Azeroth, unleashing the full extent of Xal'atath's dark powers against the trolls. Though they would eventually defeat him and his insectoid armies, they never forgot the might of Xal'atath. Many tribes still whisper stories about the black blade that nearly brought them to extinction.
At some point after the Great Sundering, and for a certain period of time, Xal'atath was in possession of the naga.Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire#Quotes
Thousands of years later, Xal'atath was brought to Sorcerer-Thane Thaurissan's wife, Modgud, by one of the Dark Iron dwarves she employed to search for magical artifacts. An accomplished sorceress in her own right, Modgud was immediately enraptured by the blade and spent several days in her chambers trying to discern its secrets. When she emerged, she sought out the dwarf who had brought it to her to thank him... but no one could find him, or even remember his name or face. Modgud wielded Xal'atath throughout the War of the Three Hammers, using it against the Wildhammer dwarves of Grim Batol and summoning shadowy apparitions from the dark corners of the fortress. Eventually, Khardros Wildhammer fought his way through the Dark Iron army and confronted Modgud herself. She reached for Xal'atath to defend herself but found the blade inexplicably absent. Khardros struck her down with a single mighty blow from his hammer; as she lay dying, she repeated one phrase over and over: "You promised..."
Following the First War, a human priestess named Natalie Seline dedicated herself to studying the foul magics wielded by the orcs, knowing that knowledge of this power was key to fighting it. She heard stories of a dark blade that held sway over the shadows themselves. Troubled that such a blade could exist, she sought it out. As soon as she touched the dagger, Xal'atath spoke to her and she immediately understood that it could not be destroyed. From it, she learned of the Void and its interactions with the Light. By the time of the Second War she had not only learned how to wield shadow magic but taught it to her followers, using its power in secret to wage war against the orcs. Xal'atath's maddening whispers took their toll on her sanity, though, twisting her noble intentions into zealous fanaticism. She and her followers embraced shadow magic wholeheartedly, many even forsaking the Light entirely. Though Seline urged caution, her pleas fell on deaf ears. In time her followers decided that she was keeping the true secrets of shadow magic from them, murdering her in her sleep and taking Xal'atath.Word of the Conclave
When the Burning Legion invaded Azeroth from the Broken Isles, the dwarven queen Moira Thaurissan worked with the undead bishop Alonsus Faol to search for weapons to fight them. Through double agents within the Twilight's Hammer, they learned the cult was using Xal'atath in some sort of unholy ritual in Tirisfal Glades. They sent a priest to investigate, discovering that the Twilight's Hammer had broken into the tomb of Tyr. Within, Twilight Deacon Farthing was using the blade to attempt to reanimate Zakajz the Corruptor, a C'Thrax who had once served Yogg-Saron alongside Kith'ix. Farthing turned Xal'atath's power against the priest, but when he began to lose the battle the blade abandoned him. Calling him weak, it devoured his soul and told the priest to take hold of it. As the priest clutched the black blade, it whispered that the only way to ensure Zakajz would never rise again was to use Xal'atath to devour its essence. The priest agreed, and as Xal'atath grew in power they departed for the Broken Isles to do battle together against the Legion. This priest ended up as the High Priest of Netherlight Temple.Blade in Twilight
The High Priest wielded Xal'atath against the Burning Legion for a time, ultimately draining much of its power to purge the sword of Sargeras of its corrupting power in Silithus.The Power in Our Hands They either lost or abandoned it thereafter, however, and it had fallen into the hands of the naga by the time they attacked Kul Tiras and Zandalar.The Azsharan Medallion Collector Kojo came across the blade by accident near a makeshift altar in Stormsong Valley,Orders from Azshara and the adventurer sought to use it to gain insight into the naga's plans. Xal'atath explained that the naga sought to conjure a storm powerful enough to scour all Azeroth using three relics: the Void Stone, the Trident of Deep Ocean, and the :Tempest Caller. Xal'atath guided the adventurer to Drustvar where they found the high elf Inanis attempting to wield the Void Stone's power. After killing her, Xal'atath drew upon the Void Stone's power and possessed Inanis's corpse.Unintended Consequences Now in a mortal form, she helped the adventurer find the other two relicsThe Pirate's TreasureThe Tempest Crown and brought them to the Crucible of Storms beneath the Precipice of Oblivion.
Rather than stopping the naga, however, Xal'atath offered the relics and the adventurer to N'Zoth in exchange for her freedom. N'Zoth severed her from the dagger, keeping it for himself in the bargain; Xal'atath departed through a portal, confident she would see the adventurer once more.Twist the Knife Soon after, a Horde adventurer brought the severed dagger to Sylvanas Windrunner.The Black Blade Nathanos Blightcaller later held it as the seas over Nazjatar parted beneath his vessel.The Warchief's Order After landing in Nazjatar, Nathanos, with the blade in hand, ventured away from the rest of the Horde forces in order to complete his secret mission.Upheaval (Horde) He delivered it into the hands of Queen Azshara, who later claimed that she had intended to use it against N'Zoth. However, her plans were interrupted by the Alliance and Horde, and she was taken to Ny'alotha to be tortured by Dark Inquisitor Xanesh. She was eventually freed by Wrathion and Azeroth's champions, and subsequently gave them the dagger so that they could use it against N'Zoth themselves.Dark Inquisitor Xanesh#Quotes Wrathion stabbed the dagger into Old God's carapace, tearing it open in a massive blast of energy. The blade's whereabouts thereafter, if it remains intact, are unknown.
==Artifact traits==
===Base===
Ability 	Ranks	Linked powers
Call to the Void 	1 	Touch of Darkness
Creeping Shadows 	4 	Sphere of Insanity; To the Pain
Darkening Whispers 	1 	None
Death's Embrace (priest artifact trait) 	4 	From the Shadows; Void Siphon
From the Shadows (priest artifact trait)	4 	Death's Embrace; Mind Shattering; Thrive in the Shadows
Mass Hysteria 	1 	Mind Shattering
Mental Fortitude (artifact trait) 	1 	Void Corruption
Mind Shattering 	4 	From the Shadows; Mass Hysteria
Sinister Thoughts 	1 	Thoughts of Insanity
Sphere of Insanity 	1 	Creeping Shadows
Thoughts of Insanity 	4 	Sinister Thoughts; Touch of Darkness; Void Corruption; Void Siphon
Thrive in the Shadows 	1 	From the Shadows; To the Pain
To the Pain 	4 	Creeping Shadows; Thriving Shadows; Unleash the Shadows
Touch of Darkness 	4 	Call to the Void; Thoughts of Insanity
Unleash the Shadows 	4 	To the Pain; Void Siphon
Void Corruption 	4 	Mental Fortitude; Thoughts of Insanity; Void Siphon
Void Siphon (priest artifact trait) 	1 	Death's Embrace; Thoughts of Insanity; Unleash the Shadows; Void Corruption; Void Torrent
Void Torrent (artifact trait) 	1 	Void Siphon
Hidden trait: Xal'atath will occasionally whisper to you, similar to other Old God-themed weapons.
===Empowered===
Ability 	Ranks
Darkness of the Conclave 	1
Fiending Dark 	4
Mind Quickening 	1
Lash of Insanity 	1
Concordance of the Legionfall	50
==Appearances==
==Quotes==
When equipped, certain zones, characters, and events can trigger Xal'atath to say or whispers things to the player, like the Skull of the Man'ari.
===Killing a target===
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
===Characters===
* (at Cordana Felsong)
* (at Glazer)
* (at God-King Skovald)
* (at Odyn, in the Seat of Ascension, note that this triggers a fatal interaction)
* (at Tirathon Saltheril)
* (at Illysanna Ravencrest)
* (at Lord Kur'talos Ravencrest and Latosius)
* (at Arch-Druid Glaidalis)
* (at Shade of Xavius)
* (at Ularogg Cragshaper)
* (at Dargrul)
* (at Millificent Manastorm)
* (at Mindflayer Kaahrj)
* (at Blood-Princess Thal'ena)
* (at Fel Lord Betrug)
* (at Lady Hatecoil)
* (at Wrath of Azshara)
* (at Harbaron)
* (at Helya in the Maw of Souls)
* (at Nythendra)
* (at Nythendra and Dresaron)
* (at Il'gynoth the Heart of Corruption)
* (at Elerethe Renferal)
* (at Ursoc)
* (at the Dragons of Nightmare)
* (at Cenarius)
* (when facing Xavius)
* (interacting with the Remnant of the Void after defeating Xavius)
* (at Ivanyr)
* (at General Xakal)
* (at Advisor Vandros)
* (at Skorpyron)
* (at Star Augur Etraeus)
* (at Krosus)
* (at Spellblade Aluriel)
* (at Star Augur Etraeus)
* (at Elisande)
* (at )
* (at Thrashbite the Scornful)
* (at Mephistroth)
* (at Goroth)
* (at Mistress Sassz'ine)
* (at Sisters of the Moon)
* (Sisters of the Moon defeated, note that this triggers a fatal interaction) 
* (fatal interaction when attempting to absorb Elune's power)
* (at The Desolate Host)
* (at Maiden of Vigilance)
* (before the Fallen Avatar)
* (at Kil'jaeden)
* (Kil'jaeden defeated)
* (at Talixae Flamewreath)
* (before facing Arkhaan)
* (at Locus-Walker)
* (to Alleria at the Seat of the Triumvirate)
* (at Viceroy Nezhar)
* (at L'ura)
* (after L'ura's defeat, when Alleria absorbs her power)
* (entering the Temple of Anguish, referring to the shivarra)
* (at Varimathras)
* (at Dark Keeper Aedis)
===Locations===
* (in the Broken Isles)
* (in the Broken Isles)
* (in the Broken Isles)
* (in the Hall of Glory in the Halls of Valor)
* (in the Maw of Souls)
* (in Netherlight Temple)
* (in Netherlight Temple)
* (in Netherlight Temple)
* (in Netherlight Temple at the Sanctuary of the Void)
* (in Netherlight Temple)
* (in Helheim)
* (in Orgrimmar)
* (at Blackrock Mountain)
====Azsuna====
*
*
*
*
====Highmountain====
*
*
*
====Val'sharah====
*
*
*
*
====Stormheim====
*
* (in Hrydshal)
====Suramar====
*
*
*
====Broken Shore====
*
*
*
*
*
*
* (at Deliverance Point)
====Argus====
* (aboard the Vindicaar)
* (at Eredath)
====Antorus, the Burning Throne====
* (at Light's Breach in Antorus, the Burning Throne)
* (in the Hallowed Felworks, with all the fel reavers)
* (at the Seat of the Pantheon)
====Battle for Azeroth====
* (used in a blue post by Kaivax to announce the Crucible of Storms release date)"'So much death here, so much power.' --Xal’atath" -Kaivax, Community Manager, 1 March 2019
* (at the Locus of Infinite Truths in Ny'alotha, where N'Zoth is located)
===Other===
* (after beating all raids in a single expansion)
*
===Unused===
*
* (possibly in reference to The Soultakers in Stormheim, as one of the bosses is Reaver Jdorn)
*
==Trivia==
*Its flavor text was changed from "Do not put your faith in the black blade. It will deceive you. It will not be controlled." during the Alpha.
*For the main skins, the cutting edge of the blade faces towards the wielder, while a pointed talon section is used against enemies.
* Xal'atath appears as a uncollectible neutral weapon in the Voyage to the Sunken City expansion for Hearthstone. It can be generated by Queen Azshara's effect.
==Speculation==
Kaivax's use of the quote "" in relation to the Crucible of Storms under the Shrine of the Storm, which is part of N'Zoth's body, in combination with the Ny'alotha quote is "" and her mentioning in the quest Twist the Knife that the Shrine of the Storm is a place of ancient power that has had many names over the ages, might indicate that the Shrine of the Storm is where she had been used previously.
==Patch changes==
*
==References==
==External links==
Category:Quest rewards
Category:Speaking items
es:Xal'atath, Daga del Imperio Negro
fr:Xal'atath, lame de l'Empire noir
Category:Hearthstone cards