WoW: 2005 Bug Revived in Season of Discovery

World of Warcraft's Corrupted Blood Bug Returns in Season of Discovery

The infamous Corrupted Blood incident, a notorious chapter in World of Warcraft's history, has unexpectedly reappeared in the Season of Discovery servers. Videos circulating online show the deadly plague spreading through major cities, mirroring the chaotic events of 2005. While some players find the situation amusing, others worry about the potential impact on Hardcore realms.

The source of the problem is the Zul'Gurub raid, introduced in Phase 5 of Season of Discovery (September 2024). This raid, originally part of the 2005 "Rise of the Blood God" patch (1.7), features Hakkar the Soulflayer, whose Corrupted Blood spell deals damage over time and spreads to nearby players. Normally, this effect is manageable with strong healing, but in the current iteration, it's causing widespread disruption.

A video posted on r/classicwow by Lightstruckx vividly demonstrates the issue. The clip shows the debuff rapidly spreading through Stormwind City's Trade District, incapacitating several players in seconds. Lightstruckx's use of healing spells highlights the speed and lethality of the uncontrolled spread, echoing the original "pet bomb" exploits that plagued the game for weeks in 2005.

Accidental Recreation and Hardcore Concerns

Some players attribute the resurgence of Corrupted Blood to unresolved bugs, while others voice serious concerns about its potential use in Hardcore mode. Unlike Season of Discovery, Hardcore mode features permanent death, meaning a single encounter with the uncontrolled plague could mean the loss of a character and countless hours of gameplay.

Despite past attempts to address the issue, the Corrupted Blood incident continues to cast a long shadow over World of Warcraft. With Phase 7 of Season of Discovery slated for early 2025, the question remains: when will Blizzard finally eradicate this persistent problem?