Marksmanship Hunter Artifact Weapon: Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners

By Wowhead Last Updated: 2019/04/01 Changelog Patch: 10.2.6

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Thas'dorah, Legacy of the WindrunnersAppearances and TintsArtifact CalculatorLegion Dressing RoomLight's ChargeForged for BattlePower RealizedPart of HistoryThis Side UpImproving on HistoryUnleashed MonstrositiesKeystone MasterGlory of the Legion HeroThe PrestigeCrest of HeroismCrest of CarnageCrest of DevastationMage TowerThwarting the TwinsSyriel Crescentfall's Notes: RavenguardTransmog Recommendationssave and share an Outfit with this artifactVereesa's Legacy + Season 12 PvPDefault + Season 2 PvPAlleria's Legacy + Sunwell TierSylvanas' Legacy + Tier 2Forgotten Legacy + Tier 6Artifact AcquisitionThas'dorah, Legacy of the WindrunnersYouTube Artifact Acquisition PlaylistRescue Mission

Many years ago, the ranger Alleria Windrunner wielded her family bow, Thas'dorah, to battle the Legion.

Her current whereabouts are unknown.

If Alleria could be located, her weapon would become a valuable asset in the war against the demons.

NiskaraRescue Mission

Stage 1 – The Rescue
Survey the rise ahead and eliminate Legion patrols.

Stage 2 – Stop the Summoners
Defeat the eredar summoners before they bring in more demons.

Stage 3 – Search for Your Allies
Go deeper into Legion territory to locate Alleria and Orestes.

Stage 4 – Defeat the Hound Mistress
Slay Mistress Torvis and save Orestes.

Stage 5 – Quiet the Herald
Enter the cathedral and defeat Herald Xarbizuld.

Stage 6 – End the Inquisition
Defeat High Inquisitor Qormaladon and his guardian eyes.

Stage 7 – Where Is She?
Help Vereesa search the Inquisitor's overlook for Alleria.

Final Stage – A Bow of Legend
Wield Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners.

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners

Vereesa: Was she here for days? Years? Centuries? The mage was right...time has little meaning in this place.
By the Light...There! It's her bow! Thas'dorah!
Alleria was here...her bow's presence is proof of that! I'd wager she escaped, and the inquisitor hoped to lure her back.
Thas'dorah is a bow worthy of a hero like Alleria...a hero like you. With this weapon in your hands, the Legion will tremble!

Artifact Book Text

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners

If only we could see the true glory of Quel'Thalas again. Thas'dorah was created to aid in the defense of the Highborne kingdom, but over the course of its storied history, the weapon became so much more. It has journeyed from Azeroth to the darkest corners of the Twisting Nether, and it has spilled the Burning Legion's blood on the demons' home territory.

The rightful owner of this bow is still missing. But Alleria Windrunner was stalwart and practical; she would insist that a worthy champion use it to strike fear in the Legion's heart once again.

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners, Part One

Nearly 7,000 years ago, the Highborne founded a new home in the Eastern Kingdoms. Their journey had been hard, and the land was hostile. But the end result was astonishing.

The elves built upon a confluence of magical ley lines and created a city, Silvermoon, near the Sunwell, a fount of pure arcane power. The kingdom of Quel'Thalas rose over the land as a shining monument to the glorious civilization that had once surrounded the shores of the Well of Eternity.

As the Sunwell's magic radiated outward through Eversong Woods, the forest's oldest tree began to absorb its energy. The massive tree was named Thas'alah, the ""Light of the Forest."" From its enchanted branches, the entire region seemed to be bathed in the glow of an eternal spring.

This bow would be made from Thas'alah's wood, and it would bear the legacy of a Highborne family whose members showed heroism for thousands of years.

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners, Part Two

The Highborne elves of Quel'Thalas had fended off constant attacks from Amani trolls. To keep their enemies at bay, they constructed a series of monolithic Runestones that acted as wards against intruders-and also hid the elves' use of arcane magic from the Burning Legion.

The wards succeeded in keeping their enemies out of Silvermoon, in part due to their anchor: the elven arcanists had linked the Runestones to Thas'alah, tying the power of natural magic to their arcane spells.

However, the tree's power could not keep the Highborne safe when they left their city. For that, they needed skilled fighters.

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners, Part Three

The Amani trolls were wary of launching direct attacks on Silvermoon. The elves' magic kept them at bay for several millennia, but eventually the trolls lashed out again. The conflict would become known as the Troll Wars, and the death toll rose quickly. An order of fighters called rangers was founded to defend Quel'Thalas.

The greatest of these early rangers was Talanas Windrunner, a master of archery and ranged combat. He swiftly rose in the ranks and was named the first ranger-general of Silvermoon for his bravery and valor. The leaders of Silvermoon commemorated the occasion by declaring that their champion be given a weapon befitting his new status.

Highborne weaponsmiths set to work immediately.

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners, Part Four

A trio of skilled artisans joined together to create a great bow for Talanas. They carved its body from a limb taken from Thas'alah and infused the wood with the waters of the Sunwell.

Immersed in arcane power, the bow began to change. It was hardened, becoming nearly indestructible, and yet it still maintained its connection to the natural magics of Thas'alah.

When it was retrieved from the Sunwell, the bow radiated power. Talanas was humbled by the gift. He named the weapon Thas'dorah, ""Valor of the Forest.""

He promised that, as long as this weapon protected Highborne lands, Silvermoon would never fall.

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners, Part Five

Talanas made good on his promise. Thas'dorah's power was so skillfully wrought that even a novice would have been able to hit a target from a hundred paces. In his hands, each arrow sang as it sailed to its mark.

The Amani trolls soon learned to fear the sight of his bow, for if they ever caught a glimpse of it, they were within its range. They were forced to retreat, allowing the Highborne elves to settle deeper into the forest.

Talanas Windrunner became a legend for his part in securing the land of Quel'Thalas for future generations.

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners, Part Six

Thas'dorah remained with the Windrunner bloodline for thousands of years. The family dedicated their lives to the defense of Quel'Thalas, and in each generation, one would carry the bow into the forests to drive away any interlopers.

Because Thas'dorah never left the region, it continued to bask in the radiant magic of the Sunwell and the surrounding forests. Slowly but surely, the bow was seasoned in a way no one could have anticipated.

Its strength only increased. Its powers began to manifest in surprising ways. An arrow launched toward a target might be joined by other, magical arrows, also aimed at the enemy.

Even after the Troll Wars drew to a close, Thas'dorah helped repel countless enemy incursions.

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners, Part Seven

A few years before the Horde invaded Azeroth, the ranger-general of Silvermoon was Lireesa Windrunner, who had three daughters: Alleria, Sylvanas, and Vereesa.

As the eldest, Alleria was to take on the mantle of ranger-general, but she had little use for tradition or expectations. She decided to apply her training to practical matters, so she became a Farstrider, a member of a group of rangers focused on fighting for the Highborne all across Azeroth. She made a name for herself after a number of quick, decisive victories. Her sister Sylvanas would one day rise to leadership in her stead.

Thas'dorah remained in Lireesa's hands. It would not be passed on to Alleria until tragedy struck.

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners, Part Eight

When the Horde invaded, most of the kingdoms of Azeroth did not believe it was a threat. After the orcs burned Stormwind to the ground, a few leaders took notice. The rulers of Silvermoon were reluctant to commit significant aid to the humans of Lordaeron, but Alleria thought that the demon-possessed orcs were a grave danger to the entire world. She led her group of rangers to Lordaeron-against orders-and fought at the Alliance's side with bravery.

It wasn't until the orcs allied with the Amani trolls and turned their attention to Quel'Thalas that the Highborne understood the true threat. Many elven rangers--including Lireesa Windrunner, the ranger-general--died in a bloody attack.

Sylvanas Windrunner would become the new ranger-general, but she passed Thas'dorah to her older sister Alleria. Sylvanas needed to help secure Quel'Thalas; she trusted that Alleria, a Farstrider, would have better opportunities to exact vengeance on the front lines.

Her instincts proved correct. Alleria struck fear into orcs and trolls alike, bringing down countless enemies with her arrows.

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners, Part Nine

When the Second War ended, the orcs retreated to their homeworld of Draenor and rallied under a new warchief. Ner'zhul, the former chieftain of the Shadowmoon clan, promised that he would open portals to undiscovered worlds, ones ripe for plundering. The Alliance had no intention of letting him. Alleria volunteered to join the Alliance expedition as its lead scout. She carried Thas'dorah to Draenor with her.

The need for revenge still weighed heavy on her heart. It wasn't until she became close to a human, Turalyon, that she began to see a future beyond this war.

The Alliance expedition fought the Horde all across Draenor, but Ner'zhul succeeded in opening countless portals. The magical stress on the orcs' homeworld was so great that it was torn apart.

Those among the Alliance who had not escaped through the Dark Portal, including Alleria and Turalyon, were presumed dead.

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners, Part Ten

When Thas'dorah was recovered from the Legion world of Niskara, it renewed hope that Alleria had survived the destruction of Draenor. Vereesa believed that her eldest sister had continued her war against evil by hunting the Burning Legion itself, pursuing it into the deepest recesses of the Twisting Nether.

Just as Thas'dorah had absorbed power from its native realm, it had drunk deeply of the chaotic magics swirling through the Nether. Its arrows grew more potent, more accurate, and more lethal against the minions of the dark.

The bow became a symbol of the war against the Legion, a means to rally the greatest hunters of Azeroth against the demon horde.

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners, Part Eleven

Quel'Thalas is not what it once was. Thas'alah, the tree from which this bow was crafted, was cut down by the forces of Arthas Menethil. The citadel of Deatholme now stands atop its withered roots. The Highborne suffered massive losses at the hands of the Scourge, so much so that the few remaining survivors call themselves blood elves in remembrance of that tragedy.

This bow was crafted to protect innocents from evil. It has done so admirably, on this world and on countless others.

Now it has been returned to Azeroth. Launched by one of the world's greatest champions, Thas'dorah's arrows will fly once more against evil.

Comments

Comment by MADMAX

very very nice guide!

Comment by Ronarion

Nice and fast overview over all the new things to the weapon. looks good

Comment by deadgonzza

when & how do i get hunter Artifact weapons

Comment by twinspike

Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners has a storm relic slot, not a wind relic slot.

Comment by TheLustful

You know, I'm kinda disappointed that Alleria doesn't comment on your weapon when she meets you.

Comment by Drizzt1969

I went to UC today doing the "Love is in the Air" bracelet quest for first time on my Nightborne Hunter and had this bow in my inventory and Lady Sylvanas said to me before I could even turn in quest...

"Thas'dorah... I have not seen that in years! That's a Windrunner family heirloom you have slung across your back."

"My mother passed it down to my eldest sister. May it bring you better fortune than it did her."

Caught me off guard, but I did enjoy the Lore.

Comment by Otomu

Wasted 4 weeks on this entire chain. Got the achievement Improving on History but I see no new artifact appearances in my xmog options.

Marksmanship Hunter Artifact Weapon: Thas'dorah, Legacy of the Windrunners

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