The second Warchief of the Horde, Doomhammer was originally the second-in-command of his chieftain and the previous leader, Blackhand. Doomhammer was among the only orc leaders who didn't drink demon blood during the corruption of his people, at the insistence of his good friend Durotan (the father of Thrall). After the First War and the original fall of Stormwind, Doomhammer was visited by the then-exiled Durotan, who wanted to steer the orcs to a better future, but was assassinated by Blackhand's sons. Doomhammer reacted by challenging the Warchief to single battle and killing him, thus becoming the chief himself.