The Faction Champions are the third encounter in Trial of the Crusader. Put your PvP hats on and get scrappy, because the bosses in the Faction Champions encounter act just like PvP arena teams. Let’s start this Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide with a closer look at each of the possible champions you’ll face. Alliance teams will face Horde champions, and Horde teams will face Alliance Champions. Here’s a breakdown of the champions. Your team will face any 10 champions from this list (depending on faction) in the 25-man version of the Faction Champions Boss encounter.
All boss abilities listed first, step by step boss strategy at the very bottom of page
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Gorgrim Shadowcleave (Horde) or Tyrius Duskblade (Alliance)
Hit Points: Hit Points: 2.419 million or Hit Points: 1.935 million (depending on which ones you draw)
Loot: Tier 9 rewards
Frost Death Knight
Death Coil
5,550 to 6,450
Shadow damage
For friendly targets, heals 8,325 damage
Frost Strike
80% weapon damage
200 frost damage
Icy Touch
3,834 to 4,166 frost damage
1,388 to 1,612 damage (through Frost Fever) every 3 seconds
Reduces attack speed by 14% for 15 seconds
Chains of Ice
Reduces movement speed to 5%
Target gets 10% of movement speed back every second for 10 seconds
Death Grip
Pulls you to him and forces you to attack him for 3 seconds
Icebound Fortitude
Immunity to stun effects
Reduces damage taken by 45%
Lasts 12 seconds
Strangulate
Silences you for 5 seconds
180 shadow damage
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Birana Stormhoof (Horde) or Kavina Grovesong (Alliance)
Balance Druid
Wrath
5,170 to 5,830 damage
Nature damage
Starfire
8,258 to 9,742 damage
Arcane damage
Moonfire
2,300 to 2,700 damage
Arcane damage
Also adds 4,000 damage over time for 12 seconds
Faerie Fire
Decreases your armor by 15%
Lasts 40 seconds
Takes away your steal ability
Insect Swarm
Decreases chance to hit by 3%
16,650 damage over time for 12 seconds
Nature damage
Entangling Roots
Roots you to the ground
1,576 damage over time for 10 seconds
Can be interrupted
Cyclone
Throws you in the air, effective silences you
Barkskin
Reduces damage by 40%
Lasts 12 seconds
Force of Nature
Summons 3 treants
Lasts 30 seconds
Treant hit points: 40,740
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Erin Misthoof (Horde) or Melador Valestrider (Alliance)
Restoration Druid
Nourish
83,250 to 96,750 instant healing
Lifebloom
7,540 to 8,460 healing over time
9,250 to 10,750 healing when it finishes
Rejuvenation
2,775,500 healing over time for 15 seconds
Regrowth
56,700 to 63,300 healing instant
129,500 healing over time for 21 seconds
Thorns
463 to 537 damage
Nature damage
Lasts 10 minutes
Nature’s Grasp
Causes Entangling Roots when you hit him
1 charge
Lasts 45 seconds
Barkskin
Reduces damage by 40%
Lasts 12 seconds
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Ruj’kah (Horde) or Alyssia Moonstalker (Alliance)
Hunter
Shoot
6,800 to 9,200 damage
Physical damage
Steady Shot
150% weapon damage
Aimed Shot
Adds 3,000 ranged damage
Reduces healing by half
Lasts 10 seconds
Explosive Shot
3,626 to 4,374 damage
Fire damage
Adds damage over time for 2 seconds
Wyvern Sting
Puts you to sleep for 8 seconds
2,460 damage over time
Nature damage
6 seconds
Wing Clip
Reduces movement speed by half
Lasts 10 seconds
Frost Trap
Creates an ice slick which slows movement speed of nearby players by half
Lasts 30 seconds
Disengage
Allows the hunter to leap backwards, out of the fight
Deterrence
Increases parry chance 100%
100% chance to deflect spells
Lasts 5 seconds
Claw
Damage dealt by Ruj’kah’s pet cat
2,063 to 2,937 damage
186,970 hit points for the pet cat
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Ginselle Blightsinger (Horde) or Noozle Whizzlestick (Alliance)
Arcane/Frost Mage
Arcane Blast
9,250 to 10,750 damage
Arcane damage
Increases damage of all Arcane spells by 15%
Increases mana cost of Arcane Blast by 200%
Stacks up to 3 times
Lasts 10 seconds
Cancels if any other Arcane damage spell is cast
Arcane Barrage
8,075 to 8,925 damage
Arcane damage
Arcane Explosion
5,280 to 5,720 damage
Arcane damage
10 yard radius
Frostbolt
8,788 to 10,212 damage
Frost damage
Slows movement speed by 40% for 9 seconds
Frost Nova
365 to 415 damage
Frost damage
Freezes you for 8 seconds
Blink
Frees him from restraints
Teleports 20 yards forward
Counterspell
Silences one school of magic from any raid member for 8 seconds
Polymorph
Changes you into a sheep
Makes you wander for 10 seconds
Silences you
Ice Block
Protects the mage from all attacks for 5 seconds
Keeps you from attacking
30 second cooldown
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Liandra Suncaller (Horde) or Velanaa (Alliance)
Holy Paladin
Flash of Light
56,550 to 63,450 instant healing
Holy Light
85,140 to 94,860 instant healing
Holy Shock
48,000 to 52,000 healing
Cleanse
Removes 1 poison effect, 1 disease effect, and 1 magic effect
Hand of Freedom
Grants immunity to movement impairing effects for 10 seconds
Hand of Protection
Protects a party member from physical attacks for 10 seconds
Hammer of Justice
Stuns for 6 seconds
Divine Shield
Protects from all damage and spells
Reduces damage dealt by half
Lasts 12 seconds
2 minute cooldown
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Malithas Brightblade (Horde) or Baelnor Lightbearer (Alliance)
Retribution Paladin
Crusader Strike
110% weapon damage
Divine Storm
110% weapon damage
8 yard range
Affects up to four players
Seal of Command
Chance for melee attacks to deal extra damage
1,384 to 1,616 damage
Holy damage
Judgement of Command
6,650 to 7,350 damage
Holy damage
Repentance
Incapacitates for 10 seconds
Hand of Protection
Protects a party member from physical attacks for 10 seconds
Hammer of Justice
Stuns for 6 seconds
Avenging Wrath
Increases all damage and healing by 20%
Lasts 20 seconds
Divine Shield
Protects from all damage and spells
Reduces damage dealt by half
Lasts 12 seconds
2 minute cooldown
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Caiphus the Stern (Horde) or Anthar Forgemender (Alliance)
Priest
Dispel Magic
Removes 2 harmful spells from a party member
Removes 2 beneficial spells from one of your raid members
40 yard range
Instant cast
Psychic Scream
Causes you to flee for 8 seconds
Penance
9,390 to 10,610
Instant healing and healing over time for 2 seconds
Power Word: Shield
Absorbs 9,713 to 11,287 damage
Lasts 30 seconds
Mana Burn
Destroys 2,246 to 2,374 mana
3 shadow damage
Flash Heal
18,500 to 21,500 instant healing
Renew
46,250 healing over time
15 seconds
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Vivienne Blackwhisper (Horde) or Brienna Nightfall (Alliance)
Shadow Priest
Dispel Magic
Removes 2 harmful spells from a party member
Removes 2 beneficial spells from one of your raid members
40 yard range
Instant cast
Dispersion
Reduces damage taken by 90 percent
Regenerates 6% mana per second for 6 seconds
Unable to attack while this spell is cast
Mind Blast
5,670 to 6,330 damage
Shadow damage
1.5 second cast
Mind Flay
Inflicts Shadow damage
Reduces movement speed for 3 seconds
Psychic Horror
Makes you drop your weapons for 10 seconds
Makes you tremble for 3 seconds
Psychic Scream
Causes you to flee for 8 seconds
Shadow Word: Pain
Inflicts shadow damage every 3 seconds
Lasts 15 seconds
Silence
Keeps you from casting spells for 5 seconds
Vampiric Touch
27,000 damage over time
Shadow damage
Lasts 15 seconds
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Maz’Dinah (Horde) or Irieth Shadowstep(Alliance)
Rogue
Hemorrhage
Increases physical damage dealt up to 75
110% weapon damage
Lasts 15 seconds
Fan of Knives
Causes 90 % weapon damage
10 yard radius
Blade Fury
Increases attack speed 20%
Attacks strike other nearby opponents
Lasts 15 seconds
Eviscerate
7,000 to 9,000 damage
Physical damage
Blind
Makes you wander for 10 seconds
Cloak of Shadows
Removes all harmful spell effects
Increases chance to resist spells by 90% for 5 seconds
Shadowstep
Steps through the shadows and reappears behind you
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Thrakgar (Horde) or Shaamul (Alliance)
Shaman
Bloodlust
Increases all attack speeds of all party members by 30%
Lasts 40 seconds
Riptide
9,600 to 10,400 instant healing
20,815 healing over time for 15 seconds
Hex
Changes you into a frog
Keeps you from attacking or casting spells
Lesser Healing Wave
18,670 to 21,330 instant healing
Cleanse Spirit
Removes 1 poison effect, one disease effect, and 1 curse effect
Earth Shield
Makes your attacks heal instead
Happens once every few seconds
6 charges
Lasts 2 minutes
Earth Shock
Heals 46250 over time
Lasts 15 seconds
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Broin Stouthorn (Horde) or Shaabad (Alliance)
Melee Shaman
Bloodlust
Increases all attack speeds of all party members by 30%
Lasts 40 seconds
Earth Shock
Heals 46250 over time
Lasts 15 seconds
Lava Lash
100% off-hand weapon damage
Increased by 25% if his off-hand weapon is enchanted with Flametongue
Stormstrike
A two-weapon attack
Increases the next four sources of Nature damage by 20%
Lasts 12 seconds
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Harkzog (Horde) or Serissa Grimdabbler (Alliance)
Warlock
Fear
Causes you to run away
Lasts 10 seconds
Corruption
18,000 damage over time
Shadow damage
Lasts 18 seconds
Unstable Affliction
13,875 damage over time
Shadow damage
Lasts 15 seconds
24,975 damage and silences you if you dispel it
Curse of Agony
24,000 damage over time
Shadow damage
Lasts 24 seconds
Curse of Exhaustion
Cuts movement speed in half
Lasts 12 seconds
Hellfire
5,500 damage per second to you
1,500 damage to him
Fire damage
Lasts 15 seconds
Searing Pain
3,660 to 4,330 damage
Fire damage
Shadow Bolt
7,560 to 8,440 damage
Shadow damage
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: Narrhok Steelbreaker (Horde) or Shocuul (Alliance)
Warrior
Overpower
Deals weapon damage + 35
Can only be used after you dodge
Intimidating Shout
Makes you cower in fear for 8 seconds
8 yard radius
Retaliation
Instant counterattack to any melee attack
Lasts 12 seconds
Disarm
Disarms you for 10 seconds
Sunder Armor
Reduces your armor by 4%
Lasts 30 seconds
Stacks up to 5 times
Shattering Throw
Reduces your armor by 20%
Lasts 10 seconds
Bladestorm
Whirlwind attack for 1 second
Lasts 8 seconds
Charge
Stuns you for 1.5 seconds
Mortal Strike
Deals weapon damage plus 380
Reduces healing effects cast on you by half for 10 seconds
Faction Champions Boss Strategy Guide: The Basics
Start by deciding which team member you’re going to take out, and target your enter party on that one. Use crowd control tactics on the others until the one you’re working on dies. As with all PvP arena strategies, always take out the healers first.
Make sure you take out the healing shaman (Not the melee shaman) first. Thrakgar and Shaamul spam the heals almost non-stop, so once this character is out of the fight, things will get slightly easier.
Take out your melee DPS characters after the healers. The rogue may be easiest to kill because he wears leather.
The warrior should also be one of the first ones you take out after the healers. His combination of stunning abilities and high DPS makes him very dangerous.
Also watch out for several of the Faction Champions to gang up on one of your party members.
The Faction Champions cannot be mind controlled.
Don’t clump together. Make the Faction Champions move around a lot to target various party members.
Assign two party members to do distractions. They should help keep the healers alive, especially calling out when the Faction Champions are all targeting one of the healers at once.
