Posted on 2010 under Cataclysm, Patch Notes |
28
Jul
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (or Cata for short) is the upcoming third expansion for World of Warcraft and was officially announced on August 21, 2009 at BlizzCon 2009. The majority of the expansion content takes place in drastically reforged Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms.
It is to include the playable races of the worgen for the Alliance and the goblins for the Horde. Flying mounts will finally be usable in Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms. Deathwing will make his return into Azeroth from Deepholm, causing a new Sundering.
Lore
From the official site:
An ancient evil lies dormant within Deepholm, the domain of earth in the Elemental Plane.
Hidden away in a secluded sanctuary, the corrupted Dragon Aspect Deathwing has waited, recovering from the wounds of his last battle against Azeroth and biding his time until he can reforge the world in molten fire.
Soon, Deathwing the Destroyer will return to Azeroth, and his eruption from Deepholm will sunder the world, leaving a festering wound across the continents. As the Horde and Alliance race to the epicenter of the cataclysm, the kingdoms of Azeroth will witness seismic shifts in power, the kindling of a war of the elements, and the emergence of unlikely heroes who will rise up to protect their scarred and broken world from utter devastation.
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Sjonnir the Ironshaper is the last boss of Halls of Stone, a sub-zone of Ulduar.
Overview
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The tank should keep Sjonnir in the middle of the platform with the healer in the background.
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Two DPS should kill the non-elite adds on either side as soon as they spawn, or the healer will be attacked.
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Move away from from Sjonnir’s Lightning Ring—it deals damage to everyone in melee range, but it will not last long.
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The chest contains the loot from the Tribunal of Ages encounter in Halls of Stone. In this encounter, players must protect Brann Bronzebeard from the waves of monsters that attempt to kill him.
Overview
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Ulduar is a dungeon hub located at The Storm Peaks of Northrend and is a treasure trove of information on the Titans and their activities. Ulduar is a mysterious subterranean realm of ice and stone. It is controlled by storm giants, and their minions the crystal golems. The entrance is well-hidden and heavily guarded, only allowing the clever to sneak inside. These giants are a dying race desperately avoiding their fate, hiding rather than fighting in the battle of the Sourage.
Halls of Stone is a large 5 five-man dungeon, and is the first instance of the titan city Ulduar wing.
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Posted on 2010 under Guides, Raids, Wrath of the Lich King |
30
Jun
Flame Leviathan is the first boss encounter in Ulduar, found in the Formation Grounds. Most of the players in this encounter do not use their regular class abilities, but instead use vehicles (similar to drakes in Malygos’ third phase). The rest of Ulduar is not accessible until this boss is destroyed.
Overview
This is a vehicle fight, similar to Ley-Guardian Eregos and Malygos’ Phase 3. In the beginning of the instance, players will find an Expedition Camp, where they can choose their vehicles – Salvaged Siege Engine, Salvaged Demolisher, or Salvaged Chopper; players may select to be passengers or drivers in either Siege Engines or Demolishers. Choppers’ passengers have no function. There are 2 (25 Player: 5) of each kind of vehicle. There are two stages of the fight – a gauntlet event, where the Iron Army tries to stop the players from proceeding farther into the instance; and the actual fight against the Flame Leviathan.
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Posted on 2010 under Guides |
29
Jun
This is a list aimed at tanks starting leveling in Northrend who need to put together a set of tanking gear quickly, but can also be useful for people looking for pieces in a slot or two. All the items listed here are blue quality, and can be obtained through quests, reputation, or crafting. Drops are not included because the intent is to give a list of gear that can be obtained quickly.
- Starting at 71-74, do all Wyrmrest quests at the Wyrmrest temple. Once you’ve completed these, purchase a Wyrmrest Accord tabard and put it on. (Don’t let the first level 80 instance catch you by surprise.) Continue wearing the tabard, and do the daily quest at Wyrmrest temple every day as you level until you reach at least Revered with the Wyrmrest Accord.
- At level 74, get yourself a [Tempered Saronite Belt] off the Auction House or have someone make you one. Buy and attach an [Eternal Belt Buckle] to it, and socket it with a [Thick Sun Crystal] for a total of 69 defense rating. Optionally, purchase other pieces in the Tempered Saronite “set” to use as leveling gear or as fallback pieces in case you can’t get one of the recommended items before you start raiding or doing heroics.
- Head to Zul’Drak as soon as you can. (level 74 or so) and find a partner to do the “Wanted: Ragemane’s Flipper” quest at given the first Argent Crusade camp. Get [Crescent of Brooding Fury] for completing the quest.
- Still in Zul’Drak, follow quests to Argent Stand (the major Argent Crusade base in the zone). Do quests there to improve your Argent Crusade rep, including the dailies. Continue to do these daily quests every day as you level until you reach Revered with the Argent Crusade. (There are more quests that give Argent Crusade rep than Wyrmrest rep, so don’t take off the Wyrmrest tabard until you’re finished with Wyrmrest rep.)
- Move back to the west edge of Zul’Drak and do the quests from the Argent Crusade Forward Camp for more AC rep. Also do Stefan’s quests from Ebon Watch to acquire [Betrayer's Choker]. Socket it with a [Thick Sun Crystal] for a total of 29 defense rating.
- When you reach an appopriate level (76-ish) start keeping your eyes open for a Gundrak group to complete the “For Posterity” quest and get [Solid Platinum Band].
- When you go to train at level 77, get a [Saronite Bulwark] off the Auction House.
- When you go to train at level 78, get some [Daunting Handguards] off the Auction House. Once back in Northrend, go to Wyrmrest Temple and purchase [Cloak of Peaceful Resolutions], and then go to the Argent Crusade camp in the southeast corner of Icecrown and purchase [Special Issue Legplates]. Apply a [Jormungar Leg Armor] to the legplates and socket them with a [Stalwart Huge Citrine] for a total of 87 defense rating..
Also buy an Argent Crusade tabard and have it handy to switch when you do this.
- Starting at level 78, keep your eyes peeled for groups for Halls of Stone to do the Brann Bronzebeard event and get [Pauldrons of Reconnaissance], and for an Oculus group to do the quests inside for [Bracers of Reverence].
- Optionally, also keep your eyes peeled for Utguard Pinnacle groups; the instance will give you Rep with whatever faction’s tabard you’re wearing, and the plate chest reward from the quest in the instance is a useful intermediate and backup piece if you have trouble completing Wyrmrest rep.
- Starting from the Argent Crusade camp where you purchased the legplates and tabard, complete the quest chain given by Tirion Fordring through the building of the new tower, and obtain [The Crusader's Resolution].
- Follow the breadcrumb quests to your faction’s airship and do quests for Thassarian (Alliance) or Koltira Deathweaver (Horde) to establish the new Ebon Blade base at the Shadow Vault. If/when you reach Honored, purchase [Toxin-Tempered Sabatons].
- When you reach Revered with the Argent Crusade, purchase [Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector] and apply it to your helm.
- When you reach level 80 and Revered with the Wyrmrest Accord, purchase [Breastplate of the Solemn Council].
- As soon as possible, go to K3 in Storm Peaks and follow the chain starting with the quest “They Took Our Men!” until you get access to the Hodir quartermaster. Then begin working on dailies and other quests until you reach at least Honored with the Sons of Hodir and purchase [Lesser Inscription of the Pinnacle] and apply it to your tanking shoulders. This does not need to be done to become uncrittable with the recommended set if you follow the instructions, but you should start on it as soon as you can find the time in order to work your way up to Exalted for the epic inscription.
- If you have not already, obtain the following enchants:
- A +12 defense rating enchant to cloak.
- A +22 defense rating enchant to chest.
- A +40 stamina enchant to bracers.
- A +20 hit rating enchant to gloves
- A +22 stamina enchant to boots.
- A [Titanium Weapon Chain] to weapon.
- A +20 defense rating enchant to shield.
In total, you should have an additional 54 defense rating from enchants.
Alternatives:
- [Blade of the Empty Void] from a quest chain at Ebon Hold involving the nearbly Vykrul village. (Lose 7 defense rating.)
- [Reinforced Titanium Neckguard] from quests against the Scarlet Onslaught. Requires a group to finish the chain. (Gain 9 defense rating.)
- [Tempered Saronite Shoulders], crafted. You may actually prefer these outright. (Lose 14 defense rating.)
- [Daunting Legplates], craftable. (Gain 13 defense rating accounting for the lost gem.)
- [Tempered Saronite Bracers], crafted. (Gain 14 defense rating.)
- [Tempered Saronite Helm], crafted. (Gain 23 defense rating.)
- [Silver-Plated Battlechest]: From the “Junk in My Trunk” quest in Utguard Pinnacle. (Lose 2 defense rating.) Also [Tempered Saronite Breastplate], crafted. (Lose 20 defense rating)
If you’ve obtained all the recommended except the Sons of Hodir inscription, you’ll have 705 defense rating, which is 16 more than required to be uncrittable. Depending on exactly what items you end up with you may have to alter your gems a bit, but it should be possible to make a viable tanking set from just about any combination of recommended and alternate items.
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Posted on 2010 under Lore, Quest, Wrath of the Lich King |
26
Jun
Its date of creation is unknown, but it is known that Atiesh was forged from the “seed of hate” and was wielded by each Guardian of Tirisfal until the line ended with Medivh. This would set the age of Atiesh at thousands of years.
Following the assassination of Medivh, the staff was brought to Dalaran where it was held by successive members of the Kirin Tor, who all found their deaths soon (except for highborne sorcerer Tarsis Kir-Moldir, it appears). After all these deaths, it was decided that the staff was to be put “behind impenetrable barriers of magic” and a “watcher” was appointed: Angela Dosantos. The shattering of the staff came about following the destruction of Dalaran by Archimonde, probably due to the failsafe system of the magical barrier. Atiesh was shattered into forty-two pieces which were scattered across all of Azeroth[3]. Brann Bronzebeard held the Base of Atiesh, which he somehow lost to C’Thun. The Scourge captured the forty-one other pieces, twenty of which were initially held by Tarsis. Forty pieces of Atiesh were each entrusted to a different lieutenant of Kel’Thuzad within Naxxramas, while the fallen mage himself held the staff’s head.
When Naxxramas appeared over the Eastern Plaguelands, the Argent Dawn attempted to prevent this powerful focus of power from falling into the hands of the necromancer-lich, Kel’Thuzad, and were apparently successful in this regard.
Later, Meryl Winterstorm sent Garona Halforcen on a mission to retrieve the base of the shattered staff from within the remains of C’Thun. Garona succeeded and gave the base to Med’an, who restored the whole staff simply by holding it while being imbued with the powers of the New Council of Tirisfal.
Description
This final task will be the most difficult of all, <name>. You have faced and defeated both an Old God and the Lich King’s General, but now you must face the hand of Sargeras.
Take the staff to Stratholme. It is there that you will find a piece of consecrated earth: ground where the greatest knights of Lordaeron were murdered. Place the befouled staff upon the holy ground and prepare for an entity of immense power to break from within… Defeat the demonic being that controls the staff and return to me.
Rewards
You will receive:
Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian
Quick Facts
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Level: 60
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Requires level 60
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Type: Dungeon
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Side: Both
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Difficulty: 60 63 72
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Added in patch 2.2.0
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Last seen in patch 3.3.0
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Posted on 2010 under Lore, Raids, Wrath of the Lich King |
26
Jun
Along with Uldum and Uldaman, there exists a third base of the titans called Ulduar. A fourth base, Maraudon, is the location of Terramok, an ancient titan vault. A fifth base is located under Bael Modan. Ulduar is located in The Storm Peaks of Northrend.
Ulduar is a mysterious subterranean realm of ice and stone. This was once the storm giants’ stronghold, but they didn’t build it. Brann Bronzebeard believes it to be a titan city (it is also a production facility and prison), as it matched the design of the two temples in Northrend and other ruins dwarves found elsewhere (and because it contained the word “Uld”). Massive buildings protrude from the tops and sides of mountains, many hundreds of times taller than a human. When Brann Bronzebeard first explored the area, a section he discovered was covered in rock and ice. He thought it was an amazing place but couldn’t tell from outside, because it was completely hidden to him. The exterior he saw looked like the other peaks to him: a jumble of rock and ice cut at angles only nature would have produced. The entrance he discovered was well-hidden and heavily guarded by crystal golems. However large sections of the facility are now visible aboveground.
Inside, Ulduar is a profusion of tunnels and stairs and balconies. The entire place appears to be carved out of a massive cave, and many of the levels are natural ledges. It has the feeling, as if nature were improved upon rather than replaced or recreated. The surfaces are a strange mix of smooth and unaltered stone and ice, as when a master sculptor works in stone and lets the material’s natural texture add depth and beauty. It shows where the dwarves got their skill in stonework, but judging by Ulduar they’re still a long way from matching their creators.
When Brann was exploring the place, the storm giants themselves were so few in number that one could wander the halls without ever meeting one — he believed this was probably for the best, since no one was supposed to gain entrance. The giants are a dying race desperately avoiding their fate. They seem to think another race will vanquish them some day, and so they hide in Ulduar rather than girding for battle. They are too frightened to battle the Scourge, but apparently they hate it. Ulduar is likely a treasure trove of information on the Titans and their activities. Since then the storm giants have moved to the Howling Fjord.
Ulduar is a raid dungeon in the Titan complex of Ulduar, located within the The Storm Peaks. It serves as the prison of the old god Yogg-Saron as well as the current residence of most of the titanic watchers who have fallen under his influence.
Notable Loot
All bosses in Ulduar drop Emblem of Triumph, which can be used to acquire epic quality gear from various vendors in Dalaran. They can also drop Runed Orb, a rare component used to craft high level gear.
Also, each boss on 25-player difficulty has a chance to drop a Fragment of Val’anyr, which are needed in order to reconstruct Val’anyr, Hammer of Ancient Kings.
Quick Facts
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Posted on 2010 under Guides, Instances, News, Raids |
13
May
The Halls of Origination in Uldum is a level-85 five-player dungeon available in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, featuring an unparalleled journey through the timeless titan construction and seven unique boss fights. Hidden deep within its halls lies an ancient treasure that, if placed in the wrong hands, could endanger all life on Azeroth. Should players survive the perils of Uldum, they will be called to help Brann Bronzebeard unlock the mysteries within these treacherous titan halls and protect the titans’ ancient secrets.
Entering the Halls
You will immediately learn the gravity of your situation in the Maker’s Overlook when stumbling over the bodies of those who have entered the Halls of Origination before you, seeking power… and failing. Those who survive beyond the entrance of these ancient corridors will be greeted by Brann Bronzebeard just outside the dungeon’s transport system to the upper reaches. It will require more than the guidance of Brann to advance upward, however, as the secrets of these halls must first be unlocked.
Chamber of Prophecy
The column-strewn Chamber of Prophecy is truly a testament of time. In a room adorned with the relics of an ancient culture, two arks await investigation, protected by ever-faithful servants. Those who meddle with the titan relics must answer to Temple Guardian Anhuur, the overseer of this chamber and a master of holy magic and devastating hymns.
Tomb of the Earthrager
Across from the Chamber of Prophecy and just outside the dungeon’s walls lies the Tomb of the Earthrager, entrenched within a pyramid sun-scorched and bombarded with sandstorms. Littered with the bones of the long deceased, the tomb waits to collect more unprepared victims. It is, after all, the resting place of Earthrager Ptah. Those who disturb his tomb disrupt an eerily quiet place before Ptah shakes the ground beneath you in a Tumultuous Earthstorm, bringing to life the weathered bones of the deceased and unearthing vile Scarabs.
The Vault of Lights
With walls weighted by priceless titan artifacts, the Vault of Lights will serve as a chamber of punishment for your intrusion. Anraphet, a haunting statue of titan composition, awakens to serve his fellow keepers and eradicate all mortals who enter. Make no mistake: his long slumber will not prevent him from showing absolute wrath.
Seats of the Keepers
Survivors of the halls’ depths will gain access to the upper reaches. With help from Brann Bronzebeard, you must uncover the mysteries of Uldum. Your journey will lead you to areas of ultimate consequence: the Seats of Magic, Life, Chaos, and Radiance. Here you will be confronted by the construct of magic Isiset, construct of life Ammunae, construct of chaos Setesh, and construct of radiance Rajh. You will be tested by these constructs of Uldum, who will not easily give up their thrones or the secrets of the titans.
Only by exploring Uldum’s Halls of Origination in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will you have a chance to uncover their dangerous powers, and perhaps even the mysteries behind the origins of life on Azeroth.
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