Sylvanas Windrunner (tactics)

Sylvanas Windrunner is the final boss of the Sanctum of Domination. The encounter is an epic battle that takes its start at the Pinnacle of Domination before continuing across the Edge of the Abyss into the Crucible in Oribos, all while Sylvanas tries to waylay the heroes of Azeroth and prevent them from interfering with the Jailer's plan.

''With Oribos in peril, a desperate battle at the pinnacle of the Sanctum begins. Standing between the Jailer and the mortals who would stop him is Sylvanas Windrunner. With no masks left to wear, the Banshee Queen unleashes her full power to protect the Banished One while his ultimate plan unfolds.''

Azeroth's champions battle Sylvanas at the pinnacle of the Sanctum of Domination, across the vastness between the Maw and the Eternal City, and within the Arbiter's chamber.

Players first encounter Sylvanas atop Torghast. Upon reaching 85% health, she rips apart chunks of the tower itself.

As the Jailer envelops Oribos in the Maw, players pursue him with the aid of Thrall, Jaina Proudmoore, and Bolvar Fordragon, forging new paths and defeating Mawforged commanders while Sylvanas harrows from all sides in Banshee Form.

Within the Crucible, the Banished One executes his grand plan. Our allies confront the dominated Anduin Wrynn while Sylvanas engages players directly.

• Damage Dealers –
• While under the effects of Windrunner, spells and abilities strike Sylvanas where she cast Windrunner.
• Sylvanas' Rive, Ruin, and Raze are deadly if not avoided.
• Healers –
• Shadow Dagger inflicts significant damage to affected targets.
• Sylvanas' Rive, Ruin, and Raze are deadly if not avoided.
• Tanks –
• Sylvanas rarely gives ground. She casts Ranger Shot exclusively if her threat target has moved out of range of her Ranger Strike.
• Ranger's Heartseeker and Banshee's Weapons, Banshee's Heartseeker and Banshee's Blades, can inflict high damage in a short period of time.

"We have forgotten what makes us strong."

Players battle against Sylvanas atop Torghast while the Jailer remains elusive.

• Dark Sentinel

"You are unfit to wear this crown."

Upon reaching 85% health, Sylvanas chains all players with Domination Chains, then casts Rive, destroying the tower itself.

"What are we if not slaves to this torment?"

Sylvanas enters Banshee Form, taking to the skies to waylay players' pursuit of the Jailer as he ascends. Thrall and Jaina lend their aid, and cast Call Earth and Channel Ice, respectively, after defeating the Mawforged commanders.

• Sylvanas Windrunner
• Forces of the Maw The Jailer's forces continually flood into the fray. Defeating their Mawforged leaders allows Thrall and Jaina to progress.
• Mawsworn Vanguard
• Mawsworn Hopebreaker
• Mawforged Souljudge
• Mawforged Summoner
• Mawforged Goliath
• Mawforged Colossus

"Nothing can stop what is to come."

Sylvanas follows the players' traversal, greeting them for the final showdown between Death and inevitability in the Jailer's master plan.

• Sylvanas Windrunner

The loot from the encounter is obtained from the Domination-etched Treasure Cache, which spawns after the ending cinematic.

• Ashen Juggernaut (conduit), Warrior
• Carnivorous Instinct (conduit), Druid
• Deeper Daggers (conduit), Rogue
• Evasive Stride, Monk
• Growing Inferno (conduit), Demon Hunter
• Infernal Brand (conduit), Warlock
• Lingering Plague, Death Knight
• Mind Devourer (conduit), Priest
• Resilience of the Hunter, Hunter
• Shake the Foundations, Shaman
• Templar's Vindication (conduit), Paladin
• Unrelenting Cold, Mage

• Intro
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• Aggro
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• Ranger's Heartseeker
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• Domination Chains
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• Wailing Arrow
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• Sylvanas flies off the side of the tower in banshee form. The Jailer appears and creates a set of enormous chains connecting the Sanctum to Oribos.
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• The Jailer escapes through a portal.
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• Jaina creates a portal and the camera quickly zooms in on it.

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• Unknown abilities
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At the end of the encounter, a short cutscene plays of the Jailer blasting the Arbiter with a bolt of power, destroying her shield as Sylvanas watches in triumph.

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Immediately after the cutscene, a pre-rendered cinematic plays:

''The scene begins with the central orb of the Arbiter flying out of her body, as what's left of it gets pulled into the orb. While the Jailer extends his hand out to it, Sylvanas Windrunner skids to his feet, with Anduin Wrynn looking on. She focuses on the Jailer, trying to decipher what he's going to do.''

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The orb, showing a stylized infinity symbol, slots into the hole in the Jailer's chest as the area is blinded by a flash.

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''Wincing from the flash, Sylvanas looks up to see the Jailer, who is now fully armored with a Helm of Domination-style helm on his head. After saying "mine" in a different tone, a gigantic portal with a First Ones yellow geometric pattern opens out of the structure behind him.''

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''The Jailer channels an orb of power in his right hand and chains Bolvar Fordragon, Thrall, and Jaina Proudmoore, sending them to their kees as they drop their weapons. Their eyes turn the characteristic blue of Domination. Sylvanas, upset by this, calls out:''

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''Not deigning to notice, he focuses on the orb. Sylvanas turns to glance at Anduin, who is completely under the Jailer's thrall, still focused on Bolvar and party.''

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As "serve" echoes, Sylvanas closes her eyes, thinking back to when the Lich King and Arthas Menethil both used that word.

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''Sylvanas opens her eyes at this, instantly draws her bow and fires a bolt at the Jailer's face. Not bothering to take his eyes off the orb in his right hand, the Jailer's left hand plucks the arrow out of the air. As the arrow dissipates, he turns to focus on Sylvanas.''

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The jailer lets the moment stand for a beat.

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''Out of nowhere, in a reversal of situations from The Highlord's Vision, Anduin draws Kingsmourne and holds it at Sylvanas's neck. She barely reacts, just shifting her eyes to Anduin.''

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Sylvanas turns back to look at the Jailer.

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The Jailer opens a small blue portal and pulls another soul fragment crystal out of it.

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He smashes the crystal in his hand...

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''...and blasts the soul fragment into Sylvanas! Shocked by the blow, she drops her bow. An outline of Sylvanas wearing her ranger outfit mirrors her movements before fading out with an echo of her death scream. Sylvanas drops to one knee and catches herself with her hands.''

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The chains around Thrall, Bolvar, and Jaina fade away, as does their blue eye glow.

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''The Jailer turns and exits through the portal, with Anduin just behind. Varian's compass, still containing the portrait of Anduin, falls to the ground unnoticed. As the portal closes, Thrall, Bolvar, and Jaina close in on Sylvanas. On her hands and knees, Sylvanas weakly gives a warning, her eyes blue for the first time in many years.''

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''Out of strength, Sylvanas's eyes roll back as she grunts and falls to her side. As she hits the ground, the scene cuts to black.''

After the cinematic, Bolvar, Jaina, and Thrall remain with the unconscious Sylvanas at the center of the Crucible. Jaina also opens a portal to the normal Oribos.

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• Sylvanas has a history with the word "serve":
• Arthas Menethil said "serve" in Sylvanas's presence during the The Fall of Silvermoon chapter of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos: "Now, arise, Kel'Thuzad, and serve the Lich King once again!"
• Ner'zhul told Sylvanas that she would "serve" for his glory after her resurrection by Arthas.
• Arthas as the Lich King said "serve" in Sylvanas's presence during the Horde-side Escape from Arthas encounter in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King: yell
• Sylvanas herself recently threatened that Anduin Wrynn would "serve" in The Captive King and The Highlord's Vision.
• A similar soul fragment crystal was used in the forging of Kingsmourne as seen in The Highlord's Vision.
• A fragment of Sylvanas's soul plays a central role in "Sister Is Another Word for Always".
• Sylvanas's final warning before collapsing is similar to the one the Primus gave regarding not letting the Jailer reach the Sepulcher.
• During the PTR, the encounter overview in the Adventure Guide read slightly differently: Players battle Sylvanas atop Torghast, while spanning the In Between [sic], and finally atop the convergence of the Shadowlands itself.