Why the Workers Invaded Nazarick and Sealed Their Fate in Overlord

One of the darkest moments in Overlord occurs when several groups of Workers accept a mysterious mission to explore the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Unlike licensed adventurers, Workers operate independently and often take dangerous jobs for high rewards, making them ideal candidates for risky expeditions. What appears to be a simple investigation soon turns into one of the series’ most memorable arcs, as the invaders unknowingly enter the home of Ainz Ooal Gown and the Floor Guardians.

Many viewers wonder why these experienced fighters agreed to invade such a dangerous location and whether they had any chance of surviving. The answer lies in political manipulation, personal ambition, and a severe misunderstanding of Nazarick’s true strength. Rather than being reckless for no reason, each Worker group enters the tomb with different motivations, only to discover they have become pawns in a much larger scheme. Here’s why the Workers invaded Nazarick and why their decision ultimately sealed their fate.

The Workers’ Fatal Mission

The invasion begins when Emperor Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nix secretly approves a plan to investigate Nazarick. Believing the mysterious tomb may pose a future threat, he allows nobleman Count Femel to recruit several elite Worker teams for an unauthorized expedition. The true objective is to provoke Ainz Ooal Gown and gather intelligence about the ruler of the newly established Sorcerer Kingdom without risking Imperial soldiers.

The Workers themselves accept the mission for very different reasons. Foresight hopes to earn enough money to secure a peaceful future, Heavy Masher seeks wealth through dangerous contracts, Green Leaf pursues another lucrative assignment, and Tenmu looks for rare treasures hidden within the mysterious tomb. None of them fully understands what awaits inside Nazarick, and most believe they are entering the ruins of an abandoned civilization.

Their greatest mistake is underestimating Ainz and the Floor Guardians. Because almost no reliable information exists about Nazarick, the Workers assume their experience and teamwork will be enough to overcome any obstacles they encounter. Instead, they find themselves trapped inside a fortress specifically designed to eliminate intruders through overwhelming magical power, intelligent defenses, and guardians whose strength far exceeds anything in the New World.

The Foresight team enters Nazarick hoping to complete a profitable mission, unaware of the overwhelming danger inside (Image via Madhouse)

For Ainz, the invasion becomes an opportunity rather than an inconvenience. He uses the incident to test Nazarick’s defenses, evaluate his subordinates in real combat, and send a clear message to anyone considering an attack on his domain. Since the Workers entered without permission and with the intention of looting the tomb, Ainz sees little reason to show mercy once they have crossed Nazarick’s threshold.

The arc also demonstrates one of Overlord’s defining themes: information is often more valuable than strength. The Workers are skilled fighters by New World standards, but they possess almost no knowledge of their opponent. That lack of information proves fatal, as they repeatedly make decisions based on assumptions that are completely wrong.

Several groups attempt to negotiate or retreat after realizing the overwhelming gap in power, but by then it is already too late. The Floor Guardians view the invasion as an unforgivable offense against the Supreme Beings, and each team meets a different tragic fate depending on which guardian they encounter. These outcomes reinforce Nazarick’s reputation as an untouchable fortress.

The Workers’ invasion remains one of Overlord’s most impactful storylines because it highlights the enormous difference between Nazarick and the rest of the world. Driven by greed, duty, survival, or simple curiosity, the invaders unknowingly walk into a place where victory was never possible. Their fate serves as a warning that in Overlord, courage alone is meaningless when faced with an enemy whose power is beyond imagination.