Wailing Caverns

Wailing Caverns: inside Naralex's nightmare

The Wailing Caverns are a large, branching cave system in The Barrens. According to the fan addon they are meant for levels 15 to 24, with bosses at 20 to 22. The quest texts in game tell the backstory: the druid Naralex wanted to make The Barrens green again with the power of the Emerald Dream. His dream turned into a nightmare. Since then corrupted deviate creatures haunt the caverns, and the druids of the Fang have turned against their old order. For WoW Forever, according to Blizzard: the loot of the old dungeons has been reworked, dungeon enemies give around 20 % more experience, dungeon quests 50 % less bonus XP.

Approach

The entrance lies south-west of The Crossroads, by our own conversion of the game data at about 47 / 35 on the Barrens map. From Ratchet you travel west. Horde players get there quickly from The Crossroads. The Alliance has to cross Horde territory and is best off coming via Ratchet. Right above the cave entrance Nalpak and Ebru wait with two tasks.

Quests before and inside the dungeon

For both factions: - Deviate Hides (Nalpak, at the entrance): collect 20 Deviate Hides from the deviate creatures. Choice: Slick Deviate Leggings or Deviate Hide Pack. - Deviate Eradication (Ebru, at the entrance): kill 7 each of Deviate Ravagers, Deviate Vipers, Deviate Shamblers and Deviate Dreadfangs. Choice: Pattern: Deviate Scale Belt, Sizzle Stick or Dagmire Gauntlets. - Smart Drinks (Mebok Mizzyrix, Ratchet): bring 6 portions of Wailing Essence from the ectoplasmic creatures in the cave. Before that you must finish "Raptor Horns" in Ratchet. - Trouble at the Docks (Crane Operator Bigglefuzz, Ratchet): retrieve the bottle of 99-Year-Old Port from Mad Magglish, who hides in the cave. - The Glowing Shard starts with the item Glowing Shard, dropped by Mutanus the Devourer. First you ask around in Ratchet. It is handed in to Falla Sagewind (The Barrens 48.2 / 32.8). Then follows "In Nightmares": the Horde takes the shard to Hamuul Runetotem in Thunder Bluff, the Alliance to Mathrengyl Bearwalker in Darnassus.

Horde only (both givers in Thunder Bluff): - Leaders of the Fang (Nara Wildmane): bring the gems of Cobrahn, Anacondra, Pythas and Serpentis. A longer druid quest chain through The Barrens comes before it. Choice includes Crescent Staff and Wingblade. - Serpentbloom (Apothecary Zamah): collect 10 Serpentbloom. Per the quest text the plants grow in the dark corners of the cave. Choice includes Apothecary Gloves.

Bosses

Lady Anacondra: she is one of the four druids of the Fang who carry the gems for the Horde quest. As in Classic, not confirmed for Forever, she uses Sleep, Lightning Bolt and Healing Touch. Interrupt her heal, otherwise the fight drags on. Anyone who can dispel magic wakes sleeping party members, above all the healer.

Lord Cobrahn: he fights much like Anacondra with Sleep, lightning and healing (as in Classic). The client has a dedicated spell "Cobrahn Serpent Form". With it he turns into a serpent, hits harder and attacks at a different pace. Once he is transformed the tank must hold him firmly and the healer should give the tank more healing.

Kresh: the big turtle roams the water. Per Classic experience it is a calm fight without dangerous abilities, not confirmed for Forever. It is interesting for shield users, because its loot holds two shields.

Lord Pythas: like the other Fang leaders he uses Sleep, Lightning Bolt and healing (as in Classic). On top comes Thunderclap: Nature damage nearby, and the attacks and movement of those hit slow down. Melee players still stay on the boss. Interrupting and dispelling remain the most important things.

Skum: the thunder lizard in the water area casts Chained Bolt in Classic. This bolt arcs to nearby enemies. Spread out a little so it does not hit the whole group. The fight itself is short.

Lord Serpentis: he is the last of the four leaders and waits high up in his hideout. He fights like the other three (as in Classic): interrupt the heal, dispel Sleep, deal damage briskly. After him the way to the end of the cave is clear.

Verdan the Everliving: the giant plant uses Grasping Vines. Per the game data nearby enemies take Physical damage, are knocked down and cannot move for a short time. Ranged players and the healer keep their distance. The healer plans for the melee players taking damage in between.

Mutanus the Devourer: as in Classic he appears only at the very end. Once the four leaders are dead, you start the event at the entrance with the Disciple of Naralex (no English NPC name in our data; German "Jünger von Naralex") and escort him. Along the way you fend off waves of deviate enemies until Mutanus arrives. We assign three spells to him: "Naralex's Nightmare" (Sleep on one target), Terrify (fear) and Thundercrack (Nature damage and stun nearby). Keep dispels ready and have the healer stand a bit back. Mutanus drops the Glowing Shard for the follow-up quest.

Deviate Faerie Dragon (extra enemy): per the addon it does not appear in every run. Its abilities are not in our data; plan with crowd control and quick damage.

Notable loot by role

The item stats are not yet in our data. The assignment to the bosses comes from the fan addon. - Tank: Mutant Scale Breastplate (Mutanus, mail), Cobrahn's Grasp (mail), Savage Trodders (Serpentis, mail) and the shields Kresh's Back, Worn Turtle Shell Shield and Seedcloud Buckler. - Healer and casters: Living Root (Verdan, staff), Robe of the Moccasin (Cobrahn), Slime-encrusted Pads (Mutanus), Slither Cord (Pythas), the wand Firebelcher (Deviate Faerie Dragon) and, as a quest reward, Sizzle Stick. - Melee and leather: the set "Embrace of the Viper" with five leather pieces: Belt, Footpads, Gloves, Leggings and Armor of the Fang. Plus Tail Spike (Skum, dagger), Stinging Viper (Pythas, mace) and, for the Horde, Wingblade from "Leaders of the Fang". - Hunter: the bow Venomstrike from Lord Serpentis.

Tips by role

• Tank: the cave is winding. Pull groups to a spot where you can see them all. At Cobrahn in serpent form and at Mutanus you need your cooldowns.
• Healer: stay behind the group. Keep your distance at Verdan and Mutanus. Remove Sleep from the tank and from yourself first.
• Damage: interrupts against the heals of the Fang druids are the most important tool. Spread out at Skum.

Group

As in Classic, a five-player group has proven itself: tank, healer and three damage dealers, among them at least one with an interrupt and one who can dispel magic. Pick up the quests from Ratchet, Thunder Bluff and the entrance before you go in. That way a single run is often enough.