Analysis of the Black Dragonflight Leadership Race

Sabellian vs Wrathion

Ebyssian is the new Black Dragon Aspect. It’s… sort of official. Though community support for Ebyssian has existed for some time, this must come as a surprise for in-game characters at least – while Wrathion and Sabellian each openly campaigned for the position, Ebyssian never seemed to covet the role.

With the weekly quests Allegiance to One and the Obsidian Citadel activities, the leadership race between Sabellian and Wrathion has been treated as something players get to participate in – we’re asked to offer our support to a contender and gain various rewards in the process. However, from the start, the hints that our contribution would not actually play a role in the final selection was always there.

In contrast with something like the choice between Saurfang and Sylvanas back in Battle for Azeroth, or even the choice that’s made between two opposing factions like the Aldor or Scryers of Burning Crusade or Booty Bay and the Bloodscale Buccaneers, the choice we make between Wrathion and Sabellian can be changed at just about any time. We can support both of them, and we do not lose reputation with either of them if we happen to support the other one. All this suggests that the leadership contest was always more fun than serious – a way to obtain toys and transmog while we wait for the story to reveal the next Aspect.

Sabellian – The Dangerous Choice

Sabellian is portrayed as competent and clear-headed, a contrast to Wrathion’s inexperience and hot-headedness. However, he’s also portrayed as far too similar to Neltharion to ever be right for the future of a flight trying to free themselves from that legacy.

In the Waking Shores questline, we see Sabellian and Wrathion conflict while delivering black dragon eggs to the Ruby Sanctum. Sabellian is the one to have brought these eggs from Outland – a strong point in his favor all on its own. The Black Dragonflight has gone without new, uncorrupted eggs for years – a leader who has helped bring them about is one directly contributing to the future of the flight. During the transportation, Wrathion is frustrated and impatient – it seems obvious to him that the method Sabellian has chosen is slow and vulnerable, and when the eggs appear to be destroyed in an attack, he’s furious. Thankfully though, the eggs turn out to be fine – Sabellian had arranged for the real eggs to be transported in secret while he and Wrathion acted as a diversion.

This quest shows off Sabellian’s leadership qualities: Forward-thinking, strategy, cool-headed intelligence. However, it also reveals some of the qualities that make him unsuitable for the role: He is deceptive and secretive, hiding his plans even from his own family – exactly one of the major flaws that is associated with Neltharion.

More recently, Sabellian and Wrathion have experienced the shared trauma of feeling influenced by whispers from the Void in Zaralek Cavern. From the moment of their arrival, the two showed signs of the whispers’ influence, agitating their competition and turning them more and more against each other.

In fact, despite Ebyssian’s centrism, I would argue that Sabellian in particular is shown to be the truly worst choice during the Zaralek Caverns campaign. While both he and Wrathion are sometimes irrational and wrong – driven by whispers – Sabellian shows a much darker side than Wrathion does. This is best illustrated during Chapter 4 – Inherited Sin – After the Slitherdrakes are discovered. Sabellian immediately sees useful creatures, who should be made to serve. Wrathion, in contrast, sees family.

Sabellian says: These serpent creatures may prove useful, if they can be made to serve the flight.
Wrathion says: They are not creatures, Sabellian; they are our kin.
Sabellian says: They are my father’s failed experiments, nothing more.
Sabellian says: Fodder for the battlefield.
Wrathion says: How we were created does not define us.
Wrathion says: Or am I just fodder to you as well?
Sabellian says: Yes. That is precisely what you are.

Sabellian’s comment is particularly alarming, as it recalls previous times that dragons were “made to serve”. The Red Dragonflight, held captive by the Demon Soul, forced to serve as mounts for the Dragonmaw. It was Deathwing who led the Dragonmaw to the Demon Soul, and taught them how to control the red dragons with it.

In Aberrus, the Echo of Neltharion – which transforms into a Faceless One after we defeat it – continued attempting to play them against each other. Ultimately, both manage to resist the whispers, and by the end of their experiences in Aberrus, Sabellian’s attitude towards Wrathion has drastically changed, reassuring him when Wrathion shows doubts and calling him brother. However, all that Sabellian learns cannot erase that his instinct was to act the way Neltharion would – a flaw he, himself, recognizes.

Sabellian: Neltharion was my teacher. My father and my commander.
Sabellian: I aspired to lead the flight as he would have.
Sabellian: Unable…or perhaps, unwilling…
Sabellian: To acknowledge the true malignancy of his vision.

Wrathion – The Exciting Choice

This brings us to Wrathion, the Black Prince – a title which in itself suggests he’s destined to lead one day. And yet, Wrathion isn’t Aspect.

Back in Battle for Azeroth, when Ebyssian began to fall for the corrupting whispers of N’Zoth, we followed in Wrathion’s footsteps to discover the cure – a potion of Wrathion’s own invention. At the time, Wrathion’s journal spoke of his travels through Azeroth – reading from the libraries of Dire Maul, learning from the Lorewalkers and Shado-Pan of Pandaria, investigating Titan Vaults, and speaking with the spirit of Medivh – all in the pursuit of defeating N’Zoth, but also of understanding and coming to terms with his own legacy. Though he’s grappled with the guilt of helping to cause the exact thing he was trying to prevent, the invasion of the Legion, Wrathion is shown to have come a long way since that mistake. He acknowledges the guilt, but focuses on moving forward; he devotes himself to taking care of what was left of the Black Dragonflight at the time – Ebyssian – as well as safeguarding Azeroth – the Earth Warder’s charge. And, of course, he’s built a loyal following of mortals who believe strongly in him. Wrathion’s destiny as future Dragon Aspect seemed secure.

But that all changed for him in Dragonflight. All of a sudden, an older brother who he didn’t seem to know about turns up with his own following – not of mortals, but of uncorrupted Black Dragons. Sabellian’s calm air of authority and his genuine claim to the position Wrathion assumed was his by default seems to rattle Wrathion, who responds with an almost childish bravado – a response we’ve seen before.

In the pre-Dragonflight short story The Vow Eternal by Christie Golden, Wrathion is invited to attend the wedding of Thalyssra and Lor’Themar Theron. Throughout the story, Wrathion is filled with insecurities and doubts, but he puts on an air of pride and confidence – at times even arrogance.

Once more, his presence did not go without notice as he maneuvered through the crowd with his chest puffed out and chin held high, as was fitting for a future Aspect. Surely, he had done enough to prove he was not anything like Deathwing.

Despite telling himself he’s nothing like Deathwing, Wrathion is also shown to not entirely believe that. Whispers of Neltharion – not the whispers of an Echo or the Void like in Zaralek Caverns, but just obtrusive thoughts of a character trying to ignore his darkest fears – plague him throughout. When he is confronted with his own doubts by Kurog Grimtotem, Wrathion’s response is both violent and boastful.

The insecurities that Wrathion has been feeling are emphasized even more in Zaralek Caverns, sometimes in lighthearted ways as with this gossip text,

Excellent move back there. Do not be shy! I saw how you tossed a new technique or two at that ferocious beast.
Impressive as always, <name>!
…Do you have any compliments for me?

And, in more serious moments. In the argument where Sabellian calls him fodder, Wrathion is desperate to believe how he is created doesn’t define him.

Sabellian says: They are my father’s failed experiments, nothing more.
Sabellian says: Fodder for the battlefield.
Wrathion says: How we were created does not define us.
Wrathion says: Or am I just fodder to you as well?
Sabellian says: Yes. That is precisely what you are.
Wrathion says: You are wrong.

In the final chapter of Embers of Neltharion, when Sabellian calls Neltharion’s creations disgusting, Wrathion takes his words personally.

Sabellian says: Disgusting creatures. Unnatural aberrations!
Sabellian says: They had no choice or agency in their creation. Neither did I–
Wrathion: Wrathion, I did not mean–
Sabellian says: Do I disgust you as well?

Finally, when Wrathion makes the decision to no longer pursue the role of Aspect, he openly states the insecurities that have been plaguing him.

Wrathion: I never knew Neltharion. Only Deathwing.
Wrathion: Invading my nightmares. Reveling in the certainty that I would become as twisted as he was.
Sabellian: That is not who you are…my brother.
Wrathion: I thought my destiny was to guide our flight to its future.
Wrathion: And I shall, but simply as myself…not as an Aspect.

In a way, Wrathion is taking control here. Rather than fear losing the position of Aspect, he gives it up. And whether or not it’s true that Wrathion is destined to become like Neltharion, for as long as this plagues him, he can never truly lead.

Wrathion’s confidence is often what makes him both attractive and exciting, and it’s hard to believe his trademark swagger could ever really go away. But to be Aspect, he needs true confidence – not bravado in the face of his own darkest fears. Perhaps, in the future, he will find that confidence, and the Black Prince will finally ascend.

Ebyssian – The Safe Choice

In contrast to Sabellian, Ebyssian is the candidate who is potentially least like Neltharion.

Throughout Dragonflight, Ebyssian is portrayed as calm, reasonable, and level-headed. While Wrathion and Sabellian fight for leadership, Ebyssian focuses on helping to guide where he can. In the Dracthyr starting area, he and Wrathion arrive in the Forbidden Reach together to help the newly awakened Dracthyr. In Patch 10.0.7, Ebyssian spends time with Emberthal, helping her as she grapples with her legacy – and it is here where his leadership bid is first hinted at. Where once he was hidden away in the Broken Isles, Ebyssian has taken on a more active role – helping to guide Dragons and Dracthyr in the same way as he once helped guide the Highmountain Tauren.

Throughout Zaralek Caverns, Ebyssian consistently reminds Wrathion and Sabellian that they are brothers, and that their priority should be each other. He doesn’t just preach either – Ebyssian shows his own commitment to his values when Sabellian is infected with Shadowlfame, prioritizing his brother’s life over defeating Fyrakk.

Sabellian says: He–He caught my arm with shadowflame. It was on his BREATH, Ebyssian! He was consuming– ARRRG! It burns! It speaks!
Ebyssian says: I saw! I know! Let us tend to your wounds, then we can talk about defeating this monster.
Sabellian says: My well-being is of no concern right now! Fyrakk is the only thing you should–
Ebyssian says: You are my brother. I will not trade your life for Fyrakk’s, nor for anything.
Sabellian says: Arrrrrnnng– Fine. Only so that I may help you in our coming battle.

The way that Ebyssian leads by example is then later illustrated when Ebyssian himself is injured, and Sabellian tells us,

He did not leave me.
I cannot leave him.

Ebyssian’s gentle, subtle leadership style is in keeping with his experience, where he acted as the spiritual advisor to the Highmountain. For thousands of years, Ebyssian served the Highmountain in his Tauren visage, only revealing his true Dragon self to the High Chieftain.

Finally, when Wrathion and Sabellian are ready to venture into Aberrus, Emberthal hangs back, recognizing that this is something they need to do alone. Though he worries about them, Ebyssian makes the decision to trust his brothers, and the lessons that he’s attempted to impart.

Ebyssian says: Those two must face this without me. I hope… in their pursuit…
Ebyssian says: They will finally see that Neltharion’s legacy is death and nothing more.

All of this contrasts strongly with Neltharion – known to be dynamic and arrogant, Neltharion would have never been content appearing lesser than he was or acting as an advisor alone. As we’ve seen very recently, Neltharion did not lead by example – he led by force. Suspicious, secretive, and self-reliant, he did not trust the Dracthyr with free will, nor did he trust his fellow Aspects with the secret experiments he was conducting.

Finally, Neltharion’s personality and actions were so influential that the Black Dragonflight’s entire identity and legacy became caught up in it. There is no such risk with Ebyssian. Even as Aspect, he is smaller and less impressive than his fellow leaders.

None of this makes Ebyssian the most exciting choice, but it does make him the safe choice – and possibly exactly the choice the Black Dragonflight need right now.