Blackwing Lair Guide — Raid guide · WoW Wrath of the Lich King
- Level
- 60
- Group
- 40 players
- Bosses
- 8
- Difficulty
- Raid
- Location
- Blackrock Mountain
- Key
- Blackhand's Command
How the run goes
Nefarian's lair at the top of Blackrock Spire, a straight run of eight bosses. Razorgore's egg room and Vaelastrasz open the way to the suppression room and Broodlord Lashlayer, then the three drakes (Firemaw, Ebonroc and Flamegor), Chromaggus, and Nefarian on his throne.
Group: Forty players with five or six tanks, about twelve healers, rogues to disarm the suppression devices, and Onyxia Scale Cloaks for anyone who needs them against Nefarian and the drakes' Shadow Flame.
Map and route
Razorgore and Vaelastrasz in the Dragonmaw Garrison, the suppression room to Broodlord Lashlayer, then the three drakes (Firemaw, Ebonroc, Flamegor), Chromaggus and Nefarian in his lair.
! marks a quest giver inside the instance; select it for the quest.
1.Razorgore and Vaelastrasz
From the portal into Razorgore's room, where one player takes control of Razorgore through the orb to destroy the eggs while the raid holds off waves. Up the hall to Vaelastrasz, cursed and waiting to be fought.
2.The suppression room
Through the suppression room, where rogues disarm the devices that slow the raid, to Broodlord Lashlayer at its end.
3.The three drakes
Down the halls past Firemaw, Ebonroc and Flamegor, each in its own room with Death Talon guards before it.
4.Chromaggus and Nefarian
Pull the lever to release Chromaggus in his room, then through the last halls to Lord Victor Nefarius's throne; speaking to him starts the Nefarian fight.
Boss by boss
Razorgore and Vaelastrasz
On the way: Death Talon dragonkin and Blackwing mages in the halls. Razorgore's waves come from every side: assign tanks to the doors.
- Level
- 63 · Boss
- Health
- 449,685
- Armor
- 4,641
Warming Flames
ConflagrationSets an enemy aflame, inflicting 3000 Fire damage over 10 sec. and sending it into a state of panic. While the target is affected, the flames periodically scorch its nearby allies for 300 damage as well.
Fireball VolleyInflicts Fire damage to nearby enemies.
War StompInflicts normal damage plus 500 to nearby enemies, knocking them back and stunning them for 5 sec.
CleaveInflicts normal damage plus 50 to an enemy and its nearest allies, affecting up to 10 targets.
One player controls Razorgore with the Orb of Domination to destroy the eggs in the room while the raid holds back the dragonkin that pour in. When the eggs are gone, Razorgore fights.
- Tanks
- Hold the dragonkin and orcs at the corners of the room, away from the controller. In the second phase tank Razorgore; his Conflagration disorients the tank, so a second tank stands by.
- Healers
- Keep the controller and the corner tanks alive; the controller is the priority.
- Damage dealers
- Kill the adds that reach the raid, and protect the controller. Switch to Razorgore once the eggs are gone.
- Level
- 63 · Boss
- Health
- 3,331,000
- Armor
- 4,641
Essence of the Red
Burning Adrenaline- Flame BreathInflicts 3500 to 4500 Fire damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster.
Fire NovaInflicts Fire damage to nearby enemies.- CleaveInflicts normal damage plus 50 to an enemy and its nearest allies, affecting up to 10 targets.
Tail SweepInflicts 600 to 1000 damage on enemies in a cone behind the caster, knocking them back.
Vaelastrasz starts badly hurt and gives the raid unlimited mana, energy and rage. He sets Burning Adrenaline on random casters and on the tank: those players die after a short while.
- Tanks
- A queue of tanks: when the tank has Burning Adrenaline, the next one taunts before the first dies. Keep his breath and tail away from the raid.
- Healers
- Mana is unlimited: heal without pause. Watch the tank swaps.
- Damage dealers
- Damage as fast as you can without pulling threat. With Burning Adrenaline, run away from the raid before you die so your explosion hits nobody.
The suppression room
On the way: Whelps and Death Talon Hatchers respawn from the eggs until the devices are disarmed; move through as a group.
- Level
- 63 · Boss
- Health
- 916,025
- Armor
- 4,641
- CleaveInflicts weapon damage plus 10 to an enemy and its nearest allies, affecting up to 3 targets.
Knock AwayInflicts normal damage plus 30 to an enemy and knocks it back.
Blast WaveUnleashes a wave of flame, inflicting Fire damage to nearby enemies and reducing their movement speed for 8 sec.
Mortal StrikeInflicts 500% weapon damage and leaves the target wounded, reducing the effectiveness of any healing by 50% for 5 sec.
Broodlord hits his tank with Mortal Strike, knocks him away and casts Blast Wave around him.
- Tanks
- Two tanks high on threat: Knock Away lowers the main tank's threat.
- Healers
- Mortal Strike cuts the healing on the tank: heal before it lands.
- Damage dealers
- Stay out of Blast Wave range if you aren't melee, and watch threat after each knock-back.
The three drakes
On the way: Death Talon Wyrmkin, Captains and Overseers. Overseers change their weakness each time: check it before casting.
- Level
- 63 · Boss
- Health
- 999,300
- Armor
- 4,641
Wing BuffetInflicts 563 to 937 damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster, knocking them back.- Shadow FlameInflicts 3938 to 5062 Shadow damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster.
Flame BuffetInflicts 139 to 161 Fire damage to an enemy and increases the Fire damage it takes by 150 for 20 sec.
Each of Firemaw's Flame Buffets stacks on the whole raid and increases the fire damage players take. His Wing Buffet knocks back and lowers threat.
- Tanks
- Several tanks, as Wing Buffet lowers threat. Face him away from the raid for Shadow Flame.
- Healers
- Players break line of sight to drop Flame Buffet stacks, then return.
- Damage dealers
- Ranged players hide behind cover between bursts so their stacks fall off. Onyxia Scale Cloaks protect from Shadow Flame.
- Level
- 63 · Boss
- Health
- 999,300
- Armor
- 4,641
- Wing BuffetInflicts 563 to 937 damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster, knocking them back.
Shadow of Ebonroc- Shadow FlameInflicts 3938 to 5062 Shadow damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster.
Ebonroc's Shadow of Ebonroc on the tank heals him whenever the tank is hit.
- Tanks
- When the tank has Shadow of Ebonroc, the second tank taunts until it fades.
- Healers
- Heal both tanks through each swap: Shadow of Ebonroc heals him whenever he hits its target, so the other tank must take over fast.
- Damage dealers
- Damage from his sides or behind, never the front; after each tank swap, give the new tank a few seconds before full damage.
- Level
- 63 · Boss
- Health
- 999,300
- Armor
- 4,641
- Wing BuffetInflicts 563 to 937 damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster, knocking them back.
Frenzy- Shadow FlameInflicts 3938 to 5062 Shadow damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster.
Flamegor goes into a frenzy that hunters remove, and his Fire Nova hits the whole raid.
- Tanks
- Several tanks for Wing Buffet; face him away for Shadow Flame.
- Healers
- Raid healing for each Fire Nova, more while he's frenzied.
- Damage dealers
- Hunters take turns with Tranquilizing Shot on each frenzy.
Chromaggus and Nefarian
On the way: Death Talon guards in the final halls; Nefarius's drakonid waves open the last fight.
- Level
- 63 · Boss
- Health
- 1,832,050
- Armor
- 4,641
EnrageIncreases the caster's attack speed by 50% and the Physical damage it deals by 219 to 281 for 10 min.- Frenzy
Chromaggus uses two of five breaths each week and leaves lasting afflictions on the raid. He frenzies, and at low health he enrages.
- Tanks
- Tank him around a corner so the raid stands out of his breath's line of sight.
- Healers
- Remove the afflictions your class can (Bronze needs Hourglass Sand). Five different afflictions on one player transform them.
- Damage dealers
- Hunters take turns with Tranquilizing Shot on each frenzy. Hide from the breaths and burn him when he enrages.
- Level
- 63 · Boss
- Health
- 2,165,150
- Armor
- 4,641
- Shadow Flame
Bellowing Roar- Veil of ShadowReduces healing effects for an enemy by 75% for 6 sec.
- CleaveInflicts normal damage plus 50 to an enemy and its nearest allies, affecting up to 10 targets.
Tail Lash- Berserk
- Siphon Blessing
- Corrupt Weapon
First Lord Victor Nefarius sends waves of drakonids; when enough are dead, Nefarian lands. He fears the raid, breathes shadow flame and calls on one class at a time with a class-specific curse. At low health the dead drakonids rise as skeletons.
- Tanks
- Tank him facing away with an Onyxia Scale Cloak; stay fear-immune where you can. In the last phase pick up the skeletons.
- Healers
- Heal through the class calls (priests' heals become harmful during theirs, so they switch to other spells).
- Damage dealers
- Kill drakonids in the first phase, then Nefarian. Know your class call. Area damage clears the skeletons.
Before you go
- Bring rogues to disable suppression devices and keep the raid moving together through the suppression room.
- Discuss tank swaps and threat drops before the drakes.
- Equip Onyxia Scale Cloaks where the strategy requires protection against Shadow Flame's lingering effect.
- Every raider needs the Mark of Drakkisath from Blackhand's Command; see the attunement guide. Onyxia Scale Cloaks protect against Nefarian's Shadow Flame.