Blackwing Descent

Blackwing Descent
BWD
	; Blackwing Descent loading screen
Location	Blackrock Mountain [25, 23]
Race(s)	Black dragon
End boss	Nefarian and Onyxia
Instance info
Type	Raid
Level	85
Player limit	10/25
Cross-faction?
Bosses
Omnotron Defense System; Magmaw; Atramedes; Chimaeron; Maloriak; Nefarian's End	(lore); (lore); (lore); (lore); (lore); (lore)
	Loot

Blackrock Mountain

Blackrock Depths (5)
Lord Roccor Bael'Gar Houndmaster Grebmar High Interrogator Gerstahn Ring of the Law Pyromancer Loregrain General Angerforge Golem Lord Argelmach Ribbly Screwspigot Hurley Blackbreath Plugger Spazzring Phalanx Lord Incendius Fineous Darkvire Warder Stilgiss & Verek Dark Keeper Ambassador Flamelash The Seven Magmus Princess Moira Bronzebeard Emperor Dagran Thaurissan

Lower Blackrock Spire (5)
Burning Felguard Spirestone Butcher Spirestone Battle Lord Spirestone Lord Magus Highlord Omokk Shadow Hunter Vosh'gajin War Master Voone Mor Grayhoof Bannok Grimaxe Mother Smolderweb Crystal Fang Quartermaster Zigris Halycon Gizrul the Slavener Ghok Bashguud Overlord Wyrmthalak

Molten Core (40)
Lucifron Magmadar Gehennas Garr Baron Geddon Shazzrah Sulfuron Harbinger Golemagg the Incinerator Majordomo Executus Ragnaros

Blackwing Lair (40)
Razorgore the Untamed Vaelastrasz the Corrupt Broodlord Lashlayer Firemaw Ebonroc Flamegor Chromaggus Nefarian

Blackrock Caverns (5)
Rom'ogg Bonecrusher Corla, Herald of Twilight Karsh Steelbender Beauty Ascendant Lord Obsidius

Blackwing Descent (10/25)
Omnotron Defense System Magmaw Atramedes Chimaeron Maloriak Nefarian's End

Upper Blackrock Spire (5)
Orebender Gor'ashan Kyrak Commander Tharbek Ragewing the Untamed Warlord Zaela

Upper Blackrock Spire (Classic) (10)
Pyroguard Emberseer Solakar Flamewreath Jed Runewatcher (rare) Goraluk Anvilcrack Gyth and Rend Blackhand The Beast Lord Valthalak (summoned) General Drakkisath

Blackwing Descent is an entry-level level 85 raid instance. Having retreated further into Blackrock Mountain following his defeat in Blackwing Lair, Nefarian has been bolstering his forces here and must be stopped once more. The entrance to the instance is near Nefarian's throne in the uninstanced portion of Blackwing Lair and is accessible by flying mount only.

Blackwing Descent, along with Bastion of Twilight and Throne of the Four Winds, is one of the first raid instances in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm and its place in the expansion is intended to be akin to that of Naxxramas in Wrath of the Lich King.

Adventure Guide

Nefarian and his warped attempts to create a new breed of dragon were thought to be defeated after his death in Blackwing Lair. Yet tales have emerged that his father, Deathwing, has reanimated Nefarian and set him to work in Blackwing Descent. The gruesome experiments being conducted there are feared to be on a level of wickedness far surpassing Nefarian's previous crimes against nature.

History

Dwelling on the lessons learned from his defeat in Blackwing Lair, he has burrowed deeper into the heart of Blackrock Mountain, and rebuilt his sanctuary. The Vault of the Shadowflame, a deep pit of cascading magma, is the heart of Blackwing Descent, and the location of horrific new experiments in undeath and magical augmentation, including a triumph dear to even Nefarian's cold, wrathful heart. Only death awaits those fools who would assume that the Lord of Blackrock will be easily defeated a second time.^[1]

During their campaign against the Twilight's Hammer cult, the Alliance and Horde vanquished Nefarian.^[2]

This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

During the events of Black Empire Campaign, Wrathion's agent stood watch over the cave, but was killed by the Darkwhisper cultists led by Dark Inquisitor Xanesh who infiltrated the area. Wrathion and an adventurer entered the area and fought against the sect, N'Zoth's servants, and corrupted experiments, while noticing several twilight drakes and more importantly, hoping to secure an object of pure corruption for the Black Prince. Once the enemies were defeated and the halls investigated, Wrathion destroyed the remains of Nefarian and Onyxia, and took their scales to use as protection.^[3]

Intro on walking beyond entrance

Normal: Lord Victor Nefarius yells: Welcome to my personal sanctum, heroes! I hope you find the accommodations to your liking. Herein you will find many of my failed experiments and ultimately my greatest triumph!

Heroic: Lord Victor Nefarius yells: Mortals that fancy themselves HEROES have entered the Broken Hall! Oh, I do hope this 'raid' will amuse me more than the last!

Layout

The instance consists of two subzones, the Broken Hall and the Vault of the Shadowflame. When you enter the instance, the Omnotron Defense System will be off to your right with Magmaw off to your left. There is no required order, but Magmaw is usually considered the "first" boss. You next descend into the Vault, where Nefarian's experiments take place.

The Vault branches off into three areas where Chimaeron, Atramedes and Maloriak can be found. Only after defeating all of them will Nefarian himself become available, standing in the middle of the Vault as Lord Victor Nefarius.

Maps and subregions

The Broken Hall
Vault of the Shadowflame

Athenaeum · The Broken Hall · Den of the Devourer · Fleshrender's Workshop · Magmaw's Fissure · Stone Sentinel's Overlook · Vault of the Shadowflame

Encounters

Bosses	Monsters	NPCs
The Broken Hall
Stone Sentinel's Overlook Omnotron Defense System Arcanotron Electron Magmatron Toxitron Poison Bomb	Golem Sentry
Magmaw's Fissure Magmaw Lava Parasite Blazing Bone Construct (Heroic only)	Drakonid Chainwielder Drakonid Drudge
Vault of the Shadowflame
The Athenaeum Atramedes Obnoxious Fiend	Spirit of Angerforge Spirit of Anvilrage Spirit of Burningeye Spirit of Corehammer Spirit of Ironstar Spirit of Moltenfist Spirit of Shadowforge Spirit of Thaurissan
Den of the Devourer Chimaeron		Pip Quickwit Bile-O-Tron 800
Fleshrender's Workshop Maloriak Aberration Prime Subject Vile Swill (Heroic only)
Vault of the Shadowflame Nefarian's End Nefarian Onyxia Animated Bone Warrior Chromatic Prototype	Drakeadon Mongrel Drakonid Slayer Ivoroc Maimgor Pyrecraw

Loot

Boss	Item	Type
Magmaw	[Akirus the Worm-Breaker] H	Strength two-handed mace
	[Breastplate of Avenging Flame] H	Caster plate chest
	[Crown of Burning Waters] H	Healer cloth helm
	[Flame Pillar Leggings] H	Healer cloth leggings
	[Incineratus] H	Caster dagger
	[Lava Spine] H	Strength one-handed sword
	[Leggings of Lethal Force] H	Agility mail leggings
	[Lifecycle Waistguard] H	Healer mail belt
	[Molten Tantrum Boots] H	Tank plate boots
	[Parasitic Bands] H	Agility leather bracers
	[Scorched Wormling Vest] H	Healer leather chest
	[Symbiotic Worm] H	Tank trinket
	[Gauntlets of the Forlorn Conqueror] (Heroic only)	Tier 11 armor token
	[Gauntlets of the Forlorn Protector] (Heroic only)	Tier 11 armor token
	[Gauntlets of the Forlorn Vanquisher] (Heroic only)	Tier 11 armor token
Omnotron Defense System	[Circuit Design Breastplate] H	Healer mail chest
	[Electron Inductor Coils] H	Agility mail chest
	[Jumbotron Power Belt] H	Tank plate belt
	[Life Force Chargers] H	Healer plate boots
	[Lightning Conductor Band] H	Agility DPS ring
	[Organic Lifeform Inverter] H	Agility dagger
	[Passive Resistor Spaulders] H	Healer leather shoulders
	[Poison Protocol Pauldrons] H	Agility leather shoulders
	[Power Generator Hood] H	Caster cloth helm
	[Security Measure Alpha] H	Healer ring
	[Voltage Source Chestguard] H	Agility mail chest
	[X-Tron Duct Tape] H	Healer cloth belt
Chimaeron	[Bile-O-Tron Nut] H	Tank ring
	[Brackish Gloves] H	Healer cloth gloves
	[Burden of Mortality] H	Healer plate shoulders
	[Chaos Beast Bracers] H	Healer mail bracers
	[Chimaeron Armguards] H	Agility mail bracers
	[Double Attack Handguards] H	Agility leather gloves
	[Quickstep Galoshes] H	Caster cloth boots
	[Pip's Solution Agitator] H	Healer wand
	[Heart of Rage] H	Strength DPS trinket
	[Manacles of the Sleeping Beast] H	Healer leather bracers
	[Massacre Treads] H	Strength plate boots
	[Plated Fists of Provocation] H	DPS plate gloves
Atramedes	[Battleplate of Ancient Kings] H	Strength plate chest
	[Bell of Enraging Resonance] H	Caster trinket
	[Boots of Vertigo] H	Agility mail boots
	[Bracers of the Burningeye] H	Healer cloth bracers
	[Gloves of Cacophony] H	Healer mail gloves
	[Helm of the Blind Seer] H	Healer leather helm
	[Ironstar Amulet] H	Tank trinket
	[Kingdom's Heart] H	Healer shield
	[Legguards of the Unseeing] H	Tank plate leggings
	[Mantle of Roaring Flames] H	Healer cloth bracers
	[Sark of the Unwatched] H	Agility leather chest
	[Themios the Darkbringer] H	Agility bow
	[Gauntlets of the Forlorn Conqueror] (Heroic only)	Tier 11 armor token
	[Gauntlets of the Forlorn Protector] (Heroic only)	Tier 11 armor token
	[Gauntlets of the Forlorn Vanquisher] (Heroic only)	Tier 11 armor token
Maloriak	[Aberration's Leggings] H	Agility leather leggings
	[Belt of Absolute Zero] H	Strength plate belt
	[Belt of Arcane Storms] H	Caster cloth belt
	[Cloak of Biting Chill] H	Agility DPS cloak
	[Dragon Bone Warhelm] H	Strength plate helm
	[Flash Freeze Gauntlets] H	Spirit plate gloves
	[Jar of Ancient Remedies] H	Healer trinket
	[Leggings of Consuming Flames] H	Healer leather leggings
	[Legwraps of the Greatest Son] H	Healer cloth leggings
	[Mace of Acrid Death] H	Tank one-handed mace
	[Treads of Flawless Creation] H	Healer mail boots
	[Tunic of Failed Experiments] H	Agility mail chest
	[Leggings of the Forlorn Conqueror] (Heroic only)	Tier 11 armor token
	[Leggings of the Forlorn Protector] (Heroic only)	Tier 11 armor token
	[Leggings of the Forlorn Vanquisher] (Heroic only)	Tier 11 armor token
Nefarian's End	[Akmin-Kurai, Dominion's Shield] H	Tank shield
	[Andoros, Fist of the Dragon King] H	Healer one-handed mace
	[Belt of the Blackhand] H	Healer plate belt
	[Belt of the Nightmare] H	Healer leather belt
	[Crul'korak, the Lightning's Arc] H	Agility one-handed axe
	[Mantle of Nefarius] H	Healer cloth shoulders
	[Pauldrons of the Apocalypse] H	Tank plate shoulders
	[Prestor's Talisman of Machination] H	Agility DPS trinket
	[Rage of Ages] H	Strength DPS necklace
	[Reclaimed Ashkandi, Greatsword of the Brotherhood] H	Strength two-handed sword
	[Shadowblaze Robes] H	Caster cloth chest
	[Shadow of Dread] H	Caster cloak
	[Spaulders of the Scarred Lady] H	Agility mail shoulders
	[Helm of the Forlorn Conqueror] (Normal only)	Tier 11 armor token
	[Helm of the Forlorn Protector] (Normal only)	Tier 11 armor token
	[Helm of the Forlorn Vanquisher] (Normal only)	Tier 11 armor token
	[Crown of the Forlorn Conqueror] (Heroic only)	Tier 11 armor token
	[Crown of the Forlorn Protector] (Heroic only)	Tier 11 armor token
	[Crown of the Forlorn Vanquisher] (Heroic only)	Tier 11 armor token
Trash mobs	[Claws of Agony]	Strength fist weapon
	[Claws of Torment]	Agility fist weapon
	[Corehammer's Riveted Girdle]	Healer plate belt
	[Fury of Angerforge]	Strength DPS trinket
	[Hide of Chromaggus]	Healer cloth shoulders
	[Ironstar's Impenetrable Cover]	Tank cloak
	[Maimgor's Bite]	Agility one-handed axe
	[Maldo's Sword Cane]	Caster sword
	[Scaleslicer]	Agility dagger
	[Shadowforge's Lightbound Smock]	Healer cloth chest
	[Theresa's Booklight]	Caster wand
	[Treads of Savage Beatings]	Strength DPS plate boots