Yesterday’s release of Xal’atath Animation: Supremacy has reignited questions about Xal’atath’s origins and her connection to Azeroth’s oldest threats. And now, an eagle-eyed player has spotted something to suggest Blizzard has been hinting at her story since 2009.
Old Gods, Void, and Xal’atath
Lore confirms Xal’atath is ancient, predating much of Azeroth’s history. She first appears in‑game in Legion as
Xal’atath, Blade of the Black Empire. Early stories depict her as an entity powerful enough that the Old Gods themselves bound her into the Shadow Priest artifact.
A fan-favourite theory suggested Xal’atath could have been a secret fifth Old God. However, Patch 11.1.7’s Lorewalking story debunked that theory.
Some have theorised that Xal’atath could be a manifestation of Alleria’s void energies, or could have even ruled over the Old Gods herself, though very little about her origins has actually been confirmed.
The Ulduar Stained Glass Theory
Players noticed a similarity between Ulduar’s stained glass and the Supremacy cinematic imagery—a glowing figure reminiscent of Xal’atath, entwined in something dark.
While tantalizing, this is likely symbolic rather than a confirmed foreshadowing. Still, it fits Blizzard’s tradition of long-term narrative threads.
Could Blizzard have been foreshadowing Xal’atath all the way back then? Or is this just a convenient coincidence? Hopefully, we’ll find out more in Midnight!
