Grand Crusader Dathrohan

Grand Crusader Dathrohan is the leader of the Scarlet Crusade and the final boss of the living side of Stratholme. To his followers he is Saidan Dathrohan, one of the first paladins of the Silver Hand, leading a holy war against the undead from the Scarlet Bastion. In truth the body belongs to a dead man, and the thing wearing it is the dreadlord Balnazzar. Partway through the fight, the disguise comes off.

Background

Saidan Dathrohan was one of the five original paladins of the Knights of the Silver Hand, alongside Uther, Turalyon, Tirion Fordring and Gavinrad. After the Scourge took Lordaeron he and Alexandros Mograine tried to rebuild the order, but during an assault on Stratholme he was separated from the others, captured and killed by Balnazzar, one of the three nathrezim (dreadlords) left behind in Lordaeron.

The demon took his body. Wearing Saidan's face, Balnazzar helped found the Scarlet Crusade and spent years turning it into a fanatical sect that slaughters anyone who stands in its way. No one in the Crusade knows. From the Scarlet Bastion in Stratholme he directs the Crusade's other leaders and its elite Crimson Legion against The Scourge.

Abilities

As Grand Crusader Dathrohan:

• Crusader's Hammer: stuns everyone within 20 yards for four seconds.
• Crusader Strike: stacking holy damage on his target.
• Holy Strike and Mind Blast.

At 40% health he transforms into Balnazzar, with full health and mana:

• Domination: takes control of a player; it can't be dispelled.
• Shadow Shock: shadow damage to everyone within 15 yards.
• Sleep and Psychic Scream, which fears up to five players.

Strategy

The tank picks him up and turns him to face the back wall of the room, and the rest of the group waits a few seconds before attacking. Ranged players stand 10 to 15 yards back to stay out of Crusader's Hammer. When he transforms, the demon keeps the threat the Grand Crusader had, so the plan doesn't change: keep him away from the casters, dispel Sleep and other magic, and wear him down a second time.

Fighting at the back of the room matters at the end too. When Balnazzar dies, undead spawn outside the room and come for the group.

Loot

Drop chances are from our database (patch 1.12). The loot is listed under the Grand Crusader in our data.

[Book of the Dead] is a rare epic off-hand, and the [Pattern: Truefaith Vestments] teaches tailors an epic priest robe. [Demonshear] is the greatsword Balnazzar carried as Dathrohan. [Lightforge Boots] are the paladin's Dungeon Set 1 boots (see Tier Sets).

Quests

• The Archivist: the Argent Dawn's Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff sends players to kill Archivist Galford and burn the Crusade's archive.
• The Truth Comes Crashing Down: the [Head of Balnazzar] starts this quest. Players bring it to Duke Zverenhoff at Light's Hope Chapel, revealing that the Crusade has been led by a demon: a brother of Varimathras, who serves the Forsaken in the Undercity.

Later history

After the Cataclysm, Balnazzar dropped the disguise, killed the crusaders in Stratholme and raised them as the Risen. He became the final boss of the Scarlet side in his true form.

Sources

• Saidan Dathrohan - Warcraft Wiki
• Balnazzar (Classic) - Warcraft Wiki
• Balnazzar - Warcraft Wiki