Liquid has officially claimed World First on Midnight Falls, the final boss of the March on Quel’Danas raid tier in World of Warcraft’s Midnight expansion. The victory caps off one of the most dramatic and unpredictable world first races in recent memory, marked by a shocking secret phase, back-and-forth progress between Liquid and Echo, and marathon raid sessions that tested the limits of both guilds.
The kill came after days of single-digit percentage wipes, extended raid days, and a moment of pure disbelief when the boss refused to die at 0 percent health. What many assumed would be a standard final push turned into an entirely new challenge when Midnight Falls reformed at full health, forcing both top guilds to adapt on the fly and turning the race into a true test of endurance and coordination. This meme on X sums it up perfectly:
The tier began with a relatively quiet first week despite having Heroic week beforehand. The first seven bosses across the initial two raids proved to be minimal obstacles for the top guilds, with only Lightblinded Vanguard registering as a genuine race boss. The triple-raid structure of the tier allowed for extensive Mythic splits on top of normal Heroic clears, resulting in unusually high item levels by the time the final two bosses arrived.
This early ease made the final stretch of March on Quel’Danas feel even more punishing by comparison. Belo’ren required 196 pulls from the leading guilds, but it was Midnight Falls that delivered the real drama. The boss features a lopsided difficulty curve, with the first phase proving to be the hardest for most groups. The subsequent phases were no slouches either, but the real twist came at the very end.
Liquid appeared to have secured the kill when they pushed Midnight Falls to 0 percent health. Instead of the encounter ending, the boss reformed at full health and entered a completely new secret phase. The moment was captured live on stream, with Liquid players visibly shocked as the fight continued. The timing added an extra layer of irony, as the resurrection occurred on Easter Sunday. Here is the hype moment it happened.
Echo had already extended their raid day by several hours and were dealing with repeated sub-5 percent and 0.45 percent wipes when the secret phase was discovered. Rather than push further into unknown territory late in their session, Echo made the strategic decision to call it a night and return fresh the next morning.
Liquid, on the other hand, stayed up and used the extra time to their advantage. They reached the secret phase three additional times and explored the full encounter, achieving a best of 44 percent in the final phase. The phase features a massive damage buff that makes the boss’s 1 billion health pool melt much faster once the raid stays alive longer. The mechanics are relatively straightforward: the raid must stay compact inside a single safety pool, dodge three void stars, handle the Heaven and Hell cast by running through small Sha adds (which can be cleared with the Dawncrystal extra action button), and survive the massive raid-wide damage from Midnight Eternal at the end.
The simplicity does not make the phase easy. Getting the full 20-player raid into the phase alive is the real challenge. Liquid experienced long gaps between successful attempts to even reach phase 3, let alone push into the secret stage. Their progress showed just how much potential damage the raid could output once the mechanics were mastered.
The next morning saw Liquid extend their own raid day in an all-or-nothing push. After about two hours, they too decided to rest, mirroring Echo’s decision the night before. Progress then shifted to Echo and Method, with Echo reaching 6 percent in the final phase by the EU evening.
In the end, it was Liquid who secured the kill. After a grueling final stretch of overtime raiding, the guild executed a clean and near perfect run with all 20 members living through all phases and claimed the World First on Midnight Falls, winning the first tier of the Midnight expansion. Check out the kill below:
The raid composition that delivered the kill featured a carefully balanced setup optimized for the encounter’s unique demands. The full roster and exact makeup were shared by the guild shortly after the victory, highlighting the precise coordination required to overcome the secret phase. I was surprised to see no Brewmaster tanks, however the Marksmen Hunters and most of their DPS made sense given the need for good AOE damage. Check it out below:
The race has been widely praised as one of the most exciting in recent history. The hidden secret phase, the neck-and-neck competition, and the emotional rollercoaster of multiple raid extensions created a compelling narrative that kept viewers glued to the streams for days. The fact that the phase activated at 0 percent and on Easter Sunday only added to the memorable nature of the moment.
For many in the WoW community, this race highlighted why world first events remain so captivating. It was not just about raw skill or gear; it was about adaptability, teamwork, and the ability to stay focused when the rules of the fight suddenly changed. The discovery of the secret phase late in the race forced both Liquid and Echo to rethink their strategies in real time, turning the final boss into a true test of raiding excellence.
Players who have already cleared the tier on Normal or Heroic have shared their own experiences, with many noting that the final two bosses provided the challenge they were hoping for after a relatively easy start to the tier. The secret phase has also sparked widespread discussion about raid design and the value of hidden mechanics that reward discovery and adaptation.
As the dust settles on this historic race, the focus shifts to how the rest of the player base will tackle March on Quel’Danas. With the World First secured, guilds around the world will now race for their own server-first kills and begin optimizing strategies for Mythic difficulty.
Liquid’s victory cements their place as one of the premier raiding organizations in World of Warcraft history. The guild’s willingness to extend their raid day and push through the unknown secret phase demonstrated the dedication and resilience that define top-tier competition.
For the broader WoW community, this race has been a reminder of why the game continues to captivate players year after year. The combination of high-stakes competition, surprising mechanics, and the thrill of discovery keeps the raiding scene vibrant and engaging even after nearly two decades.
Whether you watched every pull or are just now catching up on the highlights, the defeat of Midnight Falls stands as a landmark moment in the Midnight expansion. The secret phase ensured the race would be remembered for its drama and unpredictability, and Liquid’s eventual victory feels well-earned after days of intense competition.
The tier may be complete for the world first teams, but the real journey for most players is just beginning. Normal and Heroic clears are rolling in, and the race for personal best times and achievements is heating up. For those still working through the tier, the lessons learned from Liquid and Echo’s attempts will no doubt help many groups overcome the challenges of March on Quel’Danas.
Congratulations to Liquid on their hard-fought World First. The secret phase made this one for the history books, and the entire WoW community is better for having witnessed it. I personally enjoyed watching it, and it inspired me to get my main back in raid ready status! What were your thoughts on the race and raid?