Retcon speculation

This article deals with further speculation regarding retcons and other apparent discrepancies in Warcraft lore. It is left to the reader's opinion whether the discrepancies listed below constitute errors, retcons, flavor lore, or merely artistic license. The criteria for inclusion in this article is a clear, apparent contradiction between two official sources.

Where the sources are reconciled by another official source, that explanation is provided. Theories attempting to reconcile the discrepancies by reference to other sources of lore may also be present.

Afterlife
Since at least Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, it was established that the spirits of the dead go to the Twisting Nether. This is also presented as an in-universe belief by Scarlet Crusade enemies, who sometimes say "Prepare to enter the Twisting Nether" as they attack the player characters, as well as by Sully Balloo, Fin Fizracket, Nezzliok the Dire, and Vok Blacktongue. Later, however,, released before Legion, established the Shadowlands as the place where the spirits of the dead go, and earlier stories, such as Edge of Night, released after Cataclysm, also hinted at an afterlife that does not take place in the Nether (indeed, the place where Sylvanas' spirit ended up after she committed suicide at Icecrown is currently presumed to be the Maw).

Azerothian blood elves
According to the mission in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, prince Kael'thas Sunstrider took the remaining survivors with him to Outland to escape Lord Garithos. Thus naming only the elves that followed Illidan, "blood elves." However, according to the Warcraft Encyclopedia and subsequent works, most of the blood elves did not follow the prince, only the healthiest of them were sent in search of alternative magic sources.

Blackhand's appearance
In the Legion shaman artifact lore book and in Blackhand, the comic it was explained that Blackhand was engulfed by the elements and their fire, his skin becoming scarred, losing his hair, and his hand becoming stone. However, in, an artwork of Blackhand depicted him the same way he was in the Warcraft movie, with full hair and a tattoed black hand instead of an elemental one. Matt Burns explained on Twitter that they had indeed decided to go with the latter. Blackhand was not consumed in fire.

The comics depict what happened to alternate universe Blackhand, a backstory that could be different from the main universe Blackhand. There are other examples of differences between both universes even before the intervention of Garrosh or the player characters, so it is possible that the MU Blackhand has the same appearance as in the movie while AU Blackhand looks like he does in Warlords of Draenor.

Black Temple/Fortress Shadowmoon
In Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, Magtheridon is in the Black Citadel in Hellfire Peninsula. In World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade it was changed to the Black Temple in Shadowmoon Valley.

The Black Temple dungeon trailer claims that the Draenei Temple of Karabor was captured by orcs for a time before it became the sinister fortress of Magtheridon. This suggests that the Shadowmoon Fortress assaulted in Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal was in fact another name for this structure.

Also, during the Black Temple trailer, Akama recalls a dialogue between Illidan and Prince Kael'thas from the opening cinematic of Gates of the Abyss, but in that Warcraft III mission, Akama was not present when that conversation took place, and does not appear until much later.

Chen Stormstout's place of birth
In The Founding of Durotar Chen Stormstout said he hailed from Pandaria - indeed, it was the first time Pandaria was mentioned in the Warcraft series. Current lore, however, states that Chen comes from the Wandering Isle and never set foot on his ancestral homeland before Mists of Pandaria.

Dark Portal appearance change
In Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, the Dark Portal of the side of Draenor looks like the side of Azeroth in-game, but it can be explained again through graphic reuse, as in the cinematics it looks different.

In World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, the Stair of Destiny is shown as a more extreme version of the new look. All lore still fits.

In Rise of the Horde, Medivh gives Gul'dan a vision on how to make the Dark Portal look, as was also said in Warcraft II manual, but this time he shows the Stair of Destiny as it is in The Burning Crusade. Gul'dan does not even know who or what the figures are.

Dar'Khan Drathir's death
After betraying his people to Arthas Menethil, Dar'khan was killed within the Sunwell Plateau, after succumbing to the taint of the Sunwell (in his greed, he had directly ingested some of its energies before its corruption) that was now coursing through him. At the climax of the manga The Sunwell Trilogy, Dar'Khan Drathir is burned and apparently obliterated by Anveena. In Blood of the Highborne, set a year or so after this, he appeared again and returned to plot the downfall of his people. He was killed by Lor'themar Theron, who nocked his bow with an enchanted arrow that caused Dar'Khan to disintegrate into dust. Lor'themar, however, was unsure whether the traitor had truly been killed for good. He later appears at the Tower of the Damned in Deatholme at the southern reaches of the Ghostlands. In the manga it is not seen that he was completely obliterated, so it is possible that he was just burned and was later raised again by Arthas. How he managed to reappear after his death at Lor'themar's hands is unclear.

It has been theorized that Dar'Khan became a sort of elven lich following his first death. Shortly before dying, he had drank deep of the Sunwell's power, which was then contaminated by the ritual Arthas performed to bring Kel'Thuzad back into the world as a lich. Dar'Khan was physically overwhelmed by this sensation, and according to Arthas, Dar'Khan was now tainted by the same corrupt power that had been used to resurrect Kel'Thuzad; this would not have happened had Dar'Khan not disobeyed his instructions and tasted the Sunwell directly. It may be that "surviving" the experience imbued Dar'Khan with similar lich-like properties to Kel'Thuzad, explaining his inability to stay dead. After all, "Fear not, my ambitious friend. Death is only the beginning, as my colleague Kel'Thuzad can readily attest."

Deathwing
In Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, Deathwing joined the Horde of Draenor and then crossed to Draenor, before the Dark Portal was destroyed. He then appeared inexplicably on Azeroth in Day of the Dragon.

It is possible that Day of the Dragon was supposed to be before Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal. This is supported by the fact that there is mention that the dragonqueen Alexstrasza was rescued in Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, whereas that happened in Day of the Dragon. However, current lore supports the fact that Day of the Dragon happened after Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, causing a retcon.

Additionally, just before Khadgar closes the Dark Portal in the Alliance ending video of Beyond the Dark Portal, a dragon shaped shadow passes over him in the direction of the portal, possibly suggesting that Deathwing was able to escape back through the portal before it was closed.

Hell
The universal belief system was later revised to the philosophy of the Holy Light. The realm from which demons are summoned was originally referred to as Hell, Hades, and the underworld, as opposed to the Twisting Nether. This is not a true retcon as later sources confirm the existence of hell, although it is synonymous with the Twisting Nether, which goes by many titles. Hell as one of its names has been referenced in later sources.

In Warcraft I, and to a lesser extent Warcraft II & Warcraft III, and in the novels, Day of the Dragon specifically, the terms "hell", "hells", "Hades", "lower planes", "the underworld", "damnation", "pit of darkness", and "Dark Below" are used in a very traditional sense.

Warcraft: Orcs & Humans

 * "Denizens of the underworld, the daemons are creatures said to be some of the most powerful entities to ever exist in the lands of Azeroth. Their aptitude in the arts of deception and combat are only equal by their sadistic nature, and puissance they possess in the black arts of Magic. They command the searing fires of Hell as if it where their plaything. They are the true lords of chaos, wreaking havoc at every step and destroying what they wish."


 * "There is rumored to be a gateway that appears every thirteenth full moon that bridges the gap between Azeroth and the underworld, and it is during these brief moments that the daemons came to this place. Legend also states that some have the power to summon these creatures and control them, but if this is so, none are alive to tell the tale of how it was accomplished."


 * "These hellspawn are evil incarnate. The ability to summon these dark minions of the underworld has long been lost, though the Warlocks seek to find those secrets once again. Breathing flame and wielding a blade forged in the fires of hades, destruction and death are their greatest desire. These daemons possess cruelty beyond the imagining of even the sickest mind, and delight in the execution of their plans. If there is a way to send these monsters back into the pits that spawned them without the loss of many lives, it too is a secret locked away in time."


 * "The fires of hell rise up to meet the enemies of the Warlock clan. Their sorceries are rooted in the deepest pits of the underworld..."


 * "Fireball: The basic fire spell which all followers of the Orcish cults (the underworld) first learn. It channels the flames of hades through the caster's body, allowing the wielder to direct it as a missile at anyone he chooses..."


 * "Summon Demon: The most powerful spell ever rumored to exist. Legends say that the caster would have the ability to summon forth a daemon by allowing his body to be sacrificed to enable its existence in this plane. The daemon would then be guided by the spirit of the caster to do his bidding, but should the daemon be destroyed, the warlock's life would be forfeit. The truth to this tale is questionable, but the incantations and rituals used to summon the creature may lay in some lost runic writings. The dream of every follower of the underworld is to rediscover these incantations and be able to command the power of the Daemon."


 * "Tower: This is where the knowledge of dark magicks are revealed. Warlocks reside here to focus their energies towards harnessing the forces of the underworld."

Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal
Sometimes the words show up in the names of characters and locations, for example, Grom Hellscream, Hellfire Peninsula and Hellfire Citadel.

Lord of the Clans
Even the novel Lord of the Clans made references to the word "hell":
 * "If a warlock was to summon hell's flames against an enemy, they would be burned to death...With hell's fire, you make a bargain. It costs a little of yourself."
 * — Grom Hellscream in Lord of the Clans.

Day of the Dragon

 * "A paladin had indicated to Rhonin that he believed that, after death, the mage's soul would be condemned to the same pit of darkness shared by the mythical demons of old. This no matter how pure Rhonin's soul might have been otherwise." "...A damned soul..."

Warcraft III
There is a reference to hell from Uther Lightbringer:
 * "I dearly hope there is a special place in hell waiting for you Arthas."

Arthas then replies back, "We may never know, Uther, I intend to live forever."

Sylvanas Windrunner tells Prince Arthas to, "Give my regards to hell."

Note: Underworld also refers to a secret underground hellish cavern system where ghosts, murlocs, skeletons, and other minions of a Sea Witch once resided.

World of Warcraft
Caelestrasz states:
 * "Even if you somehow manage to free us without defeating C'Thun, we would focus all our powers to see the beast banished back to the hell from whence it came — AT ANY COST."

The spell Hellfire also exists.

The Burning Crusade
In The Burning Crusade, the term hell is used quite often, a notable example is Magtheridon being referred to as a "hellspawn", or Hellfire Citadel.

High elven druids


The Runestone at Caer Darrow was described in the Warcraft II manual as being crafted by elven druids that used the "magics" connected to the "arcane". It has been assumed due to lack of mention of high elf druids in posterior sources, that high elf druids did not exist and were retconned out of history. This is assumed because, when the background of the high elf race was further developed in Warcraft III, they were depicted as a race dedicated to the free use of arcane magic, leaving behind the druidism.

Freywinn in Tempest Keep appears to be evidence of a blood elven druid.

Color of Alexstrasza's brood


In Warcraft II, Alexstrasza's children are depicted as mostly Green in color with team colored wings and hair. Broodmothers are grey with team colored wings. Alexstrasza herself is merely described as the Queen of Dragons, with no specification as towards color.

However Day of the Dragon and subsequent lore would say these Green colored Dragons were the Red Dragonflight, changing their color accordingly.

Species of Arthas' mercenaries
In Warcraft III, the mercenaries Arthas hires are explicitly non human, composed of several ice trolls and an ogre. Arthas even taking advantage of the mercenaries non human nature by calling them "Creatures" and "Foul Beasts." However, the Death Knight manga and Halls of Reflection portray them as humans.

Holy Light and God
In the description of the Warcraft I units, the Clerics of Northshire are described as worshippers of God, though whether or not this referred to a specific deity within a pantheon or a single deity is not known. This is followed in some of the later sources, such as Warcraft II ("Deo Gratias", Latin for "Thanks be to God") and Day of the Dragon.
 * "...clearly it was chosen by a higher power that your paths would lead you to us."

By the time of Warcraft III, they are shown as followers of the Holy Light, which is described as a philosophy that does not follow any particular theology, although a reference to a single all powerful god-like being creating the universe is mentioned in the manual and angels appear during resurrection spells. It is unknown as to whether or not the individuals worship this deity.

Iblis, Blade of the Fallen Seraph, seems to be a reference to a fallen angel as well.

Spirit Healers and Spirits of Redemption have the form of angelic beings as well, though the former have been established as Val'kyr.

In the preview information released regarding the draenei race for the Burning Crusade expansion, the naaru were referenced as "a race of sapient energy beings bent on stopping the Burning Crusade" and that they "blessed the draenei with Light-given knowledge and power". The naaru may explain the origin of the Holy Light or at least demonstrate that the Holy Light is an interplanetary force not restricted only to the world of Azeroth. Additionally, it's known that the naaru are also a source of Holy Light power, as blood elves have found a way of draining a naaru of its powers, in order to wield divine powers as Blood Knights.

Additionally, according to Warcraft III's manual, one legend states that the creation of the universe was from a single all powerful entity. The concept of God likely originated from this legend. See, Creation Myth.

Additionally, Alliance Player's Guide tends to switch between the points of view that the Light seems to be a sapient entity of some kind; while it may not be an individual it may be a force. But it says little is known as the philosophies have been changing over the years especially since many of the original books discussing the Holy Light were destroyed during the various wars, especially during the third war.

Illidan's bandana
In the book War of the Ancients: The Well of Eternity, Illidan is said to have been given an amber bandana (the color of his lost eyes) by Lady Vashj after having his eyes burnt out by Sargeras. In WoW, however, Illidan is seen wearing a black bandana. The bandana which drops from him is also black and appears to have been given to him by Sargeras, as it is called "Cursed Vision of Sargeras", rather than by Lady Vashj. It is possible he lost his old bandana during the 10,000 years, or it grew black with time, so this may not necessarily be a retcon.

Alternately, it is possible that this stems from the change made to the timeline in War of the Ancients (novel account) in which Illidan's bandana was given to him by Sargeras after burning out his eyes as Illidan was feigning service to the Burning Legion at the time.

Kul Tiras
In Warcraft II, the "Tiras" part of the Kul Tiras name was pronounced with the second syllable stressed, and The Last Guardian gives the adjective form of Kul Tiras as "Tirassian". However, in World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth, the "Tiras" in Kul Tiras is pronounced with the first syllable stressed, and the adjective form of Kul Tiras is "Kul Tiran".

Orc warlocks in World of Warcraft
Under the leadership of Thrall, the orcs have rediscovered their ancient Shamanistic traditions. In an attempt to rid the Horde of its demonic corruption, Thrall banned the use of warlock magic and necromancy. Now, all orc magic users practice shaman magic which draws its power from the natural world and the elements.

However, in World of Warcraft the orcs have begun training warlocks once again. Though they are looked down upon by society and barely tolerated, much like human warlocks. This could be reconciled by the suggestion that the Horde's warlocks are their equivalent of Demon Hunters (using the powers of darkness against their masters). This is backed up by the orc warlock quests where the warlock trainees do good deeds like reuniting two lovers.

Orcish clan names
Some orcish clans had names from something found only in Azeroth, but were supposed to have that name since they were on Draenor:
 * The Frostwolf clan had that name since they were on Draenor but strangely in their exile at Alterac Valley there are wolves called Frost Wolf.
 * It is possible that the clan gave the local wolves the name Frostwolves or brought frost wolves with them.
 * The Blackrock clan had that name since they were on Draenor but a mountain on Azeroth had the same name.
 * It is later stated that the mountain had the name already through sheer coincidence, and the clan of the same name settled there because the coincidence was seen as a good omen.
 * In Warlords of Draenor, the clan got its name from the Blackrock ore, a mineral native to their region, which they used to manufacture weapons.
 * The Dragonmaw clan was named after dragons, which only exist on Azeroth, not Draenor.
 * It was later explained that dragons or dragon-like creatures were mythological creatures in orcish folklore.
 * There seems to have been no Dragonmaw clan on the alternate Draenor; instead, Warlords of Draenor features the Dragonmaw clan from the main universe, led by Warlord Zaela.

Blackrock clan skin color


In the Warcraft RTS games as well as artwork and cancelled games, Blackrock orcs who are often portrayed as the iconic orc clan, have the same green skin color as the other or clans. Characters from the Blackrock clan like Orgrim Doomhammer also have green skin.

However in World of Warcraft many members of the Blackrock clan have, unlike other orcs, a gray skintone. There are only a few exceptions such as Varok Saurfang and the Horde pieces in the Kharzan chess event. Tides of War revealed that this skin tone is a result of the clan living in the inside of Blackrock Mountain without sunlight for years. But in Warlords of Draenor, the Blackrock orcs are shown to already have had the gray skin tone back on Draenor, seemingly being a natural identification of their clan.

Orcish shamans
Though the fact that the orcish culture has been shamanistic before Gul'dan's rise to power has already been established in Warcraft II, the lore regarding the nature of shamanic magic has changed. In Warcraft II's manual it was said that Gul'dan rose in his standing among other shamans because of his talent for "channeling the cold, negative-energies of the Twisting Nether", however, in current lore it is warlock spellcasters that manipulate the energies of the Nether, while shamans call on elemental spirits for aid. This would explain why some orcs after the rise of the warlocks still retained the title of Shaman, such as Zuluhed the Whacked and Ner'zhul, which is unexplained in the current lore, since it states that ancestral and elemental spirits stopped answering the shamans' calls as corruption took root in the orcish society.

Rend and Maim
Rend and Maim, the sons of Blackhand the Destroyer, led the Black Tooth Grin clan during the Second War, which was a clan that was almost destroyed at the end of the war, after their defeat they ran away, set up a base in Blackrock Spire and formed the Dark Horde.

They next appeared without mention during the Alliance campaign of Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, in the service of Magtheridon, inexplicably on Outland and transformed into fel orcs: Rend (fel orc) and Maim (fel orc)''.

However, in World of Warcraft Rend appears in a prominent role as head of the Blackrock clan on Azeroth, and Maim is stated to be killed by the Dark Iron dwarves in Azeroth.

Shadowmoon Valley's appearance
In the Black Temple trailer for Patch 2.1, the still uncorrupted Temple of Karabor looked like the modern Shattrath City, with simple brown tiles and occasional blue crystals. In Warlords of Draenor however, the Temple of Karabor's appearance is closer to that of the Exodar.

Frostmourne
In Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Tichondrius claimed that the Lich King forged the sword. However, Arthas: Rise of the Lich King revealed that the Nathrezim forged it, thus invalidating Tichondrius' first statement because, if his race created the sword, it would be odd that their leader knew a different origin.

Warcraft I and II
Warcraft I featured two separate storylines. While there were some interweaving events, most were stand-alone, which lead to some contradictory elements. Some elements from each storyline were taken and included in the backstory for the next game in the series.

Warcraft II evolved with two campaign stories that wove together in a tighter way, with references to missions from one campaign being mentioned in the events of the other campaign, although the final missions lead to alternate endings. Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal was unique, however, in that it was a completely linear story; it set the Alliance campaign after the Orc campaign chronologically (though one could play the campaigns in any order).

Warcraft III featured campaigns with story lines which similarly formed a single linear narrative, but they were unlocked only after the previous campaign was completed.

Warcraft I
Warcraft I featured many levels which are best described as generic battles with some interweaving plot elements, and contradictory endings.

Note that no later source has given any detailed analysis of all the events of the First War. Not all the battles or locations have been referenced in later sources. As such, skirmishes and events surrounding said locations are up in the air. Some of these locations include Grand Hamlet, Sunnyglade, Kyross, and Rockard. The history of defense, rebuilding and destruction surrounding these locations is unknown as they have never been mentioned again in later sources.

While the orc campaign ending most closely matches the outcome of the First War as portrayed in later games, both campaigns and the manual for the game contained important plot points that became part of the lore:


 * The Orcish Horde did come from Draenor, their planet that they had just finished conquering (manual).
 * The Orcish Horde was repelled the first time they tried to attack Stormwind Keep (manual).
 * Stormwind Keep, Northshire Abbey, and all the human towns of the kingdom, including Goldshire and Moonbrook, were destroyed (orc campaign).
 * Grand Hamlet was destroyed during the First War, then rebuilt and later corrupted by the evil of Karazhan into becoming Darkshire.
 * Blackhand was overthrown as War Chief (orc campaign).
 * Medivh was killed in his tower by a raiding party (human campaign).
 * King Llane was assassinated by Garona (human campaign).
 * Lothar was rescued from a 20-month imprisonment after obtaining the Tome of Divinity in the Deadmines (human campaign).
 * Blackhand's daughter Griselda was killed in the Deadmines (orc campaign). Griselda is confirmed in Rise of the Horde.
 * The Orcish Horde did win the First War (orc campaign).
 * Medivh did win his battle against his mother Aegwynn (manual).

Some elements of the game's plotlines were expressly left out of the ultimate account of the war:


 * Aegwynn did not first come to the court of Wrynn III, instead she first came to the court of Landen Wrynn (human campaign). Confirmed in Cycle of Hatred.
 * The Swamp of Sorrows was not located in the southern part of the Black Morass, instead it was located in the northen part of the Black Morass (orc campaign). According to the World of Warcraft map.
 * Medivh was not in a coma for six years, instead he was in coma just twenty days (manual).
 * The Dark Portal was not located in the Swamp of Sorrows, instead it was located in the southern part of the Black Morass (human campaign). According to the World of Warcraft map.
 * Medivh did not "accidentally" open the Dark Portal, instead he did it on purpose (manual).
 * King Llane was not killed at the fall of Stormwind City by the Orc War Chief (orc campaign). Instead he was killed by Garona.
 * The humans did not succeed in destroying Blackrock Spire (human campaign). As this fortress was maintained in orcish hands until the Siege of Blackrock Spire this cannot have happened.
 * The commander of the human armies did not succeed Llane as king after destroying Blackrock Spire (human campaign). As the Horde win the First War, this cannot have happened.
 * Garona did not aid Orgrim Doomhammer with new and powerful magicks (orc campaign). Instead Doomhammer tortured her to get the information on the Shadow Council.
 * Orgrim Doomhammer did not have the backing of the Shadow Council (orc campaign). Instead he discovered its location and destroyed them.
 * The Shadow Council did not survive the First War (orc campaign).
 * Blackhand was not assassinated by the Shadow Council (orc campaign). Instead he was killed by Orgrim Doomhammer.
 * The Humans did not successfully defend Stormwind Keep, Northshire Abbey, and all the human towns of the kingdom, including Goldshire, Moonbrook, Sunnyglade, and Grand Hamlet, were destroyed (human campaign).
 * Sunnyglade is not mentioned in later sources and it can be assumed that it was destroyed, Northshire Abbey did not survive, Stormwind Keep fell, Goldshire and Moonbrook were likely destroyed as they were between Stormwind Keep and the Horde offensive.
 * The Orcish Horde was not an independent force, instead they were being secretly manipulated by Medivh/Sargeras with the promise of giving Gul'dan access to the powers in the Tomb of Sargeras (human campaign).
 * The Shadow Council's leader was not nameless, instead Gul'dan was their leader (orc campaign).
 * Blackhand the Destroyer was not the highest leader of the Orcish Horde, instead it was Gul'dan (orc campaign).
 * Blackhand the Destroyer did not survive the whole of the First War, instead he was killed by Orgrim Doomhammer sometime during the events of the First War (human campaign).

Other events are indeterminate, not conflicting with any other accounts, but also not being referred to again:


 * The existence of a land called the Borderlands.
 * The destruction of a key Blackhand Orcish outpost in the Black Morass by Orgrim Doomhammer (orc campaign).
 * The destruction of the orc outpost of Kyross in the Swamp of Sorrows (human campaign).
 * The destruction of the Temple of the Damned in the Black Morass (human campaign).
 * The destruction of Rockard and Stonard (human campaign).
 * The attack on Northshire Abbey by a band of warriors that had been convinced by enemy agents to fight against the crown (human campaign).
 * Turok's death (orc campaign).
 * The rebuilding of Sunnyglade, and/or its later destruction (human campaign).

Warcraft II
Warcraft II featured two interweaving campaigns with two separate and alternate endings. The true ending was found in the Alliance campaign, with the nearly complete defeat of the Horde in the Eastern Kingdoms. The expansion took it further by making the campaigns linear, with Horde campaign taking place entirely before the Alliance campaign:


 * The high elves joined the Alliance following an attack on their archers passing through Tarren Mill (human campaign).
 * Zul'jin and his party of Amani trolls were captured by the Alliance and rescued by Orgrim Doomhammer's forces (orc campaign).
 * The Horde was driven from the Hillsbrad region and Khaz Modan (human campaign).
 * The nation of Alterac betrayed the Alliance of Lordaeron and was destroyed (human campaign).
 * The Runestone at Caer Darrow was captured by the Horde and used to create the ogre magi (orc campaign).
 * Gul'dan betrayed Orgrim Doomhammer and withdrew his forces in order to seek out the Tomb of Sargeras (orc campaign).
 * Dalaran was razed by the Horde (orc campaign).
 * The Alliance forces defeated the Horde at Blackrock Spire, then recaptured and attempted to destroy the Dark Portal (human campaign).
 * Lothar is betrayed, ambushed and killed by the Horde when invited to Blackrock Spire for a diplomatic parley. Others say Lothar died in single combat against Doomhammer during the Siege of Blackrock Spire. Although, the Alliance Player's Guide of 2006 still mentions that ambush still occurred and hints that foul play was involved, and the single combat wasn't as honorable as perceived (more than one against him). Horde Player's Guide explains further that witnesses and historians give mixed accounts which include elements of both versions of the event.
 * After having been defeated by Doomhammer's forces at the Tomb of Sargeras in Warcraft II (orc campaign), Gul'dan is attacked by demons after he opens the Tomb (as forshadowed during a cutscene at the beginning of the act). File:Daemonreleased.jpg In The Frozen Throne, it further shows that he was killed by the demons he unwittingly set free while searching the tomb.
 * Quel'Thalas razed by the Horde (orc campaign). While it did not completely fall, much of Quel'Thalas was destroyed by dragons during the second war (and ravaged by the undead in the third), forming the Blackened Woods (later known by is alternate name of Ghostlands).
 * Dun Algaz razed by the Alliance (Human campaign). Hinted at in Lands of Conflict that it was important in the Second War and left a derelict after.
 * Grim Batol razed by the Alliance. While it did not completely fall, Milan's forces met some success on the surface.
 * Stromgarde razed by the Horde. While it did not completely fall, much of Stromgarde was damaged by the Horde under Utok Scratcher's commander.
 * Lordaeron razed by the Horde. The Horde destroyed much of Lordaeron's outer defenses and structures, but the Capital City did not fall to the Horde. The Capital City was besieged before Orgrim Doomhammer learned of Gul'dan's betrayal, and as he did he pulled his forces back to deal with the traitors.

Events which occurred in one of the Warcraft II campaigns, but which did not ultimately form part of the lore, include:
 * The Horde's ultimate victory (orc campaign ending).

Other events are indeterminate, not conflicting with any other accounts, but also not being referred to again:
 * The razing of Stratholme and Tyr's Hand by the Horde (orc campaign).

Wrynn
Wrynn was initially given as the single name of the king of Stormwind at the time of orcish invasion, King Wrynn III, with his son being called King Llane. Wrynn was later used as the family name of the Stormwind royal line, being applied as Llane's surname, as well as that of his son and grandson.

Wyvern sentience
In Warcraft III, wyverns are said to be sentient and willing allies of the Horde, however in a quest in Thousand Needles, the Wyvern trainer Elu asks the player to steal wyvern eggs to train as mounts.

However, this is not necessarily a true retcon according to the (non-canon) Manual of Monsters, which states that there are certain Wyvern groups that are willing Horde allies, and some groups that are not. Specifically, the ones that are allies were the ones (and their descendants) that the Horde set free from the harpies when Thrall first arrived to Kalimdor (Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos: Orc Campaign). The quest previously mentioned could just mean that the willing allies are not enough for the Horde ranks.