Algalon, Healer Guide
Updated 2 months ago for patch 3.4.1 by Preston. View the change log.
This page covers a healer-focused strategy for Algalon the Observer in Ulduar 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 with the encounter, combat log information, and Dungeon Journal information. I'll continue to update it as-needed.
General Mechanics and Abilities
- The tanks will be dealing with several abilities.
- Higher than usual melee damage due to Algalon's high Attack Speed.
- Extra heavy damage from Quantum Strike.
- Extra light damage from and stacks of Phase Punch.
- At 5-stacks, the affected tank is temporarily phased out, dropping all threat and focing a tank switch.
- Every 15-seconds, when [!WcDb? &name=`Phase Punch` &id=`64412` &type=`spell`]] is cast, spawns four Collapsing Stars.
- Collapsing Star
- Gradually loses health over time.
- Upon death, deals moderate damage to all players with Black Hole Explosion and creates a Black Hole zone.
- Black Hole
- Players in a Black Hole zone gain Black Hole, dealing light damage over time and granting immunity to Big Bang, detailed below.
- Black Hole
- Collapsing Star
- Every 25-seconds, stay as far away from the three (one on 10-player) impact locations of Cosmic Smash as possible to reduce damage taken. This is targeted at a random player's location.
- Starting 50-seconds into the encounter, Living Constellations begin spawning frequently near the edges of the platform.
- Living Constellation
- Interrupt Arcane Barrage to prevent the moderate damage dealt to a random players.
- These can be killed normally, however, taking them over a Black Hole zone kills them instantly and removes the zone.
- Living Constellation
- Every 90-seconds, during Big Bang:
- All players except one must stand in a Black Hole zone, left behind by a Collapsing Star, to avoid the likely fatal damage.
- The player outside doesn't necessarily need to survive, but can with the right defensive abilities. However, abilities that grant full immunity are ignored.
- If all players enter a Black Hole zone, Ascend to the Heavens kills all players.
- While inside a Black Hole zone:
- All players take light damage over time from Black Hole.
- Dark Matter attempts to melee attack random players, dealing additional light damage.
- All players except one must stand in a Black Hole zone, left behind by a Collapsing Star, to avoid the likely fatal damage.
- At 20% health:
- All existing Collapsing Stars, Black Hole zones, and Living Constellations despawn and no longer spawn.
- Four Black Hole zones spawn and remain for the rest of the encounter.
- Every 30-seconds, an Unleashed Dark Matter spawns from each Black Hole zone.
- Unleashed Dark Matter
- The tanks will be dealing with light melee damage.
- Unleashed Dark Matter
- Every 30-seconds, an Unleashed Dark Matter spawns from each Black Hole zone.
- After 6-minutes, goes Berserk, greatly increasing Attack Speed and damage dealt.
Hardmode Differences
Algalon the Observer does not have a hardmode.
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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.
- Use Major Cooldowns
- on Black Hole Explosion when Collapsing Stars are killed
- Use Minor Cooldowns
- during Big Bang [occurs every 90-seconds]]
- Pre-heal Before (mainly for heal over time classes)
- Other things to watch for
- The tanks take significant damage through out the encounter, and should be kept near full health.
- Healers are likely to have threat on Living Constellations, so be prepared to lead them to Black Hole zones, or to where your group decides to take them.
Debuffs to Track
Major
- (Optional) Phase Punch causes the affected tank to phase out of the real world at five stacks, tracking it can act as an early warning for a tank switch.
Minor
- (Optional) Black Hole causes players to need additional light healing over time, however, all players will be likely be affected by this at the same time.
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