Blackrock Spire

Blackrock Spire Route & Boss Strategy

Blackrock Spire is two runs behind one door. The lower spire winds down through ogres, trolls, spiders and orcs to Overlord Wyrmthalak, and on the way it yields the three gemstones that make the Seal of Ascension. The seal opens the upper spire, a larger and harder run through the black dragonflight's hatchery and Rend Blackhand's arena to General Drakkisath. Give the lower spire two hours and the upper an hour and a half.

The lower spire winds down through ogres, trolls, spiders and orcs to Overlord Wyrmthalak. It is a long five-player run, and three of its bosses drop the gemstones that make the Seal of Ascension, the key to the upper spire. Allow two hours.

The upper spire lies behind the door the Seal of Ascension opens. It runs through the black dragonflight's hatchery and Rend Blackhand's arena to General Drakkisath, and it is built for a larger group than five. Allow an hour and a half.

1. Lower Spire: the Way In

   • Vaelan stands disguised as a Scarshield Infiltrator at the top of the first ramp and starts Seal of Ascension. The sealed door beside him is the upper spire; the lower spire is the drop and the bridges to the right.
   • Bijou hides in the first orc hall for both factions' quests. Several rare spawns appear along the route on some runs, among them the Burning Felguard, the Spirestone Butcher, Bannok Grimaxe, Crystal Fang and Ghok Bashguud.

2. Highlord Omokk

   Boss

   Knock Away

   Throws the tank back and cuts their threat.

   Frenzy

   He attacks faster at low health.

   • The ogre lord sits on a rise above the first halls with two bodyguards. Clear the ogres below so nobody is knocked into them, and control the guards.
   • He drops the Gemstone of Spirestone. Take Omokk's Head and the Roughshod Pike that stands near him if you plan to summon Urok.

3. Shadow Hunter Vosh'gajin

   Boss

   Hex

   Turns the tank into a frog. A second player must hold her.

   Curse of Blood

   Raises the Physical damage its target takes.

   • She stands with two trolls across the bridges. Kill the adds first and keep an off-tank or pet ready for the Hex.
   • The Fifth Mosh'aru Tablet stands near her.

4. War Master Voone

   Boss

   Mortal Strike

   Halves healing on the tank.

   Snap Kick

   Stuns the tank.

   Throw Axe

   Hits a ranged player.

   • A troll in the room past the shadow hunter. A hard-hitting duel with the tank; heal ahead of the Mortal Strike.
   • He drops the Gemstone of Smolderthorn, and the Sixth Mosh'aru Tablet stands in his room.

5. Mother Smolderweb

   Boss

   Mother's Milk

   A poison on the tank that webs everyone near them every few seconds.

   Crystallize

   Stuns one player.

   • The spider hall. Spire Spider Eggs hatch when you walk close, so clear a path through them a few at a time; Kibler wants fifteen of them.
   • Nobody stands near the tank during this fight. When she dies a swarm of small spiders spills out; kill them with area damage.

6. Urok Doomhowl

   Optional

   Intimidating Roar

   Fears players near him.

   Rend

   A bleed on the tank.

   • An ogre you call out. In the cave past the spiders, plant the Roughshod Pike with Omokk's Head at Urok's Tribute Pile.
   • Waves of Urok Enforcers and ogre magi come first, with short pauses between them. Urok arrives last.

7. Quartermaster Zigris

   Boss

   Hooked Net

   Roots one player.

   Stun Bomb

   Stuns players where it lands.

   • An orc with a gun on a ledge in the orc quarter. He shoots, nets and backs away, and he drinks a healing potion at low health. Stun him in place and finish him.

8. Halycon

   Boss

   Rend

   A bleed on the tank.

   Thrash

   Extra attacks in a burst.

   • The worg matriarch in the kennels. The Bloodaxe Worg Pups for Kibler's Exotic Pets are here: cage one before you leave.
   • Her death is the goal of Put Her Down and The Pack Mistress.

9. Gizrul the Slavener

   Boss

   Fatal Bite

   A heavy bite that heals him.

   Frenzy

   He attacks faster.

   • He runs in the moment Halycon dies. Keep the party healed through her fight so nobody starts his at half health.

10. Overlord Wyrmthalak

    Boss

    Cleave

    Hits everyone in front of him.

    Knock Away

    Throws the tank back.

    Call for Help

    At half health he calls a Spirestone Warlord and a Smolderthorn Berserker.

    • The dragonspawn at the bottom of the spire. Tank him against a wall, facing away from the party.
    • Control or off-tank the two reinforcements and finish the overlord.
    • He drops the Gemstone of Bloodaxe, the third stone for the seal, and he is the last kill for Maxwell's Mission and Warlord's Command.

11. Upper Spire: the Sealed Door

    • One player wearing the Seal of Ascension opens the door for the group. The upper spire is built for a larger group than five, and it plays like a small raid: mark targets and pull with care.
    • Clear both floors of the first hall. The door to Emberseer opens only when every orc in it is dead.

12. Pyroguard Emberseer

    Boss

    Fire Nova

    Fire damage to everyone near him.

    Flame Buffet

    Stacking Fire damage that raises further Fire damage taken.

    Pyroblast

    A large fireball at one player.

    • Seven Blackhand Incarcerators hold him. Touch the altar and they turn on you; kill them with area damage and catch the ones that run.
    • Emberseer then grows to full size. Ranged players stay far back, and a second tank takes over when the Flame Buffet stacks get high.

13. Solakar Flamewreath

    Optional

    War Stomp

    Stuns everyone near him.

    • The Rookery is full of eggs that hatch when stepped on. Touching the Father Flame in the middle starts an event: waves of Rookery Whelps and their hatchers, then Solakar.
    • Fight at the doorway, away from the eggs, and kill the hatchers first.

14. Jed Runewatcher

    Optional
    • A rare spawn in the room beyond the Rookery, absent on most runs. A plain fight with a shield bash.

15. Goraluk Anvilcrack

    Optional

    Backhand

    Stuns the tank and cuts their threat.

    • The smith works a forge on a platform off the main hall. Players on The Demon Forge kill him and use the Blood Stained Pike on his body.

16. Gyth

    Boss

    Corrosive Acid Breath

    Acid damage and lowered armor in front of the dragon.

    Freeze

    Freezes players in front of the dragon in place.

    • Walk into the arena and Rend Blackhand watches from the balcony while waves of orcs and dragonkin come through the gate. Stack in one corner so each wave runs into the tanks.
    • After the last wave Rend rides in on Gyth. Tank the dragon facing away from the group.

17. Warchief Rend Blackhand

    Boss

    Whirlwind

    Hits everyone near him.

    Mortal Strike

    Halves healing on the tank.

    Frenzy

    He attacks faster at low health.

    • He dismounts when Gyth is nearly dead. A second tank picks him up at once while the group finishes the dragon.
    • Melee step out of the Whirlwind.

18. The Beast

    Boss

    Terrifying Howl

    Fears everyone near it.

    Flame Breath

    Fire damage in front of it.

    Berserker Charge

    Charges a distant player and knocks them back.

    • It waits in the hall after the arena. Clear the hall first, then tank it in a corner facing away from the group so the fear and the knockbacks go nowhere.
    • Skinners with the skill for it find a surprise inside.

19. General Drakkisath

    Boss

    Conflagration

    Burns and disorients one player, and spreads to players near them.

    Cleave

    Hits everyone in front of him.

    Flamestrike

    Fire on the ground. Move out.

    • Two Chromatic Elite Guards stand beside him. Clear the room, then split the fight: one player drags the General away down the hall while the group kills the guards one at a time.
    • With the guards dead, bring him back. Stay spread out so Conflagration burns one player, and have a second tank ready when the first is burning.
    • Alliance players loot the Blood of the Black Dragon Champion for the Drakefire Amulet. The orb behind him is where Blackhand's Command is used.