Acolyte

For the Warcraft III unit, see Acolyte (Warcraft III). For the Culling of Stratholme mob, see Acolyte (mob). For the Netherlight Temple NPC, see Acolyte (Netherlight Temple).

Reforged credits art 13 — Acolyte in *Warcraft III: Reforged*.

Acolytes are minor members of a cult or a religion. They are usually spellcasters and depending on their affiliation they might be necromancers, warlocks, priests, or mages in training. Many are human or undead members of the Scourge's Cult of the Damned or part of the Forsaken. Some use dark magic to summon or unsummon buildings in order to regain some of its resources. As part of the Scourge, acolytes are loyal to the Lich King. If they are part of the Forsaken, they are loyal to Sylvanas Windrunner.

The Church of the Holy Light has acolytes among its ranks, who are novices learning the way of the Holy Light in the clergy.^[1] During the Burning Legion's third invasion, great numbers of acolytes were present in the ranks of the Conclave and the Black Harvest, where they were used as troops against the demons and their allies across the world.

Scourge[]

Acolytes are human beings who have given themselves over to the power of the Lich King and Scourge. These bitter, fanatical men and women will stop at nothing to promote the Lich King's will and maintain the secrecy and dominance of the Cult of the Damned. They view their own deaths and the possibility of becoming undead as the ultimate rewards for service to Ner'zhul.

The unsummoning of buildings allows the acolytes of the Scourge to reduce fully constructed buildings to their base forms of matter and energy in order to recover some of their resources. Some of this matter and energy is lost in the conversion, as are most things that are pulled through the Great Dark Beyond.

Acolytes who wish to serve as the eyes and ears of Ner'zhul are capable of shedding their bodies and taking on the forms of invisible Shades.^[2]

Various Scourge acolytes can be found in the Eastern Plaguelands, the undead-controlled portion of Stratholme, the Cult training center of Scholomance, and of course Kel'Thuzad's necropolis, Naxxramas. The Acolytes from Warcraft III can be found in the Culling of Stratholme.

In World of Warcraft[]

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

Named[]

Burning Legion

Scourge and Cult of the Damned

Old Gods' forces

Black dragonflight

Elemental

Kyrian Covenant

Other

In Warcraft III[]

This section concerns content related to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos or its expansion The Frozen Throne.

Unit icon in WCIII.

In Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Acolytes served as worker units as well as light infantry for the Undead Scourge, and were members of Kel'Thuzad's Cult of the Damned.

Unit quotes[]

Main article: Quotes of Warcraft III/Undead Scourge#Acolyte

In the RPG[]

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Cult of the Damned[]

Acolytes of the Cult of the Damned - who are also called simply “the Damned” - are promised eternal life and complete equality beneath the iron fist of Kel’Thuzad and the Lich King. In exchange, they serve the temple and proffer their magic and their souls to the power of the Cult. Their faith in the Light is perverted into an utter belief in Darkness, and they offer fanatic loyalty to their leaders and to their temple.^[3]

Forsaken[]

Novice priests are most often used in grunt work, summoning and repairing buildings and structures with their magic. Occasionally, an acolyte enters battle as a medic, though few are strong enough to actually engage directly in battle. They are typically dressed in dark robes covered in arcane writing. Most of their face is covered by a dark scarf and the hood of their robes; they clutch wicked wavy-bladed daggers. The acolyte is absolutely pitiful in battle, and so must let other Forsaken forces fight for them. Their main role is to summon buildings and repair damage to vehicles and other undead units. If pressed, the acolyte casts spells like "Lesser Death Coil" or stabs with their dagger.^[4]

Alliance[]

Acolytes of the Alliance are people training to be priests or priestesses and work under a priest or priestess.^[5] Fresh-faced acolytes often lose hope and the true meaning of the Holy Light when they realize that it takes a lifetime to serve the philosophy of the Three Virtues.^[6] These acolytes are not associated with the undead, and instead practice the same magic as their mentors.

Gareth is a human acolyte that serves a night elf priestess of Elune.^[7]