
Blackrock Depths - Upper, Healer Guide
Posted 1 year, 4 months ago for patch 1.13 by Preston.
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/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.
- Interrupt
- 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.
- Deals extra damage to the tank with
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
- Major:
Curse of Blood (dispel, curse)
- Buffs to Purge:
Frost Armor,
Frost Ward
- Enrages to Dispel:
Enrage
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
- Minor:
Flame Shock (dispel, magic)
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.
- Increases attack power of nearby enemies with
- 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.
- Interrupt
- Anvilrage Reservist
Healing Notes
- Be aware of the extra healing required when the adds come out at 40%, especially when combined with
Flurry.
Debuffs to Track
- Major:
Sunder Armor
- Buffs to Purge:
Power Word: Fortitude
- Enrages to Dispel:
Enrage
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
- Buffs to Purge:
Lightning Shield
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.
- The tank will be dealing with
Mighty Blow.
- Stay at least 10-yards away from the boss to avoid
Thunderclap (dispel, magic).
- Deals moderate damage to all players with
Fireball Volley.
Healing Notes
- Keep players near full health to prevent deaths from
Fireball Volley.
Debuffs to Track
- Minor:
Thunderclap (dispel, magic)
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.
- If these reach Flamelash, they grant a stack of
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
This is a rare enemy and may not always be present.
- Reflects spells while
Obsidian Reflection is active.
Healing Notes
- Be aware of caster DPS that are slow to quit casting during
Obsidian Reflection.
Debuffs to Track
- There are no particular debuffs to track.
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.
- Applies
- 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.
- Interrupt
- 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.
- The tank will be dealing with
- Hate'rel
- Interrupt
Mana Burn to prevent the mana drain effect.
- Purge
Shadow Shield to remove the damage absorption effect.
- Interrupt
- 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.
- Purge
- Vile'rel
- Interrupt
Prayer of Healing to prevent the healing on all nearby enemies.
- Interrupt
Heal to prevent the healing.
- Purge
Power Word: Shield to remove the damage absorption effect.
- Interrupt
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
- Major:
Sunder Armor,
Curse of Weakness (dispel, curse),
Mortal Strike
- Minor:
Immolate (magic),
Frost Nova
- Buffs to Purge:
Shadow Shield,
Frost Ward,
Frost Armor,
Power Word: Shield
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.
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.
- 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).
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
- Major:
Hand of Thaurissan
- Buffs to Purge:
Renew
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.
- Can
- 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.
- The tank will be dealing with
- 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).
- Interrupt
Warder Stilgiss thru Pyromancer Loregrain
- This area includes Shadowforge Peasants, Twilight Bodyguards, and Twilight Emissaries, detailed above.
- Anvilrage Officer
- The tank will be dealing with
Backhand.
- Interrupt
Holy Light to prevent the healing.
- Immune to damage while
Divine Shield is active.
- The tank will be dealing with
- Doomforge Craftsman
- Avoid the impact location of
Bomb.
- Avoid the impact location of
- Fireguard Destroyer
- Deals moderate damage to all players with
Fireball Volley.
- Deals moderate damage to all players with
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.
- Interrupt
- Anvilrage Medic
- Interrupt
Prayer of Healing to prevent the healing on all nearby enemies.
- Interrupt
Heal to prevent the healing.
- Interrupt
- Anvilrage Reservist
- Grants nearby enemies increased attack power with
Battle Shout.
- Grants nearby enemies increased attack power with
- 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.
- Hits the tank and the player closest to the tank with
General Angerforge thru Golem Lord Argelmach
- Doomforge Arcanasmith
- Interrupt
Arcane Explosion to prevent the light damage dealt to all players.
- Interrupt
- Ragereaver Golem
- 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.
- Stay at least 10-yards away from other players to mitigate the damage dealt by
- Wrath Hammer Construct
- The tank will be dealing with
Uppercut.
- Interrupt
Flame Cannon to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.
- The tank will be dealing with
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.
- Don't stand in front to avoid damage from
- 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.
- Targets random players with
- Blackbreath Crony
- Applies
Rupture to the tank, dealing light damage over time.
- Applies
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.
- Dispel
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.
- Kill Shadowforge Flame Keepers patrolling around the large room to loot
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.
- Reduces the attack power of nearby players with
- Shadowforge Senator
- Dispel
Curse of Agony (curse) to prevent the light damage over time.
- Purge
Fire Shield III to prevent the light damage dealt to nearby players.
- Stay at least 10-yards away to avoid
Frost Nova.
- Dispel
- 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.
- Dispel
Trash Debuffs to Track
- Major:
Banish,
Curse of Tongues (dispel, curse),
Mortal Strike,
Amplify Damage (dispel, magic),
Curse of Weakness (dispel, curse)
- Minor:
Immolate (dispel, magic),
Rupture,
Immolate (dispel, magic),
Curse of Agony (dispel, curse),
Flame Shock (dispel, magic)
- Enrages to Dispel:
Enrage,
Drunken Rage,
Bloodlust
- Buffs to Purge:
Fury of Ragnaros
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