Imp

Imps
Faction/Affiliation	Burning Legion, Independent
Homeworld	Twisting Nether
Language(s)	Eredun, Common, Orcish

For the warlock minion, see Imp (warlock minion).

Turn your back on these tiny terrors at your own risk.^[1]

Imps are small, cackling, mischievous demons.^[2] Creatures of felfire and trickery considered lowly among demons, they do not pose a large threat alone and are often underestimated due to their singular lack of toughness. However, when in a group they can quickly replace their fallen and overwhelm their opponents, and their real threat is in how difficult it is to kill every single one of them.^[3]^[4] Imps emerge from the stomachs of imp mothers.^[3]^[5]

Despite their lack of physical strength, imps possess powers and a cleverness that serve warlocks well,^[6] and the simplest of the summoning spells a would-be warlock can learn is that of the imp. Before they are imparted to this, the warlock must prove that they have the necessary magical and physical ability.^[7]

Not much is known about the imps' background or history, but at least some of them are known to dwell on the planet Xoroth.^[8] Daglop claims that on "[his] world", imps are tortured for fun.^[9]

Imps can phase shift into the Twisting Nether.^[10]^[11] All imps are afraid of rainbows.^[12] Some imps speak exclusively in rhyme.^[13]^[14] Many imps prefer to bring their own cup with them. Some theorize that an ancient imp-like race revered their drinking vessels as something sacred, and part of that ritual remained even after they were indoctrinated into the Burning Legion.^[15] There is a legend claiming that Azeroth may be home to ancestors of the imp race who never joined the Burning Legion.^[9]

Notable[]

Daglop
Fiznak <Unjari's Minion>
Fizzle
Gizput <Kurgul's Minion>
Greef <Furrows' Minion>
Jubyap <Linny Cooke's Minion>
Keb'ezil <Kurgatok's Minion>
Kil'rek <Terestian Illhoof's Minion>
Nipnuk <Kazrali's Minion>
Pillik <Legion Scoutleader>
Pimgib
Pusillin
Vi'el <Exotic Reagent Merchant>
Zggi <Zardeth's Minion>
Zipteq

Fel imps[]

Fel imps appear to be a larger and more powerful type of imp. They are easily distinguishable from their cousins by their wings and massive horns.

The fel imps of Felspark Ravine in Hellfire Peninsula are remarkably chatty. They're just as easy to contract into service as their names are to learn. The ritual to summon one is trivial, at best.^[16]

Notable fel imps[]

Other similar creatures[]

The forest spirits known as grell are very similar to imps. Though they resemble the mischievous demons, Anchorite Avuun found no demonic traces among the ones he studied. They are, as far as he could tell, uncorrupted.^[17]
- Several imp individuals, such as Vi'el and Kil'rek, lack horns, thus making them appear more similar to grell, even though they are actually imps.
To the untrained eye, flamekin, a brand of fire demon, will look exactly like imps.^[18]
Flame Imps are creatures that roam the Molten Core in large packs.
The Homunculi of Karazhan are constructed beings^[19] that resemble pale-skinned grell. The Fiendish Imp, which appears identical to a homunculus, is called an imp.

As a warlock minion[]

Main article: Summon Imp

[Summon Imp] is a warlock ability used to summon a controllable imp to be your minion. It is learned automatically upon character creation.

The imp can be customized with a number of colorations, some of which allow you to turn the flames surrounding the imp off. A warlock can further customize their imp by unlocking Fel imps as a customization option through the [Grimoire of the Fel Imp] and unlocking Fiends through the quest [30-70] When Revenge Burns Green.

As a companion pet[]

[Blazing Rune] has a chance to drop from Magmadar in Molten Core.
[Rebellious Imp] has a chance to drop from Mother Rosula in Antoran Wastes.
[Satyr Charm] has a chance to drop from Terestian Illhoof in Karazhan.

Notes[]

Although all imps seen in World of Warcraft appear to be male, female imps do exist lorewise.^[20]

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.

Imps bear a great resemblance to the homunculi in Karazhan, demons^[21] that can be created or constructed.^[19]
Imps might be grell that have been infused with, and mutated by, fel energy. Grell look just like imps^[17] but have no sign of corruption. The ones on Teldrassil are tainted by fel moss^[22] while the grell in Darkshore possess the same [Foul Ichor] that satyrs possess.This theory is supported by the legend that imp ancestors may be found on Azeroth.

Inspiration[]

In Germanic folklore, imps are mythological beings similar to diminutive fairies or demons but are often more mischievous than evil or harmful. Imps are commonly seen as the familiars of witches and sorcerers.