Blackrock Depths is the capital of the Dark Iron dwarves deep inside Blackrock Mountain and the largest dungeon in WoW Forever. It has more than twenty bosses, an arena, a tavern, a vault and the throne room of Emperor Dagran Thaurissan, and it holds the Onyxia and Molten Core attunements. Most groups split it into several runs. The dungeon is tuned for levels 52 to 60.
Blackrock Depths is not open on the WoW Forever beta yet, so this guide covers the original version of the dungeon: how to get there, the key quests, all bosses and the most important loot. The Forever database already shows several changes: four former rare bosses are now regular elites, the princess rescue quests are no longer marked as Horde-only, and items like the Kindling Stave have new effects. We describe everything known so far and will add the rest after the November 4 launch.
Blackrock Mountain stands between the Searing Gorge and the Burning Steppes. Alliance players fly to Thorium Point in the Searing Gorge or Morgan's Vigil in the Burning Steppes. Horde players fly to Kargath in the Badlands, Thorium Point or Flame Crest.
Inside the mountain, take the long chains down to the central platform, walk through the Molten Span and the Grinding Quarry, and follow the path north to the instance portal at the very bottom. The same mountain also holds Blackrock Spire above and Molten Core behind BRD.
The Shadowforge Key opens side doors inside the dungeon and lets later groups skip the whole Detention Block. You get it from Dark Iron Legacy: a dead player talks to the ghost of Franclorn Forgewright in the Molten Span, the group kills Fineous Darkvire for Ironfel and places it on Franclorn's monument inside the dungeon.
Blackrock Depths has more than thirty quests, from short kill quests to two attunements. The quests to prioritize are the princess chain, which ends with one of the best rewards before level 60, Dark Iron Legacy for the key, and Attunement to the Core, which lets you enter Molten Core.
These quests are open to both factions. Where the Forever data still hides a reward, the table shows the Classic one:
| Quest | Level | Quest Giver | Objective | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Iron Legacy | 52, requires 48 | Franclorn Forgewright, whom you talk to while dead | Kill Fineous Darkvire for Ironfel and place it on the monument | Shadowforge Key |
| Ribbly Screwspigot | 53, requires 48 | Yuka Screwspigot in the Burning Steppes | Bring Ribbly's Head from her brother in the Grim Guzzler | Rancor Boots, Penance Spaulders or Splintsteel Armor |
| The Love Potion | 54, requires 50 | Mistress Nagmara in the Grim Guzzler | Bring four Gromsblood, ten Giant Silver Vein and Nagmara's Filled Vial from the spring in the Black Anvil area | Classic: Manacle Cuffs or Nagmara's Whipping Belt |
| The Heart of the Mountain | 55, requires 50 | Maxwort Uberglint at Flame Crest | Bring The Heart of the Mountain from the back of the Dark Vault, behind Watchman Doomgrip | Not listed |
| A Taste of Flame | 58, requires 52 | Cyrus Therepentous in the Burning Steppes | Kill Bael'Gar and use the Altered Black Dragonflight Molt on his body | Classic: Shaleskin Cape, Wyrmhide Spaulders or Valconian Sash |
| Attunement to the Core | Not listed | Lothos Riftwaker inside Blackrock Mountain | Bring a Core Fragment from near the very end of the dungeon | Teleport into Molten Core |
Each faction has its own version of the princess chain. Both start with a prisoner in the jail, freed with the Prison Cell Key from High Interrogator Gerstahn, and both end with killing Emperor Dagran Thaurissan and saving Princess Moira Bronzebeard:
| Faction | Start | Chain Steps | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | King Magni in Ironforge | Kharan Mighthammer, then The Fate of the Kingdom and The Princess's Surprise | Classic: Magni's Will and Songstone of Ironforge |
| Horde | Thrall in Orgrimmar | Commander Gor'shak, then The Royal Rescue and The Princess Saved? | Classic: Thrall's Resolve and Eye of Orgrimmar |
The prisoners are Kharan Mighthammer for the Alliance and Commander Gor'shak for the Horde. In the Forever data, The Royal Rescue and The Princess Saved? are no longer marked as Horde-only, and the rewards are still hidden.
The Alliance quests include the Onyxia attunement step:
| Quest | Level | Quest Giver | Objective | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incendius! | 56, requires 48 | Jalinda Sprig in the Burning Steppes | Kill Lord Incendius at the Black Anvil | Hidden in the Forever data |
| Hurley Blackbreath | 55, requires 50 | Ragnar Thunderbrew in Dun Morogh | Break the three ale kegs in the Grim Guzzler and kill Hurley Blackbreath for the lost recipe | Ten Dark Dwarven Lager and Swiftstrike Cudgel or Limb Cleaver |
| The Good Stuff | 56, requires 50 | Oralius in the Burning Steppes | Collect 20 Dark Iron Fanny Pack from the dwarves inside | A Dingy Fanny Pack |
| Jail Break! | 58, requires 50 | Marshal Windsor in his cell, after A Crumpled Up Note and A Shred of Hope | Free Marshal Windsor and escort him through the prison | Blade of Reckoning or Skilled Fighting Blade |
Most Horde quests start in Kargath in the Badlands:
| Quest | Level | Quest Giver | Objective | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disharmony of Fire | 56, requires 48 | Thunderheart in the Badlands, after Disharmony of Flame | Kill Lord Incendius | Hidden in the Forever data |
| Lost Thunderbrew Recipe | 55, requires 50 | Shadowmage Vivian Lagrave at Kargath | Bring the recipe from Hurley Blackbreath | Potions and Swiftstrike Cudgel or Limb Cleaver |
| The Last Element | 54, requires 48 | Shadowmage Vivian Lagrave at Kargath | Collect ten Essence of the Elements from elementals inside | Not listed |
| KILL ON SIGHT: Dark Iron Dwarves and KILL ON SIGHT: High Ranking Dark Iron Officials | 52 and 54 | The sign in Kargath | Kill Anvilrage guards, wardens, footmen, medics, soldiers and officers | Experience and gold |
| The Rise of the Machines | 58, requires 52 | Hierophant Theodora Mulvadania in Kargath | Bring the head of Golem Lord Argelmach and ten Intact Elemental Core | Not listed |
| Operation: Death to Angerforge | 58, requires 52 | Warlord Goretooth in Kargath, after Grark Lorkrub and Precarious Predicament | Kill General Angerforge | Not listed |
For Disharmony of Flame, kill Overmaster Pyron outside the instance first.
The Forever database already lists the dungeon with its loot and quests. Most quest rewards are still hidden, but several changes are visible.
| Item | Classic | WoW Forever |
|---|---|---|
| Kindling Stave | Staff with Spirit and spell crit | Staff with 60 Spell Power that can deal 60 to 81 Fire damage on cast, triple against plants |
| Savage Gladiator Chain | Mail chest with crit | Mail chest with more Strength and Stamina that reduces the hit chance of Fear effects, plus a two-piece set bonus against fear |
| Warstrife Leggings | Leather legs with Dodge | Tank leggings with 22 Stamina, Defense and Dodge |
| Houndmaster's Bow | Bow with an effect | Bow with Attack Power and extra Attack Power against Beasts |
| Senior Designer's Pantaloons | Healing leggings | Leggings with Spell Power and Healing |
The quest rewards Blade of Reckoning, Limb Cleaver, Swiftstrike Cudgel, Conservator Helm, Shieldplate Sabatons and Windshear Leggings became rare and gained Stamina.
Blackrock Depths has more than twenty bosses. The list below follows the usual route from the Detention Block to the throne room.
High Interrogator Gerstahn casts Shadow Word: Pain, Mana Burn and Psychic Scream, so dispel, interrupt and use Fear Ward or Tremor Totem. She drops the Prison Cell Key, Greaves of Withering Despair and Kentic Amice.
Lord Roccor is an easy fight with Earth and Flame Shock. He drops Stoneshell Guard, Earthslag Shoulders and more. Houndmaster Grebmar patrols with hounds: clear both hound packs first. He drops Houndmaster's Bow, Spritecaster Cape and Fleetfoot Greaves.
Walking into the arena starts the Ring of the Law: two waves of beasts, then one random boss. Gorosh the Dervish uses Whirlwind and Mortal Strike, Grizzle stomps and enrages, Eviscerator casts Shadow Bolt Volley, Ok'thor the Breaker polymorphs, Anub'shiah curses and webs, and Hedrum the Creeper poisons. Each drops a piece of the Savage Gladiator Chain set or other gear.
Pyromancer Loregrain drops a Scorching Totem: destroy it and the fight is easy. He drops Kindling Stave, Searingscale Leggings and Pyric Caduceus. In the Black Vault, kill Warder Stilgiss first, then Verek. Opening all twelve relic coffers releases Watchman Doomgrip and unlocks the secret safe.
Fineous Darkvire is a Paladin boss: interrupt his Holy Light and keep the tank healed. He drops Ironfel, Senior Designer's Pantaloons and more.
Lord Incendius stands at the Black Anvil and knocks players back, so do not fight near the edge. He drops bracers like Cinderhide Armsplints. Bael'Gar sits in the lava: face him away from the group and kill his spawns. He drops Force of Magma and Sash of the Burning Heart.
General Angerforge calls in adds when he is hurt: burn him and use area damage on the adds. He drops Angerforge's Battle Axe and Warstrife Leggings. Golem Lord Argelmach casts Chain Lightning, so spread out. He drops Naglering, Second Wind and Omnicast Boots.
The tavern is neutral until you attack. Hurley Blackbreath comes out when you break the ale kegs. Buy six Dark Iron Ale Mug from Plugger Spazzring and give them to Private Rocknot to make him break the door, which activates Phalanx. Ribbly Screwspigot sits in the tavern for Ribbly Screwspigot. Attacking Plugger turns the whole bar hostile. Phalanx drops Fists of Phalanx.
Ambassador Flamelash empowers himself with spirits running toward him: kill them before they arrive. The Seven are seven dwarven ghosts that come one by one: kill each quickly. Magmus guards the door to the throne room: tank him away from the flame jets on the sides. He drops Golem Skull Helm.
Emperor Dagran Thaurissan fights next to Princess Moira Bronzebeard, who heals him. If you need the princess quest, keep Moira busy with an off-tank and interrupts, then kill the Emperor: she becomes friendly. On later runs, most groups kill Moira first. The Emperor drops Hand of Justice, Ironfoe, Thaurissan's Royal Scepter, Emperor's Seal and more.
Blackrock Depths drops many pre-raid best-in-slot items. These are the ones worth farming:
| Role | Best Items |
|---|---|
| Tank | Warstrife Leggings, Golem Skull Helm, Stoneshell Guard, Naglering |
| Melee damage | Ironfoe, Hand of Justice, Savage Gladiator Chain, Angerforge's Battle Axe |
| Caster damage | Kindling Stave, Omnicast Boots, Greaves of Withering Despair |
| Healer | Second Wind, Senior Designer's Pantaloons, Thaurissan's Royal Scepter |
These small things save the most time and the most wipes in Blackrock Depths:
For the full list of dungeons on the way to level 60, see our WoW Forever dungeons overview.
If you would rather skip the group search, our WoW Forever Dungeons Tour clears Blackrock Depths and the other Forever dungeons in one order with an organized team, with quests, loot and experience included.
These are the questions players ask most often about Blackrock Depths.
Blackrock Depths is tuned for levels 52 to 60. Most quests open at 48 to 52, and the Emperor is easier at 56 and above.
Not yet. This guide covers the original version of the dungeon and the changes already in the Forever database. We will update it after the November 4 launch.
Do Dark Iron Legacy: talk to Franclorn Forgewright while dead, kill Fineous Darkvire for Ironfel and place it on Franclorn's monument inside the dungeon.
Save her once to finish the princess chain for your faction. After that, most groups kill her first, because she drops good loot.
Four former rare bosses are now regular elites, the princess rescue quests are no longer Horde-only, several items have new effects, and many quest rewards are still hidden.
These guides help you plan the dungeons around Blackrock Depths:
