Warcraft: The Most Epic Battles Between The Alliance and The Horde

One of the central storylines and themes of the Warcraft universe is the conflict between two major world factions: the Alliance and the Horde. The Horde was first comprised of orcish clans on Draenor as they tried to conquer a new world, while the Alliance was a pact formed between humans, dwarves, and high elves to defend their lands against the Horde. However, the composition of those factions changed over the years.

Across all Warcraft games, those two pacts have been a part of an endless battle for domination, whether because of resources, differing ideals, or outside manipulation. In Battle for Azeroth, the conflict seems to have come to its conclusion and has not continued ever since. Still, the factions left a trail of battles as bloody and decimating as they were epic and grand in their scale.

11 Stormheim Expedition

Genn’s Quest For Vengeance

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The Legion expansion started with tragedy for both factions. Despite the unified front between the Alliance and the Horde on the Broken Shore, the Horde’s retreat due to their war chief getting mortally wounded led to Varian Wrynn, the Alliance king, losing his life. Genn Greymane and his associates sought revenge against the new war chief, Sylvanas.

Genn’s sudden attack at Stormheim disrupted the hunt for Aegis of Aggramar and turned the ancient land into a war zone between two factions. Eventually, Genn managed to engage Sylvanas in a swift yet ferocious duel, stealing her bid for immortal existence for her and other forsaken right before her eyes.

10 Battle Of The Black Temple

Draenor Torn Apart

The Alliance’s Expedition to Draenor was a daring attempt to destroy the Horde before it launched a counterattack. It was led by Paladin Turalyon, Archmage Khadgar, and Alleria Windrunner. Their army clashed with the remnants of the Horde led by Ner’zhul all across Draenor until the climactic battle in the Shadowmoon Valley.

This battle was getting close to a decisive victory for the Alliance. Still, Ner’zhul unleashed his last trick: magical earthquakes that emerged due to countless portals opening simultaneously around Draenor. This led to the destruction of the world and its transformation into Outland, as well as the Alliance’s army being stranded on the other side of the Portal.

9 Krasarang Wilds Campaign

Offensive On A New Continent

The moment Pandaria was discovered, leaders of both the Alliance and Horde saw an opportunity, as this land was brimming with resources, secrets, and potential allies. This led to Varian Wrynn and Garrosh Hellscream launching offensives into the southernmost part of the continent, the Krasarang Wilds.

The campaign spread throughout Pandaria, with members of different races participating, but the Wilds became the epicenter of the battle. Soldiers from both factions clashed with each other without mercy, forever tarnishing the once-peaceful land through bloodshed and war.

8 The Siege Of Stormwind

A City Razed

The First War ended in a ravaging conquest of Stormwind. The Horde, still under the influence of the demonic forces of the Legion, charged into the city, annihilating everyone in its path. Stormwind was razed to the ground. There were countless victims, including King Llane Wrynn, who was murdered by the assassin Garona.

However, this desecration paved the way for the birth of the Alliance. Anduin Lothar was in charge of defending the city and bringing survivors to Lordaeron. After showing how dire the threat of the Horde became, the remaining kingdoms United into an Alliance, which became a major opposing force to the Horde.

7 Battle For Gilneas

The Undead Against The Cursed

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While this conflict started with the Horde attacking a neutral kingdom, it eventually became part of the larger conflict. Genn Greymane and his people hid behind a large wall that separated their peninsula from the rest of the world, but the Cataclysm damaged it, creating an opportunity for the Forsaken to attack.

At first, Sylvanas’s Armin’s drove the Gilneans away from their home, which brought the latter into the Alliance with the help of the Night Elves. After a counterattack, Gilneas became a battlefield between the Alliance forces and the Forsaken for many years, a conflict that wasn’t resolved until after the Battle for Azeroth.

6 Battle For Dazar’alor

Alliance’s Counterattack

The Battle for Azeroth began with the Alliance’s devastating defeats, notably the burning of Teldrassil. However, the faction was preparing a counterattack. In patch 8.1, Tides of Vengeance, the Alliance attacked the Zandalari city of Dazar’alor in full force. The battle began with the destruction of the Zadalari fleet and the advance of the Kul Tiran navy into the harbor.

This battle is unique, because it is made into a raid with different perspectives depending on the faction the player belongs to. It includes a climactic battle against King Rastakhan, in his throne room and one against Jaina Proudmoore when she ensures a safe escape for her fleet.

5 Battle For Ashenvale

An Endless Struggle For Resources

Kalimdor remained a peaceful continent for 10,000 years, but this changed once the Orcs set foot on its land. They lived in a harsh region of Durotar with few resources to spare, while the Kaldorei had fertile forests at their disposal. This led to a prolonged conflict between those factions, which became more prominent in Cataclysm.

The bulk of the conflict occurred between the Orcs and the Night Elves, with the two races struggling for control of Ashenvale. The Horde employed various technological wonders, such as shredders, to cut through the trees, while the Night Elves relied on the power of nature and Druidism to shield their lands.

4 Fall Of Theramore

Garrosh’s Onslaught

At the time of its announcement, Mists of Pandaria seemed like a lighthearted expansion that contrasts with Cataclysm, but its introduction painted a very different picture. It had Garrosh marching his armies to Theramore, the city that belonged to Jaina Proudmoore and was established as a significant location back in Warcraft 3.

Players of both factions received a playable scenario showing the fall of Theramore, with distinct versions for the Horde and the Alliance. This battle shows how ruthless Garrosh can be, setting him up as the expansion’s antagonist while also showing Jaina’s transition away from being an idealistic pacifist.

3 The War Of Thorns

A Declaration Of War

The War Of Thorns was a swift and bloody beginning to the Battle for Azeroth. Sylvanas Windrunner launched her campaign against the night elves to secure Kalimdor for the Horde. While her motives were later revealed to have been selfish, most of the Horde pursued this plan and fought in the conflict.

As the Horde soldiers made their way through Ashenvale, they had to battle night elves, including their powerful leaders, such as Malfurion Stormrage. In the end, Sylvanas ordered the burning of Teldrassil, which infuriated Varok Saurfang and sparked the last major war between the two enemy factions.

2 The Battle At The Dark Portal

The Old Horde’s Downfall

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The Second War ravaged the Eastern Kingdoms as the Horde pushed to the north, trying to conquer everything. Its string of victories was interrupted by Gul’dan’s betrayal, leaving the Horde open to a counterattack by the Alliance forces. They were led by Anduin Lothar, who lost his life in a battle against Orgrim Doomhammer.

After Lothar’s death, his protege, Turalyon, took charge. He drove the Horde to the south back to the Dark Portal, where an all-out battle between the factions ensued. Despite heavy losses from both sides, the Alliance was victorious in crushing the Horde’s armies and bringing Doomhammer to his knees.

1 Siege Of Lordaeron

A Devastating Clash

After Teldrassil burned, it was only a matter of time before the Alliance mounted a response. It resulted in a full-scale assault on Lordaeron to end Sylvanas’s reign. The battle destroyed the Undercity and resulted in the nearby lands being poisoned by the plague, and only Jaina was able to make a path through it.

The siege incorporated numerous technologies, such as siege towers, gnome constructs, and forsaken defenses. Leaders like Jaina, Alleria, and Sylvanas performed notable feats during the battle. A battle between Saurfang and the Alliance heroes served as the climax of the epic battle between factions.