Dungeons & Dragons: World of Warcraft Hits Early Access With CR 25 Arthas

Dungeons & Dragons: World of Warcraft is out now in early access, according to Polygon. The book from Wizards of the Coast brings the MMO's signature characters to the tabletop as boss-level opponents.

Seven characters get full stat blocks: Alleria, Anduin, Jaina, Thrall, Illidan, Sylvanas and Arthas. Their challenge ratings run from 20 for Anduin to 25 for Arthas, and each has between 430 hit points (Illidan) and 500 hit points (Arthas). Initiative bonuses are flat, ranging from +11 on Jaina to +21 on Sylvanas.

Each character carries a distinct mechanical hook. Alleria projects an Aura of Darkness that can inflict the frightened condition, while Arthas radiates bursts of cold that slow and exhaust characters within 30 feet. Illidan enters a second phase in which he transforms into a demon, Thrall can throw up to six Lava Bursts per round, and Jaina can petrify up to three PCs per round with Ice Prison.

Icecrown Citadel and a powerful Cleric subclass

Arthas appears as the primary antagonist of the Icecrown Citadel map pack. The book is set roughly around the time of World of Warcraft's 10th expansion, The War Within, with nods to the current expansion Midnight. Polygon also notes that the Discipline Priest currently looks like a hugely powerful subclass for Cleric.

The characters arrive with history at the table. Vecna, the archlich who has menaced D&D's multiverse for almost 40 years, appeared in Vecna: Eve of Ruin as a CR 26 archlich with 272 hit points and no stated initiative bonus. Every signature character in the new book has served as a raid or dungeon boss in World of Warcraft at some point, and Arthas is one of the most thoroughly dead characters in the game as of Shadowlands.