wow Is Icecrown Citadel the Reflection of Shadowlands?

[Stan 5,020]

Redditor Luphiaz came up with an interesting theory, where he draws parallels between Icecrown Citadel and the new Shadowlands zones.

Luphiaz posted an image on Reddit that depicts the individual boss quarters in Icecrown Citadel and pointed out that they are very similar to the new zones added in the Shadowlands.

According to him:

• The Plagueworks, where you fight Rotface, Festergut, and Professor Putricide, are similar to Maldraxxus;
• The Crimson Hall, where you fight the Blood Prince Council and Blood-Queen Lana'thel, are similar to Revendreth;
• The Frostwing Halls, with the skippable dragon boss Valithiria Dreamwalker, would be themed after Ardenweald.

Map of the Icecrown Citadel quarters with matching Shadowlands zones

Here, we have images of Ardenweald, Maldraxxus, and Revendreth recently shared by Blizzard.

Redditor ladestes added that the middle area of Icecrown Citadel with the Val'kyr could correspond to Oribos, the new Shadowlands hub, where all souls are sent in the afterlife to be judged by the Arbiter.

Here is the circular map of the main Oribos floor which looks just like the center of Icecrown Citadel

The theory is very interesting because we know that there is a connection between Icecrown Citadel and the Shadowlands. In the new expansion, we will learn more about who created the Lich King's Helm of Dominion, and perhaps, even reforge it now that it has been destroyed.

In the Shadowlands cinematic, Sylvanas confronted Bolvar Fordragon, rupturing the very veil between life and death.

Blizzard also updated Icecrown's skybox in Shadowlands, making the Jailer's Tower of the Damned (Torghast) visible in the sky.

Updated Icecrown skybox in the Shadowlands

Do you think the similarities between the Shadowlands zones and Icecrown Citadel are purely coincidental, or is there more to it than meets the eye?

[yveltus 4]

This is a heavily flawed theory. Where's Bastion? Why would a wing dedicated to Sindragosa in any way refer to Ardenweald (a captive green dragon isn't a good argument)?

[Grimij 5]

Apart from Valithiria, Frostwing Halls is more like Bastion than it is Ardenweald.

But Crimson Halls is pretty analogous to Revendreth, as well as Plagueworks to Maldraxxus.

[Harvey 59]

Interesting... if i recall correctly, one of the older Warcraft novels (The Last Guardian) described a similar design in Karazhan. Khadgar was sent to Karazhan to serve as Medivh's apprentice and later discovered Medivh's betrayal. In the end, Khadgar and Lothar had to return to kill the possessed Medivh and they ventured down a hidden passage into the depths which was the opposite mirror image of the Karazhan above. Perhaps they decided to build on this idea?  

Edited May 24, 2020 by idiotix
added in novel name

[Pandabuffel 153]

Well, Icecrown Citadel was in the time of Death Knights and the whole place is all Death Knight-themed. Death Knights have 3 specs: Blood, Unholy and Frost. There are 3 wings: Blood, Unholy and Frost. Shadowlands have 4 factions instead of 3, and 2 of them really don't fit the wings.

I love theorycrafting, but this one is definitely a weak and farfetched one. I don't believe these areas in ICC are connected in any way to the zones in Shadowlands.

Edited May 25, 2020 by Pandabuffel

[Zheron 0]

But...the Shadowlands is infinite, we only see the 4 zones that were hit worst by the Anime drought, or something like that. Interesting theory, but a bit flawed :/