Hear me out.
The moon is responsible for the ocean. It controls the tides, shapes the currents, and has a massive influence on water in real life. This connection is echoed in mythologies across the world, from ancient Greek tales of Selene and the sea to various indigenous myths where the moon is tied to the ebb and flow of the oceans. And you can’t tell me that Blizzard isn’t setting Elune up as an ocean deity too.
Just look at the signs. Elune’s association with the moon has always been there, but now, with the growing ties to water and darkness through the Kaldorei and Kul Tiras, it’s becoming even clearer. The colors Blizzard uses for Elune’s magic—those cool blues, silvers, and purples—are the same tones you find in deep waters and moonlit seas. It feels like they’re slowly positioning her as not just a goddess of the night, but a deity of the ocean and its mysterious, tidal power.
Tell me I’m wrong. I dare you.
Not convinced? Ok here’s why I think this is happening.
The latest direction in World of Warcraft’s lore has me excited, especially with how the Light and the Shadow are being redefined. We’re seeing a shift away from the classic Light vs. Dark, good vs. evil storylines, and into something more elemental and nuanced. The Light is getting linked to fire and the sun, while the Shadow is increasingly associated with water and the deep ocean. This shift in tone creates a cool contrast between the bright, searing heat of the sun and the cold, mysterious depths of the ocean.
The Fire Within: Light as a Burning Force
One of the coolest aspects of this development is how the Light isn’t just the gentle, healing force we’ve known for years. It’s becoming something fiercer—something more like a burning force of judgment. It’s purifying, sure, but it also has the potential to obliterate anything that stands against it. And that makes for some interesting lore and gameplay options. A burning force, capable of purifying or obliterating everything in its path.
This fiery side of the Light fits perfectly with the Sin’dorei (Blood Elves) and the Tauren in the Horde. The Blood Elves already worship the Eternal Sun, which symbolizes their strength and endurance. But now, with this fiery, more aggressive Light, their faith could take on a whole new intensity. Imagine the Sin’dorei not just as resilient survivors but as empowered avatars of a burning sun, willing to sacrifice and dominate in the name of their radiant deity.
The Tauren, too, have their connection to the sun through An’she. Traditionally seen as a gentle, life-giving force, An’she could easily become a more warlike figure as the Light transforms. This shift gives us more depth in how we see the Tauren’s role in the greater Horde, turning them into warriors of the Light, driven by their sun god’s wrath.
Herald of the Sun is the Fire within you. It’s something we can wield in your Scarlet Alts, sure but also in your horde paladins. In our new Arathi OCs… In this context, the sun becomes more than just a symbol of life and hope—it becomes an emblem of righteous fire, consuming those who oppose its blinding radiance.
The Depths of Shadow: Water and Darkness
On the flip side, the Shadow is moving away from being just “darkness” and is starting to embrace water as a metaphor. If you think about the oceans and how deep, cold, and unknowable they are, they’re a perfect fit for the Shadow. Kul Tiras, with its Tidesages and connection to the sea, has been a great example of how the Shadow can manifest through water and its hidden depths.
We’ve already seen how Kul Tiran culture has reverence for water, with its close ties to the Void and the Old Gods. This adds layers to the idea that water can be more than life-giving—it can also be a force of corruption, something unknowable and dangerous. That’s exactly what the Shadow represents: a force that lurks beneath the surface, waiting to pull us down.
The Kaldorei (Night Elves) bring another layer to this. Their worship of Elune, the moon goddess, naturally ties them to the night - But to the ocean? Elune is mysterious, calm, and powerful, a perfect counterbalance to the fiery Light. The moon reflects the sun’s light, but it also rules the night and the ocean’s tides, making it an ideal way to explore the opposite side of the Light’s fiery, day-centric narrative…
Yet I feel like Elune doesn’t play by the rules of the Titans, she’s a bit more of a trickster than we’d like her to be.
What if she had a role to play in Saving her people…
The Creation of the Naga might’ve not been JUST the old gods act alone.
A New Kind of Rivalry: Sun vs Ocean
What’s fascinating about all of this is how it blurs the old lines between Light and Shadow. It’s no longer just “Alliance worships the Light, Horde follows the Shadow.” Now we have elemental forces—fire for the Light, water for the Shadow—that create more nuanced stories and rivalries.
For the Horde, the sun and fire themes align perfectly with the Sin’dorei and Tauren, both of whom already have strong ties to solar deities. On the Alliance side, Kul Tiras’ connection to the tides and the Kaldorei’s worship of the moon both suggest that they’re naturally aligned with the water, darkness, and the deeper aspects of the Shadow. It’s a fresh take on these age-old rivalries, and it makes the world feel richer and more complex.
Why This Matters for the Future of WoW Lore
For me, this sun vs. ocean, fire vs. water dichotomy is way more interesting than the old “Alliance = Light, Horde = Shadow” narrative. It opens up new storytelling possibilities and gives each faction more depth. But the best part is that it’s happening after Blizzard has already laid the groundwork with solid lore and worldbuilding. Now that the foundations are in place, it feels like the perfect time to break boundaries and explore new angles.
I’m really hoping Blizzard continues down this path, because it gives us a way to keep the game’s narrative fresh and engaging for years to come. By embracing these elemental themes, they’re not only expanding the spiritual identities of the factions but also setting the stage for future conflicts that go beyond just physical battles. They’re creating conflicts of belief, which adds long-term longevity to the game’s storylines.
In the end, this shift doesn’t replace what we already have—it just adds to it. The classic Light vs. Shadow story still works, but by adding fire and water into the mix, Blizzard is keeping things interesting and giving us new ways to experience the world of Azeroth. And for that, I’m excited to see what comes next.
Midnight will have Tidesages of Elune.
So yeah, I am saying Elune is a calcified satellite born from the Prime Titan.
She holds power over moonlight, the night, the arcane, and the ocean, and draws strength from her worshippers.
It would be cool to encounter evil Elune worshippers—those who’ve strayed too far from her true teachings. Imagine the Night Elves stepping in to “evangelize” them, showing them how devotion to Elune really works, maybe even reforming them.
I think it’d be awesome if the Cult of the Night in Hallowfall transformed into Elune’s own Tidesages, uniting the moon and the ocean in her name.