This page covers a healer-focused strategy for Kel'Thuzad in Naxxramas. 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

Stage One - Minions of the Lich

This stage begins the encounter and ends after ~5-minutes, during which players will fight against Kel'Thuzad's minions.

• All players should be in the center of the room to avoid pulling additional enemies from the alcoves around the outer edges.
• Soldier of the Frozen Wastes
  
  • If they reach any player, deals heavy damage to all players with Dark Blast.
• Soul Weaver
  • Deals moderate damage to all players and knocks them back with Wail of Souls.
• Unstoppable Abomination
  • The tanks will be dealing with Mortal Wound, reducing healing received.

Stage Two - The Lich

This stage begins following ~5-minutes in stage one and ends when Kel'Thuzad reaches 40% health.

• Stay more than 10-yards away from as many players as possible to mitigate chaining damage and effects from some abilities during this stage.
• Interrupt Frostbolt to prevent the heavy damage dealt to the tank.
• When affected by Detonate Mana, stay more than 10-yards away from other players to avoid dealing damage to them.
  • This burns 50% of the affected player's mana over 5-seconds.
• Chains of Kel'Thuzad mind-controls the current tank and four other players, increasing their damage dealt and healing done.
  • Affected players should be crowd controlled immediately. Be prepared to purge healing effects and buffs from Kel'Thuzad.
• Targets random players with Frost Blast, stunning all players within 10-yards and dealing critical damage over time.
• Avoid the locations of Void Blast shadow patches.
• Deals moderate damage to all players with Frostbolt.

Stage Three - Guardians of the Lich

This stage begins when Kel'Thuzad reaches 40% health and ends once he's killed.

• Kel'Thuzad uses the same abilities as in stage two.
• Up to five Guardians of Icecrown spawn from the portals in the alcoves at the edge of the room.
  • Guardian of Icecrown
    • Susceptible to Shackle Undead.
      • Only three can be shackled at once or Shackle Shatter breaks all shackles.
    • Gradually gain stacks of Blood Tap, greatly increasing damage dealt.
    • Once Kel'Thuzad is killed, these run away.

Season of Mastery Differences

• Currently, I'm not aware of any mechanical differences.
• There are new quests offered by Archmage Tarsis Kir-Moldir just inside Naxxramas, and it was suggested that these could lead to surprises that "have a significant impact" inside and outside Naxxramas.

Resistance Levels

• All players should use as much Frost Resistance as possible without sacrificing other stats.

Healing Notes

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.

• Use cooldowns on Frostbolt.
• Players affected by Frost Blast need immediate healing to keep them alive.
• Mana can be a problem due to Detonate Mana, making mana management and avoiding overhealing especially important.

Debuffs to Track

• Major: Mortal Wound, Frost Blast
• Minor: Detonate Mana
• Buffs to Purge: Any player-applied effects from Chains of Kel'Thuzad mind-controlled players

Addons

Healer DBM Settings for Kel'Thuzad

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