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Blackrock Depths - Upper, Healer Guide

Updated 5 months ago for patch 1.13 by Preston. View the change log.

This page covers healer-focused strategies for the Blackrock Depths - Upper 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 Upper or City section is the second of the two.

This section can be accessed more quickly using the Shadowforge Key.

 Bosses

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

Warder Stilgiss Dungeon Journal Model Warder Stilgiss/The Vault

To spawn Stilgiss you need the Dark Keeper Key, obtained from a Dark Keeper in Blackrock Depths. A sign with the location of the Dark Keeper is located near the vault. With the key, you can open all the vaults in the room, which spawns the boss and his pet.

  • Warder Stilgiss
    • Interrupt Frostbolt to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.
    • Purge Frost Armor to remove the increased armor effect.
    • Purge Frost Ward to remove the frost damage absorption effect if you have a class that deals frost damage (like a mage).
    • Stay at least 10-yards away to avoid Frost Nova.
  • Verek
    • Deals extra damage to the tank with Thrash.
    • Dispel Curse of Blood (curse) to remove the increased physical damage taken effect.
    • Dispel Enrage (enrage) to remove the increased attack speed and damage dealt effect.

 Healing Notes

  • The tank will be taking significant damage while both enemies are alive, especially if you don't have a Curse dispel.
 Debuffs to Track

Pyromancer Loregrain Dungeon Journal Model Pyromancer Loregrain

  • Interrupt Molten Blast to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.
  • Dispel Flame Shock (magic) to prevent the light damage over time.
  • Purge Fire Ward to remove the fire damage absorption effect if you have a class that deals fire damage (like a mage).
  • Kill the Scorching Totem to prevent the damage dealt to random players.

 Healing Notes

  • The most important thing is the group keeping the Scorching Totem killed.
 Debuffs to Track

General Angerforge Dungeon Journal Model General Angerforge

  • Deals extra damage to the tank while Flurry is active.
  • Applies Sunder Armor to the tank, reducing armor.
  • Dispel Enrage (enrage) to remove the increased attack speed and damage dealt effect.
  • At 40% health, summons several enemies to aid him.
    • Anvilrage Reservist
      • Increases attack power of nearby enemies with Battle Shout.
    • Anvilrage Medic
      • Interrupt Prayer of Healing to prevent the healing on all nearby enemies.
      • Interrupt Heal to prevent the healing.
      • Purge Power Word: Fortitude to remove the increased stamina effect.
      • Will attempt to run away at low health.

 Healing Notes

  • Be aware of the extra healing required when the adds come out at 40%, especially when combined with Flurry.
 Debuffs to Track

Golem Lord Argelmach Dungeon Journal Model Golem Lord Argelmach

  • Interrupt Chain Lightning to prevent the damage dealt to the group.
    • If reliable interrupts aren't available, stay at least 15 yards away from other players to prevent it from chaining.
  • Purge Lightning Shield to prevent the damage dealt to physical damage dealers.

 Healing Notes

  • As long as Chain Lightning is dealt with by interrupting or spreading out, this encounter shouldn't be too difficult.
 Debuffs to Track

Phalanx Dungeon Journal Model Phalanx

To begin the encounter, purchase 6 Dark Iron Ale Mug from Plugger Spazzring. Give these to Private Rocknot to cause him to begin raging, triggering Phalanx into action.

 Healing Notes

 Debuffs to Track

Ambassador Flamelash Dungeon Journal Model Ambassador Flamelash

  • Burning Spirits continually spawn from the runes near the edges of the room.
    • If these reach Flamelash, they grant a stack of Burning Spirit, increasing damage dealt.

 Healing Notes

  • This encounter can quickly get out of control if the Burning Spirits aren't killed quickly.
 Debuffs to Track
  • There are no particular debuffs to track.

Panzor the Invincible Dungeon Journal Model Panzor the Invincible

This is a rare enemy and may not always be present.

 Healing Notes

 Debuffs to Track
  • There are no particular debuffs to track.

Chest of The Seven Dungeon Journal Model The Seven

During this encounter you'll fight against seven mini-bosses.

  • Anger'rel
    • Applies Sunder Armor to the tank, reducing armor.
    • At 25% health, uses Shield Wall and takes less damage for 10-seconds.
  • Doom'rel
    • Interrupt Shadow Bolt Volley to prevent the damage dealt to all players.
    • Dispel Curse of Weakness (curse) from physical damage dealers to remove the decreased physical damage dealt effect.
    • Dispel Immolate (magic) to prevent the damage over time.
  • Gloom'rel
    • The tank will be dealing with Mortal Strike, taking reduced healing while affected.
    • Hits the tank and the player closest to the tank with Cleave.
  • Hate'rel
    • Interrupt Mana Burn to prevent the mana drain effect.
    • Purge Shadow Shield to remove the damage absorption effect.
  • Seeth'rel
    • Purge Frost Armor to remove the increased armor effect.
    • Purge Frost Ward to remove the frost damage absorption effect if you have a class that deals frost damage (like a mage).
    • Don't stand in front of the boss to avoid Cone of Cold.
    • Stay at least 10-yards away to avoid Frost Nova (dispel, magic).
    • Avoid the location of Blizzard.
  • Vile'rel

 Healing Notes

  • Keep an eye on your mana as you may not be able to drink between mini-bosses.
  • Gloom'rel: Be prepared to heal the non-tank player being hit by Cleave, likely a melee DPS.
 Debuffs to Track

Magmus Dungeon Journal Model Magmus

  • Avoid the area in front of the golems on the walls, they'll spew fire through the encounter.
  • Interrupt Fiery Burst to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.
  • Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid War Stomp.

 Healing Notes

  • Be aware of players caught in the fire from the golems on the wall, they'll need critical healing to survive.
 Debuffs to Track
  • There are no particular debuffs to track.

Magmus Dungeon Journal Model Emperor Dagran Thaurissan

Thaurissan is accompanied by Princess Moira Bronzebeard.

  • Emperor Dagran Thaurissan
    • Deals extra damage to the tank with random extra attacks granted by his Ironfoe weapon.
    • Becomes immune to magic while Avatar of Flame, dealing extra damage to the tank with each attack.
    • Targets random players Hand of Thaurissan, dealing moderate damage and stunning for 5-seconds.
  • Princess Moira Bronzebeard
    • Can be crowd-controlled and kept alive until Thaurissan is killed, at which point she becomes friendly (this is required for completing one of the quests here).
      • However, to access loot she drops, she must be killed first.
    • Interrupt Heal to prevent the healing.
    • Purge Renew to prevent the healing over time.

 Healing Notes

  • The tank will be taking significant damage through out the encounter, especially if you elect to kill Moira.
  • The encounter can get hectic depending on which players end up being targeted with Hand of Thaurissan.
 Debuffs to Track

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 Trash Mobs

Below are notes for the trash mobs in Blackrock Depths - Upper. Blackrock Depths - Upper has a relatively linear layout. 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 Warder Stilgiss

  • The entrance in this case is the staircase leading up from Blackrock Depths - Lower.
  • 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
  • Twilight Emissary

Warder Stilgiss thru Pyromancer Loregrain

  • This area includes Shadowforge Peasants, Twilight Bodyguards, and Twilight Emissaries, detailed above.
  • Anvilrage Officer
  • Doomforge Craftsman
    • Avoid the impact location of Bomb.
  • Fireguard Destroyer

Pyromancer Loregrain thru General Angerforge

  • This area includes Fireguard Destroyers, detailed above.
  • Anvilrage Marshal
    • Interrupt Holy Light to prevent the healing.
    • Grants nearby enemies reduced physical damage taken with Devotion Aura.
  • Anvilrage Medic
    • Interrupt Prayer of Healing to prevent the healing on all nearby enemies.
    • Interrupt Heal to prevent the healing.
  • Anvilrage Reservist
    • Grants nearby enemies increased attack power with Battle Shout.
  • 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.

General Angerforge thru Golem Lord Argelmach

  • Doomforge Arcanasmith
  • Ragereaver Golem
    • Deals extra damage to the tank with Flurry.
    • Dispel Enrage (enrage) to remove the increased attack speed effect.
  • 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.
  • Wrath Hammer Construct
    • The tank will be dealing with Uppercut.
    • Interrupt Flame Cannon to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.

Golem Lord Argelmach thru Phalanx

  • This area includes Anvilrage Guardsman, Anvilrage Medic, Anvilrage Officers, Anvilerage Soldiers, and Blazing Fireguards, detailed above.
  • Hurley Blackbreath
    • Don't stand in front to avoid damage from Flame Breath.
    • Dispel Drunken Rage (enrage) to remove the increased attack speed and physical damage dealt effect.
  • Plugger Spazzring
    • Targets random players with Banish, making them immune to damage, healing, and spell effects.
    • Dispel Curse of Tongues (curse) from casters to remove the reduced cast speed effect.
    • Dispel Immolate (magic) to prevent the light damage over time.
  • Blackbreath Crony
    • Applies Rupture to the tank, dealing light damage over time.

Phalanx thru Ambassador Flamelash

  • Based on information I found and my memory of the dungeon, there's no trash between Phalanx and Flamelash. I'll update this as necessary.

Ambassador Flamelash thru The Seven

  • This area includes Doomforge Arcanasmith, detailed above.
  • Molten War Golem
    • Dispel Immolate (magic) to prevent the light damage over time.

The Seven thru Magmus

  • This area includes Fireguard Destroyers, and Anvilrage Reservists, detailed above.
  • Once inside the Lyceum, trash mobs respawn after a very short period of time, making it important to move through the area quickly.
    • Kill Shadowforge Flame Keepers patrolling around the large room to loot Shadowforge Torch.
    • Use the Shadowforge Torches to light the two large braziers in the north-east and south-east of the room. This opens the large doors on the east of the room.

Magmus thru Emperor Dagran Thaurissan

  • This area includes Doomforge Dragoons, detailed above.
  • Anvilrage Captain
    • Reduces the attack power of nearby players with Demoralizing Shout.
    • The tank will be dealing with Mortal Strike, taking reduced healing while affected.
    • Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid the interrupt from Shield Bash.
  • Shadowforge Senator
  • Twilight's Hammer Ambassador
    • Dispel Amplify Damage (magic) to remove the increased damage taken effect.
    • Dispel Curse of Weakness (curse) from physical damage dealers to remove the decreased physical damage dealt effect.
    • Dispel Bloodlust (enrage) to remove the increased attack speed effect.
    • Dispel Flame Shock (magic) to prevent the light damage over time.
    • Can interrupt player spell casts with Earth Shock.

 Trash Debuffs to Track

Comment on Blackrock Depths - Upper, Healer Guide

Changelog - View the last ten changes. - +

August 27, 2019 - 4:16 pm (Healer) - Added guide.