Sunwalker Dezco’s wife dying during childbirth because of poison, even after you went through a bunch of questing to develop an antidote.
That was by far the toughest quest to get through. Was the ONLY time in my 40+ years of video gaming that I had to log off because I couldn’t see the screen through tears.
Not even sure if that quest is still in the game. Was MoP I think.
Not the saddest but the most intriguing, or perhaps haunting? Jarrod Hamby was one of the colorful stories with the podlings in Shadowmoon Valley. Having his ghost continue to show up in the garrison at random points was a nice touch. I still spot him now and then if I’m harvesting herbs or fishing.
When Sumwum’s own brother killed him in game.
For me it was when the lore died in Shadowlands.
The only saving grace is that they completely removed Arthas from existence so these writers cannot touch him.
If only that were true…
The last 6 years have shown us that they continually obliterate any canon established with the most LAME excuses. They literally write anything they want, whether it’s logical or even congruent, then just sock it to the players.
Remember when they nullified a whole expansion’s lore, by the lowest -of-lames: “But in reality, it was just a dream…”
Every new writing team thinks they know better, when clearly, they do not. (Shadowlands, anyone?)
Easily Varian in my opinion.
There have been lots. The quests where you have to kill all the cubs in an area, I won’t do those.
In WoD, the young orc lovers both died trying to get to one another to start their lives. They never made it and you find out what happened to them.
The old orc warrior and his faithful wolf friend, Snowpaw. Orc warrior is dying, you help him out and then Snowpaw mourns his passing and comes to live with you in your garrison.
Runas, who didn’t have to wither but was written to do so. Idk if he died or not. I don’t recall.
Saurfang. He wanted to be with his son though. Then in Legion there was this orc soldier who dies too young and you find his lunchpail and inside it is a letter from his mom.
That one really got to me.
Orcus, at the beginning of the game. Ezra who voiced Ahab Wheathoof in Kyle the Frenzied quest in Mulgore. That was his last wish, granted by Blizzard.
Lots of others. The ones I mentioned are the ones I recall right off.d
It will always be Varian’s Death for me. I actually screamed noooooooooo when he died.
Ben Howell, we don’t get to see into the lives of normal NPCs too often and Ben’s death struck a chord with me.
I’m sad that Tyrande, Turalyon and Baine are still alive 
Dadanga.
you will never convince me otherwise.
When the whole rad wiped when the boss was at 5% health. Sad times man.
Xe’ra’s death to a whiny edgelord was heartbreaking and tragic.
I don’t know if this counts, but Ursoc being drained for anima in Ardenweald hit me right in the feels.
Edit: Runas too.
Came in to say this, I actually did shed a tear and sat there for a good 10 minutes. Jim Cummings is a freakin’ treasure of a VA…
Ursoc counts. We get to know Ursoc a bit. I didn’t think he should have been the sacrifice.
To me, that was unnecessary.
Smoochum pet quest chain. You end up working for npc that has killed the cat.
Wiped before at only 1% cause the raid went tunnel vision and just stopped worrying about mechanics. Adds built-up and poeple started dropping.
Aerith’s death
Not ONE user mentioned the death of Arthas Menethil. He was done so dirty by the player base (or mortals) AND the devs.
No other NPC died like that. No NPC deserves that.