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Magistrate Barthilas

This is revision 1, from Oct 29, 2026 04:23. See the current page.

Magistrate Barthilas was once the ruler of Stratholme and, long before that, the apprentice of Tirion Fordring. Killed with his people in the Culling, he was raised as a hulking wight to guard the Scourge's half of the city. Players meet him at the Service Entrance, where he raises the alarm and runs to warn Baron Rivendare, and he carries the key that opens that gate.

Background

Barthilas was an ambitious young paladin who served as Tirion Fordring's second at Mardenholde Keep. The Second War had killed his parents and left him hating all orcs. In the novel Of Blood and Honor, when Tirion was found wounded, Barthilas assumed an orc had attacked him and led Saidan Dathrohan's men to the orc Eitrigg. Tirion defended the orc, and Barthilas testified at the trial that stripped his mentor of his title and exiled him. He took over Hearthglen for a time, then became Magistrate of Stratholme.

He was still the city's magistrate when Arthas purged it in the Third War. The Lich King later raised him as a wight to guard the ruined city. When he dies in the dungeon, his body falls back into the shape of the man he was.

Barthilas's human form, left behind when he dies
Barthilas's human form, left behind when he dies © Blizzard Entertainment

Abilities

  • Crowd Pummel: damages everyone near him, interrupts their spells and knocks them back.
  • Furious Anger: a stacking enrage that raises his damage and attack speed.
  • Draining Blow: shadow damage that heals him.
  • Mighty Blow: knocks his target back a long way.

Strategy

Where he is fought depends on how the group comes in. A group entering by the Service Entrance hears him yell "Intruders at the Service Gate! Lord Rivendare must be warned!" and sees him run down the Gauntlet toward the Slaughterhouse; they fight him at the end of that run. A group coming from the main gate finds him waiting in Elders' Square instead.

The tank should stand with their back to a wall. Barthilas punts his target a long way, which can wipe or cut its threat and, near the gate, throw the tank into packs the group skipped. After a punt, damage dealers should move toward the tank rather than away, so he follows them back.

Loot

Drop chances are from our database (patch 1.12).

Item Chance
[Key to the City] 100%
[[forever:item:23198]] 17%
[Royal Tribunal Cloak] 17%
[Death Grips] 17%
[Peacemaker] 17%
[Magistrate's Cuffs] 17%
[Crimson Felt Hat] 17%

The [Key to the City] opens the Service Entrance from outside. The [[forever:item:23198]], added in patch 1.10, was one of the best relics for bear druids, and players farmed him for it. He also drops a [Corruptor's Scourgestone] and usually a [Plagued Flesh Sample].

Barthilas in Stratholme's town hall, in the Culling of Stratholme
Barthilas in Stratholme's town hall, in the Culling of Stratholme © Blizzard Entertainment

Quests

No Classic quest names him. His flesh sample counts toward The Flesh Does Not Lie for the Argent Dawn, and his key matters to anyone doing the Baron run, including [[forever:quest:8945]].

Later history

In Wrath of the Lich King's Culling of Stratholme, players find Barthilas alive in the town hall, trying to calm citizens frightened by rumors of poisoned grain. Baron Rivendare later offers a death knight player his old job as mayor.

Sources

Categories: Bosses

Last changed October 29, 2026: Written by QuestCore