WoW: 2005 Bug Returns in Season of Discovery

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 recreating the 2005 incident by deliberately spreading the plague in Stormwind City, mirroring the original event's uncontrolled spread.

A notorious chapter in World of Warcraft's history, the Corrupted Blood incident, has resurfaced—accidentally—in the Season of Discovery servers. Videos circulating online show the deadly plague unleashed in major cities, prompting mixed reactions. While some players find the situation amusing, others are worried about the potential impact on Hardcore realms.

Initially introduced 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 formidable deity worshipped by the Gurubashi trolls. Its return in World of Warcraft: Season of Discovery during Phase 5 (September 2024) brought back the Corrupted Blood spell. This spell inflicts damage over time and spreads to nearby players, creating a contagious effect. Normally, strong healers can mitigate the damage, but the uncontrolled spread is the issue.

For almost a month after Zul'Gurub's release in 2005, Corrupted Blood affected both players and their pets/minions. This allowed players to spread the plague beyond the raid, causing widespread disruption. A recent video on r/classicwow, posted by Lightstruckx, shows Corrupted Blood spreading rapidly in Stormwind City's Trade District. The video vividly recalls the 2005 incident, where "pet bombs" were used to spread the plague before Blizzard intervened.

World of Warcraft Players Unintentionally Recreate the Corrupted Blood Incident

Some players attribute the Corrupted Blood debuff's return to unresolved issues. Others voice concerns about its potential misuse in Hardcore realms, where character death is permanent. This contrasts sharply with Season of Discovery, where death carries less severe consequences.

Despite previous attempts to address the issue, the Corrupted Blood incident's legacy persists. With Phase 7 of Season of Discovery anticipated in early 2025, the timing of Blizzard's solution remains uncertain.