Antorus, the Burning Throne, is the raid associated with Tier 21 armor sets in World of Warcraft. This means it was the primary source for the unique class-specific armor pieces that composed the 21st major tier of raid gear introduced in the game's history.
Understanding Raid Tiers in World of Warcraft
In World of Warcraft, a "tier" refers to a specific collection of high-end armor sets designed for various classes, typically acquired from a particular raid or series of raids within a single content patch. These sets are highly sought after by players for several reasons:
- Powerful Set Bonuses: Each tier set offers unique statistical bonuses and special effects that significantly enhance a character's abilities and performance, often defining class rotations and optimal playstyles for a given patch.
- Distinctive Aesthetics: Tier armor sets feature unique visual designs that often reflect the theme of the raid they drop from. These appearances become iconic for the expansion and are highly valued for transmogrification (the in-game system for customizing gear appearance).
- Progression Markers: Tier numbers (e.g., Tier 19, Tier 20, Tier 21) indicate the chronological progression of raid content and power levels throughout an expansion or the game's lifespan.
Antorus, the Burning Throne: The Legion Conclusion
Antorus, the Burning Throne, was the culminating raid of the Legion expansion (Patch 7.3.2). This massive raid served as the final confrontation against the Burning Legion and its leader, Sargeras, marking a significant chapter in World of Warcraft's lore.
Key details about Antorus:
- Raid Name: Antorus, the Burning Throne
- Associated Expansion: Legion
- Primary Patch Release: 7.3.2
- Armor Tier Provided: Tier 21
Significance of Tier 21 Armor
The Tier 21 armor sets from Antorus were crucial for players progressing through the final content of the Legion expansion. These sets offered potent statistical upgrades and unique two-piece and four-piece bonuses that were essential for optimizing performance in challenging raid encounters and Mythic+ dungeons.
For example, a Death Knight's Tier 21 set might enhance the damage of specific abilities, while a Paladin's set could improve their healing or tanking capabilities. Each class had a distinct visual theme for their Tier 21 set, often incorporating Fel energy, Titan technology, or other elements from the Antorus environment.
Collecting Tier 21 Transmogrification Appearances
Even today, players frequently return to Antorus, the Burning Throne, to collect the Tier 21 armor sets for their unique cosmetic appearances. The raid offers different color variations of the Tier 21 sets based on the difficulty level it is completed on:
| Raid Difficulty | Transmog Appearance Variation |
|---|---|
| Looking for Raid (LFR) | Base Color Variation 1 |
| Normal | Base Color Variation 2 |
| Heroic | Base Color Variation 3 |
| Mythic | Base Color Variation 4 |
These appearances allow players to customize their characters' looks and showcase their accomplishments from the Legion era. For more information on in-game items and raids, you can visit Wowhead.
Legion's Raid Progression and Tiers
Antorus, the Burning Throne, was the final raid in a series of major raids released throughout the Legion expansion, each contributing to the overarching narrative and introducing new tiers of gear. The progression was as follows:
- Emerald Nightmare and Trial of Valor (Tier 19)
- Nighthold (Tier 19, an extension of the tier)
- Tomb of Sargeras (Tier 20)
- Antorus, the Burning Throne (Tier 21)
This sequential release of raids and their corresponding tiers created a clear progression path for players, culminating in the challenges presented by Antorus.
