Arthas Menethil, once a beloved prince of Lordaeron, is one of the most tragic and infamous characters in Warcraft lore. His story begins with noble intentions, seeking to protect his kingdom from the rising threat of the Scourge. As a young paladin, Arthas was trained by Uther the Lightbringer and blessed with the ideals of justice and protection. However, his determination to save his people would lead him down a dark and twisted path.

The Scourge

The turning point in Arthas's life came with the discovery of the Scourge plague. Determined to stop the plague at all costs, Arthas made the fateful decision to purge the city of Stratholme, slaughtering its infected citizens. This act marked the beginning of his descent into darkness. Obsessed with vengeance, Arthas pursued the dreadlord Mal'Ganis to Northrend, where he found Frostmourne, a cursed runeblade that would seal his fate.

Claiming Frostmourne, Arthas unknowingly sacrificed his soul. The blade granted him immense power but at the cost of his humanity. Slowly, Arthas fell under the influence of the Lich King, Ner’zhul, becoming a death knight and leading the Scourge back to his homeland. In one of the most heartbreaking moments in Warcraft’s history, Arthas returned to Lordaeron and murdered his father, King Terenas, declaring himself the ruler of a kingdom of the dead.

Lich King

As the Lich King, Arthas fully embraced his role as the leader of the Scourge, merging with Ner’zhul’s spirit and cementing his legacy as the greatest villain in Warcraft. His rise culminated in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion, where players would finally confront him atop Icecrown Citadel. Despite his dark actions, Arthas's story is one of tragedy, showing how a hero’s fall can come from a desire to protect those he loved.

In the end, Arthas was defeated by Azeroth’s champions, and as his life slipped away, the weight of his actions seemed to return. His final words to his father, “I see only darkness before me,” echo the tragic fate of a prince who sought to be a savior but became the greatest enemy the world had ever faced.