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The Nexus, Healer Guide

Updated 1 year ago for patch 3.4.1 by Preston. View the change log.

This page covers healer-focused strategies for The Nexus dungeon in Wrath of the Lich King. 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 and combat log information. I'll continue to update it as-needed.



Trash Mob IconBosses

Below are guides for the bosses in The Nexus, including their abilities, healer notes, and addon settings.

Stoutbeard/Kolurg Dungeon Journal ModelCommander Stoutbeard/Commander Kolurg


On Heroic, Horde players will fight Commander Stoutbeard, while Alliance players fight Commander Kolurg. Both bosses have the same abilities.

 Healing Notes

  • Keep the tank near full health incase you're stunned by Charge.
 Debuffs to Track
 Addons

Wrath of the Lich King Dungeons DBM Import Code for Healers - +

To use this import code, install the Deadly Boss Mods addon, type /dbm in your chat, expand the Wrath of the Lich King header in the left-hand panel, click on the Dungeons (WotLK) heading, click on the Load AddOn button in the right-hand panel if necessary, click on the Import Profile button, paste the code into the box and click Import. Note that importing this code will replace all of your current settings for all Warlords of Draenor dungeons.


Telestra Dungeon Journal ModelGrand Magus Telestra


Stage One - The Grand Magus

This stage begins the encounter and ends when Telestra reaches 50% health. It begins again following stage two, and ends for the final time when Telestra is killed.

  • Stay more than 5-yards away from other players to avoid chaining the damage from Firebomb.
  • During Gravity Well all players are pulled towards the center of the room and knocked around, while taking light damage over time.
  • Deals light damage to and stuns all players with Ice Nova.

Stage Two - Images

This stage begins when Telestra reaches 50% health and ends when all Images are killed, at which point stage one begins again.

  • Telestra splits into three Images, Fire, Frost, and Arcane.
  • All Images are susceptible to crowd control.
  • Fire Image
    • Interrupt Scorch to prevent the moderate damage dealt to random players.
    • Deals moderate damage to random players with Fire Blast.
  • Arcane Image
    • Interrupt or dispel Critter (magic) to prevent the incapacitating effect.
    • Stuns all players with Time Stop.
  • Frost Image
    • Avoid the location of Blizzard.
    • Deals light damage to random players with Ice Barb.

 Healing Notes

  • Keep players near full health as it may be difficult to heal during Gravity Well.
  • Use cooldowns as-needed during stage two.
 Debuffs to Track
 Addons

Wrath of the Lich King Dungeons DBM Import Code for Healers - +

To use this import code, install the Deadly Boss Mods addon, type /dbm in your chat, expand the Wrath of the Lich King header in the left-hand panel, click on the Dungeons (WotLK) heading, click on the Load AddOn button in the right-hand panel if necessary, click on the Import Profile button, paste the code into the box and click Import. Note that importing this code will replace all of your current settings for all Warlords of Draenor dungeons.


Anomalus Dungeon Journal ModelAnomalus


  • The tank will be dealing with Spark.
  • Dispel Arcane Attraction (magic) to remove the increased Arcane damage taken effect.
  • When Anomalus reaches 25%, 50%, and 75% health:
    • Becomes immune to damage due to Rift Shield until the channel ends or all Chaotic Rifts are killed.
    • Summons a Chaotic Rift.

 Healing Notes

 Debuffs to Track
 Addons

Wrath of the Lich King Dungeons DBM Import Code for Healers - +

To use this import code, install the Deadly Boss Mods addon, type /dbm in your chat, expand the Wrath of the Lich King header in the left-hand panel, click on the Dungeons (WotLK) heading, click on the Load AddOn button in the right-hand panel if necessary, click on the Import Profile button, paste the code into the box and click Import. Note that importing this code will replace all of your current settings for all Warlords of Draenor dungeons.


Ormorok Dungeon Journal ModelOrmorok the Tree-Shaper


  • Stay more than 10-yards away to avoid Trample.
  • Avoid the random lines of Crystal Spikes.
  • While Spell Reflection is active, up to four spells will be reflected back at the casting player.
  • Spawns Crystalline Tanglers throughout the encounter.
    • Crystalline Tangler
      • Melee attacks root players in place with Tangle.
  • At 30% health, goes into a Frenzy, greatly increasing physical damage dealt.

 Healing Notes

 Debuffs to Track
 Addons

Wrath of the Lich King Dungeons DBM Import Code for Healers - +

To use this import code, install the Deadly Boss Mods addon, type /dbm in your chat, expand the Wrath of the Lich King header in the left-hand panel, click on the Dungeons (WotLK) heading, click on the Load AddOn button in the right-hand panel if necessary, click on the Import Profile button, paste the code into the box and click Import. Note that importing this code will replace all of your current settings for all Warlords of Draenor dungeons.


Keristrasza Dungeon Journal ModelKeristrasza


  • Don't stand in front to avoid Crystalfire Breath (dispel, magic).
  • Don't stand behind to avoid Tail Sweep.
  • Dispel Crystal Chains (magic) to remove the root effect.
    • On Heroic, Crystallize (dispel, magic) roots all players.
  • Applies stacks of Intense Cold to all players throughout the encounter, reducing attack, casting, and movement speed. Moving or jumping will remove stacks.
  • At 25% health, Enrages, greatly increasing attack speed and physical damage dealt.

 Healing Notes

  • Use cooldowns as-needed to deal with high stacks of Intense Cold.
 Debuffs to Track
 Addons

Wrath of the Lich King Dungeons DBM Import Code for Healers - +

To use this import code, install the Deadly Boss Mods addon, type /dbm in your chat, expand the Wrath of the Lich King header in the left-hand panel, click on the Dungeons (WotLK) heading, click on the Load AddOn button in the right-hand panel if necessary, click on the Import Profile button, paste the code into the box and click Import. Note that importing this code will replace all of your current settings for all Warlords of Draenor dungeons.

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Trash Mob IconTrash Mobs

Below are notes for the trash mobs in The Nexus. The Nexus has a relatively open layout. The trash below is grouped into the different sections of the dungeon, ordered as if you're completing the bosses in the order they're listed above.

Keristrasza's Area

  • Azure Magus
    • Interrupt Frostbolt to prevent the light damage dealt.
    • Dispel Arcane Shock (magic) to prevent the light damage over time.
  • Azure Warder
    • Dispel Silence (magic) to remove the silence effect.
    • Purge Mana Shield to remove the physical damage absorption effect.

Stoutbeard and Kolurg's Area

  • Mage Hunter Ascendant
    • Purge Aura of Arcane Haste to remove the increased casting speed and spell damage effect.
    • Comes in one of three versions, Fire, Frost, or Arcane.
  • Mage Slayer
    • Dispel Spell Lock (magic) to remove the silence effect.
    • Stay more than 12-yards away to avoid Draw Magic.
  • The other enemies in this area are prefixed with either Horde or Alliance, depending on the player's faction, but will function the same.
    • Berserker
      • Gains stacks of Frenzy, increasing attack speed.
      • Purge Bloodlust to remove the increased attack speed effect.
      • Stay more than 10-yards away to avoid War Stomp.
    • Cleric
    • Commander
      • Stay more than 8-yards away to avoid Whirlwind.
      • Deals light damage to and stuns random players with Charge.
      • Increases attack power of nearby enemies with Battle Shout.
    • Ranger
      • Interrupt Rapid Shot to prevent the moderate damage dealt to a random player.
      • Deals light damage and then light damage over time to random players with Incendiary Shot.
      • Deals light damage to random players with Shoot.

Telestra's Area

  • This area includes Mage Hunter Ascendants and Mage Slayers, detailed above.
  • Mage Hunter Initiate
    • Interrupt or dispel Drain Mana (magic) to prevent the mana drain effect.
    • Interrupt or dispel Magic Burn (magic) to prevent the light damage over time.
    • Purge Renew to remove the heal over time effect.
  • Steward
    • Stay more than 10-yards away to avoid Arcane Torrent (dispel, magic).
    • Targets random players with Spellbreaker, greatly reducing damage dealt by spells.

Anomalus' Area

  • Chaotic Rift
    • Deals light to moderate damage to up to three players with Chaotic Energy Burst.
    • Periodically summons Crazed Mana-Wraiths.
      • Crazed Mana-Wraith
        • Interrupt Arcane Missiles to prevent the light damage dealt to random players.
  • Azure Enforcer
    • The tank will be dealing with extra damage from Brutal Strike.
    • Don't stand in front to avoid Cleave.
  • Azure Scale-Binder
    • Interrupt Heal to prevent the healing.
    • When possible, interrupt Arcane Blast to prevent the increasing cast speed effect.
  • Crazed Mana-Surge
    • Interrupt Mana Burn to prevent the light damage and mana drain effect on a random player.
    • When possible, interrupt Arcane Nova to prevent the damage dealt to players within 10-yards and healing on Crazed Mana-Wraiths within 10-yards.
    • Upon death, restores mana over time to players within 20-yards with Loose Mana.

Ormorok's Area

  • Crystalline Tangler
    • Melee attacks root players in place with Tangle.
  • Crystalline Frayer
    • Purge Crystal Bloom to remove the increased damage dealt effect.
    • Targets random players with Ensnare, dealing light damage and slowing movement speed.
    • While Ormorok is alive, upon death, regenerate health with Seed Pod.
      • Players within 10-yards gain health and mana over time and take reduced damage due to Aura of Regeneration.
  • Crystalline Keeper
    • The tank will be dealing with extra damage from Crystal Strike.
    • Purge Crystal Bark to remove the damage dealt to players and chance to stun effect.
    • Dispel Crystal Freeze (magic) to remove the stun effect.
  • Crystalline Protector
    • Don't stand in front to avoid Shard Spray.
    • Stay more than 10-yards away to avoid Thunderclap (dispel, magic).
    • Targets random players with Crystal Chains (dispel, magic), rooting them in place.
  • Crystalline Tender
    • Interrupt Tranquility to prevent the healing on all enemies within 20-yards.
    • Purge Toughen Hide to remove the increased armor and spell resistance effect.

 Trash Debuffs to Track


 Trash Addons

Wrath of the Lich King Dungeons DBM Import Code for Healers - +

To use this import code, install the Deadly Boss Mods addon, type /dbm in your chat, expand the Wrath of the Lich King header in the left-hand panel, click on the Dungeons (WotLK) heading, click on the Load AddOn button in the right-hand panel if necessary, click on the Import Profile button, paste the code into the box and click Import. Note that importing this code will replace all of your current settings for all Warlords of Draenor dungeons.


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