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Who Is Illidan Stormrage? Lore for New WoW Forever Players

Illidan Stormrage is the twin brother of the night elf archdruid Malfurion Stormrage, a sorcerer who made a pact with the Burning Legion, spent more than 10,000 years in prison, became a demon in the Third War and then fled to Outland. In World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever), set in the first year of World of Warcraft, he is not a character players meet: he first appears in the game in The Burning Crusade, which Forever does not include.

Quick answer: Illidan betrayed and then fought the Legion during the War of the Ancients, was locked away by his own people, and was freed by Tyrande Whisperwind in the Third War. He took the Skull of Gul'dan and became a demon, was banished by Malfurion, and ended up in Outland. WoW Forever's coverage does not mention him.

Illidan's story, step by step
A six-step timeline of Illidan Stormrage: night elf sorcerer, War of the Ancients, imprisoned for over 10,000 years, freed in the Third War, the Skull of Gul'dan, and Outland, where he first appears as a game character in The Burning Crusade. Source: Warcraft Wiki.

Key facts

  • Race: night elf, later a demon after the Skull of Gul'dan (Warcraft Wiki)
  • Family: twin brother of Malfurion; Tyrande Whisperwind, whom both brothers loved, is his sister-in-law (Warcraft Wiki)
  • War of the Ancients: about 10,000 years ago, the night elves called him "the Betrayer" (Warcraft Wiki, Wikipedia)
  • Imprisoned: over 10,000 years under Maiev Shadowsong's wardens (Warcraft Wiki, Wowpedia)
  • Freed by: Tyrande, in the Third War (Warcraft Wiki, Wowpedia, Wikipedia, Blizzard)
  • Later home: Outland and the Black Temple (Warcraft Wiki, Wowpedia)
  • First game appearance: The Burning Crusade, as the final boss of the Black Temple raid, patch 2.1 (Warcraft Wiki, Vanilla WoW Archive, Wikipedia)

Who is Illidan Stormrage?

Illidan is a night elf and the twin brother of Malfurion, and Warcraft Wiki says both brothers loved Tyrande. Wowpedia describes him as a sorcerer who practiced Highborne magic and who defected to the Burning Legion during the War of the Ancients, about 10,000 years ago.

Blizzard's Burning Crusade Classic story summary says he allied with Sargeras and the Legion in exchange for power, then changed sides at the climax and helped Malfurion reverse the portal magic. He was still tried for attacking his own kin and for creating a "forbidden fount of power," and imprisoned. Warcraft Wiki and Wowpedia both say that fount was a second Well of Eternity on Mount Hyjal. Warcraft Wiki says his people called him the Betrayer because of it, while Wikipedia ties the nickname to his pact with the Legion. Mount Hyjal is a new zone in Forever, so read the Mount Hyjal guide and the night elf history.

How did Illidan become a demon?

Tyrande freed Illidan during the Third War so he could help fight the returning Burning Legion. Warcraft Wiki, Wowpedia and Blizzard agree on what came next: he took the power of the Skull of Gul'dan, which turned him into a demon, and Malfurion banished him. Warcraft Wiki and Wowpedia add that he defeated the dreadlord Tichondrius first. This happens in Warcraft III, where Warcraft Wiki says he is a supporting character in Reign of Chaos and one of the two main antagonists in The Frozen Throne.

Wikipedia says the Legion then sent him to destroy the Lich King, that he failed, and that he hid on Outland. For the war that Illidan's choices fed into, read the Warcraft lore recap and Who Is Arthas Menethil?, since Arthas defeated him at Icecrown.

Where is Illidan in WoW Forever's era?

Illidan's story places him in Outland by the time of Forever. Warcraft Wiki says he went through a portal to Outland, laid siege to the Black Temple of the pit lord Magtheridon, was sent by Kil'jaeden to Icecrown, and after Arthas defeated him there fled back to Outland and declared himself Lord of Outland. Wowpedia and the Vanilla WoW Archive also put him in Outland as its ruler. Forever is set after the Third War and before The Burning Crusade, per Warcraft Wiki's patch page for Forever.

No source says where Illidan is in year 25 after the Dark Portal. Warcraft Wiki's lore page lists his location as "Unknown," and the Vanilla WoW Archive says he is not part of the original game. The Outland placement comes from the order of events, not from a Forever statement. Noobtoboss's explainer on Forever's timeline does not mention Illidan at all and says no Outland or Draenor content is indicated.

Can you fight or meet Illidan in WoW Forever?

Probably not. Warcraft Wiki and the Vanilla WoW Archive say Illidan debuted in World of Warcraft in The Burning Crusade, as the final boss of the Black Temple raid in patch 2.1. Wowpedia says he first appeared in the game with that expansion. Warcraft Wiki's Forever page says races introduced in The Burning Crusade and later are not playable, and Forever's announced raids are Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and a returning Onyxia's Lair.

Warcraft Wiki lists the Forever raid Barrow Deeps in Mount Hyjal, and both it and Wowpedia name Barrow Deeps as the prison where Illidan was held for more than 10,000 years. Lore Forever has not seen any source say Illidan appears there, so do not read that as a confirmed Illidan appearance. The free Lore Forever add-on shows readable zone and quest background when you reach Hyjal, and the optional Willo voice companion can answer lore questions. Both are fan-made.

What is not confirmed yet

  • Blizzard has not said whether Illidan appears in any Forever quest, raid or story beat.
  • No source states Illidan's location in the first year of World of Warcraft; Outland is inferred from the order of events.
  • Sources differ on the order of his trip to Icecrown and his flight to Outland: Warcraft Wiki and Blizzard have him reach Outland first, go to Icecrown, and return there after Arthas defeated him, Wikipedia says he hid on Outland after failing against the Lich King, and Wowpedia's own sections disagree on the order.
  • His death in the Black Temple, the Illidari and everything after The Burning Crusade are outside WoW Forever.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Illidan Stormrage in Warcraft?

Illidan Stormrage is a night elf sorcerer, twin brother of Malfurion Stormrage, who allied with the Burning Legion, was imprisoned for over 10,000 years and later became a demon and ruler of Outland.

Is Illidan in WoW Forever?

WoW Forever's coverage does not mention Illidan. He first appears in World of Warcraft in The Burning Crusade, which Forever does not include.

Where is Illidan in the first year of World of Warcraft?

Illidan's story places him in Outland after he fled there following the Third War. No source states his exact location in that year, and Warcraft Wiki lists it as unknown.

Why is Illidan called the Betrayer?

Warcraft Wiki says his people called him the Betrayer after he created a second Well of Eternity on Mount Hyjal at the end of the War of the Ancients. Wikipedia ties the nickname to his pact with the Legion.

How did Illidan become a demon?

Illidan consumed the fel power of the Skull of Gul'dan in the Third War. It turned him into a demon, and Malfurion banished him for it.

Are Illidan and Malfurion brothers?

Yes. Warcraft Wiki and Wikipedia say they are twins. Read the night elf history for Malfurion and Tyrande.

Sources

Reviewed October 24, 2026. This article covers history before and during Forever's setting and does not treat later events as Forever canon. Lore Forever and Willo are fan-made and are not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.

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