Blackrock Depths - Lower, Healer Guide - World of Warcraft

This page covers healer-focused strategies for the Blackrock Depths - Lower dungeon. While it's tailored for healers, other roles may also find the information useful. If you have any suggestions or feedback, you can leave a comment below or tweet @PrestonDvorak.

This guide has been updated and maintained based on my own experiences as well as Dungeon Journal information. I'll continue to update it as-needed.

Best for players level 52-60.

While it's technically possible to access all of Blackrock Depths at one time, most players opt to do one of two sections. The Lower or Detention Block section is the first of the two.

This section allows players to obtain the Shadowforge Key by completing the Dark Iron Legacy quest. The key is used to unlock doors to access other parts of Blackrock Depths.

Bosses

Below are guides for the bosses in Blackrock Depths - Lower, including their abilities, healer notes, and addon settings.

High Interrogator Gerstahn

Interrupt Mana Burn to prevent the mana drain effect.
Dispel Shadow Word: Pain (magic) to prevent the damage over time.
Purge Shadow Shield to remove the damage absorption effect.
Fears all players with Psychic Scream.

Healing Notes

Be aware of player positioning after Psychic Scream, some players may end up our of range or line of sight.

Debuffs to Track

Minor: Shadow Word: Pain (dispel, magic)
Buffs to Purge: Shadow Shield

Lord Roccor

Dispel Flame Shock (magic) to prevent the damage over time.
Can interrupt player casts with Earth Shock.

Healing Notes

Be aware of trash mobs nearby and patrolling through the area.

Debuffs to Track

Minor: Flame Shock (dispel, magic)

Houndmaster Grebmar

Purge Bloodlust to remove the increased attack speed effect.
Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid the interrupt from Pummel.
Reduces attack power of nearby players with Demoralizing Shout.

Healing Notes

Be aware of trash mobs nearby and patrolling through the area.

Debuffs to Track

Buffs to Purge: Bloodlust

Ring of Law

The Ring of Law features a pool of bosses from which one is chosen at a time in a gauntlet style event. Below are the possible bosses.

Gorosh the Dervish
- The tank will be dealing with Mortal Strike, receiving 50% less healing for the duration of the effect.
- Purge Bloodlust to remove the increased attack speed effect.
- Stay at least 5-yards away during Whirlwind to avoid the heavy damage.
Grizzle
- Dispel
- Stay at least 20-yards away to avoid Ground Tremor.
Eviscerator
- Applies Vicious Rend to the tank.
- Interrupt Shadow Bolt Volley to prevent the damage dealt to all players.
- Is immune to magic damage while Anti-Magic Shield is active.
Ok'Thor the Breaker
- Interrupt or dispel Polymorph (magic).
- Interrupt Arcane Explosion if possible to prevent the light damage dealt to all players.
- Dispel Slow (magic) to remove the reduced attack and casting speed effect.
Anub'Shiah
- Dispel Curse of Tongues (curse) to remove the reduced cast speed effect.
- Dispel Curse of Weakness (curse) to remove the reduced physical damage dealt effect.
- Purge Demon Armor to remove the increased armor and resistance effect.
- Targets random players with Banish, making them immune to damage, healing, and spell effects.
- Targets random players with Enveloping Web, preventing them from moving or casting spells.
Hedrum the Creeper
- Dispel Baneful Poison (poison) to prevent the damage dealt over time.
  - If no Poison dispel is available, when affected move at least 10-yards away from other players.
- Dispel Paralyzing Poison (poison) to remove the stun effect.
- Immobilizes all players with Web Explosion.

Healing Notes

Anub'Shiah: Can be difficult depending on which players are affected by Enveloping Web and Banish at any one time.
Overall, the bosses aren't particular difficult if interrupts and dispels are handled.

Debuffs to Track

Major: Mortal Strike, Polymorph (dispel, magic), Curse of Tongues (dispel, curse), Curse of Weakness (dispel, curse), Slow (dispel, magic), Paralyzing Poison (dispel, poison)
Minor: Vicious Rend, Baneful Poison (dispel, poison)
Enrages to Dispel:
Buffs to Purge: Bloodlust, Demon Armor

Theldren

This boss is summoned in the Ring of Law using Banner of Provocation while on the quest The Challenge, which is part of the Dungeon Set quest line.

The tank will be dealing with:
- Disarm, possibly leading to threat generation issues.
- Mortal Strike, reducing healing received.
Interrupt Drink Healing Potion to prevent the healing.
Stay at least 8-yards away to avoid Hamstring.
Targets random players with Intercept, dealing light damage and stunning for 3-seconds.
Increases the attack power of enemies with Battle Shout.
Reduces the attack power of players within 10-yards with Demoralizing Shout.
Accompanied by four of the eight gladiators below, chosen at random with each instance reset.
- Shared Abilities
  - Interrupt Drink Healing Potion to prevent the healing.
- Korv
  - Stay at least 8-yards away to avoid War Stomp.
  - Kill any Fire Nova Totem or stay at least 10-yards away to avoid the pulsing damage.
  - Interrupt Lesser Healing Wave to prevent the healing.
  - Targets random players with Purge, removing up to two beneficial spells or buffs.
- Lefty
  - The tank will be dealing with Knockdown.
  - Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid the interrupt from Snap Kick.
  - Targets random players with Five Fat Finger Exploding Heart Technique, causing the affected player to die if they take more than five steps while active.
- Malgen Longspear
  - Avoid the location of Freezing Trap.
  - Targets random players with Multi-Shot, dealing moderate damage to up to three players.
  - Targets random players with Concussive Shot, reducing movement speed.
  - Accompanied by his pet, Gnashjaw.
- Rezznik
  - Don't stand in front to avoid Goblin Dragon Gun.
  - Targets random players with Dark Iron Bomb, dealing light damage and stunning for 4-seconds.
  - Removes crowd control effects from enemies and heals them with Recombobulate.
  - Accompanied by an Arcanite Dragonling from Summon Arcanite Dragonling.
    - Arcanite Dragonling
      - Don't stand in front to avoid Flame Breath.
      - Targets random players with Flame Buffet (dispel, magic), dealing light damage and increasing fire damage taken.
- Rotfang
  - Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid Gouge and the interrupt from Kick.
  - Dispel Slowing Poison (poison) on the tank and melee DPS to remove the increased time between attacks effect.
  - Targets random players within 5-yards with Kidney Shot, stunning them for 4-seconds.
  - Periodically Vanishes, removing all movement impairing effects.
- Snokh Blackspine
  - Stay at least 10-yards away to avoid Blast Wave.
  - Avoid the location of Flamestrike.
  - Interrupt or dispel Polymorph (magic) to remove the incapacitating effect.
- Va'jashni
  - Interrupt Flash Heal to prevent the healing.
  - Purge Renew to remove the healing over time effect.
  - Purge Power Word: Shield to remove the damage absorption effect.
  - Dispel Shadow Word: Pain (magic) to remove the light damage over time effecy.
- Volida
  - Don't stand in front to avoid Cone of Cold.
  - Stay at least 10-yards away to avoid Frost Nova (dispel, magic).
  - At low health, uses Ice Block, becoming immune to all damage and effects.

Healing Notes

Overall the fight will feel hectic due to all the additional enemies, but nothing should be particularly damaging. With focused DPS and/or crowd control, the fight should wind down quickly.
When Rotfang is active, be aware of temporary threat loss if the tank is affected by Gouge or Kidney Shot

Debuffs to Track

Major: Polymorph (dispel, magic), Slowing Poison (dispel, poison), Mortal Strike, Intercept, Kidney Shot, Gouge
Minor: Shadow Word: Pain (dispel, magic), Flame Buffet (dispel, magic), Frost Nova (dispel, magic)
Buffs to Purge: Power Word: Shield, Renew

Bael'gar

Applies Magma Splash to the tank, dealing light damage over time.
Avoid the impact location of Summon Spawn of Bael'Gar, spawns a Spawn of Bael'Gar.

Healing Notes

Be sure Spawns of Bael'Gar are kept under control.

Debuffs to Track

Minor: Magma Splash

Lord Incendius

Immune to most bleed effects and poisons.
The tank will be dealing with Mighty Blow.
Dispel Curse of the Elemental Lord (curse) to remove the reduced fire resistance effect.
Avoid the impact location of Fiery Burst.
Avoid the impact location of Fire Storm and the resulting fire patch.

Healing Notes

The fight can get out of control without a Curse dispel for Curse of the Elemental Lord, but if players are dodging spells properly you should be fine.
The tank needs to be careful not to get knocked off the platform by Mighty Blow.

Debuffs to Track

Major: Curse of the Elemental Lord (dispel, curse)

Fineous Darkvire

Deals extra damage to the tank with Holy Strike.
Interrupt Holy Light to prevent the healing.
Purge Seal of Reckoning to prevent the healing.
Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid the interrupt from Kick.
Grants nearby enemies reduced physical damage taken with Devotion Aura.

Healing Notes

The tank will be taking significant damage throughout the encounter.
Be aware of nearby enemies if your group elected not to clear all the trash mobs.

Debuffs to Track

Buffs to Purge: Seal of Reckoning

Trash Mobs

Below are notes for the trash mobs in Blackrock Depths - Lower. Blackrock Depths - Lower has a relatively open layout in most places. The trash below is ordered as if you're completing the bosses in the order they're listed above.

Throughout the instance, Humanoid enemies will attempt to run away in fear when at low health. Be prepared to slow and snare them.

Entrance thru High Interrogator Gerstahn

- Anvilrage Footman
  - Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid the interrupt from Kick.
- Anvilrage Guardsman
  - Can Disarm the tank, possibly leading to threat generation issues.
  - Applies Sunder Armor to the tank, reducing armor.
- Anvilrage Overseer
  - Increases the attack speed of nearby enemies with Haste Aura.
- Anvilrage Warden
  - Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid the interrupt from Shield Bash.
  - Targets random players with Hooked Net, dealing light damage and rooting them in place.
- Blazing Fireguard
  - Interrupt Scorch to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.
  - Dispel Immolate (magic) to prevent the damage over time.
- Bloodhound
  - Applies Rend to the tank, dealing light damage over time.
  - Interrupt Dire Growl to prevent the reduced strength and agility effect.
- Twilight's Hammer Torturer
  - Dispel Wracking Pains (curse) to remove the periodic stun effect.
  - Dispel Shadow Word: Pain (magic) to prevent the damage over time.

High Interrogator Gerstahn thru Lord Roccor/Houndmaster Grebmar

This area contains Anvilrage Footman, Anvilrage Guardsman, and Bloodhounds, detailed above.
Fireguard
- Interrupt Fireball to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.

Houndmaster Grebmar thru Ring of Law

During the first wave of the Ring of Law, you can fight the following trash mobs:
- Borer Beetle
  - Applies Pierce Armor to the tank, greatly reducing armor.
  - Dispel Putrid Enzyme (disease) to remove the increased nature and shadow damage taken effect.
- Burrowing Thundersnout
  - Interrupt Lizard Bolt to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.
  - Dispel Disjunction to remove the increased spell damage taken.
  - Stay at least 10-yards away to avoid Thunder Clap (dispel, magic).
- Cave Creeper
  - Dispel Creeper Venom (poison) to removed the increased physical damage taken effect.
  - Dispel Poison (poison) to prevent the light damage over time.
- Dark Screecher
  - Dispel Aural Shock (curse) from casters to remove the reduced casting speed effect.
  - Stay at least 10-yards away to avoid the silence from Sonic Burst (dispel, magic).
- Deep Stinger
  - Dispel Barbed Sting (poison) from melee DPS to remove the reduced attack speed effect.
  - Dispel Slowing Poison (poison) from melee DPS to remove the reduced attack speed effect.
  - Hits the tank and the player closest to the tank with Cleave.
- Dredge Worm
  - Interrupt or dispel Venom Spit (poison) to prevent the light damage over time.
  - Dispel Dredge Sickness (disease) to remove the reduced attributes effect.
  - Dispel Poison (poison) to prevent the light damage over time.

Ring of Law thru Bael'gar

This area includes Blazing Fireguards, and Bloodhounds, detailed above.
Anvilrage Medic
- Interrupt Prayer of Healing to prevent the healing on all nearby enemies.
- Interrupt Heal to prevent the healing.
Anvilrage Officer
- The tank will be dealing with Backhand.
- Interrupt Holy Light to prevent the healing.
- Immune to damage while Divine Shield is active.
Anvilrage Soldier
- Hits the tank and the player closest to the tank with Cleave.

Bael'gar thru Lord Incendius

This area includes Anvilrage Guardsman, Anvilrage Medic, Anvilrage Officers, Anvilerage Soldiers, and Blazing Fireguards, detailed above.
Doomforge Arcanasmith
- Interrupt Arcane Explosion to prevent the light damage dealt to all players.
Doomforge Craftsman
- Avoid the impact location of Bomb.
Doomforge Dragoon
- Hits the tank and the player closest to the tank with Cleave.
- Stay at least 10-yards away from other players to mitigate the damage dealt by Explosive Shot.
Fireguard Destroyer
- Deals moderate damage to all players with Fireball Volley.
Shadowforge Citizen
- Applies Sunder Armor to the tank, reducing armor.
- Hits the tank and the player closest to the tank with Cleave.
- Interrupt Heal to prevent the healing.
- Stay at least 10-yards away to avoid Frost Nova (dispel, magic).
Shadowforge Peasant
- Can Disarm the tank, possibly leading the threat generation issues.
- Interrupt Heal to prevent the healing.
- Avoid the impact location of Throw Dynamite.
Twilight Bodyguard
- The tank will be dealing with Fist of Ragnaros.
- Purge Seal of Sacrifice to remove the reduced damage taken effect.
- Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid the interrupt from Pummel.
Twilight Emissary
- Interrupt Arcane Explosion to prevent the light damage dealt to all players.
- Purge Fury of Ragnaros to remove the increased damage dealt effect.
- Avoid the location of Blizzard.
- Stay at least 10-yards away to avoid Frost Nova (dispel, magic).
Weapon Technician
- Stay at least 10-yards away from other players to mitigate the damage dealt by Explosive Shot.
- Deals moderate damage to up to three players with Multi-Shot.