The Dark Iron Dwarves

The Dark Iron dwarves are relative newcomers to the Alliance, and most of their history is deeply tied in with their fellow dwarven clans the Bronzebeards and the Wildhammers. But they are essentially dark dwarves, with ashen skin and cinders bruning in their hair and beards. Dark Irons are the more ruthless, aggressive clan of dwarves.

The history of the Dark Irons is essentially covered in our article of the dwarves of Ironforge, up until the War of the Three Hammers when the Dark Irons left to build their own nation, Thaurissan. Thaurissan would eventually be destroyed when Emperor Thaurissan summoned Ragnaros the Firelord. The Dark Irons would then build a new city inside Blackrock Mountain; Shadowforge City. From this city, the Dark Irons would wage clandestine attacks on Horde and Alliance forces, often coming to blows with their Bronzebeard cousins in Ironforge. 

When the current king of the Dark Irons, Dagran Thaurissan, kidnapped the daughter of Ironforge’s king, Magni Bronzebeard, heroes were tasked with fighting their way into Shadowforge City to rescue Moira Bronzebeard. After slaying Dagran, the heroes find out that while Moira was indeed kidnapped, she had fallen in love with Dagran and had wed him, and that their union had borne a child, essentially uniting the thrones of the Bronzebeards and the Dark Irons. The baby, named Dagran Thaurissan II, was destined to rule both kingdoms. Until then, Moira Bronzebeard was both princess of Ironforge and empress of the Dark Irons.

This would begin a series of rapprochement and dialogues between all three clans to try and rebuild a sense of dwarven unity after centuries apart. They would agree to rule the holdings of all three clans jointly, creating the Council of the Three Hammers, represented by the king of Ironforge, the empress of the Dark Irons, and the Wildhammer Grand Thane.

Over the years since the creation of the council, Moira worked hard to bring the various Dark Iron factions under her control and bring them to heel. She sought to show the other dwarves, and the Alliance, that the Dark Irons could be trusted to help the Alliance and protect the interests of all members.

During the Fourth War, the Dark Irons would be formally inducted into the Alliance after the Alliance helped the Dark Irons fend off a raid by the goblin Venture Company into Shadowforge city. The Dark Irons would then deploy alongside the Explorer’s League to help them as they began probing into Zandalar to look for both artifacts and weaknesses in the troll’s defenses.

Dark Iron dwarves can play as warriors, paladin, death knights, hunters, shamans, rogues, monks, mages, priests, and warlocks. Dark Iron dwarves are very versatile when it comes to class choice.

Dark Iron racials are, as usual, thematic and tied to their lives in the deep, dark recesses of Blackrock Mountains, in addition to their affinity for fire.

1. Dungeon Delver. Dark Irons are used to living in enclosed environments. Move 4% faster indoors.

2. Fireblood. Every 2 minutes a Dark Iron can all poison, curse, magic, and bleed effects, increasing their primary state by 100 for every effect removed for 8 seconds.

3. Forged in Flames. Dark Irons live hard lives, working forges, building weapons, and fighting. Reduces damage taken from physical attacks by 1%.

4. Mass Production. The Dark Iron industry is some of the best on Azeroth, they can build a lot, and quickly. They produce blacksmithing items twice as fast.

5. Mole Machine. While out on the surface world, every 30 minutes, a Dark Iron can summon a mole machine to transport him to other locations.

Dark Iron dwarves offer a fresh new flavor on playing a dwarf. While Bronzebeards appeal to the traditional, Tolkienesque dwarf fantasy, Dark Irons are dark, somewhat anti-hero dwarves. They do the dirty things no one else is willing to do. So if you like beer and beards, but also like tattoos and fire, then the Dark Irons are the dwarves for you!