Excavation Site: WetlandsNew in Forever

Excavation Site: Wetlands in WoW Forever: titan ruins in the highland

Excavation Site: Wetlands is one of the new dungeons of WoW Forever. In the development notes of 1 October Blizzard gives level 26 to 31. The client's dungeon list gives level 26 as a guide value; the quests for it are level 28 to 31 and can be taken from level 24. Per the game data the instance consists of four areas: Lost Marsh, Stalker's Thicket, Site of the Guardian and Lost Dig Site. The client's boss list has four encounters, one of them a quest target without loot. As with all Forever dungeons, the ability details are beta state and may still change before launch.

Approach

The dungeon lies in the Wetlands in the Eastern Kingdoms. Blizzard places the dig above Whelgar's Excavation Site, the well-known dwarven camp south of Menethil Harbor; the quest texts speak of the „highland". Prospector Whelgar stands per our quest data at 38.8, 52.2. For the Horde a Deathstalker Agent stands at 51.4, 59.2 right outside the dungeon; she is the only Horde quest giver on site. Exact coordinates of the portal are not in our data; we will add them after launch. Both factions may enter; the dungeon list names no faction binding.

Quests before and inside the dungeon

All orders can be taken from level 24. If you collect them beforehand, one run is usually enough. The English quest names are per our quest data (daten/quests, en field).

Alliance: - Highland Hides – James Halloran, the tanner in Menethil Harbor (Wetlands 8.6, 55.6). Four Thicket Raptor Hides from the dungeon; reward money and reputation with Stormwind. - Songblade Search – Dorin Songblade in Lakeshire (Redridge Mountains 30.8, 46.6). You look for his brother Daewyn in the excavation; there Fallen in the Fen begins, the return to Dorin. Choice of Daewyn's Girdle and a second belt that exists in our data only under its English addon name (Songblade Stabilizer). - Horrors in the Highland – Rethiel the Greenwarden (Wetlands 56.2, 40.4). Kill the Highland Horror and bring the Horrible Rootcore. Choice: Ironwood Destroyer, Curl of Life or Hornbeam Heft. - Lost in the Thicket Things – Caitlin Grassman in Menethil Harbor (Wetlands 11.8, 58.6). Find Ardin Grassman in the dungeon; he gives you Heartwoven for the return to Caitlin. Reward: Greater Healing Potion or Mana Potion, plus a fixed Swiftness Potion and the Satchel of Potions. - Lost Relic Carry – starts from the Titan Relic, which according to fan sites the Relic Guardian leaves behind. You bring it to Prospector Whelgar, who turns it into Prehistoric Prism: turn-in at High Explorer Magellas in the Hall of Explorers in Ironforge (69.6, 18.6). Choice: Explorer's League Dustcover, Healer's Staff or Heavehammer.

Horde: - Open the Maw – Deathstalker Agent outside the dungeon (Wetlands 51.4, 59.2); per the quest chain it requires „Dragonmaw Rumors" (95663). Set fire to two excavation tents, defeat four Dragonmaw Warders and bring the Dragonmaw Dispatch. Choice: Knife-Polishing Rag or Dirt-Heavy Bracers, plus the fixed Bloody Map. - Changing Tastes – Borstan in Orgrimmar (57.4, 53.4). Four pieces of Thicket Raptor Meat. Choice: Satchel of Potions or a raptor claw that exists in our data only under its English addon name (Serrated Raptor Claw); plus the recipe „Recipe: Twice-Spiced Raptor Slice". - Elder Knowledge – starts from the Titan Relic. Bring it to Bashana Runetotem in Thunder Bluff (70.8, 33.8); she sends you with Earthen Echo to Muln Earthfury at the Skywatcher Plateau in Mulgore (33.4, 22.4). Choice: Heavehammer, Healer's Staff or Furs of the Earthen Ring.

Bosses and tactics (beta state)

The spells below all exist in the client. Their assignment to the bosses comes from our existing tactics texts (dungeon_taktiken.json) and is not confirmed.

Saltspine (level 28 according to fan sites) is a crocolisk that patrols at the lake. Per the game data his Dust Storm deals Physical damage within 10 yards and lowers the hit chance of everyone hit by 25 percent for five seconds. Fatal Bite steals life from the target, Tendon Rip makes it bleed and slows it. Pull him alone, without extra enemies, and have melee step back briefly after a Dust Storm until the tank stands safely again.

Shadetooth (level 29) is a raptor with two thicket hunters as companions. His Terrifying Roar sends everyone within 10 yards fleeing in fear for five seconds, often straight into hidden packs in the tall grass. He puts Rend on the tank, and from about 20 percent health he goes into a frenzy per the beta. Clear the grass around the fighting spot beforehand; Tremor Totem or Fear Ward on the tank takes the sting out of the roar. Hold defensive abilities back for the last percent.

Highland Horror is an encounter of its own in the client, but only interesting as the quest target for „Horrors in the Highland" and, according to fan sites, without loot. It casts Entangling Roots and Wild Regeneration. Do not pull the slimes near it along, interrupt the heal if you can, and take the rootcore with you.

Relic Guardian (level 31) is the final boss. Per the beta you activate it at a titan control console next to it. With Thunderclap it slows the attacks of everyone nearby, Arcing Smash hits everything in front of it, Knock Away shoves its target away, War Stomp knocks players back and stuns them. The tank turns it away from the group; ranged players and the healer keep their distance. Stuns and slows help if it turns toward a healer.

Loot by role (according to fan sites, names partly addon only)

For ranged players the gun Golemsight Long Gun from the Relic Guardian is the main reason for the run; the Ring of Power Regulation and the Reliquary Mantle (shoulder, mail, per the addon scan item level 33, wearable from 28) drop there too. Casters and healers look at Raptor's Gaze (off hand) from Shadetooth and the Glinteye Slippers (feet, cloth) from Saltspine. Leather wearers get the Supple Bellyskin Leggings at Saltspine, mail wearers the Saltscale Girdle there and the Raptorclaw Greaves at Shadetooth (feet, per the addon scan item level 31, from 26). On top come two blueprints for the campsite: Blueprint: Greenhouse (Herbalism 140) at Shadetooth and Blueprint: Rock Garden (Mining 140) at the Relic Guardian. Per the game data the quest rewards are mostly green; blue are Explorer's League Dustcover, Furs of the Earthen Ring, Healer's Staff and Heavehammer.

Tips for tank, healer and damage

Tank: Never pull Saltspine or Shadetooth together with packs from the grass. At the Relic Guardian stand sideways to the group so that Arcing Smash hits only you. Healer: After a Dust Storm and during a frenzy the damage on the tank jumps; keep mana for these phases and stay outside War Stomp at the Relic Guardian. Damage: At Shadetooth controlling the two thicket hunters counts, at the Highland Horror killing fast, at the Relic Guardian interrupting and slowing.

Group

One tank, one healer and three damage dealers are the usual plan; there is no official Forever statement on group size. A shaman or priest against the fear and a class with a stun for the final boss make the run noticeably calmer. Expect hidden packs in the tall grass and clear the paths before you pull a boss.