Lore ·
Who Is Varok Saurfang? The Orc Overlord of Orgrimmar Explained
Varok Saurfang is a Blackrock clan orc warrior who served as Orgrim Doomhammer's second in command in the Second War, and in the original World of Warcraft era he stands in Orgrimmar's Valley of Strength as High Overlord Saurfang. World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever) is set in the first year of World of Warcraft, around year 25 after the Dark Portal, so this is the veteran players meet in the Horde's capital.
Quick answer: Saurfang fought for the Horde from the siege of Stormwind through the Second War, stood beside the orcs at the Battle of Mount Hyjal and now serves Warchief Thrall in Orgrimmar. His brother is Broxigar. His later wars come after Forever's setting and are left out here.
Every army keeps one old soldier who has already seen the war it is preparing for. In Orgrimmar, beneath the red cliffs of the Valley of Strength, the Horde keeps its own.
Key facts
- Clan: Blackrock (Warcraft Wiki, Blizzard Watch)
- Rank in the Second War: second in command to Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer (Warcraft Wiki, Blizzard Watch)
- Family: brother Broxigar (Warcraft Wiki, Blizzard Watch)
- Third War: took part in the Battle of Mount Hyjal (Warcraft Wiki, Blizzard Watch)
- Title in the original game: High Overlord Saurfang (Warcraft Wiki)
- Post: Orgrimmar's Valley of Strength, enforcing Thrall's rule (Warcraft Wiki)
Who is Varok Saurfang?
The Blackrock clan marched at the front of the Horde, and Saurfang marched with it. Warcraft Wiki lists him as an orc warrior of the Blackrock clan who fought in the First War under Orgrim Doomhammer and the siege of Stormwind. Blizzard Watch's Know Your Lore column says he served as lieutenant to Blackhand, then to Doomhammer, and helped sack Stormwind.
Warcraft Wiki names his older brother as Broxigar and calls Broxigar a veteran of the First, Second and Third Wars. Blizzard Watch agrees on the brother and says Broxigar survived all three wars.
What did Saurfang do in the Second War?
The Second War was the Horde's fall, and Saurfang stood close to the man who led it. Warcraft Wiki calls him second in command to Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer and says he commanded a Blackrock rearguard in the Hinterlands. Blizzard Watch also describes him as Doomhammer's second, and says he fought in the army that Turalyon's forces beat at Blackrock Mountain. For the orcs' wider history, read The Orcs of Azeroth.
Where does Saurfang appear in WoW Forever's era?
By year 25 the orcs have a new home across the sea and a new Warchief. The sources place Saurfang in Thrall's service. Warcraft Wiki says he was stationed in Orgrimmar's Valley of Strength, enforcing the rule of Warchief Thrall, and its Valley of Strength page lists High Overlord Saurfang among the Horde inhabitants who are present in Classic. Blizzard Watch says he fought at Mount Hyjal alongside night elves and humans after the orcs reached Kalimdor. For the Warchief he serves, see Who Is Thrall?. For the end of the Third War, see the Mount Hyjal guide, and for the valley beyond Orgrimmar's gates, Durotar in WoW Forever.
The free Lore Forever add-on adds readable background as you walk through Orgrimmar, and the optional Willo voice companion lets you ask about the characters you meet there. Both are fan-made.
What happens to Saurfang later?
Later in the timeline, outside WoW Forever, Saurfang commands the Horde's army against the qiraji at Silithus, according to both Warcraft Wiki and Blizzard Watch. Everything after that comes later still, and this article leaves it out so the Forever story stays unspoiled.
What is not confirmed yet
- Blizzard has not published a list of Forever's Saurfang quests or dialogue, so this article describes the character, not new content.
- Only Warcraft Wiki places him in the Valley of Strength, in two pages that agree with each other. Players search for him with the Hall of Legends, but the sources opened for this article do not place him there.
- Which of the later Silithus events appear in Forever's first year is not known. Blizzard's three announced Forever raids are Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Varok Saurfang in World of Warcraft?
Varok Saurfang is a Blackrock clan orc warrior who served as Orgrim Doomhammer's second in command in the Second War. In the original game he stands in Orgrimmar's Valley of Strength under Warchief Thrall.
Is Saurfang in WoW Forever?
Forever is set in the original game's first year, when Warcraft Wiki places High Overlord Saurfang in Orgrimmar's Valley of Strength. Blizzard has not published a list of his Forever quests.
What is the Valley of Strength?
The Valley of Strength is the Orgrimmar district where Warcraft Wiki places Saurfang. Its page lists High Overlord Saurfang among the Horde inhabitants present in Classic.
Who is Saurfang's brother?
Saurfang's older brother is Broxigar, according to Warcraft Wiki and Blizzard Watch. Both place Broxigar in all three wars, and Blizzard Watch says he survived them.
Did Saurfang fight at Mount Hyjal?
Yes. Warcraft Wiki says he took part in the Battle of Mount Hyjal in the Third War. Blizzard Watch says he trained and led troops there alongside night elves and humans.
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.