- Not to be confused with Arkkoran.
Ankoan | |
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Faction/Affiliation | Independent, Waveblade Ankoan, Alliance, Neptulon |
Character classes | Blademaster, Farseer, Hunter, Shaman, Warrior |
Racial capital | Mezzamere |
Racial leader(s) | Blademaster Okani |
Racial mount | Fathom ray |
Homeworld | Azeroth |
Area(s) | Great Sea; Nazjatar |
The ankoan (sometimes pluralized as ankoans) are an ancient species of deep sea warriors that traverse the deepest and most dangerous parts of the ocean.[1] Over the generations, they have been nearly hunted to extinction by the naga. So few of them remain[2][3] that they know they can never rebuild their tribe's population, and those who remain have dedicated their lives to slaying naga.[2][4]
Background[]
The ankoan are an offshoot of the jinyu who left Pandaria a long time ago. Now their clans hunt in the depths of the ocean.[5] They have been nearly hunted to extinction by the naga. The Waveblade clan has been fighting back against the naga for generations. However, they have recently taken the fight directly to the naga's doorstep in Nazjatar after their former leader was slain by Queen Azshara, and the Waveblade swore an oath to avenge them.[6] The Waveblade clan was the only ankoan clan to take the fight directly to Azshara in Nazjatar.[7] When Alliance forces arrived in Nazjatar, they befriended the Waveblade while the Horde allied with the Unshackled.[2][4] The Unshackled leader Neri Sharpfin views the ankoan as impressive fighters but a bit standoffish.[8] Since arriving in Nazjatar, the ankoan have taken up residence in Mezzamere.
Clans[]
- Waveblade clan
- Akana's clan[9] †
Culture[]
The ankoan are a nomadic race of fierce hunters.[10] They have a natural affinity for the sea, so training local wildlife like waverays was a natural strategy in their battles against the naga.[11] Ankoan believe the spirits of their ancestors continue to watch over them after death.[12] To honor their dead, the ankoan place wooden burial shrines over their graves. However, the names of those who have died a dishonorable or cowardly death are purposefully forgotten.[13] The ankoan worship Neptulon.[14][15]
Long ago, ankoan children would fill empty spider crab shells with sand and then hang them on the corals as decoration.[16] Large swarms of deep sea frenzies are apparently one of the most horrific dangers in the deep sea that ankoan and naga alike fear, their numbers blotting out all light and devouring all unhidden flesh.[17]
Notable[]
Notes and trivia[]
- Though their regular environment is the deep ocean, it is apparent that their biology has retained amphibious capabilities, allowing them to comfortably operate out of the water as well.
- The ankoan resemble a cross between jinyu and deep sea murlocs.
- Ankoan use the jinyu animation skeleton, which itself is a modified male night elf skeleton.
- Their sound files are named "deep_jinyu".
- The original Rise of Azshara announcement at BlizzCon 2018 implied that the ankoan were a single tribe,[2] but the in-game content in Nazjatar clarifies that they're a race consisting of multiple clans.
- Like arakkoa, ankoan appear to be non-sexually dimorphic, as several ankoan have distinctively female voices, but look no different to males.
- Anko (鮟鱇, ankō) is Japanese for "anglerfish."
- Kotori Lightblade is an ankoan paladin that appears in the Voyage to the Sunken City set in Hearthstone.
Speculation[]
This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.
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The ankoan may be descended or related to the Razorfin tribe of jinyu who left Pandaria a long time ago.
Gallery[]
Ankoan concept art shown at BlizzCon 2018.
An ankoan banner.
Minion Counter in Hearthstone.
Spell Counter in Hearthstone.
References[]
- ^ Waveblade Ankoan#Faction description
- ^ a b c d Medievaldragon 2018-11-04. BlizzCon 2018 World of Warcraft: What’s Next Panel Transcript - Page 4 of 4. Retrieved on 2019-05-10.
- ^ [50] Utama's Vengeance
- ^ a b World of Warcraft 2019-04-11. Rise of Azshara Content Preview. YouTube. Retrieved on 2019-05-10.
- ^ [50] Where the Road Leads - Lady Jaina Proudmoore says: A people called the jinyu aided the Alliance in Pandaria. Are they your kin? Blademaster Okani says: My people are known as the ankoan. We left the land behind long ago.
- ^ [50] Bound by Honor
- ^ Bladesman Inowari says: Of all the ankoan clans, only the Waveblade have taken the fight to Azshara.
- ^ Neri Sharpfin says: Have you seen the ankoan? Impressive fighters, but a bit standoffish. Too bad. We'd be stronger together!
- ^ Combat allies
- ^ Bladesman Inowari says: We ankoan roam the sea for all our lives. Only in death can we truly rest.
- ^ [Ankoan Waveray]
- ^ Bladesman Inowari says: Should I fall today, bury me where I die. My spirit will watch over the battlefield for all eternity.
- ^ Ankoan Burial Shrine
- ^ Blademaster Okani greeting: Neptulon grant us strength.
- ^ Farseer Ori says: My clan seeks vengeance for our fallen leader, but I have also been summoned here to do Neptulon's bidding.
- ^ [50] Molted Spineshell
- ^ [50] Frenzy Fang
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