I’ve noticed on a few platforms the discussion surrounding the new cinematic stating that sylvanas cheated in her mak’gora with Saurfang. I am hearing things like “magic is banned in mak’gora.” And “she used something other than her weapons.” Not only that, but a lot of hypocrisy as well as people dont seem to apply this to the fact that Saurfang technically used 4 weapons in this fight (his axe, Shalamayne, shala’dor, and Ellamayne). Well i wanted to clear up a few things on this.
First of all, there is no rule stating magic is banned in mak’gora. In fact, according to Garrosh, the oldest version of Mak’gora allowed enchanting weapons. Enchanting by definition; is a form of magic. And to anyone who says “a weapon enchantment is different than a spell, it cant 1 shot”, you clearly never been hit with a windfury weapon. There are also canon instances of magic being used in mak’gora without protest or disqualification, such as the first mak’gora between Garrosh and Thrall, where you can clearly see Thrall using lightening on Garrosh. (https://youtu.be/x2vK2WFWTMU)
2ndly. Most mak’gora in lore have followed no set rules when it came to fighting. Almost all rules are set by the contestants themselves beforehand, like how garrosh would only duel cairne if they did it the old traditional way, with 1 weapon, 1 enchant, and a loincloth (he wouldn’t duel him otherwise). But there are mak’gora that do not follow the tradition at all, such as the one in the cinematic. As far as i can tell, there is only 1 rule to every mak’gora and that is the need of a witness to the fight to insure terms aren’t violated.
Now this is the hardest part to swollow but bare with me. The people who can say sylvanas cheated but Saurfang didn’t, you are being dishonest. You cannot fairly say sylvanas cheated in this fight, but Saurfang didn’t. He used 4 weapons, 3 of them being magic. You cannot hold sylvanas to this set of arbitrary fighting rules, but not hold Saurfang to those same rules. Either she won fairly, or they both fought dirty, it cannot be both ways.
For as hype as the Gul’dan vs Durotan Mok’gora in Warcraft: Beginnings was, It’s partly to blame since I don’t think a lot of people were aware it was set in a totally separate AU from WoW, so they’ve translated the “Gul’dan cheats!” line to mean mean Sylvanas/Thrall also cheated.
It’s also seems to be away for the hardcore Saurfang stans to justify his loss. It’s been a bitter pill for some, especially in GD so they’ve basically resorted to “Yeah he lost but it’s okay he’s still stronger than her she just cheated!”
Probably, but RPers have been incorrectly stating that there’s no magic in makgora basically since cataclysm, due to the ONE makgora with those rules. they totally ignored thrall v garrosh mark I and the comics.
Well I mean, he was making a come back until she did the new special magic that not even Jaina knows anything about.
I’ve seen like two or three people total who thought she cheated. Her condemnation stems more from everything else about her actions during it, not the use of magic itself.
It’s funny, but understandable imo. We all tend to overhype our faves.
I think the other thing is people forget Sylvanas is actually pretty skilled in duels. She 1v1’d the Lich King in the Frozen Halls and lasted long enough to make it out alive.
I doubt Saurfang’s second-wind would have done much, considering Sylvanas seemed pretty easily controlling the fight earlier, and while she started having to deflect and evade Saurfang’s blows, rather than straight up stopping them, really any of Sylvanas’ Magic would have been game-over for Saurfang.
Though I really wish they had shown more of a fight before Saurfang got 1 shot. Mainly because I’m curious if Shalamayne could have effected Sylvanas while she was in her Banshee form, considering one of them is literally named Shadow Render.
I think people also mistake Garrosh wanting the old rules to mean those are the official rules. They aren’t, they are just the traditional rules. They were not even presented as the only rules, just the rules garrosh wanted to follow.
Thrall was just upset he used his shaman powers for vengeance, not that he used them in a duel. I disagree that it was supposed to be dishonourable.
I think the no magic stems ftom orcs orginally being depicted as the noble savage the honor bound warrior lot. In such cases that leads to the common trope of them dusliking magic for being fof the weak or dishonorable.
As hazy as the rules of Mak’gora are, what are the rules about doping? The same could be said about Blackhand, Gul’dan, and now clearly Sylvanas (who appears to be drawing power from something or someone). A Mak’gora (as hazy as the rules have always been) is the strength of two pitted against eachother to show their strength … but with Sylvie’s physical prowess (irrational physical prowess) and magics clearly NOT stemming from her and her alone … is there a bit of murkyness there? In a One vs One duel … is outside help allowed once IN the ring?
I guess the same could be said regarding Thrall’s use of the Elements against Garrosh. Perhaps its less the fact that “Magic” was used, but one combating relying on a powerful force from ANOTHER (in Thrall’s case, the Elements of Draenor; in Sylvie’s case whatever Death entity she’s been feeding) that is the issue. Even if Saurfang was using Anduin’s dad’s sword, once he stepped into the ring … he was fighting alone. Thrall vs Garrosh … wasn’t. Sylvanas vs Saurfang … wasn’t. Food for thought…
Wasn’t Thrall going to Hadouken Garrosh in the face during their first duel before being interrupted by the Scourge invasion or did I just imagine that?
Snark aside, I genuinely find it hard to care about Mak’gora because the idea of death match as a basis for government is so silly, especially since it’s only offered when convenient to the plot, and especially since the Horde doesn’t have any kind of “God chooses the winner” mythology to justify it. It’s literally just “if they can beat you up, they should lead us.”
But then my lore knowledge is always only about two layers deep. Is there something I’m missing?
Nope it’s really that simple. Guldan took control of the Horde in the movie by defeating his predecessor in a makgora and he just wrecked the guy with fel magic. Though I think he ended up having to strong arm them because the Horde in the movie had more than two brain cells and actually questioned serving what was basically a demon.
