Lore ·
Who Is Medivh? The Last Guardian of Tirisfal Explained
Medivh was the last Guardian of Tirisfal, the human mage whom the titan Sargeras possessed, who opened the Dark Portal and began the First War before Khadgar and Anduin Lothar killed him at Karazhan. In World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever), set in the first year of World of Warcraft (year 25 after the Dark Portal), he is long dead as a man and vanished as a prophet, and his tower stands in Deadwind Pass in the original game.
Quick answer: Medivh was the son of Aegwynn, the previous Guardian, and carried Sargeras within him from before birth. He made a bargain with the orc Gul'dan, opened the Dark Portal and was killed by Khadgar and Lothar. He returned as a mysterious prophet who guided Thrall to Kalimdor, then vanished after the Battle of Mount Hyjal.
Every land has one house that the neighbors do not look at. In Deadwind Pass it is a tower built in secret by a mother and later claimed by her son, and the land below has lain in its shadow ever since.
Key facts
- Parents: Aegwynn, the previous Guardian of Tirisfal (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
- Title: the last Guardian of Tirisfal (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
- Possession: Sargeras placed his essence in him before birth (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
- Bargain: the location of the Tomb of Sargeras, in exchange for a Horde invasion (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
- Death: killed by Khadgar and Lothar during the First War (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
- Tower: Karazhan, in Deadwind Pass (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
- Return: a mysterious prophet who guided Thrall to Kalimdor (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
- After Mount Hyjal: he vanished (Warcraft Wiki, Engadget)
Who was Medivh before the First War?
Medivh was born to be the world's guardian and carried its enemy inside him. Warcraft Wiki and Engadget's Know Your Lore column say his mother was Aegwynn, the Guardian of Tirisfal before him, and that he inherited the Guardian's power. Both say Sargeras had passed his essence to Aegwynn in an earlier battle, and that it possessed Medivh before he was born. Engadget says his powers awakened at fourteen, killing his father and leaving him in a coma, and Warcraft Wiki says the same of his fourteenth birthday. The sources disagree on his father's name and how long the coma lasted, so this article gives neither.
Warcraft Wiki says he grew up near the Stormwind court with Llane Wrynn and Anduin Lothar. Read Who Is Anduin Lothar? for the friend who later killed him, and the history of Stormwind for the court.
Why did Medivh open the Dark Portal?
He opened it because the thing inside him wanted it open. Warcraft Wiki says that, under Sargeras's influence, Medivh made a bargain with the warlock Gul'dan: the location of the Tomb of Sargeras in exchange for bringing the Horde to Azeroth. Engadget says the same, and that Medivh opened the Dark Portal, starting the First War. Read Who Is Gul'dan? for the other half of the bargain and The Orcs of Azeroth for the people who came through.
How did Medivh die?
His apprentice undid him. Engadget says Khadgar grew suspicious, went to his childhood friends Llane and Lothar for help, and killed Medivh by driving a sword through his heart. Warcraft Wiki says Khadgar ran a blade through Medivh's heart and Lothar delivered the final blow. Warcraft Wiki says his death left a curse on Karazhan and the land around it, which became Deadwind Pass, and its Medivh page says his body was buried in Morgan's Plot in Deadwind Pass. Read Who Is Khadgar? for the apprentice.
Where is Medivh's tower, Karazhan?
Karazhan is in Deadwind Pass, east of Duskwood. Warcraft Wiki's Deadwind Pass page says Aegwynn built the tower in secret and that Medivh later made it his home, and that it has been abandoned since his death and remains under dark enchantments. Engadget calls it Medivh's former tower. Warcraft Wiki says the raid called Karazhan is a level 70 raid from The Burning Crusade, which makes it a later event outside WoW Forever, and Warcraft Wiki's Patch 1.60 page, which summarizes Forever's content, does not mention Karazhan or Deadwind Pass. The same page lists Forever's three raids as Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair. Read the raids guide.
What did Medivh do in the Third War?
A dead guardian can still keep a promise. Engadget says Medivh returned as a mysterious prophet who guided Thrall to Kalimdor and urged the Horde and Alliance to ally against the Burning Legion, and Warcraft Wiki says he guided Thrall, Jaina Proudmoore and Malfurion Stormrage into the alliance that fought at Mount Hyjal. Both say that after Archimonde was destroyed, Medivh vanished. Read the Mount Hyjal guide, Who Is Jaina Proudmoore? and Who Is Thrall?.
The free Lore Forever add-on shows readable zone and quest background as you travel, and the optional Willo voice companion lets you ask about the figures behind the places. Both are fan-made.
What is not confirmed yet
- Blizzard has not published a list of Forever's Medivh quests or dialogue, so this article describes the character, not new content.
- Warcraft Wiki's Patch 1.60 page does not mention Karazhan, Deadwind Pass, Morgan's Plot or the Dark Portal, so whether Forever includes them is unknown.
- Sources disagree on Medivh's father. Warcraft Wiki names him Nielas Aran, while Engadget calls him an unnamed court conjurer.
- Sources disagree on how long the coma lasted: Warcraft Wiki says almost ten years, while Engadget says six.
- Warcraft Wiki says Khadgar ran a blade through his heart and Lothar delivered the final blow, and Engadget says Khadgar killed him.
- Later events, including Medivh's later appearances, are outside WoW Forever.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Medivh in World of Warcraft?
Medivh is the last Guardian of Tirisfal, a human mage possessed by Sargeras. He opened the Dark Portal, starting the First War, and was killed at Karazhan.
Is Medivh alive in WoW Forever?
No, not as the man. Medivh died in the First War and returned as a prophet before the Third War, then vanished after Mount Hyjal. WoW Forever is set in the first year of World of Warcraft, long after that.
Who killed Medivh?
Khadgar and Anduin Lothar killed Medivh at Karazhan, according to Warcraft Wiki. Engadget says Khadgar killed him.
Where is Karazhan?
Karazhan is Medivh's tower in Deadwind Pass, east of Duskwood, according to Warcraft Wiki. Whether it appears in WoW Forever is not confirmed.
Is Karazhan in WoW Forever?
Not that Lore Forever has seen confirmed. Warcraft Wiki's Patch 1.60 page does not mention it, and Forever's three announced raids are Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair.
Sources
Reviewed October 25, 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.