WoW: Season of Discovery Revives 2005 Bug

Summary

• The infamous Corrupted Blood Incident has resurfaced in World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery.
• The Zul'Gurub raid in Phase 5 of Season of Discovery reintroduced the Corrupted Blood spell, causing widespread chaos.
• Players have recreated the Corrupted Blood Incident by spreading the deadly plague in Stormwind City, echoing the events of 2005.

The Corrupted Blood Incident, one of the most memorable events in World of Warcraft, has unexpectedly returned in the Season of Discovery realms. Players have captured and shared videos of the deadly plague spreading through cities, sparking a mix of amusement and concern among the community, especially regarding its potential impact on Hardcore realms.

Originally introduced with Patch 1.7, Rise of the Blood God, in September 2005, the Zul'Gurub raid was a 20-player instance where players battled Hakkar the Soulflayer, a powerful deity revered by the Gurubashi trolls. This raid returned in World of Warcraft: Season of Discovery during Phase 5, which was released in September 2024. Hakkar's Corrupted Blood spell, which inflicts damage over time and can spread to nearby players, was meant to be manageable with strong healing from classes like Priests or Paladins.

However, for nearly a month following the raid's release, the Corrupted Blood debuff could affect both players and certain pets and minions. These minions were exploited to spread the plague beyond the raid, causing chaos across World of Warcraft. A user named Lightstruckx on the r/classicwow subreddit shared a video showcasing the Corrupted Blood debuff spreading in Stormwind City's Trade District. In the video, Lightstruckx uses Priest spells such as Flash Heal and Power Word: Shield to survive as the debuff quickly overwhelms several players. This scene mirrors the original 2005 Corrupted Blood Incident, where "pet bombs" were used to spread the plague in cities for nearly a month before Blizzard managed to contain it.

World of Warcraft Players Accidentally Re-Create The Corrupted Blood Incident

Some players have voiced that the re-emergence of the Corrupted Blood debuff in Season of Discovery realms is an unresolved issue that Blizzard has yet to address. There is also concern about how this debuff could be exploited in Hardcore realms, where permanent death is a core feature, forcing players to restart from scratch if their character dies.

Despite previous fixes implemented in World of Warcraft, the legacy of the Corrupted Blood Incident persists. With the seventh phase of Season of Discovery scheduled for early 2025, it remains uncertain when Blizzard will resolve the latest outbreak of Corrupted Blood.