Elemental ascendant

Elemental ascendants, or twilight ascendants, are a type of elementals introduced in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.

Background
Originally, Elemental ascendants are Twilight's Hammer cultists that have been twisted into elemental beings via 'ascension'. The Ascendant Council members have long forgotten their existences as mere mortals. From their wicked sanctum, they oversee the selection of new ascension candidates.

Elemental ascendant, or Twilight ascendant, are the highest echelon of Twilight's Hammer cultists who become one with the elements. The Twilight Cultists hope that they will one day become elemental ascendants. During a dark ritual they are infused with elemental powers, transforming them into monstrosities. The ascension process seems to involve draining something from other elementals or demigods.

Lava Guard Gordoth and his allies had hoped to mimic the creation of elemental ascendants in the Twilight's Hammer cult. Hubris drove the brilliant shaman to act as a living conduit for energies pulled from the Firelands. Instead, the explosive influx of power drove Gordoth insane and mutated his body into a hideous form.

However, it seems that some shaman have mastered a more co-operative, though temporary, form of ascension.

Since the Burning Legion's third invasion of Azeroth, an ascendant named Alexor joined the Earthen Ring in the Heart of Azeroth. On the request of the Farseer, he beseeched the elements with several shaman of the faction who have spent their lives dedicated to the path of Air, Water or Fire, to be Ascend, making them become powerful, if short-lived, forces to deploy in their war against the Legion. Alexor also mentioned that the ritual of ascension is not to be requested lightly, and that the Ascended cannot be commanded, only unleashed.

Subsequently, some ascendants can be seen in the Hearth of Azeroth, and sent on missions by the Farseer.

During the Fourth War, ascended shaman of the 7th Legion were present in Bonetrail Gulch in Vol'dun, where they attacked some vulpera caravans who were carrying supplies for the Horde, mentioning during their fight that the elements have answered their call.

Types

 * Air ascendant
 * Earth ascendant
 * Fire ascendant
 * Water ascendant
 * Ice ascendant
 * Elementium/Primal ascendant
 * Mercury/Quicksilver ascendant

Trivia

 * Ascendants use the same model skeleton and animations as ethereals.