WoW Reviews & Guides

Eck the Ferocious is a gorloc boss found in Gundrak, an instance in Zul’Drak. He is only found on heroic difficulty. Follow the crack in the wall in Moorabi’s room to reach him.

Overview

• The fight against Eck does not start until engaging him in combat.
• The tank should position Eck facing away from the rest of the group.
• When Eck springs, he drops the aggro and will attack another player until taunted back by the tank.

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Slad’ran is a boss of Gundrak in northeastern Zul’Drak. Slad’ran, a Drakkari ice troll, is the former high prophet of Sseratus, the Drakkari serpent god. The Drakkari sacrificed Sseratus along with their other animal gods to obtain their considerable power in the fight against the Scourge, who are swiftly encroaching upon Drakkari lands. The death of the god transferred the immense power of Sseratus to the high prophet. He now stands guard over the Den of Sseratus within the subterranean chambers of Gundrak.

Overview

• Move away from Slad’ran when he casts Poison Nova. Try to get out of Line of Sight as hitting you will deal a lot of damage.
• Tank him on top of the stairs so the adds coming later will have to move longer.

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Gundrak is the capital of the Ice Trolls. Located in Zul’Drak, the instance contains three entrances which all lead into a main circle. The Drakkari tribe rule Zul’Drak from here, constantly battling the mighty forces of the Scourge. This dungeon shows the Ice Trolls in all their glory, including the opportunity to fight the Ice Troll leader, and teach us why they have been so successful against the Scourge.

People and culture

This is the Drakkari capital, the only large city in Zul’Drak and the home to the Drakkari Frost King. It is a massive place, with thick walls, tall guard towers and heavy gates. Inside, the buildings are tiered and covered in steps, and wind about one another like a nest of small animals, each fitting into the next. The architecture here is almost identical to that of Zuldazar, in the South Seas. The Drakkari are crude and violent, but there is a modicum of organization in the city. Women and whelps handle most of the cleaning, food preparation and clothing needs. Those unfit for battle do manual labor or simple crafts. Many of the buildings have rough carvings along their walls, and war trophies are interspersed with furs. Chores are handled quickly and efficiently to make time for drinking, eating and combat. Warriors fight frequently, from mere wrestling matches to armed death duels, and brawls occur at every meal. Rather than stop this, the Frost King uses these conflicts to gauge the strength of his warriors, selecting the victors for favored missions. Of course, the Drakkari do not welcome visitors — at least, not as guests. Sometimes, a warrior who has demonstrated his strength may be invited to dine with the Drakkari and his safety is then guaranteed until the end of the meal. After that, however, he may find himself a target of the assembled tribes. Trolls are unpredictable, though, so an adventurer attempting this tactic may find himself part of the meal. The best way to enter Gundrak is by slipping in unnoticed. Sometimes the Drakkari are too busy fighting and drinking to look down.

Inside the Instance

After killing Eck the Ferocious, what most people don’t know is that the body of water that he come from is actually a passage. It requires swimming through the water to go to the next location (the final boss). Also, this path skips the few mobs back at around the outside of the secret entrance.

It is only recommended that you use this pathway if you’re a Druid with Aquatic Form, as the swim will take no time at all and you’ll be there very fast. It’s not a vast maze, its easy to find your way, because there’s only one path: just walk into the water and swim straight.

Quick Facts

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.)
5. 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.
6. 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].
7. When you go to train at level 77, get a [Saronite Bulwark] off the Auction House.
8. 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.
9. 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].
10. 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.
11. 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].
12. 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].
13. When you reach Revered with the Argent Crusade, purchase [Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector] and apply it to your helm.
14. When you reach level 80 and Revered with the Wyrmrest Accord, purchase [Breastplate of the Solemn Council].
15. 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.
16. 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:

1. [Blade of the Empty Void] from a quest chain at Ebon Hold involving the nearbly Vykrul village. (Lose 7 defense rating.)
2. [Reinforced Titanium Neckguard] from quests against the Scarlet Onslaught. Requires a group to finish the chain. (Gain 9 defense rating.)
3. [Tempered Saronite Shoulders], crafted. You may actually prefer these outright. (Lose 14 defense rating.)
4. [Daunting Legplates], craftable. (Gain 13 defense rating accounting for the lost gem.)
5. [Tempered Saronite Bracers], crafted. (Gain 14 defense rating.)
6. [Tempered Saronite Helm], crafted. (Gain 23 defense rating.)
7. [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.

The Plagueworks is an area inside the west side of Icecrown Citadel it is an area connected to the rest of the instance by the Spire surrounding the Frozen Throne in the middle level of the zone.

The Plagueworks is a laboratory for creation of potions, vials and containers of the Plague of Undeath and blight slimes. It is also the factory where several Abominations and horrific scourge creations are made. Professor Putricide is the leader of the Plagueworks.

A central theme of the Plagueworks seems to be the green liquid plague seen in Warcraft III and classic World of Warcraft, alongside the orange Blight Crystal plague seen throughout Northrend (mainly in Zul’Drak).

The Plagueworks opened on January 5, 2010, 28 days after the opening of Icecrown Citadel.