Ruins of LordaeronNew in Forever

Ruins of Lordaeron: the destroyed capital as a dungeon

In WoW Forever the ruins above Undercity are a dungeon of their own. Map, group finder and instance zone are all called „Ruins of Lordaeron" in the English client. In the beta article Blizzard gives level 15 to 20; the client's dungeon list gives content level 15 as a guide value. According to fan sites the seven bosses are level 17 to 20. As in every Forever dungeon, enemies give around 20 % more experience, dungeon quests 50 % less bonus XP, and the penalty for low-level enemies depends only on your own level.

Approach

The dungeon lies in Tirisfal Glades, in the ruins of the old capital above Undercity. The Horde has a short trip; the Alliance travels through Tirisfal Glades and only finds its orders on site. There is no coordinate for the portal in our data. Inside the dungeon there are four named areas: King's Alley, Market Street, Lordaeron Graveyard and Lordamere Overlook.

Quests before and inside the dungeon

The English quest names come from the fan addon data (dungeons.json); for this dungeon our quest files carry the German names only, so the English names still need to be checked against the enUS client after launch. NPC names are per our quest data.

Horde: - The Wrath of Rath'mael (Deathguard Kristof, Brill, Tirisfal Glades 65.2 / 60.2, level 22, from 15): kill Rath'mael. Per the quest text, reports of an unholy fog are coming from Lordamere Overlook. Choice: Forsaken Greataxe or Gnarled Necromancer's Staff. - Light's Justice (Morbin Lightbane, Undercity 57.8 / 89.8, level 22, from 15): collect 25 Intact Limbs. Choice: The Stitcher or Spare Part Bindings. - The New Plague (Theodore Griffs, Undercity 46.6 / 72, level 22, from 16): recover the Highly Toxic Strain from Witherfang. Choice: Plaguefang or Blight Gloves. - A Frightened Request (Tabitha Heartweaver, Silverpine Forest 44.4 / 42.8, level 22, from 15): investigate the disappearance of Edward Heartweaver, who wanted to go to the graveyard in the ruins. Choice: Edward's Knife or Tabitha's Cuffs. - Unending Torment (level 21, from 16): starts from the item „Abominable Head" from The Butcher. Turn-in at Master Apothecary Faranell in Undercity (48.4 / 69.4). Rewards are named only by the addon (Monstrous Cleaver, Grave Shroud, Slain Baron's Signet); our quest file lists no reward. - Crest of Lordaeron (level 22, from 16): found item, turn-in at Oran Snakewrithe in Undercity (73.4 / 32.4). Reward: Small Sack of Gems.

Alliance: - Abominable Creatures (Captain Truman in the ruins, level 21, from 16): fetch the Head of the Baron. The boss is called „The Butcher" in the client; the quest text still calls him the Baron. Choice: Monstrous Cleaver, Grave Shroud or Slain Baron's Signet. - Bloodied Insignia (level 22, from 16): starts from a found insignia; 10 of them go to General Marcus Jonathan in Stormwind City (63.8 / 75.4). Choice: Duty Bound Leggings or Remembrance Armor. - Crest of Lordaeron (level 22, from 16): found item, turn-in at Lady Dena Kennedy in Stormwind City (69.8 / 28.6). Reward: Small Sack of Gems. - Remember That I Love You (level 22, from 15): starts from the „Blood-Stained Parchment" from the graveyard, turn-in at Orphan Matron Nightingale in Stormwind City (47.2 / 38.4).

The bosses

The tactics come from our existing tactics texts (dungeon_taktiken.json) and are not confirmed; no spell in the client names one of these bosses.

Witherfang. The spider walks along a street with two companions. Clear her path and attack when no other pack is nearby. She puts Leech Poison on the tank, which drains health and transfers it to her; anyone who can remove poisons saves the healer mana. Boss first, then the companions. This is where the strain for „The New Plague" drops.

The Butcher („The Baron" in the addon). The abomination hits hard. Its Knockout deals damage, knocks the target back and stuns it, so the tank needs full health beforehand. Stun the boss if your group can. Skeletal soldiers and skeletal mages guard him. After the fight take the head for your faction's quest.

The Abandoned. An event fight on Market Street: when the statue shakes, per the tactics three waves of enemies come, and the boss appears in the fourth. He casts Frost Nova (Frost damage, nearby enemies immobilized), puts Chilled on melee players (slower movement, slower attacks) and drains the tank's health with Life Drain. Interrupt or stun as soon as the drain begins.

Bjork. Patrols through the middle of the ruins. Never pull him together with trash, especially not with ghouls. For a short time (three seconds per the game data) an Anti-Magic Shield protects him and makes him immune to magic; casters wait until the shell drops, melee keeps hitting.

Viktor the Vile. An optional event fight: click the chimney of a house at the edge of town, then five quick waves follow and the boss comes in the sixth. Budget mana and health, because there is little pause between waves. Viktor hits hard and puts Leech Poison on the tank; the tank picks him up the moment he appears.

Lordaeron Captain. For this encounter we have no confirmed abilities from the beta. The tank turns him away from the group, damage dealers interrupt casts, the healer keeps mana in reserve. His loot are two Classic items: Haunting Blade and Phantom Armor.

Rath'mael. The necromancer is the final boss and the target of the Horde quest „The Wrath of Rath'mael". His Flamestrike hits everyone in an area with Fire damage that lingers, so leave the area at once. Keep stuns and interrupts ready for his casts. According to fan sites two campsite blueprints drop from him.

Notable loot by role

We only have values for a few pieces from the addon scan; the assignment to the bosses comes from the fan addon.

• Cloth: Leftover Abomination Skin (chest) from The Butcher, Rotmender's Leggings (legs) from The Abandoned, Rotmender's Treads (feet) from Rath'mael, Tuskwrap Belt (waist) from Bjork; from normal enemies Rotmender's Garb and Rotmender's Sash.
• Leather: Witherbite Bracers (wrist) from Witherfang, Bloodied Chestwraps (chest) from Viktor the Vile.
• Mail: Atrophic Girdle (waist, item level 20, from 15) from Witherfang, Abomination Bones (chest) from The Butcher, Grip of Fear (hands) from The Abandoned, Bonerust Leggings (legs) from Bjork, Vilewalkers (feet, 22, from 17) from Viktor, Phantom Armor (chest, 27, from 22) from the Captain, Death Bindings (wrist) from normal enemies.
• Shield: Mirror of Rath'mael (off hand) from Rath'mael.
• Weapons: Meathook Slicer (dagger, 20, from 15) from The Butcher, Segmented Spider Leg (staff) from Witherfang, Scepter of the Abandoned (mace) from The Abandoned, Corpse Chopper (two-handed axe) from Bjork, Vileblood Scimitar (sword) from Viktor, Haunting Blade (two-handed sword) from the Captain, Coldspire Staff (staff) from Rath'mael, Sword of the Fallen (two-handed sword) from normal enemies.
• Professions and campsite: Blueprint: Fermenter (Alchemy 140) and Blueprint: Arcane Salvager (Enchanting 140) at Rath'mael.

Tips by role

Tank: Per the tactics most wipes happen on trash. Pull patrols away before a boss starts, and position yourself at The Butcher so that the knockback from Knockout does not throw you into another pack. In the event fights you pick up new enemies immediately.

Healer: Leech Poison at Witherfang and Viktor and Life Drain at The Abandoned keep draining the tank's health; plan it into your healing. At The Butcher the tank needs full health before every Knockout. In the wave fights drinking does not help, so save mana.

Damage: Stuns and interrupts are especially valuable here. Casters wait out the Anti-Magic Shield at Bjork. Everyone runs out of the Flamestrike at Rath'mael. Collect limbs and insignias from normal enemies on the side.

Group

Tank, healer and three damage dealers are the usual plan; there is no official Forever statement on group size. Of these, ideally two with a stun or interrupt and one who removes poisons. The Horde collects four quests in Undercity, Brill and Silverpine Forest; the Alliance only finds its quests inside the dungeon and through found items. The dungeon is not linear; agree on the boss order beforehand.