Warcraft (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Gul'Dan opens the portal because Draenor is being devastated by Fel magic, an enigmatic force that is destroying the orc homeworld. As a warlock who has consolidated the orc clans into the Horde, Gul'Dan uses Fel magic to siphon life from captured Draenei to fuel the portal, allowing the orcs to escape their dying world and seek refuge in Azeroth.

• gul'dan
• portal
• azeroth
• draenor
• fel magic
• horde

Fel magic is a dark, corrupting force that consumes life to fuel its power. It is the mysterious force devastating Draenor, compelling the orc clans to unite under Gul'Dan and seek a new world. The Fel magic drives the orcs to capture Draenei as sacrifices to power the portal, bringing the same destructive energy to Azeroth that destroyed their homeworld.

• fel magic
• draenei
• sacrifices
• destruction
• corruption

When Draka goes into labor during the portal crossing, Gul'Dan assists with the childbirth despite his normally ruthless nature. The baby is stillborn, so Gul'Dan drains the life from a nearby deer and infuses that essence into the child, bringing it back to life. Durotan names the child Go'El, later known as Thrall.

• gul'dan
• durotan
• draka
• baby
• go'el
• thrall
• birth

Medivh, the Guardian of Tirisfal, is secretly corrupted by an unknown demon. This demonic influence causes him to secretly aid Gul'Dan in opening the portal to bring the Horde to Azeroth. Khadgar discovers that someone on Azeroth must have helped Gul'Dan, eventually uncovering Medivh's corruption through the Kirin Tor.

• medivh
• corruption
• demon
• guardian
• khadgar
• tirisfal

During the final battle, with the portal collapsing and defeat imminent, Llane commands Garona to kill him. He does this so she can gain honor among the orcs, positioning her as a potential peacemaker between the Horde and humans. This bitter sacrifice is meant to give Garona standing to potentially end the war.

• llane
• garona
• sacrifice
• honor
• peacemaker
• death

After discovering that Fel magic will destroy Azeroth just as it destroyed Draenor, Durotan tries to unite the Frostwolf Clan with humans to stop Gul'Dan. When Blackhand attacks and kills many Frostwolves, Durotan desperately challenges Gul'Dan to Mak'Gora, a traditional orc duel for leadership, hoping to remove the warlock and save his people.

• durotan
• gul'dan
• mak'gora
• duel
• frostwolf
• leadership

When Blackhand purges the Frostwolf Clan, Orgrim helps Draka escape, but she sacrifices herself to send baby Go'El floating down a river in a basket. The infant survives and drifts to human shores, where he will eventually be found and raised, becoming the future Warchief Thrall.

• go'el
• thrall
• draka
• river
• basket
• survival
• infant

During the Mak'Gora duel, Gul'Dan violates the sacred rules by siphoning Durotan's life force using Fel magic instead of fighting fairly. This forbidden technique grants Gul'Dan victory but outrages the watching orcs. The act also empowers Blackhand with the cruel Fel magic, accelerating the Horde's descent into darkness.

• gul'dan
• durotan
• mak'gora
• fel magic
• duel
• violation
• kill

Khadgar realizes that Gul'Dan couldn't have opened the powerful portal alone, someone on Azeroth must have aided him. When he confronts Medivh with this suspicion, Medivh dismisses his research. Later, the Kirin Tor confirm that Medivh is indeed corrupted and afflicted by a demon, explaining his treachery.

• khadgar
• medivh
• suspicion
• portal
• investigation
• demon

Medivh appears to help the humans by fighting off orcs during the ambush and protecting them with a barrier. However, he is secretly possessed by a demon. In the final battle, the demon fully manifests through Medivh, forcing Anduin and Khadgar to fight him. Mortally wounded, Medivh uses his last strength to close the portal and save the humans.

• medivh
• demon
• possession
• humans
• battle
• portal
• sacrifice

After Garona kills Llane as he requested, Anduin arrives and dispatches Blackhand. Despite Gul'Dan's orders to capture or kill him, the orcs adhere to their traditions and permit Anduin to leave with the fallen king's body. This shows the orcs maintaining their honor code even in defeat.

• orcs
• anduin
• llane
• tradition
• honor
• body
• leave

Durotan arranges a secret meeting with King Llane to form an alliance between the Frostwolf Clan and humans to stop Gul'Dan. However, Blackhand leads an ambush that disrupts the meeting. During the chaos, Medivh creates a protective barrier, but Blackhand kills Lothar's son Callan, and the fragile peace attempt collapses.

• durotan
• llane
• meeting
• ambush
• blackhand
• frostwolf
• alliance
• failure

King Llane frees Garona, a half-orc slave who was being used by the orcs. In gratitude and because she opposes Gul'Dan's destructive plans, she agrees to ally with Stormwind. She leads the humans on a reconnaissance mission that reveals Gul'Dan's plan to transport the entire Horde to Azeroth.

• garona
• humans
• llane
• ally
• freedom
• stormwind
• orcs

With Medivh mortally wounded, he channels his remaining energies to close the Draenor portal completely. The portal collapses, preventing any more orcs from crossing. This ends the immediate invasion but leaves the surviving orcs, including Gul'Dan and Blackhand, stranded in Azeroth to continue the conflict.

• portal
• medivh
• death
• collapse
• draenor
• close