World of Warcraft Confirms Xal’atath’s Backstory Ahead of Midnight
World of Warcraft recently debuted the first animated short for Midnight, in which Xal’atath reveals she was once a mortal from a world consumed by the Void. This major lore drop provides some interesting context for the major antagonist before her attack on Azeroth formally begins in World of Warcraft: Midnight.
Since World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, Blizzard has released one or more animated shorts ahead of each expansion to explore the backstories of major characters. Before World of Warcraft: The War Within, it did so in the form of a motion story for Queen Ansurek, as well as an animated short for Alleria Windrunner.
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Things are going to get exciting in World of Warcraft very soon, but the champions of Azeroth find themselves in a uniquely awkward place right now.
World of Warcraft’s Xal’atath Used to Be Mortal
Now, Blizzard has officially revealed the first animated short for Midnight, which confirms even more details about Xal’atath’s backstory in World of Warcraft. Titled “Supremacy,” this motion story stars Nexus-King Salhadaar, the leader of the Shadowguard who was defeated alongside his master, Dimensius the All-Devouring, in the Manaforge Omega raid. While the Nexus-King was trying to escape from Xal’atath’s forces, the villain stops Salhadaar in an attempt to turn him to her side. To do so, Xal’atath reveals a shocking truth: she was once a mortal whose world was consumed by the Void when she was a child.
Curiously, Xal’atath’s mortal form sports golden tattoos around her eyes and on her bald head and wears a pendant that looks like a sun. These details seem to evoke the Light, which could mean Xal’atath’s original world was once aligned with the Void’s cosmic enemy. It remains to be seen if this detail will play a larger role in Xal’atath’s story in the future.
This isn’t the first time the idea that Xal’atath was once mortal has appeared. During Ghosts of K’aresh, World of Warcraft players ended up working with Xal’atath to defeat Dimensius. When this patch was on the Public Test Realm, Xal’atath shared her mortal origins with the player, though this line was removed before it was officially released. This decision was ostensibly made so the reveal could instead come in the “Supremacy” motion story.
Of course, it is possible that Xal’atath could be lying about her origins. The villain is a serial manipulator who will always say what her victims want to hear, as she did with Ansurek, Gallywix, and many others. That said, she rarely lies outright, instead bending the truth or omitting details to serve her goals. Even if some parts were altered, the core of what she told Salhadaar is likely the truth.
Xal’atath’s Schemes Come to a Head in WoW: Midnight
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Xal’atath was the mastermind behind the conflicts of The War Within, but her plans are coming to fruition in Midnight. She has devoured The Devourer and is using his powers to muster a mighty Void-aligned force consisting of the Twilight’s Blade cult seen in WoW: Midnight’s Pre-Patch event, the Dominaar from the Voidstorm zone, and now, Salhadaar’s Shadowguard.
It will take heroes from every corner of Azeroth to stop Xal’atath from claiming the Sunwell and corrupting it. However, clues from the World of Warcraft 2026 roadmap suggest the invasions of the Void will only continue to escalate as Midnight goes on, meaning fans may not be entirely successful in fending off Xal’atath during the launch campaign.
Though there are plenty of surprising boss encounters in World of Warcraft: Midnight, Xal’atath is not currently among them. It is currently unclear if the Harbinger of the Void will be fought directly in one of Midnight’s later patch raids or if she will survive and appear once again in The Last Titan alongside the likes of Iridikron. Either way, it is clear Xal’atath is going to be more important than ever in Midnight.
- Released
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2026
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
