History Characters / WarcraftTheScourge

The son of King Terenas Menethil, Arthas started out as TheWisePrince, an idealistic, chivalrous hero of Lordaeron, and was also Jaina's Proudmoore's lover. Unfortunately, the events of the Third War drove him to abandon his idealistic stance in favor of purging the plague of undeath sent by Ner'zhul (the original Lich King). Eventually, the trail [[XanatosGambit set up by]] the Dreadlord Mal'ganis led him to Northrend and the sword Frostmourne, which consumed his soul and turned him into a Death Knight. He went on to slaughter his people [[spoiler:and his father, the king]] and helped summon Archimonde in a failed attempt to claim the power of the World Tree. Shortly thereafter, Ner'zhul called him back to Northrend to defend against the assault of Illidan Stormrage. Arthas defeated Illidan, then rose to the weakened Frozen Throne, merging with Ner'zhul and becoming the Lich King.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority
* {{Badass}}: Sonuvabitch managed to kill of the majority of Warcraft 2's cast with his own two hands. Took out Illidan, who by this point was apparently stronger than all of Archimonde's lieutenants, and became a virtual god.

* ILetYouWin: Yes, he let you all win throughout the entire expansion for his XanatosGambit. He pretty much plays this also on Tirion in regards to their first meeting.

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** BadassInCharge: Oh, there is a reason that the Lich King chose this man to be his champion.

* TheDreaded: He attained this reputation sometime after his face heel turn.

* KarmicDeath: Held down by the souls of his victims while the heroes hack him to pieces

* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: When you get down to it, Arthas is a semi-undead human fused with the ghost of a demonically-powered orc.

* {{Ubermensch}}: Arthas has accomplished more than any native Azerothian. He carved a path of destruction across a continent, brought about the decimation of entire civilizations single handed, defeated god-like beings and did in fact ''ascend'' to godhood. By his actions the very face of the world was irreversibly changed and radically so for all eternity even if Tirion did defeated him in the end.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: You can't see it in Frozen Throne, but his LastWords in ''Wrath of the Lich King'' clearly show it.

* TheDragon: He and Kel'thuzad (formerly Sylvanas, too) back up Arthas in Warcraft 3.

* TheSwarm: His ultimate attack, used more prevalently in WoW.

* HappilyMarried: In the Twilight of the Aspects novel, in an alternate future, Arthas is this with Jaina. They even have a son, who is ironically named Uther Menethil. ( In that timeline, although Arthas did not turn evil, Uther was still killed by somebody else. The child was named in Uther's honor, some time after his death. )

* {{Ubermensch}}: Arthas has accomplished more than any native Azerothian. He carved a path of destruction across a continent, brought about the decimation of entire civilizations single handed, defeated god-like beings and did in fact ''ascend'' to godhood. By his actions the very face of the world was irreversibly changed and radically so for all eternity even if Tirion did defeat him in the end.

* VoiceOfTheLegion: After becoming the Lich King

** He also has Sapphiron, an undead dragon which is ''his'' dragon.
* FinalBoss: Of Naxxramas, and the last boss of pre-expansion World of Warcraft.

* VillainousBreakdown: A subtle one; before Tirion breaks out and shatters his blade he's laughing maniacally; after wards he's more subdued first saying "Impossible" then calmly saying that they don't fear him despite how he threatened and to destroy them. It's subtle but there

* {{Badass}}: Sonuvabitch managed to kill of the majority of Wacraft 2's cast with his own two hands. Took out Illidan, who by this point was apparently stronger than all of Archimonde's lieutenants, and became a virtual god.

** This has mostly to do with Blizzard scrapping the idea of Ahn'qiraj as an entire underground zone.

* AudioErotica

* CompleteMonster: After becoming the Lich King he pretty much loses any redeeming characteristics.

* CompleteMonster

[[/folder]]

* OldHeroVsYoungerVillain: Tirion is the older hero while he iss the younger villain; he also had this with Uther but Tirion succeeded in taking him down where Uther failed.

A powerful necromancer in life, Kel'Thuzad was resurrected in the energies of the Sunwell by Arthas shortly after the latter's FaceHeelTurn. With the help of the Scourge forces, he was able to summon Archimonde into Azeroth via portal magic; the Eredar's ensuing rampage destroyed the city of Dalaran and culminated in the loss of the World Tree. Despite the defeat of the Burning Legion (and by proxy, the Scourge), Kel'Thuzad was not killed; rather, he accompanied Arthas on his journey to Northrend, where the prince eventually became the Lich King and appointed Kel'Thuzad as his right hand [[strike:man]] lich. Currently, he rules the necropolis of Naxxramas, always eager for a raid group to fight.

* HeroKiller: In Warcraft III, where he killed Uther, Sylvanas, Antonidas and many other distinguished personages rather handily.

* HopelessBossFight: in Halls of Reflection and possibly Icecrown. YMMV on the latter, however.

* AndIMustScream: Consider how many ruined lives and captured souls this guy is responsible for through the entire timeline, and yet when Sylvanas sees him in the afterlife he's broken down in tears from the unspeakable torture that's going on there.

** BadassCape: Yeah.

* AnIcePerson

* OldHeroVsYoungerVillain: Tirion is the Older Hero he's the Younger Villain; he also had this with Uther but Tirion succeeded in taking him down where Uther failed.
* OneManArmy: He killed Uther, Sylvanas, Antonidas and many other distinguished personages rather handily. Also, you know why none of his men came back with him? He killed them and raised them as the walking dead.

* Archenemy: Lor'themar considers him one but the feeling is not mutual.

* NiceHat

[[/folder]]

* {{Ubermensch}}: Arthas has accomplished more than any native Azerothian. He carved a path of destruction across a continent, brought about the decimation of entire civilizations single handed, defeated god-like beings and did in fact ''ascend'' to godhood. By his actions the very face of the world was irreversibly changed and radically so for all eternity.

* VillanousBreakdown: A subtle one; before Tirion breaks out and shatters his blade he's laughing maniacally; after wards he's more subdued first saying "Impossible" then calmly saying that they don't fear him despite how he threatened and to destroy them. It's subtle but there

* AudioErotica: Every voice actor he's ever had.

* TortureMakesYouEvil: The Lich King believes that he can make Bolvar Fordragon become his servant if he breaks him long enough. [[spoiler: Ironically, he ultimately ends up becoming the new Lich King.]]