Excavation Site: Wetlands — Forever dungeon · WoW Forever
- Level
- 26–31
- Group size
- 5 players
- Location
- Wetlands
- Continent
- Eastern Kingdoms
- Difficulty
- Normal
- Bosses
- 4
- Quests
- 12
- Availability
- In the beta · Launches November 4, 2026
- Access
- No key needed to enter
Forever beta guideWritten from the WoW Forever beta. Bosses, loot, quests and level ranges can still change before launch on November 4, 2026.MoreLess
Legacy: Excavation Site: Wetlands is part of the “Novice Spelunker” challenge, worth 1 Legacy Point for your account. Legacy challenges
Overview
A titan dig above Whelgar's Excavation in the Wetlands, overrun by crocolisks, raptors and Dragonmaw orcs. Fight through the dig's waterlogged thickets to the Relic Guardian, a titan construct that only wakes when its console is used.
How to get there
The portal and its meeting stone are in the Wetlands, above Whelgar's Excavation Site.
Alliance
Menethil Harbor is the base: Caitlin Grassman and James Halloran give quests there, Rethiel the Greenwarden has Horrors in the Highland, and Dorin Songblade in Lakeshire sends you after his brother. The Relic Guardian's Titan Relic starts Lost Relic Carry.
Horde
Cross the Thandol Span from the Arathi Highlands. Zaruk in Hammerfall sends you to a Deathstalker Agent near the dig, Borstan in Orgrimmar wants raptor meat, and the Titan Relic starts Elder Knowledge, which ends in Thunder Bluff.
On the leveling routes
- Alliance, levels 22–30: Stormwind City (Dungeon route)
- Alliance, levels 27–31: Wetlands (Eastern Kingdoms route, Dungeon route)
Requirements & attunements
No key or attunement. Built for levels 26–31; its quests can be picked up from level 24, but the Relic Guardian at the end is level 31.
All attunements and keys →Bosses
Saltspine
Fatal Bite
Dust Storm
A crocolisk patrolling the edge of the lake. Pull it alone. Fatal Bite steals the tank's health, and Dust Storm makes attacks around it miss, so give the tank time to build threat before damage dealers open up.
Tactics for tanks, healers and damage dealers →Loot · Saltspine
- Item level 31 · Feet · Cloth · Requires level 26
- Item level 31 · Waist · Mail · Requires level 26
- Item level 31 · Legs · Leather · Requires level 26
Shadetooth
Terrifying Roar
A raptor stalking the trail with two Thicket Hunters. Terrifying Roar sends nearby players fleeing in fear, possibly into hidden packs, so clear the tall grass first or bring Tremor Totem or Fear Ward for the tank. It enrages when it's nearly dead: save cooldowns for the last fifth of its health.
Tactics for tanks, healers and damage dealers →Loot · Shadetooth
- Item level 31 · Chest · Leather · Requires level 26
- Item level 31 · Feet · Mail · Requires level 26
- Item level 31 · Held In Off-hand · Requires level 26
Highland Horror
A plant creature among slimes, wanted by Rethiel the Greenwarden for Horrors in the Highland. Pull it without the slimes around it and kill it quickly. It drops the Horrible Rootcore but no gear.
Tactics for tanks, healers and damage dealers →Relic Guardian
A titan construct that stands inert until someone uses the console beside its platform. Face it away from the group: it smashes the area in front of it, knocks the tank back and stuns those near it, and its thunderclap slows everyone in melee range. Ranged players stay back. It can be slowed, so a hunter or shaman can kite it if the tank goes down.
Tactics for tanks, healers and damage dealers →Loot · Relic Guardian
- Titan Relic
- Item level 33 · Ranged · Guns · Requires level 28
- Item level 33 · Shoulder · Mail · Requires level 28
- Item level 33 · Finger · Requires level 28
Quests
Horrors in the Highland Level 24+ · Alliance
Starts:
- Rethiel the Greenwarden · Wetlands (56.2, 40.4)Show on World Map
Objectives: 1 × Horrible Rootcore
Rewards
See also: Excavation Site: Wetlands
Lost in the Thicket Things Level 24+ · Alliance
Starts:
- Caitlin Grassman · Wetlands (11.8, 58.6)Show on World Map
Leads to: Heartwoven
See also: Excavation Site: Wetlands
Heartwoven Level 24+ · Alliance
Starts:
- Follows Lost in the Thicket Things
Requires: Lost in the Thicket Things
Rewards
See also: Excavation Site: Wetlands
Songblade Search Level 24+ · Alliance
Starts:
- Dorin Songblade · Redridge Mountains (30.8, 46.6)Show on World Map
Leads to: Fallen in the Fen
See also: Excavation Site: Wetlands
Fallen in the Fen Level 24+ · Alliance
Starts:
- Follows Songblade Search
Requires: Songblade Search
Rewards
See also: Excavation Site: Wetlands
Highland Hides Level 24+ · Alliance
Starts:
- James Halloran · Wetlands (8.6, 55.6)Show on World Map
Requires: Young Crocolisk Skins
Objectives: 4 × Thicket Raptor Hide
See also: Excavation Site: Wetlands
Lost Relic Carry Level 24+ · Alliance
Starts:
- Titan Relic · drops from the Relic Guardian
Leads to: Prehistoric Prism
See also: Excavation Site: Wetlands
Prehistoric Prism Level 24+ · Alliance
Starts:
- Prospector Whelgar · Wetlands (38.8, 52.2)Show on World Map
Requires: Lost Relic Carry
Rewards
See also: Excavation Site: Wetlands
Changing Tastes Level 24+ · Horde
Starts:
- Borstan · Orgrimmar (57.4, 53.4)Show on World Map
Objectives: 4 × Thicket Raptor Meat
Rewards
See also: Excavation Site: Wetlands
Open the Maw Level 24+ · Horde
Starts:
- Deathstalker Agent · Wetlands (51.4, 59.2)Show on World Map
Requires: Dragonmaw Rumors
Objectives: 2 × Dragonmaw Saboteur slain · 4 × Dragonmaw Warder slain · 1 × Dragonmaw Dispatch
Rewards
See also: Excavation Site: Wetlands
Elder Knowledge Level 24+ · Horde
Starts:
- Titan Relic · drops from the Relic Guardian
Leads to: Earthen Echo
See also: Excavation Site: Wetlands
Earthen Echo Level 24+ · Horde
Starts:
- Bashana Runetotem · Thunder Bluff (70.8, 33.8)Show on World Map
Requires: Elder Knowledge
Rewards
See also: Excavation Site: Wetlands
Loot & rewards
Notable boss drops. Full loot tables are longer.
- Item level 31 · Feet · Cloth · Requires level 26
Saltspine
- Item level 31 · Waist · Mail · Requires level 26
Saltspine
- Item level 31 · Legs · Leather · Requires level 26
Saltspine
- Item level 31 · Chest · Leather · Requires level 26
Shadetooth
- Item level 31 · Feet · Mail · Requires level 26
Shadetooth
- Item level 31 · Held In Off-hand · Requires level 26
Shadetooth
- Titan Relic
Relic Guardian
- Item level 33 · Ranged · Guns · Requires level 28
Relic Guardian
- Item level 33 · Shoulder · Mail · Requires level 28
Relic Guardian
- Item level 33 · Finger · Requires level 28
Relic Guardian
Relic Guardian
Tips & preparation
- Shadetooth's Terrifying Roar can send players running into packs hidden in the tall grass: clear the grass first, or bring Tremor Totem or Fear Ward.
- The Relic Guardian stays inert until someone uses the console beside its platform. Clear the room and get ready before you press it.
- Keep ranged players away from the Relic Guardian: it knocks back and stuns those around it.
- Hold on to the Titan Relic it drops: Alliance players take it to Prospector Whelgar, Horde players to Thunder Bluff.
