Stratholme - Live, Healer Guide - World of Warcraft

This page covers healer-focused strategies for the Stratholme - Live 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 58-60.

While it's technically possible to access all of Stratholm from either instance portal, most players do the dungeon in one of two sections. The first section is known as the Live, or Living, side.

From this section, you can access Magistrate Barthilas, normally part of the Undead section, to obtain the Key to the City. This allows you to unlock the gate to gain access to the Undead section directly.

Bosses

Below are guides for the bosses in Stratholme - Live, including their abilities, healer notes, and addon settings.

Skul

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

Interrupt Arcane Bolt and Frostbolt to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.

Healing Notes

Be aware of other enemies and patrols nearby, otherwise not a difficult encounter.

Debuffs to Track

There are no particular debuffs to track.

Fras Siabi

Fras Siabi is summoned by looting Fras Siabi's Postbox.

Accompanied by several other enemies.
Don't stand in front of the boss to avoid Flame Breath.
Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid Smoke Bomb (dispel, magic).

Healing Notes

The encounter starts out hectic with the extra enemies, but should be easy after that.

Debuffs to Track

Major: Smoke Bomb (dispel, magic)

Hearthsinger Forresten

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

Dispel Enchanting Lullaby (magic) to remove the sleep effect.
Targets random players with Multi-Shot, dealing damage to nearby players.

Healing Notes

Be aware of nearby enemies and patrols, otherwise not a difficult encounter.

Debuffs to Track

Major: Enchanting Lullaby (dispel, magic)

The Unforgiven

Accompanied by four Vengeful Phantoms.
Targets random players with Unrelenting Anguish, dealing moderate damage over time.

Healing Notes

Be aware of nearby enemies and patrols, otherwise not a difficult encounter.

Debuffs to Track

Major: Unrelenting Anguish

Postmaster Malown

Malown is summoned after opening three Postboxes using Market Row Postbox Key from looting Stratholme Couriers. Malown spawns where Fras Siabi was.

The tank will be dealing with Backhand.
Dispel Fear (magic) to remove the fear effect.
Dispel Curse of Tongues (curse) to remove the decreased cast speed effect.
Dispel Curse of Weakness (curse) to remove the decreased attack speed effect.

Healing Notes

Not a particularly difficult encounter, be aware of Fear (dispel, magic) possibly pulling extra enemies.

Debuffs to Track

Major: Fear (dispel, magic), Curse of Tongues (dispel, curse), Curse of Weakness (dispel, curse)

Timmy the Cruel

Deals extra damage to the tank with Thrash.
Deals heavy damage to the tank with Ravenous Claw, healing for the amount of damage dealt.
Dispel Enrage (enrage) to remove the increased attack speed and physical damage dealt effect.

Healing Notes

Keep the tank near full health so they can survive the heavy damage from Ravenous Claw.

Debuffs to Track

Enrages to Dispel: Enrage

Malor the Zealous

Uses Lay on Hands to heal to full health.

Healing Notes

An easy encounter with no notable mechanics or surprises.

Debuffs to Track

There are no particular debuffs to track.

Crimson Hammersmith

Can be summoned by players with the Blacksmithing profession by clicking the pattern on the ground.

Deals heavy damage to the tank with Bone Smelt, reducing armor.

Healing Notes

Keep the tank near full health so they survive the heavy damage from Bone Smelt.

Debuffs to Track

Major: Bone Smelt

Cannon Master Willey

Load the Scarlet Cannons with cannonballs and fire them to keep Risen Riflemen under control.
The tank will be dealing with Knock Away.
Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid the interrupt from Pummel.

Healing Notes

Not a difficult encounter if Risen Riflemen are kept under control.

Debuffs to Track

There are no particular debuffs to track.

Archivist Galford

Interrupt Pyroblast (dispel, magic) to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.
Dispel Burning Winds (magic).
- If no Magic dispel is available, be prepared to heal the heavy damage over time.
Stay at least 10-yards away to avoid Fire Nova.

Healing Notes

If you don't have a Magic dispel, be prepared to heal multiple players with damage over time effects.

Debuffs to Track

Major: Burning Winds (dispel, magic)
Minor: Pyroblast (dispel, magic)

Grand Crusader Dathrohan/Balnazzar

This is a two stage encounter, during which you'll fight against Grand Crusader Dathrohan and Balnazzar.

Stage One - Grand Crusader

This stage begins the encounter and ends when Dathrohan reaches 50% health.

Deals extra damage to the tank with Holy Strike.
Interrupt Mind Blast to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.
Dispel Crusader Strike (magic) to remove the increased damage taken effect.
Stay at least 20-yards away to avoid Crusader's Hammer (dispel, magic).

Stage Two - Balnazzar

This stage begins when Dathrohan reaches 50% health and ends when Balnazzar is killed.

Crowd-control the player affected by Domination to mitigate the damage they cause to other players.
Interrupt Mind Blast to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.
Dispel Sleep (magic) to remove the incapacitating effect.
Stay at least 15-yards away to avoid Shadow Shock.
Stay at least 8-yards away to avoid Psychic Scream.

Healing Notes

The tank will be taking significant damage in stage one, while non-tank players will likely be taking more damage in stage two.
The tank should have priority dispel on Crusader's Hammer (dispel, magic).

Debuffs to Track

Major: Crusader Strike (dispel, magic), Crusader's Hammer (dispel, magic), Sleep (dispel, magic)

Jarien and Sothos

This boss is summoned after defeating Balnazzar using the Brazier of Beckoning/Brazier of Invocation as part of the Dungeon Set quest line.

Jarien
- The tank will be dealing with Mortal Strike, reducing healing received.
- Don't stand in front of the boss to avoid Cleave.
Sothos
- Dispel Fear (magic) to remove the incapacitating effect.
- Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid the stun from Shield Slam.
- Deals moderate damage to all players with Shadow Bolt Volley.
- Targets random players with Shield Charge, dealing light damage and knocking them back.

Healing Notes

Keep all players near full health so they can survive the damage from Shadow Bolt Volley.

Debuffs to Track

Major: Fear (dispel, magic), Mortal Strike, Shield Slam

Trash Mobs

Below are notes for the trash mobs in Stratholme - Live. Stratholme - Live has a relatively open layout, followed by a linear layout. The trash below is ordered as if you're completing the bosses in the order they're listed above.

Town's Square Area

This area includes bosses Fras Siabi thru Postmaster Malown.

Broken Cadaver
- Deal heavy damage to players within 10-yards upon death with Exploding Cadaver.
Eye of Naxxramas
- Attempt to Summon Rockwing Gargoyles when engaged and must be killed before the channel ends.
Ghostly Citizen
- Dispel Veil of Shadow (curse) to remove the reduced healing taken effect.
Mangled Cadaver
- Dispel Cadaver Worms (disease) to prevent the damage over time and remove the reduced health regeneration effect.
- Spawn a Broken Cadaver upon death.
Patchwork Horror
- The tank will be dealing with Knock Away.
- Deals extra damage to the tank with Thrash.
- Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid Disease Cloud.
Plague Ghoul
- Hits the tank and the player closest to the tank with Cleave.
- Dispel Ghoul Plague (disease) to remove the decreased damage dealt effect.
- Dispel Enrage (enrage) to remove the increased attack speed and physical damage dealt effect.
Plagued Maggot
- Dispel Maggot Slime (disease) to remove the decreased physical damage dealt effect.
Plagued Rat
- Dispel Black Rot (disease) to remove the reduced chance to dodge effect.
Ravaged Cadaver
- Dispel Cadaver Worms (disease) to prevent the damage over time and remove the reduced health regeneration effect.
- Spawn a Broken Cadaver upon death.
Rockwing Gargoyle
- Applies Sunder Armor to the tank, reducing armor.
Skeletal Berserker
- Hits the tank and the player closest to the tank with Cleave.
- Applies Sunder Armor to the tank, reducing armor.
- Reduces attack power of nearby players with Demoralizing Shout.
Skeletal Guardian
- Interrupt Arcane Explosion to prevent the damage dealt to all players.
- Purge Demon Armor to remove the increased armor effect.
Spectral Citizen
- Dispel Debilitating Touch (magic) to remove the reduced strength and stamina effect.
- Dispel Haunting Phantoms (curse) to prevent ghosts from being spawned.
Spiteful Phantom
- Dispel (12531) (magic) to remove the decreased attack speed effect.
Undead Postman
- Dispel Wailing Dread (curse) to remove the reduced attributes effect.
- Dispel Call of the Grave (curse) to prevent the damage dealt after 15-seconds.
Wrath Phantom
- Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid the silence from Screams of the Past.

Town's Square Area thru Timmy the Cruel

This area includes Plagued Maggots, Plagued Rats, Skeletal Berserkers, and Skeletal Guardians, detailed above.
Crimson Conjuror
- Interrupt Frostbolt and Scorch to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.
- Stay at least 10-yards away to avoid Frost Nova (dispel, magic).
Crimson Gallant
- Deals extra damage to the tank with Holy Strike.
- Dispel Crusader Strike (magic) to prevent the increased damage taken.
- Causes melee attackers to take damage when attacking nearby enemies with Retribution Aura.
Crimson Guardsman
- Can Disarm the tank, possibly leading to threat generation issues.
- Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid the interrupt from Shield Bash.
- Targets random players with Shield Charge, dealing moderate damage and knocking back.
Crimson Initiate
- Interrupt Flash Heal to prevent the healing.
- Purge Renew to prevent the healing over time.

Timmy the Cruel thru Archivist Galford

This area includes Crimson Conjurors, Crimson Guardsmans, Crimson Initiates, Skeletal Berserkers, and Skeletal Guardians, detailed above.
Crimson Inquisitor
- Interrupt Mana Burn to prevent the mana drain effect.
- Dispel Shadow Word: Pain (magic) to prevent the light damage over time.
- Purge Shadow Barrier to remove the reduced shadow damage taken effect if you have a DPS that deals shadow damage (like a priest).
Crimson Monk
- Deals extra damage to the tank with Thrash.
- Stay at least 5-yards away to avoid the interrupt from Kick.
Crimson Sorcerer
- Interrupt Arcane Bolt to prevent the damage dealt to the tank.
- Dispel Polymorph (magic) to remove the incapacitating effect.
- Purge Arcane Might to remove the increased magic damage dealt effect.

Archivist Galford thru Cannon Master Willey and Balnazzar

This area includes Crimson Conjurors, Crimson Gallants, Crimson Guardsman, Crimson Initiates, Crimson Sorcerers, Skeletal Berserkers, and Skeletal Guardians, detailed above.
Crimson Battlemage
- Interrupt Arcane Explosion to prevent the damage dealt to all players.
- Dispel Immolate (magic) to prevent the light damage over time.
- Stay at least 10-yards away to avoid Blast Wave.
Crimson Defender
- Interrupt Holy Light to prevent the healing.
- Dispel Hammer of Justice (magic) to remove the stun effect.
- Become immune to all damage and effects while Divine Shield is active.
- Grants additional armor to nearby enemies with Devotion Aura.
Crimson Priest
- Interrupt Heal to prevent the healing.
- Purge Power Word: Shield to remove the damage absorption effect.