The Lich King - Icecrown Citadel boss guide
A complete guide to the final boss of the CLK - the Lich King: phases, abilities, raid layout, role tips and loot (NM/HC).
Icecrown Citadel
10N10HC25N25HC
⏱ Berserk: 15 minutes (berserk: +900% damage and +150% attack speed; boss remains susceptible to taunt) Review
The Lich King (Arthas) is the final boss of the CLK and the entire addon. The battle takes place on the upper platform of Frostmourne Spire and consists of three combat phases, separated by transition phases with the Merciless Winter. The main feature is the gradual destruction of the platform (Earthquake) and the Frostmourne phase, where the boss drags players into. One person's mistake on Blight or Valkyries leads to a wipe of the entire raid.
General tips
- Prepare for Defilement (Defile) - keep your special forces on the move, don’t let the puddle grow.
- Infest is removed automatically when the target is healed above 90% HP - the raid needs to be quickly raised to the top.
- On hardmode, the whole point of the battle is to control the Undead Plague and have an ideal spread on Valkyries and Spirits.
- Sources give contradictory estimates of the exact HP of the boss (from ~7 to ~17 million per 10N) - check at base.opiums.eu.
Combat phases
Phase 1 Phase 1 - Adds and Undead Plague 100% → transition phase pool by timer (~70% HP)
We tank the Lich King on the spot, the raid costs a spread. The boss summons adds (Slave Ghouls and Shambling Horrors) and throwsDeadening plague. The main task is to manage the plague and quickly exchange adds.
- Infection (Infest) every 20 sec throughout the raid
- Dead Plague (Necrotic Plague) every 30 sec on a random
- Summon Ghoul Slaves and Shambling Horrors
Transition phase Transition Phase - Merciless Winter after phase 1 and phase 2
The Lich King goes to the center and readsMerciless winter 60 sec. The raid runs around the edge, the ramge finishes off the Ice Spheres, the tanks pick up the Raging Spirits and turn them away from the raid. At the end -Earthquake (Quake), destroying the outer ring of the platform.
- Merciless winter (Remorseless Winter)
- Ice Spheres / Raging Spirit
- Earthquake (Quake) - platform edge collapse
Phase 2 Phase 2 - Valkyries and Blight after the first Relentless Winter (~70–40% HP)
The area has shrunk. The boss continuesInfection, addsDesecration (Defile) andsummon 3 Valkyries, who grab players and drag them to the edge. Spread + quick exchange of Valkyries are required.
- Summon the Valkyries (Summon Val'kyr) - raid stack in the center, AoE burst
- Desecration (Defile)
- Soul Reaper (Soul Reaper) every 30 sec on a tank
Phase 3 Phase 3 - Harvest of Souls and Sinister Spirits after the second Merciless Winter (~40% → 10%)
Final phase. RemainDesecration andReaper of Souls, are addedSoul Harvest (on hardmode -Collecting soulsthroughout the raid) andSinister spirits. At 10% HP - Frostmourne scripted phase and victory.
- Soul Harvest / Gathering Souls (Harvest Soul / Harvest Souls on HC) - Frostmourne phase
- Sinister Spirits (Vile Spirits)
- Desecration andSoul Reaper continue
Abilities
Infection
Raid damage
Every 20 sec, deals dark damage to the entire raid (orig. 3.3.5a: 6,598–7,402 at 10, 9,425–10,575 at 25) and causes an increasing DoT. Disappears if the target is raised above 90% HP.
Action: Healing to keep the raid at the top - quickly heal above 90% to remove DoT.
Dead Plague
Debuff F.1
Every ~15 sec per random player: 50,000 units. darkness once every 5 sec (100,000 at 25), lasts 15 sec. Upon death/finishing/dispelling, receives additional. stack (double damage) and jumps on the nearest one, strengthening the boss (Plague Siphon). Used to exchange adds.
Action: Shoot strictly at the right moment so that the plague jumps onto the adds and clears them out; Don't dispel too early.
The mercilessness of winter
Raid damage F.transition
The Lich King casts for 60 seconds in the center, creating an ice storm that is lethal to everyone in the area. Accompanied by Ice Orbs and Raging Spirits.
Action: Kite along the edge of the platform, Ramge finishes off the spheres, tanks take the spirits.
Concussion
Raid damage F.transition
After the Relentless Winter, destroys the outer ring of the platform, reducing the combat area.
Action: Run towards the center before the edge collapses.
Summon the Val'kyr
Raid damage F.2
Summons 3 Valkyr Darkguards who grab players and fly to the edge to throw them off. On HC they have 3 million HP, and after 50% it is better to stop hitting them.
Action: Stack the raid in the center so that the Valkyries flock together, then AoE burst with DPS CD. On HC, drop to 50% and switch.
Desecration
Raid damage F.2
Creates a puddle under a random player after a 2-second cast (start 3,000/sec at 10, 5,000/sec at 25). The puddle grows every time it touches a player - quickly leading to a wipe.
Action: Spread, the carrier runs away from the raid; everyone get out of the puddle, use acceleration.
Soul Reaper
Tank F.2
Every 30 sec on the current tank: 50% weapon damage + an effect that deals darkness after 5 sec (50,000 at 10N, 60,000 at 25N/10HC, 70,000 at 25HC) and gives the boss +100% casting speed.
Action: The tank should keep a large save for each Reaper, and the healers will actively heal for these 5 seconds; tank rotation.
Soul Harvest
Raid damage F.3
On normal difficulty, every ~70 sec per random player: 7,500 units. darkness/sec (15,000 at 25) for 6 sec; the survivor is drawn into Frostmourne.
Action: The victim is quickly pulled out/endured the Frostmourne phase.
Great Harvest of Souls
Raid damage F.3 HC
Hardmode version: drags the entire raid into Frostmourne; inside you need to kill the add (Spirit Warden) and dodge the Sinister Spirits while Terenas casts a return.
Action: Assigned DPS inside Frostmourne kills the add quickly; outside the raid is not panicking.
Summoning Evil Spirits
Raid damage F.3
Every 30 seconds, summons 10 Sinister Spirits in the air, which then chase the raid and explode on contact, dealing large AoE damage.
Action: Rhamge and AoE shoot the spirits in the air before they dive into the raid.
Positioning
The raid starts with a spread across the site. With each transition phase, the platform becomes smaller, so the positions constantly shift towards the center. On Valkyries and Desecration, placement is critical.
🛡 Tank
The main tank keeps the Lich King approximately in the center/at the edge, facing away from the raid. The second tank takes the adds (Shambling Horrors, Raging Spirits) and is ready for rotation on the Soul Reaper.
✨ Healer
Heals are distributed throughout the raid to cover Infection; keep the raid above 90% HP and drain large saves on the tank for each Reaper of Souls.
⚔DD
DPS costs a spread for Desecration and Sinister Spirits; instantly stack and take on Valkyries, Ramge prioritizes shooting spheres and spirits.
Role Tips
🛡 Tips for the tank
- Keep a big save for EVERYSoul Reaper — without CD the tank will be shot one-shot.
- Deploy rabid spirits from the raid (dangerous Soul Shriek).
- Coordinate tank rotation in front of the Reaper.
✨ Tips for healer
- Raise your goalsInfections above 90% HP to remove the increasing DoT.
- In advance scatter large CDs underReaper of Souls.
- In phase 3, be prepared for bursts of damage fromSinister spirits andDesecration simultaneously.
⚔ DD Tips
- OnDesecration run out immediately - every touch grows a puddle.
- Stack and Burst Valkyries with DPS CD; on HC drop to 50% and switch.
- Rheim: priority - Ice spheres andSinister Spirits in the air.
Loot
| Slot | Item | Classes | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapons | Rush of Blood, Kel'Thuzad's Blade of Agony | PriestMageWarlockDruidShamanPaladin | Caster one-handed sword (spell power). ID 25HC; version 25N = 50427. |
| Weapons | Royal Scepter of Terenas II | PriestMageWarlockDruidPaladinShaman | Caster one-handed weapon with spell power. ID 25HC. |
| Weapons | Heaven's Fall, Chris of Eternal Lies | RogueDeath KnightHunterShamanWarrior | One-handed dagger. ID 25HC. |
| Weapons | Glorenzelg, sacred blade of the Silver Hand | WarriorDeath KnightPaladin | Two-handed sword. ID 25HC. |
| Weapons | Oathkeeper, Ranger Leader's Halberd | HunterWarriorDeath Knight | Two-handed polex. ID 25HC. |
| Accessory | Conqueror's Sign of Consecration | PaladinPriestWarlock | Tier 10 set token (Sanctified). ID 25HC. |
| Accessory | Reins of the Invincible | WarriorMagePriestRogueDruidHunterWarlockShamanPaladinDeath Knight | Very rare flying mount (Invincible), only drops from the Lich King's 25HC. ID confirmed. |