TheWoWDBMost probably in most cliche way ever: he wasn't really destroyed, a part of him remained, and the dark forces have brought him back.
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Xavius
Nightmare Lord
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Xavius was the first satyr ever. He was originally a Highborne night elf and the person who first accidentally contacted Sargeras, beginning the Legion's invasion of Azeroth 10,000 years ago. After he was killed by Malfurion Sargeras tortured his spirit and then recreated him as a satyr. When Xavius kidnapped Tyrande, Malfurion would turn him into a tree and believed he died in the Sundering.
Xavius returned in the novel Stormrage, where it was revealed that the Old Gods had saved him and he was the leader of the Emerald Nightmare. Thura, the niece of Broxigar, helped Malfurion slay Xavius by using Brox's axe to chop the tree down. Turns out that didn't stop him forever, because he's back again.
In Stormrage, Xavius was destroyed as nightmare lord by Malfurion in both Azeroth and Emerald dream at the same time.
How is it that he came back?
Details
This roster comes from the current game client's data files, so it is not a complete list of every NPC in the game - older world NPCs that are no longer in the modern client are absent.
Boss Encounter
Xavius appears as a raid or dungeon boss. See the encounter page for its instance.
Abilities & Strategy
What the in-game dungeon journal describes for the Xavius encounter. Every ability links to its spell page.
Abilities & Strategy
Overview
Most of Nightmare Lord Xavius's attacks inflict Corruption on their victims. As a player gains more Corruption, they become increasingly vulnerable to the power of the Nightmare, eventually losing control entirely and turning against their friends at maximum Corruption. Players' only hope lies in the power of Ysera, who puts many of them into a deep slumber and forms a Dream Simulacrum of those players. When their Simulacrum perishes, the affected player will awaken, as any Corruption gained by their Simulacrum dissipates harmlessly.
Damage Dealers
- Players affected by Dream Simulacrum should protect non-dreaming players by handling any abilities that spread Corruption.
- Defeat Inconceivable Horrors before they can get close enough to cast Dark Ruination on Xavius.
- Absorb Tainted Discharge before it can reform back into Inconceivable Horrors.
Healers
- Players affected by Dream Simulacrum should protect non-dreaming players by handling any abilities that spread corruption.
- Dispel Darkening Soul and Blackening Soul as sparingly as possible to manage the amount of Corruption you gain.
- Absorb Tainted Discharge before it can reform back into Inconceivable Horrors.
Tanks
- Players affected by Dream Simulacrum should protect non-dreaming players by handling any abilities that spread corruption.
- Move away from others when Darkening Soul and Blackening Soul is about to be dispelled from you.
- Quickly pick up Corruption Horrors when Manifest Corruption is cast.
- Absorb Tainted Discharge before it can reform back into Inconceivable Horrors.
The Dream
When Xavius reaches 95% and 60% health, the Dream of Ysera puts half of the party into a Dreaming State. Affected players fall asleep while a Dream Simulacrum of them rises to fight Xavius. If the Dream Simulacrum should ever die, the player's actual body will awaken. All Nightmare Corruption gained by the Dream Simulacrum is lost when the player returns to their body.
Nightmare Corruption
Many of Xavius's spells spread Nightmare Corruption to those hit. The more corrupted a player becomes, the more the nightmare becomes real to the player. Should any player ever become completely corrupted, they will become dominated by Xavius.
Dread Abomination
At 33 points of Corruption, colossal Nightmare creatures materialize from the player's mind, smashing the world around the player.
Corruption: Unfathomable Reality
Corruption: Descent into Madness
Stage One: The Descent Into Madness
Stage Two: From the Shadows
Upon reaching 65% health remaining, Xavius intensifies his attack.
Stage Three: World of Darkness
Upon reaching 30% health remaining, Xavius calls upon the purest Nightmare to engulf his enemies.
3D Model
First-party render from the game files. Model © Blizzard Entertainment.
Drops in The Emerald Nightmare
Loot the dungeon journal lists for the Xavius encounter.
Azsharan Councillor's Clasp
Blackened Portalstone Necklace
Boots of Endless Betrayal
Bough of Corruption
Crystallized Drop of Eternity
Disjointed Linkage Leggings
Eon-Tempered Waistplate
Fragment of Eternal Spite
Grotesque Statuette
Hood of Darkened Visions
Maddening Robe of Secrets
Manacles of the Nightmare Colossus
Midnight Herald's Pauldrons
Nightmarish Elm Branch
Repulsive Leathery Pants
The First Satyr's Spaulders
Twice-Warped Azsharan Signet
Illusion: Nightmare
What is shown is the loot the game's own dungeon journal lists for this encounter.
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Level and Map Tracking
The game data tunes Xavius for levels 10 to 45, Legion content.
What Each Drop Is
The Xavius encounter lists 18 items in the dungeon journal, item level 50. Equip slots covered: Neck, Feet, Trinket, Legs, Waist, Head, Chest, Wrist, Shoulder and Finger. Every piece binds when picked up, so none of it reaches the Auction House.
- Azsharan Councillor's Clasp Gem, item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. A vendor pays 48g 93s for it.
- Blackened Portalstone Necklace Neck, item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Critical Strike and Haste. A vendor pays 25g 50s for it.
- Boots of Endless Betrayal Feet (Leather), item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Haste and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 44g 55s for it.
- Bough of Corruption Trinket, item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Mastery. A vendor pays 18s 21c for it. Equip: Poisoned Dreams.
- Crystallized Drop of Eternity Gem, item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. A vendor pays 49g 29s for it.
- Disjointed Linkage Leggings Legs (Mail), item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Haste and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 58g 88s for it.
- Eon-Tempered Waistplate Waist (Plate), item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Strength or Intellect, Critical Strike and Mastery. A vendor pays 28g 76s for it.
- Fragment of Eternal Spite Gem, item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. A vendor pays 48g 75s for it.
- Grotesque Statuette Trinket, item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Mastery. A vendor pays 27g 63s for it. Equip: Darkening Soul.
- Hood of Darkened Visions Head (Cloth), item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Intellect, Critical Strike and Mastery. A vendor pays 41g 85s for it.
- Maddening Robe of Secrets Chest (Cloth), item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Intellect, Mastery and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 58g 26s for it.
- Manacles of the Nightmare Colossus Wrist (Mail), item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Haste and Mastery. A vendor pays 28g 13s for it.
- Midnight Herald's Pauldrons Shoulder (Plate), item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Strength or Intellect, Haste and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 43g 44s for it.
- Nightmarish Elm Branch Gem, item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. A vendor pays 49g 11s for it.
- Repulsive Leathery Pants Legs (Leather), item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Mastery and Haste. A vendor pays 54g 65s for it.
- The First Satyr's Spaulders Shoulder (Leather), item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Critical Strike, Mastery and Haste. A vendor pays 41g 25s for it.
- Twice-Warped Azsharan Signet Finger, item level 50, requires level 45. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Critical Strike and Haste. A vendor pays 34g 63s for it.
- Illusion: Nightmare Consumable, item level 1, requires level 40. Bind on Pickup. A vendor pays 25g for it.
Read from the current game build's item data. Listed prices come from our latest US Auction House scan; a drop that binds when picked up never has one.