Stratholme (Classic)

This article is about the original instance. For the present-day instances, see Stratholme Main Gate and Stratholme Service Entrance. For history, see Stratholme. For the events of the Culling of Stratholme, see Culling of Stratholme (disambiguation).

Stratholme
Strat Live and Strat Undead Scarlet Strat and Strat UD Strat
Stratholme loading graphic
Location	Plaguewood, Eastern Plaguelands
Race(s)	Human  Cultist  Scourge
End boss	Balnazzar (Main Gate)   Baron Rivendare (Service Entrance)
Level	56-61
Min lvl	45
Player limit	5
Key	[The Scarlet Key] (Scarlet Crusade side)  [Key to the City] (Eastwall Gate Service Entrance)
Bosses Scarlet Stratholme Skul (rare) Balzaphon (Scourge Invasion) Stratholme Courier Fras Siabi Atiesh (summoned) Hearthsinger Forresten (rare) The Unforgiven Postmaster Malown (summoned) Timmy the Cruel Malor the Zealous Crimson Hammersmith (summoned) Cannon Master Willey Archivist Galford Balnazzar Jarien and Sothos (summoned) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) Stratholme loot Undead Stratholme Stonespine (rare) Nerub'enkan Baroness Anastari Black Guard Swordsmith (summoned) Maleki the Pallid Magistrate Barthilas Ramstein the Gorger Baron Rivendare (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) Defenders of the Chapel Aelmar the Vanquisher (summoned) Cathela the Seeker (summoned) Gregor the Justiciar (summoned) Vicar Hieronymus (summoned) Nemas the Arbiter (summoned) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) NPC Aurius Ysida Harmon (lore) (lore) Stratholme loot

The city of Stratholme^[27, 8] (pronounced ˈstrathːhɔlm or STRATH-olm) was the northernmost and second most populous city of the kingdom of Lordaeron, and is the city where the Order of the Silver Hand was founded. Today, Stratholme is the Scourge's capital in Lordaeron. The mad Prince Arthas ravaged Stratholme in the Third War and the undead moved in soon after. Stratholme burns to this day, and its districts have been split between the overzealous Scarlet Crusade led by Grand Crusader Dathrohan, and the Scourge forces led by the death knight Baron Rivendare.

History

From the World Dungeons page on the official World of Warcraft Community Site:

Once the jewel of northern Lordaeron, the city of Stratholme is where Prince Arthas turned against his mentor, Uther Lightbringer, and slaughtered hundreds of his own subjects who were believed to have contracted the dreaded plague of undeath. Arthas' downward spiral and ultimate surrender to the Lich King soon followed. The broken city is now inhabited by the undead Scourge -- led by the powerful lich, Kel'Thuzad. A contingent of Scarlet Crusaders, led by Grand Crusader Dathrohan, also holds a portion of the ravaged city. The two sides are locked in constant, violent combat. Those adventurers brave (or foolish) enough to enter Stratholme will be forced to contend with both factions before long. It is said that the city is guarded by three massive watchtowers, as well as powerful necromancers, banshees and abominations. There have also been reports of a malefic Death Knight riding atop an unholy steed, dispensing indiscriminate wrath on all those who venture within the realm of the Scourge.

Geography

Maps and subregions

• 

  Living side
• 

  Undead side
• 

  Atlas map showing various shops that were in Stratholme.

Alonsus Chapel The Crimson Throne Crusaders' Square Elders' Square Festival Lane The Gauntlet The Hall of Lights The Hoard King's Square Market Row The Scarlet Bastion The Slaughter House Slaughter Square

Dungeon denizens

Stratholme bosses

• Abominations
• Banshees
• Beetles
• Crypt fiends
• Death knights (one, Baron Rivendare)
• Demonhunters (formerly one, Atiesh)
• Dreadlords (one, Balnazzar)
• Gargoyles
• Ghosts
• Ghouls
•  Humans
• Liches (formerly one, Balzaphon)
• Larvae (critters)
• Rats (critters)
• Skeletal warriors
• Skeletons
• Wights (one, Magistrate Barthilas)
• Wraiths
• Zombies

Encounters

Bosses	Monsters
King's Square  Balzaphon (Scourge Invasion)  Ezra Grimm (Summoned)  Postmaster Malown (Summoned)  Stratholme Courier  Skul (rare)	Broken Cadaver  Eye of Naxxramas  Ghostly Citizen  Mangled Cadaver  Patchwork Horror  Plague Ghoul  Plagued Insect  Plagued Maggot  Plagued Rat  Ravaged Cadaver  Rockwing Gargoyle  Skeletal Berserker  Skeletal Guardian  Spectral Citizen  Spiteful Phantom  Undead Postman  Wrath Phantom
Market Row  Hearthsinger Forresten (Rare)  Postmaster Malown (Summoned)  The Unforgiven	Broken Cadaver  Eye of Naxxramas  Ghostly Citizen  Mangled Cadaver  Patchwork Horror  Plague Ghoul  Plagued Insect  Plagued Maggot  Plagued Rat  Ravaged Cadaver  Rockwing Gargoyle  Skeletal Berserker  Skeletal Guardian  Spectral Citizen  Spiteful Phantom  Undead Postman  Vengeful Phantom  Wrath Phantom
Crusaders' Square  Postmaster Malown (Summoned)  Timmy the Cruel	Crimson Conjuror  Crimson Gallant  Crimson Guardsman  Crimson Initiate  Plagued Insect  Plagued Maggot  Plagued Rat  Skeletal Berserker  Skeletal Guardian  Summoned Water Elemental
The Scarlet Bastion  Archivist Galford  Malor the Zealous	Crimson Conjuror  Crimson Guardsman  Crimson Initiate  Crimson Inquisitor  Crimson Monk  Crimson Sorcerer  Skeletal Berserker  Skeletal Guardian  Summoned Water Elemental
The Hall of Lights	Crimson Battle Mage  Crimson Conjuror  Crimson Gallant  Crimson Guardsman  Crimson Initiate  Skeletal Berserker  Skeletal Guardian  Summoned Water Elemental
The Hoard  Cannon Master Willey	Crimson Defender  Crimson Gallant  Crimson Priest  Crimson Rifleman  Crimson Sorcerer
The Crimson Throne  Balnazzar  Grand Crusader Dathrohan  Jarien and Sothos (Summoned)
Festival Lane  Atiesh <Hand of Sargeras> (Atiesh quest chain)  Postmaster Malown (Summoned)  Skul (rare)	Broken Cadaver  Eye of Naxxramas  Ghostly Citizen  Mangled Cadaver  Patchwork Horror  Plague Ghoul  Plagued Insect  Plagued Maggot  Plagued Rat  Ravaged Cadaver  Rockwing Gargoyle  Skeletal Berserker  Skeletal Guardian  Spectral Citizen  Spiteful Phantom  Undead Postman  Wrath Phantom
Elder's Square  Magistrate Barthilas  Postmaster Malown (Summoned)	Mangled Cadaver  Plagued Insect Plagued Maggot  Plagued Rat  Ravaged Cadaver  Skeletal Berserker  Skeletal Guardian  Undead Postman
Alonsus Chapel  Aelmar the Vanquisher (Summoned)  Aurius (Summoned)  Gregor the Justiciar (Summoned)  Nemas the Arbiter (Summoned)  Vicar Hieronymus (Summoned)
The Gauntlet  Baroness Anastari  Black Guard Swordsmith (Summoned)  Magistrate Barthilas  Maleki the Pallid  Nerub'enkan  Stonespine (Rare)	Crypt Beast  Crypt Crawler  Eye of Naxxramas  Fleshflayer Ghoul  Ghoul Ravener  Plague Ghoul  Plagued Insect  Plagued Maggot  Plagued Rat  Rockwing Gargoyle  Rockwing Screecher  Shrieking Banshee  Skeletal Servant  Thuzadin Necromancer  Thuzadin Shadowcaster  Undead Scarab  Wailing Banshee
Slaughter Square  Ramstein the Gorger	Bile Spewer  Bile Slime  Black Guard Sentry  Mindless Undead  Venom Belcher
The Slaughter House  Baron Rivendare	Mindless Skeleton

Summary

The gates of Stratholme.

On first entering Stratholme through the main entrance, the gate closes. Therefore, the only way out is to fight your way to the service entrance (the key to which is held by Magistrate Barthilas), also known as the "back door", or use a hearthstone or mage portal to get out. Teleporting out is also possible through the dungeon finder, if it was used to form your group. If someone is already at the service entrance, they can use the lever to open the gate and let others in. Another way to do this is duel, then aggro nearby hostiles (or just aggro monsters from the start), and slip through the door in ghost from, and resurrect on the other side.

Stratholme is basically divided into two parts, though the boundaries are somewhat vague. Scarlet Side or "Live Side", which goes from the main entrance into the Scarlet Crusade-controlled citadel, and Scourge Side or "Undead Side", which can also be accessed from the main entrance, but more commonly through the Service Entrance (which requires a key or Lockpicking 300) to the Scourge slaughterhouse. However, both "sides" are part of the same instance and players can complete both tracks. When using the dungeon finder the end boss, and thus the side of Stratholme your party needs to clear, is determined by the entrance you are ported to. The main gate will lead to the Live Side, while the service entrance will lead to the Undead Side. Players can complete the other side as well, but will not earn credit for completing the dungeon until they destroy the end boss of the appropriate side. The  [Stratholme] achievement requires completion of both sides, but this can be accomplished during separate runs.

Engineers can blast their way through the Service Entrance using Seaforium ([Powerful Seaforium Charge] or better), and blacksmiths a skeleton key ( [Arcanite Skeleton Key] or better). However, if you do, remember to take two charges with you, as there are two doors to open.

To get to Baron Rivendare, the 3 Ash'ari Crystals must be toppled. These Crystals are guarded by 3 of the bosses: Baroness Anastari, Nerub'enkan and Maleki the Pallid. Kill them, and all the trash mobs inside the ziggurats they guard, and the Crystals will be toppled, allowing you entry to the Slaughterhouse where Baron Rivendare waits.

Scarlet side

The Scarlet Bastion

• Also known as: FD Strat, Strat Scarlet, Strat Light, Scarlet Strath, Strath Live, Living Strat, Liveside, Hu(man) Strat, West Strat, SM Strat
• Enemy Level Range: 55–62
• End Boss: Grand Crusader Dathrohan/Balnazzar
• Mini Bosses:
  • Malor the Zealous
  • Archivist Galford
  • Cannon Master Willey
  • Timmy the Cruel
  • Hearthsinger Forresten
  • The Unforgiven
  • Skul
  • Stratholme Courier
  • Balzaphon (Scourge Invasion only, disappeared after it ended)
• Triggered Boss
  • Ezra Grimm
    • Opening up his tobacco box for the quest.
  • Postmaster Malown
    • Opening up various mailboxes with their corresponding keys.
  • Crimson Hammersmith
    • Clicking on a parchment named "Blacksmith Plans" will trigger the Hammersmith. The plans can appear in at least 2 known locations:
      1. On the floor in the Hoard area before Cannon Master Willey
      2. On a bench in the alcoves occupied by Archivist Galford
  • Atiesh (Atiesh quest chain, removed)
    • Summoned by using [Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian] on "consecrated earth." Atiesh is a boss-level NPC unlike the other bosses in Stratholme.

Quests

•  [60D] The Restless Souls Given by Caretaker Alen in Light's Hope Chapel, this is outside of the instance and can be done solo.
  •  [60D] The Restless Souls Given by Egan in Terrordale, enters Stratholme.
•  [15-30D] Of Love and Family This is part eight of a ten part quest chain started by Tirion Fordring on the banks of the Thondroril River in the Eastern Plaguelands. Look for the painting in the room with Archivist Galford.
•  [15-30D] The Great Ezra Grimm Stand alone quest given by Smokey LaRue in Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands.
•  [60D] The Right Piece of Lord Valthalak's Amulet Given by Bodley in Blackrock Mountain
•  [60D] The Archivist Given by Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff in Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands.
  •  [60D] The Truth Comes Crashing Down After you've turned in the quest to kill Archivist Galford, Balnazzar will drop his head when he is killed, starting this quest.

Undead side

Festival Lane

The Slaughterhouse — where Baron Rivendare dwells.

• Also known as: BD Strat, Undead Strat, Deadside, Scourge Strat, Baron side, UD Strat, Baron Run, Strat UD, East Strat, Strat Dead
• Enemy Level Range: 55–62
• End Boss: Baron Rivendare
• Mini Bosses:
  • Magistrate Barthilas (drops key to Scourge side)
  • Baroness Anastari
  • Nerub'enkan
  • Maleki the Pallid
  • Ramstein the Gorger
  • Stonespine (Rare Spawn)
• Triggered Boss
  • Postmaster Malown
    • Opening up various mailboxes with their corresponding keys.
  • Magistrate Barthilas
    • If entering through the Service Entrance, he will run to the end of the Gauntlet and be fought there, instead of Elder's Square where he is fought when entering through the Main Gate.
  • Black Guard Swordsmith
    • The Black Guard Swordsmith is triggered by clicking on some blacksmithing plans on the floor to the right of the stairs of the First Ziggurat. Baroness Anastari is at the top of the stairs.
  • Aurius, Aelmar the Vanquisher Gregor the Justiciar, Vicar Hieronymus and Nemas the Arbiter
    • Aurius turns hostile when using [Extinguishing Mixture] for the Horde quest, True Masters of the Light, and the other paladins are summoned during the encounter.

Quests

The streets of Stratholme.

•  [60] The Medallion of Faith To activate this quest, you need to have collected a  [Medallion of Faith] from the strongbox behind Malor the Zealous on the Scarlet Side. Give this Medallion to Aurius in the chapel at the beginning of the Undead side. When you fight Baron Rivendare, Aurius will appear and help you in the fight. Once the battle is over, you'll be able to chose your reward.
  •  [60D] Aurius' Reckoning Given by Aurius
•  [43D] Doctor Theolen Krastinov, the Butcher Given by Eva Sarkhoff in Caer Darrow in the Western Plaguelands, takes you into the Scholomance.
  •  [60D] Krastinov's Bag of Horrors
    •  [43D] Kirtonos the Herald Upon completing this quest you will receive the  [Spectral Essence], a trinket that allows you to speak with the ghosts at Caer Darrow. This offers several benefits, including the ability to purchase the recipe for Major Mana Potions, and the continuation of the quest chain.
      •  [60G] The Human, Ras Frostwhisper Given by Magistrate Marduke in Caer Darrow in the Western Plaguelands, takes you to Stromgarde Keep in the Arathi Highlands.
        •  [60G] The Dying, Ras Frostwhisper Takes you to Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands.
          •  [60D] Menethil's Gift Given by Leonid Barthalomew the Revered, enters Stratholme. Once Baron Rivendare is dead, use the item in the symbol on the floor.
            •  [60G] Menethil's Gift Back to Barthalomew.
              •  [60G] Soulbound Keepsake Back to Marduke.
                •  [43D] The Lich, Ras Frostwhisper Back into the Scholomance.

•  [60D] The Flesh Does Not Lie Given by Betina Bigglezink in Light's Hope Chapel. A simple collection quest. Almost any enemy in Undead Strat, and most undead on the scarlet side will drop the plagued flesh samples.
  •  [60D] The Active Agent This is the follow-up to The Flesh Does Not Lie. The reward upgrades your  [Argent Dawn Commission] to offer you combat bonuses in addition to allowing the collection of Scourgestones.
•  [60D] Above and Beyond This is a follow-up to The Truth Comes Crashing Down. It simply requires you to kill Baron Rivendare.
•  [60D] Houses of the Holy Given by Leonid Barthalomew the Revered in Light's Hope Chapel. This requires you to pick up  [Stratholme Holy Water], which is in crates around around both sides of the instance. Most crates are corrupted and will contain rats or maggots instead, which you will have to kill. If you have a dwarf in the group, they can use the Treasure Finding racial ability to determine which crates are not corrupted.
•  [60D] Ramstein This quest becomes available from Nathanos Blightcaller after completing his first two sets of quests. You must kill the abomination Ramstein, who comes out of the slaughterhouse just before you fight Baron Rivendare. Loot the Head of Ramstein the Gorger from his body and hand it in to Nathanos.
•    [60D] True Masters of the Light - Given by Lady Liadrin in Silvermoon's Farstriders' Square, this quest is the last of the Blood Charger questline. Travel to the Alonsus Chapel and extinguish the eternal flame there. You must defeat Aurius and five ghostly paladins.
•  [60D] Dead Man's Plea Given by Anthion Harmon just outside the instance, although you must have the  [Extra-Dimensional Ghost Revealer] to interact with him. This step in the quests for the Dungeon Set 2 upgrades requires you to engage Baron Rivendare in 45 minutes. See the Baron in 45 guide. There is also a graphic map displaying what and where to pull to reach the baron using the least possible time.

Loot

Main article: Stratholme loot

Trivia

The original version of Naxxramas - the one from even before Patch 1.11.0 - can still be seen flying over Stratholme.

• There is a raid instance portal at the end of the instance, outside the Slaughter Square. This was intended to lead to Naxxramas, similar to the Molten Core entrance from Blackrock Depths. Carefully using a flying mount to approach Stratholme from the outside shows that an old version of the necropolis is still flying near Slaughter Square. There are ruined flags carrying the insignia of Lordaeron (in original blue) inside the tunnel, which are not seen anywhere else inside Stratholme. The portal can be seen during the event before Rivendare, when lesser undead are brought in from the area. If you delay, the area will close and you will become stuck.
• The Ghostly Citizens and Spectral Citizens in the instance will emote back things like /wave and /dance.
•  [Stoneskin Gargoyle Cape] drops in this instance. This particular item is white and looks longer than your average cloak or cape.
• The sign post at the entrance says "To Stranglethorn." This is technically true.

Videos

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• Stratholme Mount Farming
• Stratholme mount run - how to solo
• Destro Warlock farming the Baron Run

Patch changes

• Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23):
  • Level reduced to 42-56.
  • Quests, mobs, and bosses updated.
  • Split into Stratholme Main Gate and Stratholme Service Entrance instances.
    
• Patch 1.10.0 (2006-03-28): Cap changed from 10 to 5 players.
  
• Patch 1.6.0 (2005-07-12):
  • Several spawns removed from Stratholme. This should make for a more enjoyable 5 player experience. Also, you will now be able to make additional attempts at Ramstein and/or Baron Rivendare should your initial attempt fail.
  • The trapped chests in Stratholme will now show up for Detect Traps and can be disarmed. In addition, the number of creatures that come out of the trapped chests has been reduced.
  • Many creatures in Stratholme have gained Detect Invisibility/Stealth.
    
• Patch 1.4.0 (2005-04-19):
  • 26 new Rare items have been added to Stratholme.
  • Several Uncommon items have been upgraded to Rare quality.
  • There is a new load screen for Stratholme.
    
• Patch 1.3.0 (2005-03-07):
  • Capped at ten players.
  • Lengthened the respawn time of many of the creatures in Stratholme.
  • Crimson Conjurers will no longer roam in pairs.
  • Changed the way the Gauntlet area works. The Crystals no longer respawn.
  • The Crystals no longer fire ribbon of souls (this was causing in-combat issues).
  • Fixed a bug that was causing monsters to leave combat in mid-fight, thus regaining all their health.
    
• Patch 0.10 (2004-09-18): Added.
  

External links

Dungeon	Eastern Plaguelands subzone
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