Gul'dan (tactics)

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For his biography, see Gul'dan (alternate universe).
BossGul'dan
Image of Gul'dan
Title <Lord of the Shadow Council>
Gender Male
Race Orc (Humanoid)
Level ?? Boss
Reaction Alliance Horde
Affiliation(s) Shadow Council, Burning Legion
Location Nighthold
Status Defeatable/Deceased

Gul'dan is the final boss of the Nighthold. The mastermind behind the Third invasion of the Burning Legion, Gul'dan stands atop the Font of Night and attempts to use the time-space warping powers of the Eye of Aman'thul and the Nightwell to bring his master Sargeras into Azeroth within Illidan Stormrage's crystallized body.

The battle with Gul'dan is a long Battle for survival, the first phase deals with killing his demonic minions, followed by the mad warlock using fel-power to leap into the fray personally. For the first two phases, the players wield powers granted to them by the Eye of Aman'thul depending on their spec/role, similar to the Ultraxion fight in Dragon Soul. Gul'dan gets rid of these powers at 40%.

On mythic, Gul'dan will skip phase 1 and have an additional phase at 10%, with the players fighting The Demon Within, Sargeras' demonic soul within Illidan's body.

Adventure Guide

The chain of events set in motion when Garrosh escaped to Draenor has continued, unbroken for all its twists and turns, leading to this very moment. Thwarted in Draenor, Gul'dan now stands on the precipice of achieving ultimate victory on behalf of his Legion masters. Standing atop the Nighthold, as the vortex of fel energy swirls in the skies overhead, the outcast orc warlock awaits his destiny.

Overview

Gul'dan begins a ritual to bring his master into Azeroth, locking himself inside the active Eye of Aman'Thul and summoning his demonic lieutenants. However, proximity to the active Eye of Aman'Thul bestows equally powerful abilities to players, based on their role. After his lieutenants fall, Gul'dan leaps into the fray himself, harnessing the power of the Fel to bolster his frail frame. At 85%, 70%, and 55% health, Gul'dan again taps into the active Eye of Aman'Thul, empowering his abilities. As his health dwindles further, Gul'dan beseeches his Legion masters for additional power, unleashing his ultimate strength while disrupting the aid that players receive from the Eye.

Damage Dealer Alert Damage Dealers

  • Use Time Dilation to increase damage at opportune moments or cover distances quickly.
  • Assist Bonds of Fel-afflicted allies in order to reduce the damage to manageable levels.
  • Move away from others when afflicted with Eye of Gul'dan or Empowered Eye of Gul'dan.
  • Absorb Soul Corrosion inside the Well of Souls in order to reduce raidwide damage taken from Black Harvest.
  • Interrupt Carrion Wave.

Healer Alert Healers

  • Fel Lord Kuraz'mal's Shatter Essence inflicts high damage. Coordinate use of damage-reduction abilities to help tanks.
  • Assist Bonds of Fel-afflicted allies in order to reduce the damage to manageable levels.
  • Black Harvest inflicts high raidwide damage.
  • Use Scattering Field to absorb nearby allies' Fire damage taken at opportune moments.
  • Dispel Inquisitor Vethriz's Drain.

Tank Alert Tanks

  • Use Resonant Barrier to survive moments in the encounter that may otherwise kill you.
  • While fighting Fel Lord Kuraz'mal, be prepared for Shatter Essence.
  • D'zorykx the Trapper will throw Soul Vortex at his current target, drastically increasing their damage taken.

Quotes

Intro
Ah, yes... the heroes have arrived. So persistent, so confident... but your arrogance will be your undoing.
AllianceHave you forgotten your humiliation on the Broken Shore? How your precious High King was bent and broken before me? Will you beg for your lives as he did, whimpering like some worthless dog?
AllianceYour pathetic Alliance will fall to dust. Your new boy King will bow down and serve me, as will all of you!
HordeHave you forgotten your humiliation on the Broken Shore? How your mighty Warchief was stuck in the belly like a helpless piglet? Will you die slowly as he did, consumed by fel corruption and squealing for a merciful end?
HordeYour pathetic Horde will fall to dust. In the end, death will inherit this world... and she will be waiting.
The husk of Illidan will prove an ideal vessel for my master's glory. Sargeras will rise, and together, we will watch your world burn.
Let the endgame begin!
Aggro
You will not stop the ritual!
Aggro on Mythic
Too late! I am unstoppable!
Hand of Gul'dan
  • Strike for Sargeras!
  • Rid me of these pests!
  • Kill them in my master's name!
Locks himself within the Eye of Aman'Thul
The vessel must be made ready!
Fel Efflux and Flames of Sargeras
Burn from within!
Liquid Hellfire
I'll make ashes of you!
Stage Two: The Ritual of Aman'thul
You failed, heroes! The ritual is upon us! But first, I'll indulge myself a bit... and finish you!
A taste of the master's might!
Eye of Gul'dan
Behold... power given form!
Bonds of Fel
My will is unbreakable!
Empowered Bonds of Fel
You'll never escape my grasp!
Empowered Liquid Hellfire
Drink in the glory!
Empowered Eye of Gul'dan
I will not fail you, master! More power... just need more power!
Stage Three: The Master's Power
Gul'dan yells: No more distractions! I have work to do...
Gul'dan yells: Surrender! I may yet show mercy!
Archmage Khadgar yells: Fight for Azeroth, for all you hold dear!
Archmage Khadgar yells: Time to return the demon hunter's soul to his body... and deny the Legion's master a host!
Black Harvest
Why won't you die? Why do you keep resisting?
Storm of the Destroyer
Gul'dan yells: Let the storm rain death upon you!
Archmage Khadgar yells: This is our world, not the Legion's!
20% Health
Archmage Khadgar yells: We can stop him! I know it!
10% Health
Archmage Khadgar yells: Keep pressing, champions! Gul'dan wavers! He WILL fall!
Killing a player
  • You should have bent the knee!
  • One by one you fall!
Wipe
  • Never underestimate a master warlock!
  • Thus do the champions of this world fall.
Mythic Phase
Archmage Khadgar yells: Time to return the demon hunter's soul to his body... and deny the Legion's master a host!
The Demon Within yells: You topple a pawn and presume to challenge its master? Such arrogance!
The Demon Within yells: Behold the shadow of what is to come, the endless darkness that shall consume your world.
The Demon Within yells: You are not prepared!
Death (Mythic)
I am Gul'dan! I am darkness incarnate! It cannot end... like this.
Parasitic Wound
The Demon Within yells: Feel the power... of the demon within!
Manifest Azzinoth
The Demon Within yells: Behold the Flames of Azzinoth!
Visions of the Dark Titan
The Demon Within yells: Gaze upon the inevitable end of all you know... all you fought for!
Killed a player
  • The Demon Within yells: That was too easy!
  • The Demon Within yells: Now you fall!
Wipe
The Demon Within yells: Was that all the fury you could muster?
Death
  • The Demon Within yells: How... is it even... possible?
  • The Demon Within yells: He will... yet claim... this titan...
Unused quotes
  • Archmage Khadgar: They will come no further!
  • Fel Lord Kurazmal: For Gul'dan!
  • Fel Lord Kurazmal: The Legion claims you!
  • Fel Lord Kurazmal: Your soul belongs to the Legion!
  • Fel Lord Kurazmal: Our power will crush you!
  • Fel Lord Kurazmal: Die mortal scum!
  • Fel Lord Kurazmal: You can't... beat us all...
  • Gul'dan: Come forth and serve me!
  • The Demon Within: Become a vessel of darkness!

Closing cinematic

Gul'dan is knocked to his knees, a scar over his right eye, as the portal into the Nether begins to destabilize. A shockwave of energy blasts Illidan's crystal prison backwards, smashing into one of the statues.
Gul'dan: No... NO!!!
Gul'dan reaches out, as if to stop the portal from closing.
Gul'dan: This...cannot...be...
The portal finally closes, leaving Gul'dan alone...as a pair of shadowed wings unfurls in the felfire. Looking despairingly behind him, Gul'dan is lifted off the ground by Illidan himself, who begins to channel fel energy into Gul'dan's body. Gul'dan screams as his body explodes in a bright flash of light. After the light fades, Illidan stands triumphant, holding Gul'dan's smoking skull in his hand.
Illidan Stormrage: You have seen what I have seen.
Illidan crushes Gul'dan's skull into fragments and dust.
Illidan Stormrage: You know what we face. Now, mortals, follow me...into the abyss!

Abilities

Stage One: The Council of Elders

Gul'dan locks himself inside the active Eye of Aman'Thul, summoning his demonic lieutenants. However, proximity to the active Eye of Aman'thul bestows equally powerful abilities to players, based on their role.

  • Essence of Aman'Thul
    • Ability socererking arcanefortification.png Time Dilation Damage Dealer Alert — The active Eye of Aman'Thul bestows great power, modifying relative time for the caster. Your relative time has increased by 30%, increasing casting, movement, and attack speed by 30% as well as decreasing cooldowns by 30% and Periodic Effects occur 30% faster. Receiving Fire damage removes this effect.
    • Ability warlock coil2.png Scattering Field Healer Alert — The active Eye of Aman'Thul bestows great power into a protective dome, absorbing 50% of Fire damage taken up to 1750000, shared amongst allies within 10 yards.
    • Ability warlock coil2.png Resonant Barrier Tank Alert — Channels the power of the Nightwell into a protective barrier, absorbing all damage taken for 6 sec.
  • Gul'dan
    • Spell fire felpyroblast.png Liquid Hellfire — Conjures a massive orb of Fel Fire that splashes down at a target's location, inflicting 1755000 to 1845000 Fire damage, decreasing in damage as distance increases.
    • Spell fel elementaldevastation.png Fel Efflux — Pours out fel energy in a focused channel, inflicting 300000 Fire damage every half-second to all targets within the energy.
    • Ability warlock handofguldan.png Hand of Gul'dan Important Tank Alert — Calls down a demonic meteor, inflicting 1900000 to 2100000 Shadow damage to anyone within 10 yards of the meteor's impact location and summons a powerful demon at that location.
      • Tank Alert Fel Lord Kuraz'mal
        • Inv axe 2h felfireraid d 01.png Shatter Essence Deadly Tank Alert — Shatters the target's soul with a heavy swing, inflicting 9975000 to 10025000 Fire damage.
        • Ability bossfellord felspike.png Fel Obelisk Tank Alert — Conjures a Fel Obelisk to impale targets, inflicting 807500 to 892500 Fire damage and stunning targets, bleeding them for an additional 75000 Physical damage every half-second for 7 sec.
      • Inquisitor Vethriz
        • Inv darkmoon eye.png Gaze of Vethriz — Summons in a Gaze of Vethriz at a targeted location which channels a beam of magic, inflicting 600000 Shadow damage to any players struck by the beam.
        • Warlock curse shadow.png Drain Magic Effect — Drains 200000 health from an enemy every second as Shadow damage for 21 sec, healing the caster for 212568E1 times the damage inflicted.
        • Ability priest cascade shadow.png Dark Blast — Blasts a target for 560000 Shadow damage.
        • Spell shadow dispersion.png Shadowblink — Steps through the shadows, appearing at another location.
      • Tank Alert D'zorykx the Trapper
        • Spell warlock demonicportal green.png Soul Vortex — Drops a cage hungering for souls at his target's location, drawing in enemies and inflicting 75000 Shadow damage every second for 6 sec. Enemies caught near the cage are afflicted by Torn Soul, increasing Physical damage taken by 100% and suffering 50000 Shadow damage every 3 sec for 30 sec. This effect stacks. Subsequent casts increase the magnitude of the pull effect by 100%. This effect stacks.
        • Inv misc trinket6oih orb2.png Anguished Spirits — Unleashes a volley of spirits from his grasp, inflicting 760000 to 840000 Shadow damage to targets struck.

Stage Two: The Ritual of Aman'Thul

Gul'dan leaps into the fray himself, harnessing the power of the Fel to bolster his frail frame. At 85%, 70%, and 55% health, Gul'dan again taps into the active Eye of Aman'Thul, expanding the potency of his abilities.

  • Essence of Aman'Thul
    • Ability socererking arcanefortification.png Time Dilation Damage Dealer Alert — The active Eye of Aman'Thul bestows great power, modifying relative time for the caster. Your relative time has increased by 30%, increasing casting, movement, and attack speed by 30% as well as decreasing cooldowns by 30% and Periodic Effects occur 30% faster. Receiving Fire damage removes this effect.
    • Ability warlock coil2.png Scattering Field Healer Alert — The active Eye of Aman'Thul bestows great power into a protective dome, absorbing 50% of Fire damage taken up to 1750000, shared amongst allies within 10 yards.
    • Ability warlock coil2.png Resonant Barrier Tank Alert — Channels the power of the Nightwell into a protective barrier, absorbing all damage taken for 6 sec.
  • Gul'dan
    • Spell fire felpyroblast.png Liquid Hellfire — Conjures a massive orb of Fel Fire that splashes down at a target's location, inflicting 1755000 to 1845000 Fire damage, decreasing in damage as distance increases.
      • Spell fire felflamestrike.png Empowered Liquid Hellfire — Conjures a massive orb of Fel Fire that splashes down at a target's location, inflicting 1852500 to 1947500 Fire damage, decreasing in damage as distance increases and setting the ground ablaze for 3 min. The burning ground inflicts 200000 Fire damage every second to those standing on it.
    • Ability felarakkoa feldetonation green.png Bonds of Fel — Binds a target to a location, snaring by 50% and inflicting 40000 Fire damage every half-second. When broken, the bond explodes for 5850000 to 6150000 Fire damage to targets within 5 yards of the bound target, divided evenly amongst targets hit.
      • Ability felarakkoa feldetonation red.png Empowered Bonds of Fel — Binds a target to a location after knocking them back, snaring targets by 70% and inflicting 45000 Fire damage every half-second. When broken, the bond explodes for 5850000 to 6150000 Fire damage to targets within 5 yards of the bound target, divided evenly amongst targets hit.
    • Spell shadow soulgem.png Eye of Gul'dan — Conjures several Eyes of Gul'dan which channel shadow energy at an enemy, inflicting 350000 Shadow damage to enemies within 8 yards every 1 sec. This damage increases by 2% every cast. Upon reaching full power, the Eye of Gul'dan casts Duplicate, creating a copy of itself, then moves to a new location.
      • Ability shawaterelemental swirl.png Duplicate Important — Creates a copy of itself nearby.
      • Inv misc trinket6oih orb4.png Empowered Eye of Gul'dan — Conjures an Empowered Eye of Gul'dan which channels fire energy at several targets, inflicting 360000 Fire damage to enemies within 8 yards. This damage increases by 2% every cast. Empowered Eyes of Gul'dan follow their highest threat target. Upon reaching full power, the Eye of Gul'dan casts Duplicate, creating a copy of itself.
    • Ability warlock handofguldan.png Hand of Gul'dan Tank Alert — Calls down a demonic meteor, inflicting 1900000 to 2100000 Shadow damage to anyone within 10 yards of the meteor's impact location and summons a powerful demon at that location.
      • Dreadlords of the Twisting Nether
        • Spell shadow carrionswarm.png Carrion Wave Interruptible — The Dreadlord causes a wave of chaotic explosions to wash over enemies in front of them, inflicting 950000 to 1050000 Shadow damage and putting targets to sleep for 5 sec.
        • Ability warlock demonicpower.png Focused Assault — Causes Fervor when a spell cast is interrupted.
          • Sha ability rogue bloodyeye nightmare.png Fervor — Increases all damage done by 25% and attack speed by 25%. This effect stacks.
    • Ability creature felsunder.png Fel Scythe Tank Alert — Gul'dan's keen eye allows him to cast Fel Scythe when any additional target stands within 2 yards of his primary target when attacking. Fel Scythe cleaves at targets for 1500000 Fire damage, divided amongst targets within 2 yards, consuming all of Gul'dan's Fel Energy, increasing in damage by 5% for every point of Fel Energy consumed. Each successful cast of Fel Scythe grant's Gul'dan Fury of the Fel. If Gul'dan ever reaches full Fel Energy, he immediately casts Fel Scythe at his primary target.
      • Ability creature felsunder.png Fury of the Fel Important Tank Alert — Each successive cast of Fel Scythe increases attack speed by 15% for 10 sec. This effect stacks.

Stage Three: The Master's Power

At 40% health Gul'dan harnesses the Eye of Aman'Thul to gain new and empowered abilities, also disrupting the powers that players received from the Eye.

  • Inv misc trinket6oih orb4.png Empowered Eye of Gul'dan Important — Conjures an Empowered Eye of Gul'dan which channels fire energy at several targets, inflicting 360000 Fire damage to enemies within 8 yards. This damage increases by 2% every cast. Empowered Eyes of Gul'dan follow their highest threat target. Upon reaching full power, the Eye of Gul'dan casts Duplicate, creating a copy of itself.
    • Ability shawaterelemental swirl.png Duplicate Important — Creates a copy of itself nearby.
  • Sha spell shadow shadesofdarkness.png Storm of the Destroyer Deadly — Calls upon the power of the Destroyer, sequentially inflicting 665000 to 735000 Shadow damage to enemies within 10 yards, then 855000 to 945000 Shadow damage to enemies within 20 yards, then 855000 to 945000 Shadow damage to enemies within 30 yards, and finally 2850000 to 3150000 Shadow damage to enemies within 60 yards.
  • Spell shadow shadesofdarkness.png Well of Souls — Summons a Well of Souls which holds fragments of players' souls. Gul'dan periodically casts Soul Siphon, adding to the stored supply. Standing inside the Well of Souls inflicts 166725 Shadow damage every second and causes enemies to ignore you.
    • Ability warlock soulsiphon.png Soul Siphon Healer Alert — Siphon's a piece of several targets' souls, inflicting 200000 Shadow damage and applies Soul Siphon, absorbing 650000 healing for 30 sec. This adds a soul to the Well of Souls.
    • Ability warlock improvedsoulleech.png Soul Corrosion Important — Every 3 seconds a player remains inside the Well of Souls, a soul fragment leaves the Well, inflicting 213750 to 236250 Shadow damage within 5 yards of the targeted player and afflicts them with Soul Corrosion. Soul Corrosion inflicts 30000 Shadow damage every second for 3 min. This effect stacks.
    • Spell warlock harvestoflife.png Black Harvest Deadly — Calls upon the Black Harvest, inflicting 900000 Shadow damage every 2 sec, expelling all stored souls within the Well of Souls over 4 sec. Each Harvested Soul erupts violently, inflicting 312000 to 328000 Shadow damage to all enemies. When the Well of Souls is full, newly drawn souls immediately cause a Harvested Soul eruption.
  • Ability warlock fireandbrimstone.png Flames of Sargeras — Encompasses a target in flames after 3 sec, burning them for 3 sec. Every second they burn, they explode for 100000 damage and an additional 315000 Fire damage to friends within 8 yards. Struck targets leave residual embers at their location, exploding again for 600000 Fire damage to targets within 5 yards, creating a field of Desolate Ground.
    • Spell mage flameorb.png Desolate Ground — Creates a field of Desolate Ground for until cancelled, inflicting 400000 Fire damage every second.
  • Ability creature felsunder.png Fel Scythe Tank Alert — Gul'dan's keen eye allows him to cast Fel Scythe when any additional target stands within 2 yards of his primary target when attacking. Fel Scythe cleaves at targets for 1500000 Fire damage, divided amongst targets within 2 yards, consuming all of Gul'dan's Fel Energy, increasing in damage by 5% for every point of Fel Energy consumed. Each successful cast of Fel Scythe grant's Gul'dan Fury of the Fel. If Gul'dan ever reaches full Fel Energy, he immediately casts Fel Scythe at his primary target.
    • Ability creature felsunder.png Fury of the Fel Important Tank Alert — Each successive cast of Fel Scythe increases attack speed by 15% for 10 sec. This effect stacks.

Stage One: The Ritual of Aman'Thul Heroic Difficulty

Gul'dan, taking no chances, leaps into the fray, harnessing the power of the Fel to bolster his frail frame, periodically summoning his demonic lieutenants and utilizing the active Eye of Aman'Thul, expanding the potency of his abilities.

  • Essence of Aman'Thul
    • Ability socererking arcanefortification.png Time Dilation Damage Dealer Alert — The active Eye of Aman'Thul bestows great power, modifying relative time for the caster. Your relative time has increased by 30%, increasing casting, movement, and attack speed by 30% as well as decreasing cooldowns by 30% and Periodic Effects occur 30% faster. Receiving Fire damage removes this effect.
    • Ability warlock coil2.png Scattering Field Healer Alert — The active Eye of Aman'Thul bestows great power into a protective dome, absorbing 50% of Fire damage taken up to 1750000, shared amongst allies within 10 yards.
    • Ability warlock coil2.png Resonant Barrier Tank Alert — Channels the power of the Nightwell into a protective barrier, absorbing all damage taken for 6 sec.
  • Gul'dan
    • Spell fire felpyroblast.png Liquid Hellfire — Conjures a massive orb of Fel Fire that splashes down at a target's location, inflicting 1755000 to 1845000 Fire damage, decreasing in damage as distance increases.
      • Spell fire felflamestrike.png Empowered Liquid Hellfire — Conjures a massive orb of Fel Fire that splashes down at a target's location, inflicting 1852500 to 1947500 Fire damage, decreasing in damage as distance increases and setting the ground ablaze for 3 min. The burning ground inflicts 200000 Fire damage every second to those standing on it.
    • Ability felarakkoa feldetonation green.png Bonds of Fel — Binds a target to a location, snaring by 50% and inflicting 40000 Fire damage every half-second. When broken, the bond explodes for 5850000 to 6150000 Fire damage to targets within 5 yards of the bound target, divided evenly amongst targets hit.
      • Ability felarakkoa feldetonation red.png Empowered Bonds of Fel — Binds a target to a location after knocking them back, snaring targets by 70% and inflicting 45000 Fire damage every half-second. When broken, the bond explodes for 5850000 to 6150000 Fire damage to targets within 5 yards of the bound target, divided evenly amongst targets hit.
    • Spell shadow soulgem.png Eye of Gul'dan — Conjures several Eyes of Gul'dan which channel shadow energy at an enemy, inflicting 350000 Shadow damage to enemies within 8 yards every 1 sec. This damage increases by 2% every cast. Upon reaching full power, the Eye of Gul'dan casts Duplicate, creating a copy of itself, then moves to a new location.
      • Ability shawaterelemental swirl.png Duplicate Important — Creates a copy of itself nearby.
      • Inv misc trinket6oih orb4.png Empowered Eye of Gul'dan — Conjures an Empowered Eye of Gul'dan which channels fire energy at several targets, inflicting 360000 Fire damage to enemies within 8 yards. This damage increases by 2% every cast. Empowered Eyes of Gul'dan follow their highest threat target. Upon reaching full power, the Eye of Gul'dan casts Duplicate, creating a copy of itself.
  • Ability creature felsunder.png Fel Scythe Tank Alert — Gul'dan's keen eye allows him to cast Fel Scythe when any additional target stands within 2 yards of his primary target when attacking. Fel Scythe cleaves at targets for 1500000 Fire damage, divided amongst targets within 2 yards, consuming all of Gul'dan's Fel Energy, increasing in damage by 5% for every point of Fel Energy consumed. Each successful cast of Fel Scythe grant's Gul'dan Fury of the Fel. If Gul'dan ever reaches full Fel Energy, he immediately casts Fel Scythe at his primary target.
    • Ability creature felsunder.png Fury of the Fel Important Tank Alert — Each successive cast of Fel Scythe increases attack speed by 15% for 10 sec. This effect stacks.
    • Ability warlock handofguldan.png Hand of Gul'dan Tank Alert — Calls down a demonic meteor, inflicting 1900000 to 2100000 Shadow damage to anyone within 10 yards of the meteor's impact location and summons a powerful demon at that location.
      • Tank Alert Fel Lord Kuraz'mal
        • Inv axe 2h felfireraid d 01.png Shatter Essence Deadly Tank Alert — Shatters the target's soul with a heavy swing, inflicting 9975000 to 10025000 Fire damage.
        • Ability bossfellord felspike.png Fel Obelisk Tank Alert — Conjures a Fel Obelisk to impale targets, inflicting 807500 to 892500 Fire damage and stunning targets, bleeding them for an additional 75000 Physical damage every half-second for 7 sec.
      • Inquisitor Vethriz
        • Inv darkmoon eye.png Gaze of Vethriz — Summons in a Gaze of Vethriz at a targeted location which channels a beam of magic, inflicting 600000 Shadow damage to any players struck by the beam.
        • Warlock curse shadow.png Drain Magic Effect — Drains 200000 health from an enemy every second as Shadow damage for 21 sec, healing the caster for 212568E1 times the damage inflicted.
        • Ability priest cascade shadow.png Dark Blast — Blasts a target for 560000 Shadow damage.
        • Spell shadow dispersion.png Shadowblink — Steps through the shadows, appearing at another location.
      • Tank Alert D'zorykx the Trapper
        • Spell warlock demonicportal green.png Soul Vortex — Drops a cage hungering for souls at his target's location, drawing in enemies and inflicting 75000 Shadow damage every second for 6 sec. Enemies caught near the cage are afflicted by Torn Soul, increasing Physical damage taken by 100% and suffering 50000 Shadow damage every 3 sec for 30 sec. This effect stacks. Subsequent casts increase the magnitude of the pull effect by 100%. This effect stacks.
        • Inv misc trinket6oih orb2.png Anguished Spirits — Unleashes a volley of spirits from his grasp, inflicting 760000 to 840000 Shadow damage to targets struck.

Stage Two: The Master's Power Heroic Difficulty

At 50% health Gul'dan harnesses the Eye of Aman'Thul to gain new and empowered abilities, also disrupting the powers that players received from the Eye.

  • Inv misc trinket6oih orb4.png Empowered Eye of Gul'dan Important — Conjures an Empowered Eye of Gul'dan which channels fire energy at several targets, inflicting 360000 Fire damage to enemies within 8 yards. This damage increases by 2% every cast. Empowered Eyes of Gul'dan follow their highest threat target. Upon reaching full power, the Eye of Gul'dan casts Duplicate, creating a copy of itself.
    • Ability shawaterelemental swirl.png Duplicate Important — Creates a copy of itself nearby.
  • Sha spell shadow shadesofdarkness.png Storm of the Destroyer Deadly — Calls upon the power of the Destroyer, sequentially inflicting 665000 to 735000 Shadow damage to enemies within 10 yards, then 855000 to 945000 Shadow damage to enemies within 20 yards, then 855000 to 945000 Shadow damage to enemies within 30 yards, and finally 2850000 to 3150000 Shadow damage to enemies within 60 yards.
  • Spell shadow shadesofdarkness.png Well of Souls — Summons a Well of Souls which holds fragments of players' souls. Gul'dan periodically casts Soul Siphon, adding to the stored supply. Standing inside the Well of Souls inflicts 166725 Shadow damage every second and causes enemies to ignore you.
    • Ability warlock soulsiphon.png Soul Siphon Healer Alert — Siphon's a piece of several targets' souls, inflicting 200000 Shadow damage and applies Soul Siphon, absorbing 650000 healing for 30 sec. This adds a soul to the Well of Souls.
    • Ability warlock improvedsoulleech.png Soul Corrosion Important — Every 3 seconds a player remains inside the Well of Souls, a soul fragment leaves the Well, inflicting 213750 to 236250 Shadow damage within 5 yards of the targeted player and afflicts them with Soul Corrosion. Soul Corrosion inflicts 30000 Shadow damage every second for 3 min. This effect stacks.
    • Spell warlock harvestoflife.png Black Harvest Deadly — Calls upon the Black Harvest, inflicting 900000 Shadow damage every 2 sec, expelling all stored souls within the Well of Souls over 4 sec. Each Harvested Soul erupts violently, inflicting 312000 to 328000 Shadow damage to all enemies. When the Well of Souls is full, newly drawn souls immediately cause a Harvested Soul eruption.
  • Ability warlock fireandbrimstone.png Flames of Sargeras — Encompasses a target in flames after 3 sec, burning them for 3 sec. Every second they burn, they explode for 100000 damage and an additional 315000 Fire damage to friends within 8 yards. Struck targets leave residual embers at their location, exploding again for 600000 Fire damage to targets within 5 yards, creating a field of Desolate Ground.
    • Spell mage flameorb.png Desolate Ground — Creates a field of Desolate Ground for until cancelled, inflicting 400000 Fire damage every second.
  • Ability creature felsunder.png Fel Scythe Tank Alert — Gul'dan's keen eye allows him to cast Fel Scythe when any additional target stands within 2 yards of his primary target when attacking. Fel Scythe cleaves at targets for 1500000 Fire damage, divided amongst targets within 2 yards, consuming all of Gul'dan's Fel Energy, increasing in damage by 5% for every point of Fel Energy consumed. Each successful cast of Fel Scythe grant's Gul'dan Fury of the Fel. If Gul'dan ever reaches full Fel Energy, he immediately casts Fel Scythe at his primary target.
    • Ability creature felsunder.png Fury of the Fel Important Tank Alert — Each successive cast of Fel Scythe increases attack speed by 15% for 10 sec. This effect stacks.
  • Spell fire felhellfire.png Fel Winds — Fel Winds push you back.

Stage Three: The Demon Within Heroic Difficulty

When Gul'dan reaches 10% health remaining. Archmage Khadgar attempts to return Illidan's soul to his dormant body,. Unbeknownst to Khadgar a dark, outworldly presence was filling Illidan's mortal shell, and the consequences of Khadgar's actions incite deadly consequences...

  • Ability demonhunter glide.png Soulsever — Dives at his current target, striking for 13650000 to 14350000 Physical damage and creates several arcs of Shadow magic that travel outward. Each arc shears a soul fragment of any targets struck from their body, ejecting that piece into the playspace. This Sheared Soul absorbs all healing received until another player collects the piece. Collecting the Sheared Soul inflicts 1187500 to 1312500 Shadow damage to targets within 2 yards, afflicting them with Severed, increasing 227040 damage taken by 900%. Once the target regains their soul fragment, they are additional afflicted with Severed Soul, absorbing 7800000 to 8200000 Healing received.
  • Ability demonhunter infernalstrike1.png Flame Crash — Leaps at the furthest target, striking all enemies inflicting (1187500 to 1312500 * 3) Fire damage, decreasing in damage as distance from the point of impact increases to a minimum of 1187500 to 1312500 Fire damage.
  • Spell shadow soulleech 3.png Parasitic Wound — A parasitic shadow demon burrows its way through the target, dealing 1150000 Shadow damage every 2 sec for 10 sec. When the shadow demon is finished, it leaves the target and seeks new prey, inflicting 475000 to 525000 Shadow damage and knocking back players within 6 yards of the previous host.
  • Spell shadow seedofdestruction.png Chaos Seed — Slashes twice, manifesting an orb of chaotic energy which explodes upon reaching its destination, inflicting 855000 to 945000 Chaos damage and an additional 166250 to 183750 Chaos damage every half-second for 6 sec to enemies within 8 yards of the impact location.
  • Nightorb — Nightorb spawn, which are protected by Nightshield. This can only be removed via Bulwark of Azzinoth, increases threat generated by 200% and decreases magic damage taken by 60%, and allows the wearer to bypass a Nightorb's Nightshield. The Nightorb cast Capricious Barrage, Fires a focused barrage of Nightwell energy at a target every 0.5 sec for 2 sec. When defeated, a Time Stop Field is created.
    • Ability bossmagistrix timewarp2.png Time Stop Field — Create a void in time for 10 sec. Any targets within the void are immune to all damage, stunned, and all their auras, cooldowns, and periodic effects are reduced to nothing.
  • Spell shadow spectralsight.png Visions of the Dark Titan — Ushers in a glimpse of the end of all things, instantly killing all enemies every second for 15 sec.
  • Spell holy holynova.png Demonbane — Increases damage taken by 50% for 5 sec. This effect stacks and adds 5 sec to the current duration when stacking.
  • Additional adds that spawn are Soul Fragment of Azzinoth, Demonic Essence, Purified Essence. The Purified Essences can cast Purified Essence, becomes Purified at upon reaching full health, instantly killing all players and applying Demonbane to all enemies.

Achievements

Loot

Item Type
Fel Artifact Relic
Iron Artifact Relic
Blood Artifact Relic
Shadow Artifact Relic
Mail shoulders
Plate chest
Leather belt
Rogue leggings
Death knight leggings
Hunter leggings
Warlock leggings
Shaman leggings
Monk leggings
Mage leggings
Druid leggings
Paladin leggings
Warrior leggings
Demon hunter leggings
Priest leggings
Cloth boots
Ring
Melee DPS trinket
Tank trinket
Caster DPS trinket
 [Skull of Corruption] Toy
 [Golden Hearthstone Card: Lord Jaraxxus] Toy
 [Living Infernal Core] Mount (Normal/Heroic/Mythic only)
 [Fiendish Hellfire Core] Mount (Mythic only)

Strategy

For this fight, the group should have two tanks, a mixed DPS composition, and 3-4 healers. Due to the amount of damage going out during the last two phases, groups killing Gul'dan for their first time should consider taking 4 healers if damage from Empowered of Eye Gul'dan proves too much. [Bloodlust] should also be saved for the last phase. In the first phase, the raid should be positioned on a single half of the arena, so as not to lose line of sight of healers, but spread out enough to dodge the boss's abilites. In the second half, the tanks and melee dps will be at the center of the room (on the Eye of Aman'thul) while the ranged players are 10-15 yards away in a group to allow the healers to shield them from Liquid Hellfire. In the last phase, Gul'dan will be tanked near the edge so that players can easily drop their lava near the edge instead of in the group.

Role-specific

Tanks: Gul'dan's energy bar will slowly build. When it hits 100%, he will one-shot the tank. Having the two tanks in-front of him will cause him to use Fel Scythe for lower damage and keep his energy low. However, if the tanks cause Fel Scythe to cast too often, Gul'dan will gain a stacking haste buff which will cause his energy to climb faster, eventually overwhelming the tanks. To counter this, a single tank should stand in-front of Gul'dan and the other tank should quickly move in next to their fellow tank to soak the Fel Scythe when he reaches 20-30% energy. This will keep the energy down and the deny the stacking buff. In a pinch, tanks can use their extra action button to activate the Eye of Aman'thul's shield, making them temporarily impervious to damage.

Healers: The Eye grants the ability to create a 10-yard shield around the player that absorbs all damage for 6 seconds. This ability is vital to the group taking minimum damage from Gul'dan's deadly Liquid Hellfire attack. However, the cast is instant and lasts for 6 seconds while the healer is still, while Gul'dan's Liquid Hellfire has an 8 second cast. Timing is key to prevent the group from taking massive damage.

DPS: Damage-dealing classes gain the ability to warp time, like a miniature, more powerful Bloodlust effect. Relative time increases by 30%, increasing casting, movement, and attack speed by 30% as well as decreasing cooldowns by 30% and periodic effects occur 30% faster. This unique effect benefits all DPS classes, even those who focus on damage-over-time effects. DPS must be careful as this effect can be taken off by several of Gul'dan's spells. Fel Efflux in phase 1, Empowered Eye of Gul'dan, and Liquid Hellfire in phases 2 and 3, as well as the lava it lays down. The healer's damage shield will not keep players from losing their buff, so they must be careful and gauge ability-timers in DBM to maximize the amount of time they keep their haste buff.

Phase 1

DPS will only have about 10 seconds to hurt Gul'dan before he shuts himself within the Eye of Aman'thul and begins summoning 3 demonic lieutenants to battle the raid: a fel-lord, an inquisitor, and a trapper. While in the eye, he will cast Fel Efflux, a large beam of fel-fire that will rapidly kill players standing within it, just move away. Once they are summoned, all DPS should switch to the inquisitor. After a period of time, it will start summoning eyes that shoot spinning laser beams that both hurt and knock-back players. After too long, the eyes will fill up the arena and make it very hard to dodge Gul'dan's Fel Efflux attack, potentially even knocking players off the platform to their deaths. Kill the inquisitor, then the fel-lord, as their powerful attacks may force tanks to use cooldowns early on. The trapper is not as much of a threat. He will throw a cage down on the floor and hurt anyone caught inside the vortex pulling. Simply move away and kill the trapper. Movement speed increases like [Stampeding Roar] trivialize this ability.

Phase 2

Gul'dan exits the Eye and confronts the party directly. This phase is split into 3 mini-phases, where he taps into the Eye to empower one of his abilities at 85%, 70%, and 55%. After the last of these, all his abilities will be empowered and do Fire-damage, cancelling the Eye's DPS affect if they are hit by any of them.

He will begin summoning Eyes of Gul'dan, small Eye of Kilrogg that fire beams at random players. He initially summons 3 at a time, but if not killed fast enough, they will duplicate and create more. These duplicated eyes have the exact same amount of health that the original had when it finished the cast. Hence, an eye that duplicates at 10% health will create a duplicate with 10% health. The eyes will also move around at high speed when not casting, so high-mobility DPS with good burst are great at taking down these eyes, such as demon hunters. The eyes must always be prioritized, as too many up at once may cause a wipe. After becoming empowered, he will instead summon one large eye that does a massive amount of channeled fire damage to multiple targets. The other abilities of the eye remain the same.

Bonds of Gul'dan binds 3-4 players to the floor and creates a small circle around them. After moving a certain distance from that spot, the chains will break and cause high damage to anyone within 5 yards of the freed player, split evenly. If no one shares the bonded player's space when the chain is broken and they are not a tank, they will most likely be one-shot. If one cannot immunity their way out of the bonds, ideally 2-3 players should be positioned on the player when they break their chains, making the damage relatively minor. When empowered, the bonds will force a player back away from Gul'dan. If stood near the edge, this has a very real chance of knocking the player off the edge with no way to recover. Thus, Gul'dan should be placed at the center of the arena and the ranged players standing about 10 feet away, so that they can be safe from empowered bonds and can quickly run inside of the healer's shield to protect from Liquid Hellfire. Empowered Liquid Hellfire will also leave lava on the ground, simply move away.

Phase 3

At 40%, Gul'dan will teleport back inside of the Eye and become invincible, giving the party a brief respite while Khadgar uses the Pillars of Creation to return Illidan's soul to his body. All raid members should hug the Eye to prevent falling off because Gul'dan will knock everyone back a ways when he finishes empowering himself. As this last phase begins, all players will lose their Eye abilities. Keep to the center to keep the 5-second winds from knocking players off the edge and then move towards the edge of the arena once it is safe. Instead of Liquid Hellfire, Gul'dan will instead affect several players with Flames of Sargeras, causing them to take damage and leave large spots of lava along the ground. Try to drop them close to the edge and away from people. He will stop casting Bonds, but continue creating Empowered eyes which need to be focused down.

His next big ability is Well of Souls. He will conjure the well at the center of the arena, where white souls will begin swirhling around inside. If any souls are within the well when Gul'dan casts Black Harvest, the raid will be taking additional shadow damage. More than 1 soul within the well during Black Harvest will cause a wipe. Ranged players need to stand within the well for 3 seconds to absorb a soul, taking damage in the process, but denying Black Harvest bonus damage. Different players must absorb the souls each time until the previous players' debuff (Soul Corrosion) wears off.

Finally, Gul'dan will use Storm of the Destroyer. This massive 1-hit-KO ability covers about 60% of the arena in shadow, killing anyone caught inside. Khadgar will give everyone a speed buff to get to the other side of the platform and avoid it. The first time Gul'dan casts this, he will teleport to the other side and immedietly attack the tanks. The second, he will run across the arena and cast Eye of Gul'dan in the center of the arena. If he is not dead by then, then he will cast a third Storm of the Destroyer, teleport to the tanks, and berserk soon after.

Notes

  • Gul'dan quotes his former captor Grommash Hellscream, claiming "My will is unbreakable!"
  • Gul'dan's Mythic death quote is a reference to his main universe self's dying words: "I am Gul'dan! I am darkness incarnate! It cannot end... like this..."

Videos

Patch changes

  • Legion Hotfix (2017-06-13):
    • Fel Scythe damage reduced by 15%.
    • Gul'dan's health decreased by 3% on Heroic and Mythic difficulties.
  • Legion Hotfix (2017-04-03):
    • Damage done by Bonds of Fel and Empowered Bonds of Fel have been reduced for smaller raid sizes.
    • Eye of Gul'dan and Empowered Eye of Gul'dan now take up to 50% longer to reach max energy (and begin to cast Duplicate), to better accommodate smaller raid sizes.
    • Resolved an issue in which Gul'dan could inadvertently teleport to the wrong tank after Storm of the Destroyer.
  • Legion Hotfix (2017-03-31): Corrected an issue that was preventing the Ahead of the Curve and Cutting Edge achievements for Gul'dan from being properly awarded.
  • Legion Hotfix (2017-03-21):
    • Resolved an issue in which a player could retain the visual effects of Bonds of Fel after death.
    • Resolved an issue in which the detonation from Bonds of Fel could occur after the player was combat-resurrected.
  • Legion Hotfix (2017-03-17): Resolved an issue that could cause Eye of Gul'dan to inflict damage faster than intended.
  • Legion Hotfix (2017-01-31): Resolved an issue that could cause Empowered Bonds of Fel to instantly detonate.
  • Legion Hotfix (2017-01-30): Resolved an issue where players afflicted by Empowered Bonds of Fel would fail to recieve[sic] warning text.
  • Legion Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Added.

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