Sylvanas Windrunner (tactics)

Sylvanas Windrunner is the final boss of the Sanctum of Domination.

Adventure Journal
''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.''

Overview
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 80% 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.

Stage One: A Cycle of Hatred
"We have forgotten what makes us strong."

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


 * Windrunner – Sylvanas Windrunner is by far one of the most talented fighters from Azeroth, and can execute multiple abilities in quick succession, rapidly changing position to suit her combat needs. While under the effects of Windrunner, spells and abilities strike Sylvanas where she cast Windrunner.
 * Withering Fire – Sylvanas releases a volley of arrows, inflicting 8262 Shadow damage to affected players.
 * Barbed Arrow – Withering Fire leaves a Barbed Arrow in targets, bleeding for 3856 Physical damage every 3 sec. This effect stacks.
 * Desecrating Shot – Sylvanas looses a cavalcade of infused arrows, erupting for 33050 Shadow damage to players within the area of effect.
 * Shadow Dagger – Sylvanas heaves corrupted blades, inflicting 9078 Shadow damage every 1 sec for 9 sec to all struck targets.
 * Domination Chains – Sylvanas fires several salvos of Domination Arrows at targeted locations, inflicting 41312 Shadow damage to enemies within 5 yards, then chains players to those that remain. These chains pull players inflicting 2479 Shadow damage every second and increasing the speed at which players are pulled by 30% until defeated. This effect stacks and removes Barbed Arrow from targets.
 * Calamity – The Domination Arrow radiates corrupt energy, inflicting 110289 Shadow damage when afflicted players come within 0 yards of the arrow chaining them.
 * On Mythic difficulty, Calamity affects targets in a radius around the Domination Arrow.
 * Woe (Mythic) – Domination Chains afflictions taint targets with Woe, inflicting 1653 Shadow damage to all players per stack if re-afflicted with Domination Chains. This effect stacks and increases in damage by 100% per stack.
 * Veil of Darkness – Sylvanas enshrouds an area in fog, inflicting 33050 Shadow damage and afflicting enemies within a deathly cloud, absorbing 32871 healing and inflicting 1100 Shadow damage every half-second. 25% of all healing bypasses this absorb. [This effect begins at 6 stacks, and every second attempts to transfer 1 stack to a nearby player within 5 yards.]
 * Black Arrow – Sylvanas launches a terror-infused arrow at a player, inflicting 22033 Shadow damage and additionally inflicting up to 77116 Shadow damage to all other players, decreasing in damage based on distance from the point of impact. Upon impact, summons 3 Dark Sentinels nearby. Each time Black Arrow completes, Sylvanas gains Black Arrow, increasing the number of Dark Sentinels summoned. This effect stacks.
 * Dark Sentinel
 * Rage – The Dark Sentinel enters into a blind fury, fixating on a target and refusing to attack any others. Every 3 sec. the Dark Sentinel gains additional Rage, increasing damage done by 10% and preventing them from being slowed below 20% of normal speed. This effect stacks.
 * Ranger's Heartseeker – Sylvanas gains a stack of Ranger's Heartseeker every 5 sec. Upon reaching 3 stacks Sylvanas can replace a Ranger Shot with a triple burst of Ranger's Heartseeker into her target. Each arrow inflicts 38559 Physical damage and 22034 Shadow damage, applying Banshee's Mark.
 * Banshee's Mark – Inflicts 2754 Shadow damage every second for 18 sec. This effect stacks.

Intermission: A Monument to our Suffering
"You are unfit to wear this crown."

Upon reaching 80% health, Sylvanas chains all players with [Domination Chains], then casts [Rive], destroying the tower itself.


 * Banshee Shroud – Enshrouds Sylvanas in darkness, reducing damage taken by 99%.
 * Domination Chains – Sylvanas fires several salvos of Domination Arrows at targeted locations, inflicting 41312 Shadow damage to enemies within 5 yards, then chains players to those that remain. These chains pull players inflicting 2479 Shadow damage every second and increasing the speed at which players are pulled by 30% until defeated. This effect stacks and removes Barbed Arrow from targets.
 * Rive – Sylvanas rips fragments of Torghast, sending them in a targeted direction inflicting 330498 Physical damage to all players in the chunk's path.
 * Riven Debris – Ejects abominable detritus along the travel path, inflicting 55083 Shadow damage to targets within 4 yards of the impact location.
 * Banshee Wail – Sylvanas lets forth a shrill scream, inflicting damage based on each targeted player's health, starting at 10,741 Shadow damage at full health, increasing to 35,804 Shadow damage, to players within 5 yards of each targeted player, interrupting for 3 sec.

Stage Two: The Banshee Queen
"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
 * Ruin – Sylvanas lays waste to the area, inflicting 275415 Shadow damage to all players. This damage cannot be mitigated or avoided.
 * Haunting Wave – Sylvanas releases rolling energy, pushing away enemies upon contact with the waves and inflicts 1377 Shadow damage every half-second for 10 sec. This effect stacks.
 * Veil of Darkness – Sylvanas enshrouds an area in fog, inflicting 33050 Shadow damage and afflicting enemies within a deathly cloud, absorbing 32871 healing and inflicting 1100 Shadow damage every half-second. 25% of all healing bypasses this absorb. [This effect begins at 6 stacks, and every second attempts to transfer 1 stack to a nearby player within 5 yards.]
 * Banshee Wail – Sylvanas lets forth a shrill scream, inflicting damage based on each targeted player's health, starting at 10,741 Shadow damage at full health, increasing to 35,804 Shadow damage, to players within 5 yards of each targeted player, interrupting for 3 sec.
 * Banshee Form – Gains the ability to fly.
 * Banshee Shroud – Enshrouds Sylvanas in darkness, reducing damage taken by 99%.
 * Shadow Dagger – Sylvanas heaves corrupted blades, inflicting 9078 Shadow damage every 1 sec for 9 sec to all struck targets.
 * Withering Fire – Sylvanas releases a volley of arrows, inflicting 8262 Shadow damage to affected players.
 * Forces of the Maw
 * The Jailer's forces continually flood into the fray. Defeating their Mawforged leaders allows Thrall and Jaina to progress.
 * Hymn of the End – Recites a chant of destruction, inflicting 2754 Shadow damage to all players every second while no players are within 50 yards.
 * Mawsworn Vanguard
 * Accursed Might – Empowers the Vanguard with accursed magic, increasing damage done by 50%, movement speed by 10%, and total health by 30%. This effect stacks.
 * HeroicUnstoppable Force – The Vanguard slams the ground, inflicting 16525 Physical damage to enemies within 5 yards of the point of impact.
 * Mawsworn Hopebreaker
 * Enflame – Imbues the Hopebreaker with a burning rage, increasing movement speed by 100% and causes successful melee swings to inflict 13771 Fire damage to their current target and an additional 4131 Fire damage to all other players within 60 yards.
 * Destabilize – The Hopebreaker channels destabilizing magic into afflicted targets, reducing movement speed by 5%, inflicting 275 Shadow damage every second and additionally absorbing healing equal to 10% of the target's health for 6 sec. This effect stacks.
 * Mawforged Souljudge
 * Lashing Strike – The Souljudge charges towards an enemy, striking them for 44067 Physical damage and additionally applies Lashing Wound.
 * Lashing Wound – Inflicts 5508 Physical damage to a player every second for 9 sec. This effect stacks, and cannot be dodged, blocked, or parried, and cannot miss.
 * Crushing Dread – The Souljudge sows immense anxiety in afflicted targets, erupting for 13771 Shadow damage to players within 5 yards every 2 sec. for 10 sec. This effect increases stacks every period, increasing Crushing Dread damage by 10%. Upon removal, this effect transfers to another player until the Souljudge is defeated.
 * Aura of Contempt – The Souljudge projects disgrace to players within 0 yards, decreasing damage done by up to 30% based on missing health.
 * Mawforged Summoner
 * Dark Communion – The Summoner enters a deathly trance, summoning 3
 * Terror Orb – Manifests an orb of dread which repeatedly attempts to fear all players within 70 yards for 2 sec.
 * Decrepit Orb – Manifests a sphere of domination energy. These orbs increase damage done by 40% every 6 sec. This effect stacks.
 * Detonation – Upon death or after casting Detonation, the orb explodes, inflicting 1653 Shadow damage to enemies within 100 yards.
 * urse of Lethargy – The Summoner curses afflicted targets, inflicting 16525 Shadow damage plus an additional 3305 Shadow damage every 1 sec and reducing movement speed by 30% for 3 sec. Each cast grants Lethargic Focus, increasing this curse's duration by 1 seconds.
 * Mawforged Goliath
 * Fury – The Goliath blindly rages at a target, increasing damage done by 4% and melee attack speed by 5% when melee attacking the same enemy. This effect stacks.
 * Aura of Violence – The Goliath riots allies within 0 yards, causing melee attacks to additionally inflict 10% of their damage done as Shadow.
 * Mawforged Colossus
 * Filth – The Colossus releases a shadowy barrage in a targeted direction, inflicting 38559 Shadowstrike damage and increasing Filth damage taken by 100% for 30 sec to players in a frontal cone. This effect stacks, and cannot be dodged, blocked, or parried, and cannot miss.
 * Expulsion – The Colossus focuses anima into afflicted players every 3 sec for 4.5 sec. This anima explodes after 4.5 sec, inflicting 38559 Shadow damage, divided amongst players within 8 yards.
 * Misery – Expulsion explosions apply Misery, inflicting 2754 Shadow damage every half-second for 2.5 sec. This effect stacks.

Stage Three: The Freedom of Choice
"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
 * Banshee's Bane – Sylvanas burdens targets with a ravenous affliction, inflicting 2754 Shadow damage every second. This effect stacks. Upon removal, this coalesces into a pool of shadow on the ground. Any player touching the pool gains Banshee's Bane, consuming the pool.
 * Bane Arrows – Sylvanas jettisons a volley of arrows, inflicting 8262 Shadow damage to players within 5 yards at the impact location, creating a pool of Banshee's Bane.
 * Banshee's Weapons – Sylvanas gains a stack of Banshee's Weapons every 4 sec. Upon reaching 3 stacks Sylvanas can replace a Ranger Shot with Banshee's Heartseeker. Upon reaching 4 stacks Sylvanas can replace a Ranger Strike with Banshee's Blades.
 * Banshee's Heartseeker – Fires a triple burst of arrows at a player, each inflicting 24788 Physical damage and 19280 Shadow damage, applying Banshee's Bane.
 * Banshee's Blades – Executes a quadruple series of strikes at a player, each inflicting 16525 Physical damage and 24788 Shadow damage, applying Banshee's Bane.
 * Banshee's Fury – Sylvanas erupts with Banshee magic, inflicting 5508 Shadow damage to all players every second for 4 sec. After 4 sec, Banshee's Bane explodes from players inflicting an additional 27542 Shadow damage to all players per stack of Banshee's Bane.
 * Wailing Arrow – Sylvanas launches a terror-infused arrow at a player, inflicting 22033 Shadow damage and additionally inflicting up to 77116 Shadow damage to all other players, decreasing in damage based on distance from the point of impact.
 * Veil of Darkness – Sylvanas enshrouds an area in fog, inflicting 33050 Shadow damage and afflicting enemies within a deathly cloud, absorbing 32871 healing and inflicting 1100 Shadow damage every half-second. 25% of all healing bypasses this absorb. [This effect begins at 6 stacks, and every second attempts to transfer 1 stack to a nearby player within 5 yards.]
 * Banshee Scream – Sylvanas lets forth a shrill scream, inflicting damage based on each targeted player's health, starting at 10,741 Shadow damage at full health, increasing to 30,296 Shadow damage, to players within 5 yards of each targeted player, silencing for 4 sec.
 * Death Knives – Sylvanas places a mark on players inflicting 5508 Shadow damage every second for 5 sec. When removed, Death-touched blades fling out from the marked players in targeted directions, inflicting 16525 Shadow damage every second for 9 sec to players within 5 yards of any struck target.
 * Merciless – The Jailer's assault is endless. Periodically, fragments of the battery rain down upon the nearby platforms, inflicting 33050 Shadow damage to players within 0 yards of the point of impact. If no players are within 0 yards, the damage increases to 82624 Shadow damage to all players within 40 yards from the impact location.
 * Raze – Sylvanas unloads a Death-empowered arrow, annihilating the impact location inflicting 33050 Shadow damage to targets within 30 yards and additionally desecrates the area, inflicting 11017 Shadow damage every 0.5 sec. This additionally destroys the Invigorating Field connections to and from the contaminated area.
 * Invigorating Field – The chamber engages a defensive configuration providing players with access to traverse the arena. Upon traversal, players gain 30% increased movement speed for 5 sec.

Loot

 * Conduits
 * Ashen Juggernaut
 * Carnivorous Instinct
 * Deeper Daggers
 * Evasive Stride
 * Glowing Inferno
 * Infernal Brand
 * Lingering Plague
 * Mind Devourer
 * Resilience of the Hunter
 * Templar's Vindication
 * Unrelenting Cold

Cinematic
At the end of the encounter, a 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.''

bossemote

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

bossemote

''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 heretofore unseen yellow geometric pattern opens out of the First Ones structure behind him.''

bossemote

''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:''

bossemote

bossemote

''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.''

bossemote

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

bossemote

''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.''

bossemote

The jailer lets the moment stand for a beat.

bossemote

''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.''

bossemote

Sylvanas turns back to look at the Jailer.

bossemote

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

bossemote

He smashes the crystal in his hand...

bossemote

''...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.''

bossemote

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

bossemote

''The Jailer turns and exits through the portal, with Anduin just behind. The compass Anduin gifted to his father, 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.''

bossemote

''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.''

Notes and trivia

 * 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.
 * This is the second time a soul fragment crystal has been interacted with on camera. The first time was during The Highlord's Vision, when a crystal of an as-yet unknown soul fragment was used in the forging of Kingsmourne.
 * The item Anduin drops is the compass first seen in the World of Warcraft: Legion opening cinematic, "Azeroth's Last Hope".
 * Sylvanas's final warning before collapsing is parallel to the repeated warning the Primus has given regarding not letting the Jailer reach the Sepulcher.