WoW: Nostalgic Bug Revived in Season of Discovery

Summary

• The infamous Corrupted Blood incident from World of Warcraft has unexpectedly reappeared in the Season of Discovery.
• The Zul'Gurub raid, introduced in Phase 5 of Season of Discovery, re-introduced the Corrupted Blood spell, causing widespread chaos.
• Players are unintentionally replicating the 2005 Corrupted Blood incident by spreading the plague in Stormwind City, echoing the original event's uncontrolled spread.

A notorious chapter in World of Warcraft's history, the Corrupted Blood incident, has resurfaced, albeit accidentally, in the Season of Discovery servers. Videos showcasing the deadly plague's uncontrolled spread through major cities have emerged, sparking mixed reactions; some players find the situation humorous, while others worry about the potential impact on Hardcore realms.

Initially launched in September 2005 with Patch 1.7, Rise of the Blood God, the Zul'Gurub raid (a 20-player instance) featured Hakkar the Soulflayer, a formidable deity worshipped by Gurubashi trolls. Its return in World of Warcraft: Season of Discovery during Phase 5 (September 2024) brought back the Corrupted Blood spell. This spell inflicts damage over time and spreads to nearby players, creating a chain reaction. Normally, strong healers could mitigate the damage, but the uncontrolled spread proved problematic.

For almost a month following Zul'Gurub's release, Corrupted Blood affected both players and their companions, leading to its spread beyond the raid itself and causing widespread disruption. A r/classicwow user, Lightstruckx, posted a video demonstrating the debuff's rapid spread in Stormwind City's Trade District. The video vividly recalls the 2005 incident, where "pet bombs" similarly spread the plague across the game world for weeks before Blizzard intervened.

World of Warcraft Players Unintentionally Recreate the Corrupted Blood Incident

Some players attribute the Corrupted Blood debuff's reappearance to unresolved issues, while others express concern about its potential misuse in Hardcore realms. Unlike Season of Discovery, Hardcore mode features permanent death, making the uncontrolled spread of Corrupted Blood a significant threat.

Despite previous attempts to address the issue, the legacy of the Corrupted Blood incident persists. With Season of Discovery's seventh phase slated for early 2025, the timing of Blizzard's solution remains uncertain.