The streamer-exclusive World of Warcraft Classic Hardcore guild OnlyFangs has dominated gaming headlines this week with its first major raid of 2025: a death-defying run through Molten Core. While the guild ultimately triumphed over Ragnaros, the Firelord, the event was punctuated by high-stakes drama, unexpected casualties, and record-breaking viewership. Here’s a breakdown of the chaos, the heroes, and the lessons learned.
The Raid’s Backstory: A Guild Built on Streamer Drama
OnlyFangs, founded by streamers Sodapoppin, Pokimane, and Mizkif, has become synonymous with WoW Classic Hardcore’s most chaotic moments. The guild’s strict rules—requiring members to stream all gameplay and avoid Auction House reliance—have fueled endless controversies, including a surprise leadership coup where Tyler1 ousted Sodapoppin 410.
The February 1 raid was their most ambitious project yet: a 40-player Molten Core run with a mix of veterans (“sweats”) and newcomers (“non-sweats”), designed to maximize entertainment and difficulty. Only 10 of the 40 raiders had prior Molten Core experience, a deliberate choice to heighten stakes 12.
Key Highlights from the Raid
The Tank Duo: Tyler1 vs. Sodapoppin
For the first time, Tyler1 (aggressive, high-energy) and Sodapoppin (strategic, meme-driven) co-tanked the raid. Their clashing styles created moments of brilliance and near-disaster, particularly during Onyxia and Ragnaros fights 13.Six Casualties: Avoidable Mistakes or Hardcore Fate?
Despite the goal of a deathless clear, six streamers permanently lost characters:Pokelawls and Savix: Died during Onyxia.
Fandy: Fell to a Molten Core trash mob.
AnnieFuchsia and Gunnar: Perished in Ragnaros’ fiery finale.
Fans debated whether these deaths stemmed from inexperience or unavoidable mechanics 67.
Success Against Ragnaros
The guild’s victory over Ragnaros was bittersweet. While two deaths occurred during the final boss fight, the kill solidified OnlyFangs’ place among Hardcore WoW’s elite—a rare achievement given the limited world buffs (Onyxia only) and no Paladin support (Horde-side) 37.
Behind the Scenes: Preparation and Controversy
Roster Drama: Nymn, a priest, lost his raid spot to Julia after a meme (“Julia over Nymn”) was misinterpreted as a resignation. His coin-flip plea to regain the role failed 4.
Hydraxian Rep Grind: Players spent weeks farming reputation to douse Molten Core’s flames—a tedious but mandatory task 1.
Leadership Tensions: With Tyler1 now guild master, future raids will rotate leaders, starting with his turn on February 8 10.
What’s Next for OnlyFangs?
Thunderfury Questline: Tyler1 aims to craft the legendary sword Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker, requiring multiple Molten Core runs. However, burnout among newer players threatens this goal 37.
Blackwing Lair on the Horizon?
The guild has yet to commit to Blackwing Lair, but fans speculate it’s inevitable if viewership remains strong. The first raid drew 430,000 concurrent Twitch viewers, briefly pushing WoW into second place on the platform 6.
Why This Matters
OnlyFangs’ Molten Core run isn’t just a gaming milestone—it’s a case study in streaming culture. By blending Hardcore WoW’s permadeath stakes with streamer personalities, the guild has revitalized interest in Classic WoW, proving that even a 20-year-old game can dominate modern platforms.
Stay tuned for updates on Tyler1’s February 8 raid and whether Thunderfury becomes reality—or another Hardcore casualty.