The 'This Entire City Must Be Purged' meme originates from a pivotal cinematic in the 2002 real-time strategy game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. In the scene, Prince Arthas Menethil makes the cold decision to slaughter the plague-infected citizens of Stratholme to prevent them from turning into the undead Scourge. This line represents a dramatic turning point in Arthas's descent into darkness as the future Lich King. Online, the template is used to express an extreme reaction to perceived corruption or irredeemable situations, suggesting that total destruction or a 'hard reset' is the only logical solution. It is a staple of gaming culture and a go-to reaction for scorched-earth opinions.