The Aqir are an ancient race of insectoid beings that once ruled much of Azeroth during the era of the Black Empire. Created by the Old Gods, they were among the first intelligent creatures to serve their eldritch masters, waging war against the titan-forged and other early civilizations. Though their empire was shattered, their descendants—including the Nerubians, Mantid, Qiraji, and Sethrak—continue to influence the world in different ways.
During the ancient era known as the Black Empire, the Old Gods dominated Azeroth, spreading corruption and chaos. They created horrific servitors, including the Aqir, who swarmed across the land in service to their dark masters, particularly C'Thun, Yogg-Saron, and N'Zoth. The Aqir formed vast, hive-like civilizations beneath the surface, feeding off the void energies of their creators.
When the Titan-Forged—servants of the Titans—arrived to purge the Old Gods, they waged war against the Aqir and other minions of the Black Empire. The Aqir fought viciously, but after the fall of the Old Gods and the imprisonment of their masters, their empire began to collapse.
The War with the Trolls and the Sundering
After the fall of the Black Empire, the Aqir survived in underground tunnels and remote regions, still following the whispers of their imprisoned masters. They came into conflict with the rising troll empires, especially the Zandalari. The trolls fought a brutal war against the Aqir, eventually shattering their empire and driving them into isolated regions across the world.
This led to the Great Splintering, in which the Aqir fragmented into distinct groups that would later evolve into new civilizations.
Battle for Azeroth
Following the Great Sundering, a surviving Aqir known as Zek'voz arrived on the newly isolated island of Zandalar, seeking to bring the Zandalari trolls under the influence of his master, N'Zoth. However, he was unprepared for the formidable Titan defenses of Uldir and was ultimately captured, studied, and sealed within the Archives of Eternity.
Later, as adventurers ventured into Uldir to halt the rise of G'huun, they encountered and defeated Zek'voz, who summoned minions from the various Old God-aligned races that descended from the Aqir.
Visions of N'Zoth
Although many believed the Aqir to have been wiped out after their war with the troll empires, they had, in fact, been rebuilding in secrecy. When N'Zoth was finally freed from his prison, his Aqiri servants emerged once more, launching assaults across Azeroth under the command of the Hivemind. These insectoid forces became a key part of N'Zoth’s Black Empire, originating from the dark realm of Ny'alotha.
During the Assault on Uldum, numerous Aqir forces—including Aqir Reapers, Shadowcrafters, Goliaths, and Prophet Skitra—surfaced, proving that their race had not only survived but was still a formidable threat.
Aqir Descendants and Their Kingdoms
1. Qiraji (Servants of C'Thun)
After the Aqir-Troll Wars, one faction of Aqir fled south into the Silithus desert, where they came under the direct influence of the imprisoned Old God C'Thun.
Over time, they evolved into the Qiraji, a ruthless, warlike race that built the massive fortress of Ahn’Qiraj.
In World of Warcraft: Classic, the Qiraji launched the War of the Shifting Sands, an invasion against the night elves and other mortal races.
2. Nerubians (Servants of Yogg-Saron)
Another group of Aqir tunneled north into the icy lands that would later become Northrend. Over time, they evolved into the Nerubians, a highly intelligent and cunning race.
The Nerubians built a vast underground kingdom called Azjol-Nerub, remaining largely independent, though many still heard the whispers of Yogg-Saron.
The Lich King eventually waged war on the Nerubians, destroying much of their civilization and raising many of them into undeath as crypt lords and spider-like horrors.
3. Mantid (Servants of Y’Shaarj)
In ancient times, another sect of Aqir settled in the eastern lands of Pandaria, where they became the Mantid, a terrifying insectoid race with a deep spiritual connection to their fallen Old God, Y’Shaarj.
The Mantid saw themselves as the rightful rulers of the land, frequently launching invasions against the mogu and later the pandaren.
Unlike other Aqir-descended races, the Mantid followed a structured cycle of war, periodically culling their own population through coordinated invasions.
4. Possible Lesser Aqir Strains
The Tol’vir and Sethrak show similarities to Aqir-descended creatures, though their connection is uncertain.
The Zek'voz and Uldir Experiments: During Battle for Azeroth, players encountered Zek'voz, a preserved Aqir specimen, in Uldir, suggesting that the Titans may have studied or experimented on the Aqir in ancient times.
Appearance and Physiology
The Aqir and their descendants share several common traits:
Chitinous exoskeletons providing natural armor.
Multi-limbed anatomy, often with clawed appendages.
Hive-based social structures, with queens, generals, and drone-like workers.
Psionic or void-based abilities, often connected to Old God whispers.
Despite their insectoid nature, different Aqir-descended races have taken on unique characteristics due to their environments and allegiances.
Villains