cataclysm-classic Cataclysm Classic 4.4.0 Patch Notes
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By Starym
The first max level in Cata Classic has already been achieved, and the fact that it took only 3 hours to do is probably the least interesting thing about this pretty crazy XP farming method - which was actually nerfed TWICE mid-leveling!
First things first, here's the ding moment itself, as Lmgd1 reached level 85:
So, doesn't look like any spectacular methods used there right? Just a Shaman doing some solo mob killin'. Well, that's just at the very end - getting there took a whole lot of creative game mechanics, help from a lot of party members, and... PvP?
As explained in detail by Sarthe in the video below, there were two separate methods that were nerfed by Blizzard during the race, as they removed XP entirely from some hyperspawning mobs in a couple of locations. Sounds a lot like a different hyperspawn issue we're having back in retail doesn't it? The first method was definitely the craziest, and it involved a 1000 spellpower buff from a Twilight Highlands PvP event. An event which also, incidentally, featured hyperspawning Alliance mobs!
Then there's the accomplice Mage and Warlock, who were locked in a duel so that the Mage could spread Curse of Elements to the mobs the entire time. The Mage was also throwing out Arcane Explosions for the actual damage, and there was another friendly Shaman helping out as well. Throw in some Thorns action from nearby Druid friends and you have the main Shaman hitting mobs for over 50% HP, which is the necessary threshold to get full XP from a kill.
After this particular 13 million XP per hour technique got Lmgd1 to level 84, Blizzard caught wind and nerfed it entirely. The mobs just suddenly stopped giving any experience as a hotfix killed the grind. The next method was slightly more conventional, as there are some nearby tanks you can kill which take out the mobs around them when they die. Of course they also have a high respawn rate, so that's pretty handy. This time Blizzard were paying more attention, and these mobs also stopped giving XP very quickly.
And then we come to the final spot, which we saw above, as Deepholm saw a comparatively "regular" farm. Now, said farm still gave out around 6 million HP per hour, which is what the other competitors in the race were getting the whole time. And then around 3 hours after launch, the World First was achieved! So congrats to Lmgd1 for some serious strategizing and having contingency plan upon contingency plan prepared!
Make sure to check out Sarthe's video on the whole thing as it has even more crazy details and covers everything mentioned.
That's quite a lot of creatively using game mechanics, and I'm sure players will have different opinions on the whole exploit/creative use dilemma. But wherever you come out in that discussion, it's was damn interesting method, to say the least.
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By Staff
To celebrate next week's Cataclysm Classic launch, we're giving away 3 Blazing Epic Upgrade keys to to NA players! Here’s how you can participate in our giveaway for a chance to win.
Cataclysm Classic launches on May 20th, and Blizzard was generous enough to provide us with three Blazing Epic Upgrade codes to give away on X.
Rules:
Like and retweet the linked tweet. Follow us on X for a chance to win! Placeholder for tweet 1791773387041255609 Hurry, the giveaway ends on May 21, 2024, at 1:00 PM Paris time. Please note that the upgrade codes will only work for NA players. Unfortunately, we don’t have any keys for the EU region to give away at this time. We will reach out to winners via DMs on X after the giveaway ends.
Blazing Epic Upgrade: What's Included?
The Blazing Epic Upgrade costs $79.99 and comes with the Avatar of Flame flying mount, Runebound Firelord's mount for retail, Lil' Wrathion Pet, Li' Wrathion Pet for retail, Twilight's Hammer Regalia transmog set, Town-In-A-Box Starter set toy, a Level 80 boost, and 30 days of Game Time!
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By Staff
Blizzard have posted the launch notes for Cata Classic, coming this Monday! We have details on World Bosses, Heroic raid requirement and Chaos Orb changes from the original, as well as PvP item rewards and transmogs.
Launch Notes (Source)
The Cataclysm Classic pre-patch is coming to an end with the launch of Cataclysm Classic on Monday, May 20 at 3:00 p.m. PDT, and we’d like to share some notes on aspects of the expansion that players will want to know.
World Bosses
Poseidus, Mobus, Garr, Xariona, Akma’hat, and Julak-Doom will first begin spawning with the weekly reset the week of June 4. They’ll begin to appear alongside the Baradin Hold raid and its first boss, Argaloth.
Except Poseidus, who drops a mount, world bosses will drop item-level 346 pieces of unique gear alongside a recipe and a random iLvl 359 bind-on-equip epic. These bosses will eventually drop their item-level 359 unique gear when Zul’Gurub and Zul’Aman unlock.
Chaos Orbs
In the Cataclysm Classic Beta, Chaos Orbs were Bind on Equip. They will be Bind on Pickup in Cataclysm Classic, just as they were in original Cataclysm.
Heroic Raids
In original Cataclysm, access to attempt Heroic Raids required first completing them on Normal difficulty. This is not the case in Cataclysm Classic – you can go straight into Heroic raiding.
PvP Availability and Rewards
In Cataclysm Classic PvP, the weekly caps for Valor and the seasonal cap for Conquest have been increased by roughly 60%. The rewards granted for certain activities have been adjusted:
The weekly cap for Valor is now 1600. The initial cap for Conquest Points is now 4000 and increases by 4000 every week throughout the season. The Random Cataclysm Heroic reward is 240 Valor Points. Please note: Valor will not be earnable between the launch of Cataclysm and the first weekly reset in each region. Conquest will become available starting with the second weekly reset on May 28, with the launch of the first Cataclysm PvP season.
In Cataclysm Classic, 2v2 and 5v5 will no longer be eligible brackets for earning Gladiator titles or rewards. In the 2v2 and 5v5 brackets, you will be able to earn non-Gladiator titles and Conquest.
PvP Item Transmogs
Rather than utilize the Replica PvP Vendors that were originally added in patch 4.3.0, we’re changing all of the original WoW Classic (Era) PvP gear to be usable as transmog appearances.
All of these pieces of armor have been and will continue to be available from the Legacy Armor and Legacy Weapon Quartermasters in both the Champion’s Hall in Stormwind and the Hall of Legends in Orgrimmar.
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By Staff
Crix had the opportunity to sit down with Associate Production Director Claytone Stone and Game Producer Linny Cooke to discuss Cataclysm Classic and here are the highlights.
Interview Highlights
Raids
The latest round of Cataclysm Classic raid testing has been a success. The initial feedback was positive except for some bugs. The devs used the feedback to identify and fix critical bugs. The decision to launch post-nerf raids and dungeons was affected by balancing the challenge with player enjoyment. They aim to maintain a level of difficulty that is challenging but achievable with the right planning and execution.. There are no plans to add LFR (Looking for Raid). Content Cadence
The content cadence for Cataclysm Classic is not final, the plan is to adjust it based on player engagement and feedback to ensure it aligns with player expectations. Class Changes
They are overall happy with class balance in the first Cataclysm patch. Sweeping changes will only be based on extensive player feedback and the performance of classes post-launch. Gear Changes
Due to faster phase transitions in Cataclysm Classic, Blizzad is considering changes to how players get Valor and Honor points, because they may not have enough time to fully equip their characters. Blizzard has reduced the cost of Season 8 gear to help PvP players keep up with the updated content cadence. Dungeons
There are no plans for Mythic+ in Cataclysm Classic Archaeology
The team's considering adding bad luck protection for Archaeology, but nothing has been finalized yet. Future of Season of Discovery Characters
The team's discussing the future of characters from seasonal realms. The aim is to preserve them in some form post-season. Communication
The team acknowledged the need for better and more frequent communication with the community, especially given the shorter notice for upcoming changes. Interview Video
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By Staff
Cataclysm Classic adds seven new zones and nine dungeons on May 20. The new Season begins on May 29 and three raids will open simultaneously on May 30!
(Source)
Cataclysm Classic™ provides seven new zones to explore, nine new dungeons, and more beginning 20 May at 23:00 BST globally. The 29th of May also introduces the start of a new PvP Season followed by the opening of three raid dungeons on 30 May at 23:00 BST globally. Take a journey into the shattered lands and plumb the depths of what this classic experience has to offer.
Here’s what’s in store:
Cataclysm Classic Zones Overview
Embarking on a journey through the reshaped lands of Azeroth in Cataclysm Classic, adventurers will discover seven new zones, each with its own unique challenges and stories.
Kezan: New Goblin Race Starting Zone (now live)
The starting zone for the goblin race, Kezan is a tropical island paradise turned industrial powerhouse. Players will experience the goblins' resourceful and profit-driven culture before the island's volatile volcano erupts. Gilneas: New Worgen Race Starting Zone (now live)
A land shrouded in mystery, Gilneas is the starting zone for the worgen race. Here, players will uncover the curse that transforms the inhabitants into ferocious beasts and the fight to reclaim their homeland. Mount Hyjal (80-82)
Revered as a sacred place by the night elves, Mount Hyjal is under siege by Ragnaros, who seeks to burn the World Tree Nordrassil. Heroes are called to aid the Guardians of Hyjal, a new faction dedicated to protecting this ancient land. Vashj'ir (80-82)
An expansive underwater zone, Vashj'ir is a sunken realm teeming with aquatic life and the remnants of a lost Highborne civilization. Players will navigate through the depths, uncovering the mysteries of the naga and their queen, Azshara. Deepholm (82-83)
Located within the Elemental Plane, Deepholm is the domain of Therazane the Stonemother. This zone is where Deathwing made his cataclysmic return to Azeroth. Uldum (83-84)
Uldum is a land of vast deserts and monumental architecture. It holds the secrets of the Titans and is coveted by the nefarious Deathwing and his allies for its powerful artifacts. Twilight Highlands (84-85)
Home to the Wildhammer dwarves and Dragonmaw orcs, the Twilight Highlands are fraught with conflict. The zone also serves as the entrance to the Bastion of Twilight, where Cho'gall and his Twilight's Hammer cult reside. Each zone offers a unique slice of the world's story and presents players with new quests, dungeons, and raids. As adventurers traverse these lands, they'll witness the aftermath of Deathwing's destruction and join forces with Azeroth's defenders to restore balance.
Delving into the Depths: Dungeons Overview
Get ready to take on Cataclysm Classic’s nine dungeons: Blackrock Caverns, Throne of the Tides, Vortex Pinnacle, The Stonecore, The Lost City of Tol’vir, The Halls of Origination, Grim Batol, Deadmines, and Shadowfang Keep. You can learn more about each boss, their abilities, and the loot you can earn from defeating them by checking out the Dungeon Journal. (Shift-J) All dungeons are available in Heroic difficulty maximum level (85) characters.
Blackrock Caverns Rumors suggest that Deathwing himself carved out the subterranean labyrinth that allows the Twilight’s Hammer to secretly transport elementals from the majestic Mount Hyjal to Blackrock Mountain. A vital hub of this shadow network is Blackrock Caverns, site of the cult’s blistering forge and some of its most heinous experiments, including the transformation of cultists into twilight dragonkin.
Zone: Burning Steppes
Difficulty: Normal, Heroic
Level: 80+
Bosses: 5
Rom’ogg Bonecrusher: One of the rare “missing link” ogres on Outland, Rom’ogg Bonecrusher piqued the Twilight’s Hammer Cult’s interest with his merciless treatment of the ogres. He now lords over the Chamber of Incineration, sating his hunger for inflicting torment on others. Corla, Herald of Twilight: Formerly an accomplished kirin Tor mage, Corla now serves the Twilight’s Hammer with unwavering devotion. She blesses fellow zealots by harnessing nether dragon essences to transform these believers into menacing twilight drakonid. Karsh Steelbender: The enormous drakonid Karsh Steelbender toils in the Twilight Forge, shaping weapons of war out of rare quicksilver. Although Karsh’s works are nearly unbreakable under normal circumstances, at high temperatures they become as brittle as rusted iron. Beauty: Beauty’s past is a tale as old as time, a song as old as rhyme. After Beauty’s mate, Beast, was slain by heroes in Blackrock Spire, the hound and its four remaining pups joined forces with the Twilight’s Hammer, intent on punishing the creatures who killed its mate. Ascendant Lord Obsidius: For his unyielding devotion and penchant for cruelty, the powerful shaman Dessirik the Depraved was gifted the ascension: a dark ritual that infused him with elemental powers, transforming him into a monstrosity known as Ascendant Lord Obsidius. Deadmines It is said the Deadmines’ gold deposits once accounted for a third of Stormwind’s treasure reserves. Amid the chaos of the First War, the mines were abandoned and later thought to be haunted, leaving them relatively untouched until the Defias Brotherhood — a group of former laborers turned brigands— claimed the labyrinth as a base of operations for its subversive activities against Stormwind.
Zone: Westfall
Difficulty: Normal, Heroic
Level: 10 + Normal difficulty (Now Live)
Bosses: 5
Glubtok: In a fit of rage, Glubtok unleashed his potent magical abilities and reduced his ogre mound to ash. Upon hearing of his destructive talents, the Defias hired the massive ogre mage to supervise their laborers as head foreman of the Deadmines. Helix Gearbreaker: Formerly a craftsman in the Bilgewater Cartel, Helix was offered a sum eclipsing anything he would ever make as a nameless Horde engineer to ply his trade for the Defias Brotherhood. He was quick to accept the job and renounce his former loyalties… just as any resourceful goblin would. Foe Reaper 5000: Defias engineers have spent many long days perfecting a new harvester model based on the Foe Reaper 4000 unit. Once it is completed, the brotherhood believes this mechanized terror will be able to slice through Stormwind’s armored soldiers like a scythe through wheat. Admiral Ripsnarl: When James Harrington became afflicted by the worgen curse, he destroyed his loving family and maritime career in one chilling night of bloodlust. Taking on the name Ripsnarl, he fled into Westfall and later agreed to command the Defias Brotherhood’s fearsome juggernaut. “Captain” Cookie: Cookie proclaimed himself captain of the Defias Brotherhood’s juggernaut following its previous commander’s death. Although he still performs his official duties as chief cook, anyone who questions the validity of his captain title has been known to come down with a severe case of food poisoning. Shadowfang Keep Looming over Pyrewood Village from the southern bluffs of Silverpine Forest, Shadowfang Keep casts a shadow as dark as its legacy. Sinister forces occupy these ruins formerly the dwelling of the mad archmage Arugal’s worgen. The restless shade of Baron Silverlaine lingers, while Lord Godfrey and his cabal of erstwhile Gilnean noblemen plot against their enemies both living and undead.
Zone: Silverpine Forest
Difficulty: Normal, Heroic
Level: 11+ Normal difficulty (Now Live)
Bosses: 5
Baron Ashbury: Slain by worgen and raised into undeath by the Forsaken, the traitor Baron Ashbury toys with his foes, keeping them alive so he can inflict maximum pain and suffering. Baron Silverlaine: Baron Silverlaine was master of the keep before it fell to Arugal’s worgen. Now his cursed spirit calls upon the very wolf-beasts that slaughtered him to punish further trespassers in his home. Commander Springvale: A loyal soldier, the ghost of Commander Springvale haunts the council room, using unholy strikes to avenge his lord, Baron Silverlaine. Lord Walden: Godfrey’s right-hand man, the arrogant Lord Walden vowed to pay any price, including death, to serve his compatriot. Now among the undead, Walden intends to keep his word attacking adversaries with ice and venom. Lord Godfrey: Drawing from his past as a Gilnean noble and Forsaken agent, the cunning and resourceful Lord Godfrey wields dual pistols and commands relentless flesh-eating ghouls. Grim Batol Don’t be fooled by Grim Batol’s humble exterior; many of this mountain fortress’s desecrated chambers are buried deep in the Twilight Highlands. Once the stronghold of the Wildhammer dwarves, and later seized by the orcs as a prison for Alexstrasza, the city is now in the clutches of the Twilight’s Hammer cult.
Heroes brave enough to infiltrate the brooding depths of the stronghold must confront Deathwing’s agents to thwart the mysterious evil within.
Zone: Twilight Highlands
Difficulty: Normal, Heroic
Level: 84+
Bosses: 4
General Umbriss: As Azeroth’s champions and their red dragon allies assault the gates of Grim Batol, the malefic General Umbriss leads the fortress’s cultist and twilight dragonspawn defenders. Forgemaster Throngus: A smith for the Twilight’s hammer cult, this massive ettin is eager to use the weapons and armor he’s forged to annihilate intruders. Drahga Shadowburner: This Twilight’s hammer courier is on a mission from the Bastion of Twilight. Should heroes overcome his fiery minions, Drahga will reveal a portent of doom for Azeroth’s defenders. Erudax, the Duke of Below: Deathwing has dispatched one of his greatest lieutenants to discover the secret that several mighty red dragons have died to protect. From the cavernous realm of Deepholm, this faceless general will bring to bear the next generation of draconic power to obliterate those foolish enough to challenge him. Halls of Origination Constructed by the great titans, the Halls of Origination are filled with ancient relics and fearsome guardians that protect them. Rumors abound that the complex also contains a devastating weapon capable of reordering all life on Azeroth. Deathwing has moved to obtain this terrifying device through his agent, Al’Akir the Windlord. Thus far the facility’s communication systems have been fully corrupted, but the weapon inside continues to elude Deathwing’s grasp.
Zone: Uldum
Difficulty: Normal, Heroic
Level: 83+
Bosses: 6
Temple Guardian Anhuur: In the final days of the Halls of Origination’s use by titanic forces, Temple Guardian Anhuur was endowed with the willpower needed to wield the Light. Thus empowered, he was charged with judging the purity of those entering the facility. Earthrager Ptah: Outside Earthrager Ptah’s tomb, the sand is littered with the bones of creatures purified by Anhuur. It is said that Ptah can bend these remains to his will and send them against beings who manage to elude the facility’s first line of defense. Anraphet: The Anraphet maintenance unit was created to man the inner workings of the Halls of Origination. In the even that the facility is contaminated by foreign entities, Anraphet will access programs designed to annihilate the intruders by any means necessary. Isiset, Construct of Magic: Isiset serves to regulate the arcane energies contained within, and produced by, the Halls of Origination. Legend has it that this construct has become enraptured with her own arcane mastery and the perfection with which it seemingly endows her. Ammunae, Construct of Life: Although designed to reduce Azeroth to its base elements, the reordering system inside the Halls of Origination also creates new life. To that end, the construct Ammunae regulates the natural energies coursing through the facility to ensure that life will exist on a reforged Azeroth. Setesh, Construct of Destruction: Given the purpose of the Halls of Origination, the titans deemed it necessary to create Setesh, a construct who holds sway over the powers of destruction. Should Setesh ever fall to corruption, the results would be disastrous. Rajh, Construct of Sun: Rajh oversees the energies that have both sparked life and snuffed it out in an untold number of his kin. Considered the mightiest of his fellow constructs, Rajh holds the power to unleash the fury of a thousand suns upon Azeroth. Lost City of the Tol'vir The Lost City of the Tol’vir is the stronghold of the Neferset a faction of the cat-like tol’vir who swore fealty to Deathwing in exchange for a cure to the curse of flesh, which had turned their rocky hides to soft skin. With the affliction expunged, the tol’vir have rebelled against their benefactor, although they remain irrevocably twisted and hostile due to the dark pact that they made.
Zone: Uldum
Difficulty: Normal, Heroic
Level: 83+
Bosses: 4
General Husam: The titans themselves appointed General Husam as one of Uldum’s foremost guardians. After Siamat, Lord of the South Wind, cured the Neferset tol’vir’s curse of flesh, Husam helmed a rebellion that culminated in the air elemental’s imprisonment. Lockmaw: Amid the neferset’s chaotic insurrection against Siamat, the pygmy Augh pilfered whatever treasures he could from the ancient tol’vir city. Among his race Augh is respected as much for his cunning as he is for his ferocious pet crocolisk, Lockmaw. High Prophet Barim: High Prophet Barim is the hallowed spiritual leader of the Neferset. Along with General Husam, he rallied his fellow Neferset against Siamat and imprisoned the air elemental. Regardless, some dark force still drives Barim and his followers to terrorize Uldum. Siamat: Purging the Neferset tol’vir’s curse of flesh left the fearsome elemental Siamat severely drained. It was during this moment of vulnerability that the tol’vir struck and magically imprisoned Siamat at the center of their ancient sand-swept city. The Stonecore Within the Temple of Earth, locked in the heart of Deepholm, lies the Stonecore. It was inside these caverns that the Twilight’s Hammer toiled over Deathwing, hammering elementium plates to the Dragon Aspect’s body in an attempt to hold his tormented form together. With his renewal complete, Deathwing ascended into Azeroth, shattering the World Pillar and destabilizing the region of Deepholm.
Zone: Deepholm
Difficulty: Normal, Heroic
Level: 81+
Bosses: 4
Corborus: Deathwing enslaved the massive gyreworm Corborus and drove it to unearth the vast amounts of elementium required to forge the Dragon Aspect’s new plating. With Deathwing’s departure, however, Corborus has broken loose and now rampages through the Stonecore in blind fury. Slabhide: With his powers as the Aspect of Earth amplified by the Old Gods, Deathwing easily swayed Deepholm’s stone wyrms into serving the Twilight’s Hammer. One of the most ambitious of these creatures, Slabhide hopes to earn Deathwing’s favor by exterminating any intruders brazen enough to enter the Stonecore. Ozruk: Ozruk has served as Stonecore’s guardian since Deepholm’s creation. It is unknown why Ozruk has remained in the Stonecore, but it has become apparent that the guardian now believes that anyone opposed to Deathwing is a threat to Deepholm and should therefore be destroyed. High Priestess Azil: High Priestess Azil is one of the few who has survived communing with the Twilight’s Hammer cult’s eldritch masters, although little remains of her sanity. She instills terror in lesser cultists so that they will sacrifice themselves without hesitation when their masters command it. Throne of the Tides Deep within the Abyssal Maw’s fathomless expanses lies the Throne of the Tides. From here, the great elemental lord Neptulon the Tidehunter has surveyed and protected his aquatic domain for ages. He now faces his greatest challenge as a force of serpentine naga and malefic faceless ones threaten to depose him, leaving his realm and its secrets ripe for plundering.
Zone: Vashj’ir (Abyssal Depths)
Difficulty: Normal, Heroic
Level: 80+
Bosses: 4
Lady Naz’jar: Lady Naz’jar played a pivotal role in retaking Vashj’ir from the brutal Kvaldir, earning her Queen Azhara’s favor. Recently Naz’jar spearheaded an assault against Neptulon and succeeded in cornering the powerful elemental lord within his throne room. Commander Ulthok, the Festering Prince: Ulthok is an incredibly ancient being sent by his Old God masters to aid Lady Naz’jar with invading the Throne of Tides. Bristling with sinister powers, Ulthok commands legions of his fellow faceless ones in the deepest trenches surrounding Vashj’ir. Mindbender Ghur’sha: After his valiant efforts at the Abyssal Breach, Earthen Ring shaman Erunak Stonespeaker was abducted by naga forces and enslaved by Mindbender Ghur’sha. It is feared that this parasitic aberration has taken full control over Erunak’s mind, body, and devastating shamanic abilities. Ozumat: Tales of the monstrous kraken that terrorize Azeroth’s high seas were once relegated to myth… but no longer. By some ill means, the naga have bent Ozumat —the patriarch of all kraken— to their will and unleashed him against Neptulon and his followers. The Vortex Pinnacle The Vortex Pinnacle exists within the elemental plane of Skywall. Its elegant structures, crowned with bronze and gold, sit atop platforms bridged by pure air. Yet behind its exterior beauty, the pinnacle harbors Neferset tol’vir, as well as Al’Akir the Windlord’s merciless elemental legions. As long as the barrier between Skywall and Azeroth remains open, terror will rain down on Uldum from the Skies.
Zone: Uldum
Difficulty: Normal, Heroic
Level: 82+
Bosses: 3
Grand Vizier Ertan: Ertan defends the Vortex Pinnacle under the command of her master, Asaad, against any ground-dwellers who dare intrude on the realm. To fulfill her duties, the elemental noble has been granted mastery over the primal forces of lightning and wind. Altairus: The immense storm wyrm Altairus maintains an unyielding vigil over the hovering platforms of the Vortex Pinnacle. The very energies of the storms pulse through this being, and he is said to command the wind currents that buffet the elemental fortress. Asaad, Caliph of Zephyrs: The fearsome elemental Asaad was named guardian of the Vortex Pinnacle by Al’Akir himself. With Siamat, Lord of the South Wind, imprisoned by the Neferset tol’vir, Asaad believes he may ascend to the Conclave of Wind if he performs his duties well. PvP Season 9 Begins 29 May
Get ready to engage in an all new PvP season beginning with weekly resets. Players will be able to gather their team to take on the challenge of Rated Arenas and Rated Battlegrounds and earn Conquest points to spend on new and more powerful PvP gear.
Season 9 sets the stage for a dynamic PvP experience.
New Raid Dungeons: The Battle Begins 30 May
Beginning on May 30 at 3:00 pm PDT globally, level 85 players will be able to take their first steps into three raid dungeons: The Bastion of Twilight, Blackwing Descent, and Throne of the Four Winds.
The Bastion of Twilight The Bastion of Twilight stands as a dark symbol of the Old Gods’ burgeoning power on Azeroth. Various branches of the Twilight’s Hammer dwell deep beneath the towering form— considered the cult’s foremost command center— along with their twisted leader, Cho’gall. There he, and his servants, conspire to bring the Old Gods’ apocalyptic visions to fruition by bleeding Azeroth of all sanity, hope, and life.
Zone: Twilight Highlands
Difficulty: (10) Normal, (10) Heroic, (25) Normal, (25) Heroic
Bosses: 4
Halfus Wyrmbreaker: Imbued with unnatural power and stamina by Cho’gall the ettin Halfus Wyrmbreaker captures dragons for use as fodder in the Twilight’s Hammer’s rituals. To this end, he has enslaved a behemoth proto-dragon to aid him in hunting down his winged prey. Theralion and Valiona: Magically aged to adulthood, Valiona and Theralion were to be paragons among a new clutch of twilight dragons, leading their brood in scouring Azeroth of life. Instead, they waste their incredible powers constantly bickering and fighting each other. Ascendant Council: As the most powerful Twilight’s Hammer cultists to be twisted into elemental beings, the Ascendant Council members have long forgotten their existence as mere mortals. From their wicked sanctum they oversee the selection of new ascension candidates. Cho’gall: Under Cho’gall’s control, the orcish Twilight’s Hammer clan was transformed into a murderous cult obsessed with the Old Gods and their herald, Deathwing. Extended contact with his dark master has hideously warped both Cho’gall’s mind and body. Blackwing Descent Nefarian and his warped attempts to create a new breed of dragon were thought to be defeated after his death in Blackwing Lair. Yet tales have emerged that his father, Deathwing, has reanimated Nefarian and set him to work in Blackwing Descent. The gruesome experiments being conducted there are feared to be on a level of wickedness far surpassing Nefarian’s previous crimes against nature.
Zone: Burning Steppes
Difficulty: (10) Normal, (10) Heroic, (25) Normal, (25) Heroic
Bosses: 6
Omnotron Defense System: The Omnotron Defense System was once touted as the Dark Iron dwarves’ greatest technological marvel. When Nefarian arrived in Blackwing Descent, he repurposed the run-down system to annihilate anyone intruding on his laboratories. Magmaw: Magmaw is a colossal lava worm summoned from the Firelands centuries ago by Ragnaros’ Dark Iron servitors. Nefarian largely considers Magmaw a worrisome pest but has grown fond of feeding the beast his failed experiments… and servants. Atramedes: Atramedes, or Experiment 25463-D, is a failed attempt to bestow enhanced senses on a black dragon whelp. The toxic salve applied to the broodling robbed him of sight, forcing him to rely on sound and smell for survival. A tragic story… if Atramedes weren’t so evil. Chimaeron: Terrifying. Ugly. Evil. Kill it. Maloriak: The human Malory was a bright young alchemist until he was kidnapped by Nefarian and fused with the corpse of a dragonspawn. The result— Maloriak— is a bumbling minion who possesses only a dull glimmer of his former intelligence. Nefarian’s End: Deathwing’s son, Nefarian gained infamy for his horrifying efforts to create chromatic dragons from the essences of Azeroth’s various dragonflights. After his death in Blackwing Lair, he was reanimated and charged by Deathwing to continue his insidious endeavors. Throne of the Four Winds Al’Akir the Windlord’s personal lair, the Throne of the Four Winds, glides high among Skywall’s boundless vistas. Now the barriers of the Elemental Plane have been ruptured, Al’Akir is free to travel Azeroth’s winds at his leisure. He has mustered his fiercest tempests to scour Uldum of life and seize control of the mysterious titan-forged Halls of Origination.
Zone: Uldum
Difficulty: (10) Normal, (10) Heroic, (25) Normal, (25) Heroic
Bosses: 2
The Conclave of Wind: With Siamat, Lord of the South Wind, imprisoned by the Neferset tol’vir, Al’akir’s lieutenants are vying to fill the power vacuum that now exists in the Conclave of Wind. The remaining conclave members are Anshal, Lord of the West Wind, whose gales can heal allies or poison enemies; Rohash, Lord of the East Wind, whose tempests can grind the mightiest mountains to dust, and Nezir, Lord of the North Wind whose frigid storms have claimed more lives than all other cardinal wind lords combined. Al’Akir: Gifted with great intelligence and cunning, Al’Akir the Windlord once served as the foremost tactician in the Old Gods’ horrific armies. In the wake of the Cataclysm, he has aligned with Deathwing and turned his godlike power against many of the air elementals’ ancient tol’vir nemeses. Navigate Azeroth’s tumultuous terrains and explore zones reshaped by elemental fury and dungeons teeming with untold dangers. The commencement of PvP Season 9 also ushers in an era of fierce new competition, where every battle is a testament to skill and strategy. Azeroth’s call to arms rings clear, and calls its champions rise and etch their triumphs and tales into the very lands. We look forward to our next adventures with you.
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