WoW: Nostalgic Bug from 2005 Re-Emerges

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 recreating the 2005 event by intentionally spreading the plague in Stormwind City, mirroring the original incident's uncontrolled spread.

The notorious Corrupted Blood incident, a defining moment in World of Warcraft's history, has made an accidental return in the Season of Discovery servers. Videos circulating online show the deadly plague unleashed in major cities, sparking both amusement and concern among players, particularly regarding the impact on Hardcore realms.

Initially unleashed in September 2005 with Patch 1.7 (Rise of the Blood God), the Zul'Gurub raid—a 20-player instance featuring Hakkar the Soulflayer—returned in Phase 5 of Season of Discovery (September 2024). Hakkar's Corrupted Blood spell, dealing damage over time and spreading to nearby players, was inadvertently re-introduced. While normally manageable with sufficient healing, its accidental re-emergence caused significant disruption.

For almost a month following Zul'Gurub's initial release, Corrupted Blood affected players and their pets, facilitating its spread beyond the raid and causing widespread pandemonium. A r/classicwow user, Lightstruckx, posted a video showcasing the debuff's rapid spread in Stormwind City's Trade District, strikingly similar to the 2005 incident where "pet bombs" were used to spread the plague before Blizzard's intervention.

World of Warcraft Players Unintentionally Recreate the Corrupted Blood Incident

Some players attribute the Corrupted Blood debuff's resurgence to unresolved issues, while others voice concerns about its potential weaponization in Hardcore realms, where character death is permanent. This contrasts sharply with Season of Discovery's less severe consequences.

Despite previous attempts to address the issue, the Corrupted Blood incident's legacy persists. With Phase 7 of Season of Discovery scheduled for early 2025, the timing of Blizzard's solution to this latest outbreak remains uncertain.