WoW: Season of Discovery Players Rediscover Notorious Bug From 2005

Summary

• The infamous Corrupted Blood incident from World of Warcraft has unexpectedly reappeared in the Season of Discovery.
• The Zul'Gurub raid, introduced in Phase 5 of Season of Discovery, re-introduced the Corrupted Blood spell, causing widespread chaos.
• Players are unintentionally replicating the 2005 incident by spreading the deadly plague in Stormwind City.

A notorious event in World of Warcraft's history, the Corrupted Blood incident, has resurfaced—unintentionally—in the Season of Discovery servers. Videos circulating online show the deadly plague spreading through major cities, sparking both amusement and concern among players, particularly regarding the impact on Hardcore realms.

Initially launched in September 2005 with Patch 1.7, Rise of the Blood God, the Zul'Gurub raid (a 20-player instance) featured Hakkar the Soulflayer, a powerful deity worshipped by Gurubashi trolls. Its return in World of Warcraft: Season of Discovery during Phase 5 (September 2024) brought back the Corrupted Blood spell. This spell inflicted damage over time and spread to nearby players, creating a contagious effect. While typically manageable with sufficient healing, its uncontrolled spread caused significant issues.

For almost a month following Zul'Gurub's release in 2005, Corrupted Blood affected both players and their companions, leading to its widespread dissemination outside the raid and causing widespread disruption. A recent video posted on r/classicwow by Lightstruckx showcases the debuff's spread in Stormwind City's Trade District, mirroring the 2005 event. The video depicts the rapid spread of Corrupted Blood, requiring the player to use powerful healing spells to survive.

World of Warcraft Players Unwittingly Recreate the Corrupted Blood Incident

Some players attribute the Corrupted Blood debuff's reappearance to unresolved issues, while others worry about its potential misuse in Hardcore realms, where character death is permanent. This stark difference between Season of Discovery and Classic Hardcore highlights the potential severity of the bug's resurgence.

Despite past attempts to address the issue, the Corrupted Blood incident's legacy continues. With Phase 7 of Season of Discovery slated for early 2025, the timing of Blizzard's solution remains uncertain.