Blademaster

Blademasters
	; Samuro
Affiliation	Horde, Fel Horde, Mag'har Clans, Army of the Light, Lightbound, Mantid Empire, Necrolord Covenant; Formerly:; Iron Horde, True Horde, Old Horde, Burning Legion
Favored by	Orc; Fel orc; Lightforged draenei; Ankoan; Saberon; Mantid; Maldraxxi
Weapon proficiency	Large, sharp melee weapons
Weapon types	Swords, axes, polearms
Special notes	Easily recognizable by the banners carried on their backs

“To take up the weapon of a Blademaster is to invite your own demise.”

— Ancient Blademaster

Blademasters, also spelled as blade masters,^[1] are known for their mastery over swords, axes, and polearms.

In the orc society, blademasters are known as legendary warriors of the Burning Blade clan. They fought in the First and Second Wars as part of the Old Horde, but eventually consumed themselves in demonic corruption. The proud blademasters later swore to free themselves and their brethren from demonic control and joined the New Horde in the service of Warchief Thrall.

Background[]

Please add any available information to this section.
Among the draenei's most elite warriors who followed the naaru Xe'ra to wage war on the Burning Legion, Telaamon was a blademaster infused with the Holy Light and became a Lightforged draenei in the Army of the Light.

On Draenor, the blademasters are known to have existed long before the corruption of the orcs at the hand of the Burning Legion when the Burning Blade clan was still dwelling in Hallvalor in Nagrand and using elemental fire magic. Judging by the Ancient Blademaster, the way of the blademaster was already an ancient one years before the forming of the Old Horde. The blademaster Lantresor of the Blade was notably amongst the old Horde forces that invaded Azeroth, where he would serve under both Warchief Blackhand and Orgrim Doomhammer during the First and Second Wars, before returning to home.^[2]

Third War[]

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

Main article: Blademaster (Warcraft III)

Though their numbers are few, the seasoned blademasters represent an elite fighting force within the Horde. These skilled swordsmen were once part of the ill-fated Burning Blade clan which consumed itself in the throes of demonic corruption. With their clan scattered and broken, the proud blademasters swore a grim oath to free themselves and their brethren from demonic control once and for all. Under Thrall's command, the blademasters once again joined the Horde and came to serve as the young Warchief's personal honor guard. Though blademasters are masters of stealth and guile, they value personal honor above all else.^[3]

The Blackrock Scouts and Blackrock Warriors, sub-groups of the Blackrock clan loyal to the Burning Legion, were also led by blademasters.

Outland[]

Fel blademasters were numerous in the forces of Magtheridon and were the chieftains of each of his bloodthirsty sub-legions. Each of the four great fel orc fortifications on the Hellfire Peninsula, guarding the dark portals, was led by a blademaster. In the Black Temple under the control of Magtheridon, several blademasters led legions of fel orcs in defense. Illidan, Kael'thas, Lady Vashj, and Akama had great battles against the fel orc blademasters both in and outside of the temple.^[4]^[5]

Cataclysm[]

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

By the time of the Cataclysm, at least some blademasters remained loyal to the Horde. Blademaster Ronakada in Orgrimmar informed adventurers that while the blademasters' oath of freeing their people from demonic control had been fulfilled, his own honor remains unsatisfied. Thus, he would continue to fight for the Horde and train other warriors to do so until his death.^[6]

Mists of Pandaria[]

This section concerns content related to Mists of Pandaria.

During the campaign in Pandaria, Warchief Garrosh Hellscream employed several blademasters, with the Mag'har orc Ishi serving as his champion. Several blademasters were also stationed at Domination Point in Krasarang. Garrosh also recruited so-called Blind Blademasters into his True Horde during the Siege of Orgrimmar.

Warlords of Draenor[]

This section concerns content related to Warlords of Draenor.

On the alternate Draenor where the orc clans rallied into the Iron Horde as a result of Garrosh's actions, the Burning Blade clan, led by a blademaster known as Azuka Bladefury, willingly joined. Following Gul'dan's takeover of the Iron Horde, a blademaster called Jubei'thos became a member of his Hellfire High Council.

Dragonflight[]

This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.

During the first Azerothian Kosh'harg festival, Lantresor of the Blade assumed leadership of the Burning Blade clan by virtue of being the eldest surviving blademaster.^[7]

Abilities[]

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

Bladestorm
- By focusing their warrior energies, blademasters can become living cyclones of fighting rage. Spinning their great blades faster than the naked eye can see, they are capable of simultaneously damaging any enemy troops in their vicinity.^[3]
Critical Strike
- By channeling their potent powers in one focused strike, blademasters can cause even greater damage to their enemies.^[3]
Mirror Image
- One of the blademasters' more mystical abilities is to create duplicate phantom images of themselves. Though the phantom images can move about freely of their own volition, they are not true entities unto themselves.^[3]
Wind Walk
- So adept and agile are the blademasters that they can move so quickly that they appear to be invisible to the naked eye.^[3]

Burning Blade customs[]

The Masters' Cavern, where warriors of the Burning Blade trained to become blademasters.

“A blademaster without a blade is no blademaster at all.”

— Lantresor of the Blade^[8]

The blade is not the only important item a blademaster carries. Once they had passed their final tests in the Masters' Caverns, the blademaster was given the honor of wearing the Burning Blade's banner.^[9] The banners carried by blademasters are described as cumbersome, and it's hard to believe that they don't affect the blademasters' ability to fight.^[10] In Warlords of Draenor, blademasters are shown to be capable of manipulating fire, with many of them using abilities such as "Blazing Coil".

Sticky, smelly, and highly flammable, blazegrease is liberally applied to the swords and axes of the Burning Blade clan before battle. Though some warriors choose to ignite their weapons before battle, most let the inevitable contact of blades and armor spark the blazegrease for unpredictable intimidation.^[11]

Notable[]

Main article: Blademasters

Blademaster Okani HS — Blademaster Okani in *Hearthstone*.

Named[]


Name	Role(s)	Affiliation(s)	Status	Location
Akinos	Master of Arms for the Horde during the Argent Tournament.	Orgrimmar, Horde	Alive	Sunreaver Pavilion, Icecrown
Azuka Bladefury	Warlord of the Burning Blade clan on alternate Draenor.	Burning Blade clan, Grom'kar, Iron Horde	Deceased	Various locations
Brolic	Blade of the Warchief Garrosh Hellscream in Pandaria.	Horde	Alive	Domination Point, Krasarang Wilds
Dharl	Former Warlord of the Burning Blade clan on alternate Draenor.	Burning Blade clan, Iron Horde	Deceased	Masters' Cavern, Nagrand
Genjuros	Leader of Blackrock Warriors, killed by Arthas and Kel'Thuzad.	Blackrock clan, Burning Legion	Deceased	Alterac Mountains
Hyku Steeledge	Sent by Rehgar to teach his gladiators a lesson, killed by Lo'Gosh.	Crimson Ring, Horde	Deceased	Crimson Ring, Dire Maul
Ishi	Champion of Warchief Garrosh Hellscream, killed by the adventurers.	Horde	Deceased	Garrosh'ar Advance, Kun-Lai Summit
Jubei'thos	Member of the Hellfire High Council, serving Gul'dan as a highguard.	Shadow Council, Iron Horde	Killable	Court of Blood, Hellfire Citadel
Katsuo	Champion of Azuka participating in the Ring of Blood.	Iron Horde	Killable	Ring of Blood, Nagrand
Khanzo	Leader of Blackrock Scouts, killed by Arthas and Kel'Thuzad.	Blackrock clan, Burning Legion	Deceased	Alterac Mountains
Krell	Blademaster of the Blackfang on alternate Draenor.	Blackfang tribe	Killable	Fang'rila, Tanaan Jungle
Lantresor	Chieftain of the ogre Boulderfist clan and the Burning Blade clan.	Boulderfist clan, Burning Blade clan	Alive	Burning Blade Ruins, Nagrand
Luhk	The Keen-Eyed; brother of Azuka and Burning Blade instructor.	Burning Blade clan, Iron Horde	Killable	Masters' Cavern, Nagrand
Maim	Commander of the Horde of Agony, killed by Illidan Stormrage and his allies.	Magtheridon's Forces	Deceased	Black Temple, Shadowmoon Valley
Nera'thor	Commander of the Legion of Torment, killed by Illidan Stormrage and his allies.	Magtheridon's Forces	Deceased	Black Temple, Shadowmoon Valley
Okani	Leader of the Waveblade, in crusade against the naga and Queen Azshara.	Waveblade clan	Alive	Mezzamere, Nazjatar
Rahjak	Hired by Zhahara Darksquall to find the Pearl of Pandaria.	Zhahara Darksquall	Deceased	Unknown
Ronakada	Blademaster and warrior trainer within the Valley of Honor.	Orgrimmar, Horde	Alive	Barracks, Orgrimmar
Samuro	On a pilgrimage in search of redemption for his fallen clan.	Burning Blade clan, Horde	Alive	Last seen in Durotar
Telaamon	The Ligtbringer; prominent member of the Army of the Light.	Army of the Light, Alliance	Deceased	Hir'eek's Lair, Nazmir

Warcraft III[]

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

Main article: Blademaster (Warcraft III)

Arashicage
Daisho
Jubei
Kajind
Kigami
Mikasa
Nikoro
Redjaw
Tojara
Yozshura

Unnamed[]

Items and objects[]

In the RPG[]

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

Moogul the Sly, a blademaster as seen in the *Warcraft RPG*.

Among the Horde, orcs with the gladiator class are known as blademasters.^[12]^[13]

Blademasters lead their people into melee combat, unhesitatingly seeking the most vulnerable enemy champions — magi, druids and the like. Blademasters willingly go toe-to-toe with other melee experts as well, drawing from ages of tradition to fuel their combat prowess. Their sashimono banners allow their troops to identify them on the battlefield and move to where the action is thickest. Many act as bodyguards for other Horde champions.^[13] Banner of the Black Wolf is in the same style as those worn by orcish blademasters.^[14]

Chieftain of the Warsong clan and an orc legend, Grom Hellscream is a blademaster of the old traditions.^[15] Thrall is also a blademaster.^[16]

Gorn - Warlord of Kargath.
Akinos Steelclaw - Diplomat to the Alliance.
Moogul the Sly - Sage in the Horde.

Notes and trivia[]

Eliminating blademaster's mirror images weakens the blademaster.^[17]
Maki Waterblade is a saurok samurai, wearing items similar as a blademaster.
Players can don the banner and weaponry of masters of the blade by using [Burning Blade].
In Warcraft III, Grommash Hellscream is classified as a blademaster, but isn't one lorewise.^[18]
Before blademasters were even a concept, Samwise Didier drew a katana-wielding orc character in Dungeons & Dragons which would later inspire Samuro.^[19]
The orc Na'Shra was originally intended to be a blademaster.
Blademasters draw clear inspiration from Japanese and Asian culture, particularly the samurai. Most blademasters have very Japanese-sounding names, some wield katana-like swords that looks like Daikatanas or the giant Katanas, many wear oversized mala beads around their necks (similar to the larger version of the prayer beads worn by Shaolin monks), and their distinctive banners are seemingly inspired by sashimono, small banners carried on the backs of soldiers in feudal Japan (the banners are even outright called "sashimono" in the non-canon RPG). Japanese influence can also be seen in the fact that blademasters, and the Burning Blade clan in general, are said to value honor above all else.

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.

From their positions in Magtheridon's army, it seems that fel orcs are led by blademasters. As the fel orcs live only for carnage and slaughter, it is plausible that they would follow those who are most capable of carrying it out.
Captain Galvangar and Takata Steelblade may be blademasters.
Given that blademasters wear neck-beads similar to some shaman and monks, and some possess elemental (Blazing Coil, Molten Weapon) or supernatural (Wind Walk, Mirror Image) abilities, it is possible that they also utilize their spirit to empower themselves or draw from the elemental spirits either by command or request.