Skip to main content

Wrathion, the Black Emperor, Healer Guide

Updated 3 years, 3 months ago for patch 8.3 by Preston. View the change log.

Wrathion, the Black Emperor Dungeon Journal ModelThis page covers a healer-focused strategy for Wrathion, the Black Emperor in Ny'alotha, the Waking City. 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 with the encounter, logs information, and Dungeon Journal information. I'll continue to update it as-needed.

General Mechanics and Abilities

Normal and Heroic

This encounter alternates between the two stages.

Stage One - The Black Emperor

This stage begins the encounter and ends after two uses of Molten Eruption (when the boss reaches 0% energy).

  • The tank will be dealing with Searing Breath.
  • When affected by Incineration, move as far away from other players as possible to reduce the damage dealt when the effect expires.
  • During Gale Blast:
    • Stay at least 30-yards away from the boss to avoid the first burst.
    • After that, avoid the fireball impact locations. These land very quickly so chances are some players will be hit.
  • During Burning Cataclysm, Wrathion teleports to one side of the room and releases dozens of Scorching Blisters.
    • Scorching Blisters each expand to 30-yards in size and will deal fatal damage to any player inside them.
    • The safe area is generally opposite of where Wrathion teleports to.
  • Avoid the impact locations of Molten Eruption and the resulting Molten Pools.
  • Don't stand behind the boss to avoid Tail Swipe.

Stage Two - Smoke and Mirrors

This stage begins when the boss reaches 0% energy and ends after about 1-minute.

  • All Molten Pools spawn a Crackling Shard.
    • Crackling Shard
      • When killed, stay at least 10-yards away to avoid Pyroclastic Flow.
      • Any Shard not killed before the end of stage two spawns a Lava Pool and applies one stack of Rising Heat to all players.
  • The impact locations of Scales of Wrathion must be soaked to prevent the moderate damage dealt to all players.
  • On Heroic, Ashwalkers Assassins join the encounter.
    • Ashwalker Assassin
      • Must have their Smoke Shroud removed, this can be done with AoE abilities and other abilities that can remove stealth effects.
      • While Smoke Shroud is active, they can use the following abilities.

Mythic Differences

Stage One - The Black Emperor

  • Moving grants stacks of Creeping Madness, reducing movement speed.
    • At 50-stacks, moving will instead deal heavy damage.

Stage Two - Smoke and Mirrors

  • Crackling Shards are now immune to damage due to Hardened Core.
    • Running over a Shard with Burning Madness will remove the shield, allowing the Shard to be killed.

Advertisement

Healing Notes

Quick Notes, All Difficulties

The notes below mostly pertain to progression difficulty, meaning if you out-gear the difficulty you're on or use extra healers they may not apply.

Debuffs to Track

Major

Minor



 DBM Settings

Below are the DBM settings I'll be using for Wrathion, the Black Emperor. You can set them up however you'd like, but these ones should work well as a starting point. Some settings may be Mythic only.

Healer DBM Settings for Wrathion, the Black Emperor Thumbnail
Healer DBM Settings for Wrathion, the Black Emperor


 Videos

Heroic Wrathion, the Black Emperor, Restoration Druid PoV

Below is a video of me killing Wrathion in a Heroic PUG.


Comment on Wrathion, the Black Emperor, Healer Guide

Changelog - View the last ten changes. - +

March 02, 2020 - 9:54 pm (The Prophet Skitra) - Updated intermission health breakpoints.

February 27, 2020 - 3:12 pm (Dark Inquisitor Xanesh) - Added heroic kill video, reviewed the guide but no changes needed.

February 25, 2020 - 7:03 pm (Ra-den the Despoiled) - Added heroic kill video.

February 24, 2020 - 1:25 pm (The Hivemind) - Added heroic kill video.

February 14, 2020 - 10:05 pm (The Prophet Skitra) - Added heroic kill video.

February 13, 2020 - 11:05 pm (Maut) - Added heroic kill video and made minor updates to DBM settings.

February 10, 2020 - 7:49 am (Wrathion, the Black Emperor) - Added heroic kill video and adjusted potion of replenishment time.

January 24, 2020 - 10:59 am (N'zoth the Corruptor) - Added DBM settings.

January 24, 2020 - 10:40 am (Carapace of N'zoth) - Added DBM settings.

January 21, 2020 - 2:38 pm (Il'gynoth, Corruption Reborn) - Added DBM settings.