Freehold, Healer Guide
Updated 3 years, 10 months ago for patch 8.3 by Preston. View the change log.
This page covers healer-focused strategies for the Freehold 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.
Bosses
Below are guides for the bosses in Freehold, including their abilities, healer notes, and addon settings.
Skycap'n Kragg
Stage One - mounted combat
During this stage, Kragg is mounted on his companion, Sharkbait.
- Don't stand between Sharkbait and the location targeted by Charrrrrge.
- Targets random players with Pistol Shot.
Stage Two - death rains from above
During this stage, Sharkbait takes to the skies and players fight Kragg directly.
- Avoid the pools created by Vile Bombardment.
- Stay away from other players to prevent extra damage from Azerite Powder Shot
- Interrupt Revitalizing Brew.
- On Heroic, avoid the path of Dive Bomb when Sharkbait lands near the edge of the arena.
Healing Notes
- Watch for players taking damage from Pistol Shot.
Debuffs to Track
- There are no particular debuffs to track on this fight.
Addons
Council o' Captains
During this fight, players will be fighting against several members of the council at the same time. Before engaging, you can become an ally of one of the captains by completing a short "quest" before the boss. The quest involves following a Perky Pug around to free prisoners, or defeating several highlighted enemies. This will remove the Under One Banner buff the captains would receive otherwise.
Captain Raoul
- Targets random players with Blackout Barrel.
- This should be attacked and destroyed.
- Avoid standing near Raoul during Barrel Smash.
- When allied with Raoul, Tapped Keg increases player's damage dealt by 15% when standing near the keg.
Captain Eudora
- Targets random players with Powder Shot, dealing heavy damage.
- Avoid being in front of Eudora during Grapeshot as she rotates slowly.
- When allied with Eudora, Chain Shot will periodically stun a random captain.
Captain Jolly
- Stay at least 5-yards away from other players to avoid extra damage from Cutting Surge.
- Avoid Whirlpool of Blades.
- When allied with Jolly, Trade Wind's Vigor temporarily increases player's movement speed.
Rummy Mancomb
On Heroic, Freehold's bartender will continue to serve drinks as the fight goes on. He's not directly attackable.
- Caustic Freehold Brew deals moderate damage over time.
- Confidence-Boosting Freehold Brew temporarily increases critical strike by 50%.
- Invigorating Freehold Brew temporarily increases haste by 30%
Healing Notes
- Use Cooldowns during Barrel Smash, Grapeshot, or Whirlpool of Blades. Especially if one or more is happening at the same time.
- Watch for players taking damage from Powder Shot as they'll need heavy healing afterwards.
Debuffs to Track
- Minor: Cutting Surge, Caustic Freehold Brew
Addons
Ring of Booty
After fighting several minor enemies in the Ring of Booty, the reigning champion, Trothak, will enter the ring.
Minor Enemies
- Lightning
- A slippery, non-hostile pig that must be captured!
- Ludwig Von Tortollen
- Avoid the shells moving around the arena from Shell Bounce.
Trothak
- Avoid standing near Trothak during Shark Tornado.
- Avoid the Flailing Sharks that appear.
- These will slowly hop towards nearby players.
- Targets random players with Ripper Punch, dealing light damage over time.
- Stay at least 8-yards away from other players to avoid extra damage from Shark Toss.
- Avoid the path between Trothak and the Flailing Shark he's chosen during Rearm.
- On Heroic, kite Flailing Shark through Throw Chum to slow their movement speed.
Healing Notes
- Watch for players caught by Flailing Sharks.
Debuffs to Track
- Minor: Ripper Punch
Addons
Harlan Sweete
- At 60% health, Harlan gains Loaded Dice: All Hands!, causing his abilities to target additional players.
- At 30% health, Harlan gains Loaded Dice: Man-O-War, increasing his attack speed and damage taken.
- Avoid the vortexes created by Swiftwind Saber, these are targeted in random directions.
- When affected by Cannon Barrage, move away from the group and out of the targeted locations as they appear.
- Being hit deals moderate damage and then light damage over time from Flaming Shrapnel.
- Avast, ye! summons an Irontide Grenadier that charges a random player.
- These can be stunned, knocked back, and killed.
- If they reach the player, their Black Powder Bomb deals moderate damage within 5-yards.
Healing Notes
- Use Cooldowns when Harlan is under 30% and using his abilities rapidly.
- Watch for players hit by Cannon Barrage or Black Powder Bomb.
Debuffs to Track
- Minor: Flaming Shrapnel
Addons
Trash Mobs
Below are notes for the trash mobs in Freehold. Freehold has a relatively linear layout. The trash below is ordered as if you're completing the bosses in the order they're listed above. Some spells don't exist in the database and will be added as soon as they're available.
Entrance thru Skycap'n Kragg
- Players will be continually bombarded by Vile Bombardment, avoid the resulting pools.
- Irontide Mastiff
- Crippling Bite deals significant damage to the tank if they're hit from behind.
- Dispel the Bestial Wrath Enrage effect.
- Irontide Corsair
- Dispel Poisoning Strike (poison).
- Irontide Bonesaw
- Interrupt Healing Balm (dispel, purge) to avoid the healing.
- Irontide Crackshot
- Avoid the impact locations of Azerite Grenade.
Skycap'n Kragg thru Council o' Captains
- Irontide Oarsman
- Avoid the locations of Sea Spouts.
- Irontide Buccaneer
- [Blade Barrage] deals heavy damage to nearby enemies.
- Irontide Brute
- Avoid Earth Shaker, this deals heavy damage to anyone affected.
- I couldn't tell exactly how this ability was working when watching my video, I'll update this after I get a chance to do another run.
- Avoid Earth Shaker, this deals heavy damage to anyone affected.
- Bilge Rat Brinescale
- Frost Blast targets a random player and deals light damage to all players in a cone, slowing their movement speed.
- Vermin Trapper
- Avoid the traps thrown out by Rat Traps.
- This area also includes Irontide Crackshots, detailed above.
Council o' Captains thru Ring of Booty
- Blacktooth Scrapper
- When fixated by Blind Rage (dispel, enrage), kite the Scrapper to avoid being hit.
- Blacktooth Knuckleduster
- Avoid casting during Shattering Bellow to not be interrupted.
- Irontide Crusher
- Avoid the impact location of [Boulder Throw].
- Stay away from these to avoid Ground Shatter.
- Cutwater Knife Juggler
- Ricocheting Throw deals light damage to nearby players.
- Cutwater Harpooner
- Pulls random players towards them with Dragging Harpoon.
- Bilge Rat Buccaneer
- Avoid their whirlwind during Goin' Bananas.
- This area also includes Irontide Oarsman, detailed above.
Ring of Booty thru Harlan Sweete
- Irontide Stormcaller
- Avoid or interrupt Thundering Squall channeled rings.
- Irontide Ravager
- Interrupt Painful Motivation to decrease the damage done to the tank.
- Irontide Officer
- Dispel Oiled Blade (magic), or be prepared for the affected player (usually the tank) to take 75% reduced healing.
- This area also includes Irontide Oarsman, Irontide Buccaneer, and Irontide Mastiff detailed above.
Trash Debuffs to Track
- Major: Oiled Blade (dispel, magic),
- Minor: Poisoning Strike (dispel, poison), Rat Traps, (257739)
- Enrages to Dispel: Bestial Wrath, Blind Rage
- Buffs to Purge: Healing Balm
Trash Addons
Videos
Mythic 10, 2 Upgrade Clear, Restoration Druid PoV
Below is a video of me clearing Freehold on Mythic 10 difficulty in time for a 2 upgrade.
Normal Clear, Restoration Druid PoV
Below is a video of me clearing Freehold on Normal difficulty on the Battle for Azeroth Alpha.
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