Lore ·
Who Is Arthas Menethil? The Lich King Origin Story
Arthas Menethil was the prince of Lordaeron and a paladin who, in his pursuit of the Scourge, took up the cursed blade Frostmourne and became the Lich King. His choices destroyed his kingdom and created the Forsaken. In WoW Forever's timeline, the first year of World of Warcraft, his rise has already happened and his fall has not.
Quick answer: Arthas rose from prince and paladin to Death Knight and then the Lich King during the Third War. He killed his father, destroyed Quel'Thalas and Lordaeron's capital, and merged with the Lich King. His death comes in Wrath of the Lich King, which is later than Forever's timeline.
Spoiler note
The sections up to "Where WoW Forever fits" are history from before Forever. The last section marks events that come after Forever's time, which Forever's story does not cover.
A prince and a paladin
Arthas was born to King Terenas II and Queen Lianne about four years before the First War. Muradin Bronzebeard trained him in combat and Uther the Lightbringer taught him the Light. He was close to Varian Wrynn and courted Jaina Proudmoore, but ended the romance to focus on his duties. At 19 he joined the Order of the Silver Hand in Stormwind.
The plague and the Culling
When orc raids and reports of plague reached the northlands, Arthas and Uther defended Strahnbrad. At 24, he, Jaina and Captain Falric investigated the plague, pursuing the necromancer Kel'Thuzad to Andorhal. At Hearthglen he watched the plague turn townsfolk into undead.
In the Culling of Stratholme, Arthas ordered the city purged, relieved Uther of command and burned Stratholme after the slaughter. It is the moment his certainty began to cost him his friends.
Frostmourne and the Lich King
Arthas followed the demon Mal'Ganis to Northrend, where he reunited with Muradin, burned his own ships and claimed Frostmourne. He killed most of his own troops and raised them as undead. He returned to Lordaeron, killed Terenas and unleashed the Scourge on the capital, and fought Uther, who fell.
In Quel'Thalas he defeated Sylvanas Windrunner, turned her into a banshee, destroyed Silvermoon, killed King Anasterian and used the Sunwell to revive Kel'Thuzad as a lich. Kel'Thuzad then summoned Archimonde, who destroyed Dalaran. For the details of the kingdom's fall, read What Happened to Lordaeron?.
Later Sylvanas betrayed him, and he returned to Northrend to answer the Lich King's call. He crossed Azjol-Nerub with Anub'arak's help, defeated Illidan at the Court of Bones, took Ner'zhul's helm and merged with the Lich King. He banished his humanity and began leading a Scourge invasion of Azeroth.
Where WoW Forever fits
WoW Forever is set in the first year of World of Warcraft, a few years after the Third War. The Forsaken, led by Sylvanas, hold the Undercity, and Lordaeron lies in ruins. See the lore primer and the Ruins of Lordaeron dungeon, where the places Arthas shaped are part of the setting.
Blizzard has not said that Arthas appears as a character in Forever, so we do not claim it. What is certain is that you walk through the aftermath of what he did.
After Forever's timeline
This section describes events later in the timeline than Forever. During Wrath of the Lich King, Tirion Fordring's assault reaches the Frozen Throne. Tirion destroys Frostmourne with the Ashbringer, and the fallen heroes help mortally wound Arthas. He dies in the arms of Terenas's spirit, saying he sees "only darkness... before me." Later stories in other expansions return to his soul and to what remained of him. None of it is part of Forever.
Keep the people straight
- Uther: Arthas's mentor and later victim
- Jaina: his former love, who investigated the plague with him
- Muradin: his friend and teacher
- Kel'Thuzad: the necromancer Arthas raised as a lich
- Sylvanas: corrupted by Arthas, later the leader of the Forsaken
- Terenas: his father, the king he killed
Learn the story while you play
The free Lore Forever add-on gives you readable background for the places you stand in, such as Tirisfal Glades. The optional Willo Windows companion lets you ask questions out loud. Both are fan-made, and quest text and Blizzard announcements decide what is canon in Forever.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Arthas Menethil?
The prince of Lordaeron who became the Lich King after taking up Frostmourne.
Why did Arthas turn evil?
He pursued the Scourge at any cost, burned Stratholme in the Culling, followed Mal'Ganis to Northrend and claimed Frostmourne.
Is Arthas in WoW Forever?
Blizzard has not announced him as a character. Forever's timeline falls after his rise and before his death.
Who killed Arthas?
He is mortally wounded during Wrath of the Lich King after Tirion Fordring destroys Frostmourne. That is later than Forever's timeline.
What is the Culling of Stratholme?
The moment Arthas ordered the city of Stratholme purged to stop the plague, relieved Uther of command and burned the city.
Sources
Reviewed October 23, 2026. This article marks which events fall before and after Forever's setting. Lore Forever and Willo are fan-made and are not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.