Winter Veil in World of Warcraft

Greatfather Winter, Metzen, and a Winter Wondervolt

Jul 2, 2009 Michael McGrath

World of Warcraft Players get their own winter holiday with Winter Veil, when Greatfather Winter walks the snow-covered land.

Winter Veil is World of Warcraft’s major winter holiday, and one of the most popular world events in the game. Winter Veil also has one of the longest world event achievement lists in WoW: to attain the title of Merrymaker players have to complete twelve different achievements.

Greatfather Winter and Smokywood Pastures

Sometime around the 15th of December the goblins of Smokywood Pastures set up their sales stands in Ironforge and Orgrimmar. With them they bring Greatfather Winter, a purveyor of gifts for good little adventurers. Not everyone agrees with the commercialization of the holiday, and players can learn more about the true origins of Winter Veil if they wish.

On Metzen! Rescue the Reindeer

As players might expect, Winter Veil quests and achievements make many, ahem, veiled references to real world winter celebrations and traditions. Smokywood pastures, for instance, has a reindeer mascot named Metzen. The name itself is an inside joke—Chris Metzen is Blizzard’s Vice President of creative development.

Evil forces have abducted Metzen, and are holding the reindeer for ransom. Of course, no Goblin parts with a copper piece unless he or she has too, so Smokywood Pastures seeks out adventurers for a daring rescue. Players who are working on improving reputation with the Goblins should definitely complete the On Metzen quests, as rescuing Metzen gains players 500 reputation with Booty Bay, Everlook, Gadgetzan and Ratchet.

Merrymaker Achievements

Completing all the Winter Veil achievements earns players the Merrymaker title. Merrymaker is one of the achievements required for the What a Long Strange Trip it’s Been achievement, which is awarded to players who complete every world event achievement list in World of Warcraft.

The twelve achievements needed for Winter Veil include:

‘Tis the Season: Wear three pieces of Winter Veil clothing and eat a Graccu’s Mince Meat Fruitcake.
A Frosty Shake: Use a Winter Veil disguise in Dalaran to turn into a snowman, the dance with another snowman.
Bros. before Ho Ho Ho’s: Use Mistletoe on Alliance or Horde “Brothers.”
Crashin’ and Thrashin’: Crash a Crashin’ Thrashin’ Racer 25 times.
Fa-la-la-la-Ogri’la: Use a flying reindeer during Winterveil to complete the Bomb Them Again quest.
He Knows if You’ve Been Naughty: Open a present under a Winter Veil Tree.
Let it Snow: Use a Handful of Snowflakes on a Blood Elf warlock, Gnome mage, Draenei priest, Dwarf paladin, Human warrior, night elf druid, Orc death knight, Tauren shaman, Troll hunter and Undead rouge.
On Metzen: Save Metzen the Reindeer from vile reindeer kidnappers.
Scrooge: Hurl a snowball at Magni Bronzebeard or Cairne Bloodhoof.
Simply Abominable: Retrieve the stolen Smokywood Pastures treats and receive a reward.
The Winter Veil Gourmet: Cook up some eggnog, hot apple cider and a gingerbread cookie.
With a Little Helper from my Friends: Use a Winter Wondervolt machine to turn into a Little Helper and earn 50 Honorable Kills.

Winter Veil ends on January 2nd. The next world event is the Lunar Festival, World of Warcraft’s answer to Chinese New Year.

The copyright of the article Winter Veil in World of Warcraft in Video & Online Games is owned by Michael McGrath. Permission to republish Winter Veil in World of Warcraft in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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