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

The infamous Corrupted Blood incident from World of Warcraft's history has unexpectedly reappeared in the Season of Discovery servers. Players have shared videos showcasing the deadly plague spreading through major cities, echoing the chaos of the original 2005 event. While some players find the situation amusing, others worry about the potential impact on Hardcore realms where death is permanent.

The source of the problem is the Zul'Gurub raid, reintroduced in Phase 5 of Season of Discovery (September 2024). This 20-player instance features Hakkar the Soulflayer, whose Corrupted Blood spell inflicts damage over time and spreads to nearby players. Normally, this damage is manageable for well-equipped players, but the bug allows for unintended spread.

A video posted on r/classicwow by user Lightstruckx vividly demonstrates the issue. The clip shows Corrupted Blood rapidly decimating players in Stormwind City's Trade District, mirroring the "pet bomb" tactics used in the original incident. Lightstruckx's video highlights the speed at which the debuff can overwhelm players, even with healing spells.

The re-emergence of this bug has sparked debate. Some players claim it's an unresolved issue, while others are concerned about its potential weaponization in the Hardcore mode, where character death is irreversible. Despite past attempts to address this issue, the legacy of Corrupted Blood continues to haunt World of Warcraft. With Season of Discovery's seventh phase scheduled for early 2025, the question remains: when will Blizzard finally eradicate this persistent problem?