The most epic battles between the Alliance and the Horde

Key insights

  • The conflict between the Alliance and the Horde was central to Warcraft, with various battles and betrayals over resources.
  • The Battle of Azeroth marked a major turning point, ending the conflict but leaving a legacy of bloody battles.
  • Various storylines, such as the Battle of Azeroth and the Siege of Lordaeron, represented pivotal moments in the ongoing war between the factions.



One of the central storylines and themes of the Warcraft The universe is the conflict between two major world factions: the Alliance and the Horde. The Horde initially consisted of orc clans on Draenor seeking to conquer a new world, while the Alliance was a pact made between humans, dwarves and high elves to defend their lands against the Horde. However, the composition of these factions changed over the years.

Everywhere Warcraft games, these two pacts were part of an endless struggle for dominance, whether due to resources, different ideals, or outside manipulation. In Battle for Azeroth, The conflict appears to have ended and has not continued since then. Yet the factions left behind a trail of battles as bloody and decimating as they were epic and magnificent in their scale.


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What are your predictions for WoW: Midnight?

We know that in World of Warcraft: Midnight we will return to Quel'Thalas in some way, that the forces of the Void will seek to corrupt the Sunwell, and that the scattered elven people will unite in some way. Based on all of this, I think that Xal'atath will be victorious in some way at the end of The War Within, and since the Sunwell is essentially a vial taken from the original Well of Eternity, it could be a catalyst for that , that Xal'atath will become greater than she already is – perhaps powerful enough to completely corrupt Azeroth's world soul, or at least powerful enough to achieve her goals, whatever they may be. I think Xal'atath will be the final boss of WoW: Midnight, and because “things don't always go according to plan”, she will somehow achieve her goals and in the final expansion we will team up with the Titans to save the World Soul from the to preserve complete corruption.

11 Stormheim Expedition

Genn's quest for revenge

World of Warcraft Genn Greymane Heroes of the Storm Art

The legion The expansion began 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 the mortal wounding of their Warchief resulted in Varian Wrynn, King of the Alliance, losing his life. Genn Greymane and his companions wanted revenge on the new warchief Sylvanas.

Genn's sudden attack on Stormheim interrupted Aggramar's hunt for Aegis and turned the ancient land into a war zone between two factions. Eventually, Genn managed to engage Sylvanas in a quick but fierce duel, wresting her claim to immortal existence for herself and other Forsaken right before her eyes.


10 Battle of the Black Temple

Draenor torn apart

Ner'Zhul is visited by his wife

The Alliance's expedition to Draenor was a daring attempt to destroy the Horde before launching a counterattack. It was led by Paladin Turalyon, Archmage Khadgar and Alleria Windrunner. Their army clashed throughout Draenor with the remnants of the Horde led by Ner'zhul until the decisive Battle of Shadowmoon Valley.

This battle was on the verge of a decisive victory for the Alliance. Nevertheless, Ner'zhul unleashed his final trick: magical earthquakes caused by countless portals opening simultaneously around Draenor. This resulted in the destruction of the world and its transformation into Outland, as well as stranding the Alliance army on the other side of the portal.


9 Krasarang Wilds Campaign

Offensive on a new continent

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When Pandaria was discovered, the leaders of the Alliance and Horde saw an opportunity, as this land was full of resources, secrets, and potential allies. This led to Varian Wrynn and Garrosh Hellscream launching offensives in the southernmost part of the continent, the Krasarang Wilds.

The campaign spread across Pandaria, involving members of various races, but the wilderness became the epicenter of the battle. Soldiers from both factions clashed mercilessly, forever staining the once peaceful land with bloodshed and war.

8 The Siege of Stormwind

A destroyed city

WoW Classic SoD P4 Onyxia Attunement Stormwind City The true masters


The First War ended with a devastating conquest of Stormwind. The Horde, still under the influence of the Legion's demonic powers, stormed into the city and destroyed everyone in their path. Stormwind was leveled. 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 responsible for defending the city and bringing survivors to Lordaeron. After showing how great the Horde's threat was, the remaining kingdoms banded together into an alliance that became a major countervailing force to the Horde.

7 Battle of Gilneas

The undead versus the cursed

Warcraft Worgen starting zone Gilneas


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

First, Sylvanas' Armins drove the Gilneans from their homeland, which brought them into the Alliance with the help of the night elves. After a counterattack, Gilneas became the battleground between Alliance forces and the Forsaken for many years, a conflict that was not resolved until the Battle of Azeroth.

6 Battle for Dazar'alor

Alliance counterattack

Wow, BFA Jaina Pridemoore, King Rastakhan Zandalar


The Battle for Azeroth began with the Alliance's devastating defeats, particularly the Burning of Teldrassil. However, the faction prepared a counterattack. In patch 8.1, Tides of Vengeance, the Alliance launched a full-scale attack on the Zandalari city of Dazar'alor. The battle began with the destruction of the Zadalari fleet and the advance of the Kul Tiras navy into the harbor.

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

5 Battle of Ashenvale

An endless fight for resources

World of Warcraft Classic Fishing Ashenvale


Kalimdor remained a peaceful continent for 10,000 years, but that changed when the orcs entered its lands. They lived in a harsh region of Durotar and had few resources, while the Kaldorei had fertile forests at their disposal. This led to an ongoing conflict between these factions, which became increasingly evident throughout 2017 disaster.

The majority of the conflict occurred between the orcs and the night elves, with the two races fighting for control of Ashenvale. The Horde used various technological wonders, such as chippers, to chop up the trees, while the night elves relied on the power of nature and druidry to protect their lands.

4 Fall of Theramore

Garrosh's Onslaught

Theramore – Troubling Things in WOW Lore


At the time of its announcement Mists of Pandaria seemed like a light-hearted expansion in contrast to Cataclysm, but its launch painted a very different picture. Garrosh marched his armies to Theramore, the city that belonged to Jaina Proudmoore and was then establishing itself as a place of importance Warcraft 3.

Players from both factions received a playable scenario depicting the fall of Theramore, with different versions for the Horde and Alliance. This fight shows how ruthless Garrosh can be, making him the expansion's antagonist while also showing Jaina's shift away from an idealistic pacifist.

3 The Thorn War

A declaration of war

WoW: Burning of Teldrassil


The War of Thorns was the quick and bloody beginning of the Battle of Azeroth. Sylvanas Windrunner began her campaign against the night elves to secure Kalimdor for the Horde. While their motives were later revealed to be selfish, most of the Horde followed this plan and fought in the conflict.

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

2 The Battle of the Dark Portal

The Fall of the Old Horde

Warcraft TTRPG – Alliance vs Horde


The Second War devastated the Eastern Kingdoms as the Horde pushed north and attempted to conquer everything. Their winning streak was cut short by Gul'dan's treachery, leaving the Horde exposed to a counterattack by Alliance forces. They were led by Anduin Lothar, who lost his life in the fight against Orgrim Doomhammer.

After Lothar's death, his protégé Turalyon took over leadership. He drove the Horde south back to the Dark Portal, where an all-out battle broke out between the factions. Despite heavy losses on both sides, the Alliance managed to destroy the Horde armies and bring Doomhammer to his knees.

1 Siege of Lordaeron

A devastating collision

Painting of Anduin and Genn Greymane leading the Alliance in the Battle of Lordaeron


With Teldrassil burned, it was only a matter of time before the Alliance responded. This led to a full-scale attack on Lordaeron to end Sylvanas' rule. The battle destroyed the lower city and resulted in the surrounding areas being poisoned by plague, and only Jaina was able to make her way through the city.

The siege involved numerous technologies such as siege towers, gnome constructions and abandoned defenses. Leaders such as Jaina, Alleria and Sylvanas achieved remarkable feats during the battle. A battle between Saurfang and the Alliance heroes was the climax of the epic battle between the factions.

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