Rediscovered WoW Bug Haunts '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, inadvertently re-introduced the Corrupted Blood spell.
• Players have replicated the 2005 event, unintentionally spreading the deadly plague in Stormwind City, causing widespread chaos.

A notorious chapter in World of Warcraft's history, the Corrupted Blood incident, has resurfaced in Season of Discovery servers due to an unforeseen glitch. Videos circulating online depict the deadly plague rampaging through major cities, sparking both amusement and apprehension among players, particularly regarding 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, a damaging effect that spread rapidly to nearby players. While normally manageable with sufficient healing, this time it proved problematic.

For almost a month following Zul'Gurub's release in 2005, Corrupted Blood affected both players and their companions, leading to widespread pandemonium as players weaponized the plague outside raid instances. A recent video on r/classicwow, posted by Lightstruckx, shows Corrupted Blood spreading rapidly in Stormwind City's Trade District, mirroring the 2005 incident. The video highlights the speed at which the debuff decimated players, even with the use of powerful healing spells.

World of Warcraft Players Unintentionally Recreate the Corrupted Blood Incident

Some players attribute the reappearance of Corrupted Blood to unresolved issues, while others express concern about its potential exploitation in Hardcore mode, where character death is permanent. This stark contrast with Season of Discovery, where death has less severe consequences, raises significant concerns.

Despite previous attempts to address the issue, the legacy of the Corrupted Blood incident persists. With Phase 7 of Season of Discovery slated for early 2025, Blizzard's response to this latest outbreak remains to be seen.