Blackfathom Deeps Dungeon Guide

Forever vs Classic

What changed in Blackfathom Deeps for WoW Forever

What is different from the Classic version you may know. Everything else works as it did in Classic.

• New boss lootBeta

  Ghamoo-ra can drop the Spiked Shell Band, Gelihast the Cursed Murloc Eye and Blueprint: Fishing Rack, and Twilight Lord Kelris the Twilight Lord Girdle. Lorgus Jett drops three new pieces, the Twilight Maul, the Fallenroot Longbow and Treacherous Treads. On top of that, Blacksmithing plans and Leatherworking and Tailoring patterns drop at random from the bosses.

• Forever stats on the old gearBeta data

  The Classic boss items are back with new stats. Most of them are blue now, and many caster pieces gained spell power, so check the tooltips even if you remember the item.

• New quest reward choicesBeta data

  Twilight Falls adds Silvered Gauntlets, Blackfathom Villainy adds Dark Ritual Leggings and Cultist's Armguards, Researching the Corruption adds Staghide Armguards and Baron Aquanis adds Dreamer's Chestguard. Several Classic rewards such as the Sustaining Ring, Nimbus Boots and Band of the Fist are blue now.

• Earthen Ring reputation for the HordeBeta data

  Trouble in the Deeps, The Essence of Aku'Mai, the second part of Allegiance to the Old Gods and Amongst the Ruins now also give Earthen Ring reputation on top of the Darkspear Trolls.

• Seeking the Kor Gem for Horde paladinsBeta data

  Horde paladins get their own Kor Gem quest from Ulric Frostveil at Zoram'gar Outpost. The Corrupted Kor Gem drops from the Blackfathom naga: Tide Priestesses and Oracles on the Zoram Strand outside, Sea Witches inside. The Alliance version from Thundris Windweaver in Auberdine is the Classic one. One beta paladin farmed the naga outside for about 45 minutes before the gem dropped.

• Less quest bonus, more kill experienceConfirmed

  Dungeon quests give extra experience in Forever, and Blizzard halved that bonus on October 1. Since October 8 dungeon kills give about 20% more experience, and in a group your own level decides your kill experience, not the highest player in the party. One player far above the mobs' level still means no experience for anyone in the group. Bring every BFD quest on your first run, the quest bonus comes only once.

Location

Where is Blackfathom Deeps? Entrance and how to get there

You will not see a door from the road. The entrance is a sunken night elf temple on the Zoram Strand, the northwest coast of Ashenvale. A shaft lined with stairs leads down into the water, and a winding underwater cave takes you to the portal at about 14.5, 14.6. Guides place the portal anywhere from there to about 15.5, 19.0, so look for the shaft in the middle of the ruins. Naga camp around the temple outside, and their Tide Priestesses drop the Damp Note for the Horde.

Map and route

The route through the dungeon

6 areas, one path. Tap a stop to see what waits there.

1The Pool of Ask'ar2Shrine of Gelihast3Moonshrine Ruins4The Forgotten Pool5Moonshrine Sanctum6Aku'mai's Lair

1. The Pool of Ask'ar
2. Shrine of Gelihast
3. Moonshrine Ruins
4. The Forgotten Pool
5. Moonshrine Sanctum
6. Aku'mai's Lair

Area 1 of 6

The Pool of Ask'ar

The first big cave after the entrance tunnels. Mine the sapphire clusters on the tunnel walls for The Essence of Aku'Mai on the way in. Ghamoo-ra sits on the stone ruins in the water, and Argent Guard Thaelrid waits in an alcove southwest of him with the Blackfathom Villainy quests. Lady Sarevess hides in a cave to the right of Ghamoo-ra's room that you reach with a short swim. The Lorgalis Manuscript for Knowledge in the Deeps lies in a small underwater lockbox just past the turtle room.

Boss here

• Ghamoo-ra
• Lady Sarevess

Mobs here

• Murkshallow SnapclawElite
• Blackfathom Sea WitchElite
• Blackfathom MyrmidonElite

Area 2 of 6

Shrine of Gelihast

Tunnels with Fallenroot satyrs lead to the murloc shrine. The room around Gelihast is packed with Blindlight murlocs that pull their friends, so clear it before you touch the boss. After the kill, click the altar behind him for a small buff.

Boss here

• Gelihast

Mobs here

• Fallenroot HellcallerElite
• Fallenroot ShadowstalkerElite
• Blindlight OracleElite
• Blindlight MurlocElite
• Blindlight MuckdwellerElite

Area 3 of 6

Moonshrine Ruins

A big cavern lake with Twilight's Hammer cultists on the shores. The Fathom Stone in the water is where Horde groups summon Baron Aquanis. Lorgus Jett also waits in this part of the dungeon, look around before you pull.

Boss here

• Lorgus Jett
• Baron Aquanis

Mobs here

• Twilight ReaverElite
• Twilight AquamancerElite
• Twilight LoreseekerElite
• Twilight AcolyteElite

BetaSpot from beta reports, it can still change

Area 4 of 6

The Forgotten Pool

A deep pool where Old Serra'kis swims at the bottom. He is optional. Dive only if your group has breath to spare or a breathing buff.

Boss here

• Old Serra'kis

Mobs here

• Deep Pool ThreshfinElite

Area 5 of 6

Moonshrine Sanctum

Flooded temple halls full of Twilight cultists lead to the Moonshrine Sanctum, where Twilight Lord Kelris waits by the statue. After Kelris, the four braziers at the statue base start the Fire of Aku'mai waves, and the last wave opens the way on.

Boss here

• Twilight Lord Kelris

Mobs here

• Twilight ShadowmageElite
• Twilight ElementalistElite
• Twilight AcolyteElite

Area 6 of 6

Aku'mai's Lair

A long cave pool behind the door with Aku'mai at the far end. Rest to full before you walk in.

Boss here

• Aku'mai

Encounters

Boss roster

Main bosses8

1Boss 1 of 8

Ghamoo-ra

BossBeastLevel 25

1 ability3 loot items

1Ghamoo-raBossLevel 25

Ghamoo-ra is a giant turtle on the stone ruins in the Pool of Ask'ar and the warm-up boss. His shell soaks physical damage, so the fight is slow rather than hard.

Abilities

• Trample · Inflicts normal damage to nearby enemies.

Tactics

• As in Classic it is a tank and spank fight. Trample hits everyone in melee range, so ranged and healers stand back.
• Physical damage goes slowly through his armor. Casters and wands carry this one.
• Clear the naga and crabs around the pool first so nothing swims in during the fight.

Tank

Tank him on the ruins where he stands, there is no reason to move him.

Healer

Stand out of melee range and keep the tank topped through Trample.

Damage

Melee take Trample damage, ranged and casters do most of the work.

Watch out for: Healer mana in a long fight against his armor.

Notable loot

• Ghamoo-ra's Bind · Waist
• Tortoise Armor · Chest
• Spiked Shell Band · Finger

2Boss 2 of 8

Lady Sarevess

BossHumanoidLevel 25

4 abilities3 loot items

2Lady SarevessBossLevel 25

Lady Sarevess is a naga caster in a hidden cave to the right of Ghamoo-ra's room. She comes with two naga bodyguards, and one beta group even took her before Ghamoo-ra.

Abilities

• Forked Lightning · Inflicts Nature damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster.
• Frost Nova · Blasts enemies near the caster for Frost damage and freezes them in place for up to 8 sec. Damage caused may interrupt the effect.
• Slow · Slows the enemy's movement by 150% and their attack speed by 35% for 10 sec.
• Shoot · Shoots at an enemy, inflicting Physical damage.

Tactics

• Clear the cave first, then CC one bodyguard, kill the other and finish with Sarevess.
• Forked Lightning hits a cone in front of her, so the tank turns her away from the group.
• Frost Nova roots everyone near her for up to 8 seconds and Slow cuts movement and attack speed. Ranged stay at the edge of the cave.
• She uses Shoot as well, so running out of melee range does not stop her damage.

Tank

Face her away from the group and pick up the free bodyguard fast.

Healer

Stand far enough away to stay out of Frost Nova and watch the rooted melee.

Damage

Kill the bodyguard that is not CC'd first, then burn Sarevess.

Watch out for: Forked Lightning on the group when she turns.

Notable loot

• Darkwater Talwar · Main Hand
• Naga Battle Gloves · Hands
• Naga Heartpiercer · Ranged

3Boss 3 of 8

Gelihast

BossHumanoidLevel 26

1 ability4 loot items

3GelihastBossLevel 26

Gelihast leads the Blindlight murlocs in his shrine. On his own he is easy, the packed room around him is the real fight.

Abilities

• Net · Immobilizes an enemy for 10 sec.

Tactics

• Clear the whole murloc room before you pull him. Net holds the tank in place for 10 seconds, and murlocs that join during that time are hard to pick up.
• Kill or interrupt the Blindlight Oracles first, they heal and Fear.
• After the kill, click the altar behind him for a small buff.

Tank

Fight him where you stand, Net keeps you in place anyway.

Healer

Watch for stray murlocs, they come in while the tank is netted.

Damage

Pick up loose murlocs fast while the tank is stuck.

Watch out for: Extra murlocs joining while the tank is netted.

Notable loot

• Reef Axe · Two-Hand
• Algae Fists · Hands
• Cursed Murloc Eye · Trinket
• Blueprint: Fishing Rack · Other

4Boss 4 of 8

Lorgus Jett

BossHumanoidLevel 26

2 abilities3 loot items

4Lorgus JettBossLevel 26

Lorgus Jett is a Twilight's Hammer shaman and the kill target of the Horde quest Allegiance to the Old Gods. No beta report covers his fight yet, so this is how he played in Classic.

Abilities

• Lightning Bolt · Blasts an enemy with lightning, inflicting Nature damage.
• Lightning Shield · Surrounds the caster with 3 balls of lightning that have 50% chance of striking melee or ranged attackers for damage. Each time the lightning shield strikes, a ball of lightning dissipates. Thus, the shield expires after 10 min. or after it has struck 3 times.

Tactics

• In Classic he stood in a different spot from run to run, somewhere between the end of the satyr tunnels and the first cultist packs. Clear carefully so he does not join a trash pull.
• Interrupt Lightning Bolt, it is his main damage.
• Lightning Shield zaps attackers up to three times, then fades.

Tank

Pull him away from nearby cultists so the fight stays on one target.

Healer

Expect small hits on everyone attacking him while Lightning Shield is up.

Damage

Keep a kick ready for every Lightning Bolt.

Watch out for: Cultists nearby joining the pull.

Notable loot

• Twilight Maul · Two-Hand
• Fallenroot Longbow · Ranged
• Treacherous Treads · Feet

5Boss 5 of 8

Baron Aquanis

BossElementalLevel 28

2 abilities

5Baron AquanisBossLevel 28

Baron Aquanis is a water elemental that only shows up for the Horde. Taking the Fathom Core from the Fathom Stone in the lake of the Moonshrine Ruins summons him, and his Strange Water Globe starts the quest Baron Aquanis.

Abilities

• Frostbolt · Inflicts Frost damage to an enemy and reduces its movement speed for 4 sec.
• Frost Nova · Inflicts Frost damage to nearby enemies, immobilizing them for up to 8 sec.

Tactics

• The Fathom Core is a quest item for Amongst the Ruins, so someone on that quest clicks the Fathom Stone. Clear the shore and rest before you click.
• Interrupt Frostbolt, it hits hard and slows for 4 seconds.
• Frost Nova roots everyone near him for up to 8 seconds. Ranged and healers stand back so only the tank and melee get caught.

Tank

Pick him up the moment he appears at the stone.

Healer

Stay out of Frost Nova range and top up the rooted melee.

Damage

Interrupt Frostbolt and stay at range if you can.

Watch out for: Frost Nova rooting the whole group in the water.

Quest item

• Strange Water Globe

6Boss 6 of 8

Twilight Lord Kelris

BossHumanoidLevel 27

1 ability3 loot items

6Twilight Lord KelrisBossLevel 27

Twilight Lord Kelris leads the cult in the Moonshrine Sanctum and drops the Head of Kelris for Blackfathom Villainy on both sides. His Sleep is why groups wipe here.

AbilitiesBeta

• Sleep · Puts nearby enemies to sleep for up to 10 sec. Any damage caused will awaken them.

Tactics

• Clear the sanctum first. In Classic the safe way was to pull the packs from the walled entrance.
• Sleep puts players near him to sleep for up to 10 seconds, and any damage wakes them. The healer may get slept, so keep the tank topped before each cast and let hybrids help heal.
• A beta report from October 3 says Will of the Forsaken no longer breaks his Sleep, so Undead healers should not count on it.

Tank

Use a cooldown when the healer is asleep.

Healer

Stand at max range so Sleep does not reach you, and top the tank up before each cast.

Damage

Hybrids with a heal help keep the tank up while the healer sleeps.

Watch out for: The healer asleep while the tank keeps taking hits.

Notable loot

• Rod of the Sleepwalker · Two-Hand
• Gaze Dreamer Pants · Legs
• Twilight Lord Girdle · Waist

7Boss 7 of 8

Old Serra'kis

BossBeastLevel 26

1 ability3 loot items

7Old Serra'kisBossLevel 26

Old Serra'kis is an optional thresher at the bottom of the Forgotten Pool. The fight itself is simple, the real enemy is your breath bar.

Abilities

• Leech Pulse

Tactics

• Everything happens underwater, so watch the breath bar. Unending Breath or Water Breathing turns this into an easy kill.
• In Classic Leech Pulse drained nearby players and healed him, so steady damage wins.
• Groups without a breathing buff can skip him. A level 20 group wiped on him on the first try in the beta.

Tank

Pull him fast so the group has breath left for the fight.

Healer

Watch breath bars as well as health, a drowning player needs air, not heals.

Damage

Burst him while your breath lasts, then surface.

Watch out for: Running out of breath at the bottom of the pool.

Notable loot

• Glowing Thresher Cape · Back
• Bands of Serra'kis · Wrist
• Bite of Serra'kis · One-Hand

8Boss 8 of 8Final boss

Aku'mai

BossLevel 28

2 abilities3 loot items

8Aku'maiBossLevel 28

Aku'mai is the hydra of the Old Gods and the last boss, level 28. The door to the lair opens after the four Fire of Aku'mai waves in the sanctum.

AbilitiesBeta

• Poison Cloud · Inflicts Nature damage to nearby enemies every 5 sec. for 45 sec.
• Frenzied Rage · Increases the caster's attack speed by 75% for 5 sec., but reduces the Physical damage dealt

Tactics

• Poison Cloud deals Nature damage to everyone close to Aku'mai every 5 seconds for 45 seconds. Ranged and healers stay out of it, melee step out when it lands.
• Frenzied Rage makes Aku'mai attack 75 percent faster for 5 seconds. Save a defensive cooldown or a big heal for it.
• Hybrids help heal the tank, and everyone uses a health potion when low.
• Underleveled groups can kite with slows. Level 20 groups killed Aku'mai during the first beta weeks, but crushing blows on the tank made it a close fight.

Tank

Keep Aku'mai facing away from the group and pop a cooldown on Frenzied Rage.

Healer

Stand outside Poison Cloud and save mana for the spikes during Frenzied Rage.

Damage

Melee step out of Poison Cloud when it lands, ranged keep their distance the whole fight.

Watch out for: Tank spikes during Frenzied Rage while the group stands in Poison Cloud.

Adds

• Aku'mai Snapjaw ×3 · Ravage: Inflicts normal damage to an enemy, stunning it for 3 sec.
• Aku'mai Servant ×2 · Frostbolt Volley: Inflicts Frost damage to nearby enemies, reducing their movement speed by 50% for 8 sec. · Frost Nova: Blasts enemies near the caster for Frost damage and freezes them in place for up to 8 sec. Damage caused may interrupt the effect.
• Barbed Crustacean ×4
• Murkshallow Softshell ×10

Notable loot

• Moss Cinch · Waist
• Leech Pants · Legs
• Strike of the Hydra · Two-Hand

Trash

Dangerous trash and diseases

Most wipes here start before a boss. These are the packs and effects to respect.

• Naga casters and Disarm

  Blackfathom Sea Witches root the group with Frost Nova and keep frost shields up, Myrmidons Disarm the tank. In Classic the answer was to interrupt the Sea Witch and give the tank a few seconds after each Disarm. Sea Witches also drop the Corrupted Kor Gem for the paladin quests and Corrupted Brain Stems for Researching the Corruption.

  
  • Blackfathom Sea WitchElite
  • Blackfathom MyrmidonElite
  • Frost Nova
  • Disarm

• Mana Burn on your healer

  Fallenroot Hellcallers cast Mana Burn and Shadow Bolt, and you meet them often after the first two bosses. Kick or stun every Mana Burn and kill the Hellcallers first. Shadowstalkers walk in stealth and put Curse of Weakness on the tank, so expect them around corners.

  
  • Fallenroot HellcallerElite
  • Fallenroot ShadowstalkerElite
  • Mana Burn
  • Curse of Weakness

• Gelihast's murloc room

  Blindlight Oracles heal, shield themselves and Fear, Muckdwellers apply Leech Poison. In Classic the murlocs ran at low health and came back with friends. Kill or interrupt the Oracle first and slow anything that runs.

  
  • Blindlight OracleElite
  • Blindlight MuckdwellerElite
  • Blindlight MurlocElite
  • Fear
  • Heal
  • Leech Poison

• Twilight's Hammer casters

  The back half belongs to the cult. Shadowmages Dominate Mind a player and summon a Voidwalker, Acolytes heal, Elementalists chain shocks and Aquamancers call an Aqua Guardian. As in Classic, pull them around corners so the casters come to you, kill or CC the Acolyte and the Shadowmage first and never fight next to the next pack. A level 20 group wiped on these packs before Kelris in the beta.

  
  • Twilight ShadowmageElite
  • Twilight AcolyteElite
  • Twilight ElementalistElite
  • Twilight AquamancerElite
  • Dominate Mind
  • Summon Voidwalker
  • Heal
  • Summon Aqua Guardian

• The braziers before Aku'mai

  Each of the four braziers at the statue starts one wave: Aku'mai Snapjaw turtles, Aku'mai Servants with Frostbolt Volley and Frost Nova, Barbed Crustaceans and a swarm of ten Murkshallow Softshells. Light one brazier at a time and rest between waves. The turtles hit hardest and Ravage stuns, so give one to an off-tank, a pet or an Evasion rogue, and AoE the Softshells.

  
  • Aku'mai SnapjawElite
  • Aku'mai ServantElite
  • Barbed CrustaceanElite
  • Murkshallow Softshell
  • Ravage
  • Frostbolt Volley
  • Frost Nova

Quests

Blackfathom Deeps quests

BFD has 16 quests: 7 for the Alliance, 8 for the Horde and the Warlock quest The Orb of Soran'ruk for both sides. The Alliance chains start far away in Darnassus, Auberdine, Stormwind and Ironforge, while almost every Horde quest starts and ends with Je'neu Sancrea at Zoram'gar Outpost. The experience shown is the base value. Dungeon quests give extra experience on top in Forever, and Blizzard halved that bonus on October 1.

Loot

Loot table

Every boss drop and every quest reward of the dungeon. Hover an item for its stats.

All boss gear is blue, and Baron Aquanis drops only his quest globe. Gelihast's Fishing Rack blueprint is for your camp. The quest rewards fill most slots the bosses miss, with extra leather choices on Blackfathom Villainy and Researching the Corruption. The boss blues and the quest rewards take a full clear with the whole group. If nobody from your guild is online, a WoW Forever dungeon boost run puts you in a full group.

All40Cloth5Leather8Mail6Weapons11Rings, cloaks, off-hands9Blueprints and recipes1

Item	Slot	Source	Req.
Ghamoo-ra's Bind	Waist · Cloth	Ghamoo-ra	22
Tortoise Armor	Chest · Mail	Ghamoo-ra	22
Spiked Shell Band	Finger	Ghamoo-ra	22
Darkwater Talwar	Main Hand	Lady Sarevess	22
Naga Battle Gloves	Hands · Leather	Lady Sarevess	22
Naga Heartpiercer	Ranged	Lady Sarevess	22
Reef Axe	Two-Hand	Gelihast	22
Algae Fists	Hands · Mail	Gelihast	23
Cursed Murloc Eye	Trinket	Gelihast	24
Blueprint: Fishing Rack	Blueprint	Gelihast	–
Twilight Maul	Two-Hand	Lorgus Jett	23
Fallenroot Longbow	Ranged	Lorgus Jett	23
Treacherous Treads	Feet · Mail	Lorgus Jett	23
Rod of the Sleepwalker	Two-Hand	Twilight Lord Kelris	24
Gaze Dreamer Pants	Legs · Cloth	Twilight Lord Kelris	23
Twilight Lord Girdle	Waist · Mail	Twilight Lord Kelris	25
Glowing Thresher Cape	Back	Old Serra'kis	24
Bands of Serra'kis	Wrist · Leather	Old Serra'kis	22
Bite of Serra'kis	One-Hand	Old Serra'kis	23
Moss Cinch	Waist · Leather	Aku'mai	25
Leech Pants	Legs · Cloth	Aku'mai	24
Strike of the Hydra	Two-Hand	Aku'mai	26
Beetle Clasps	Wrist · Mail	Researching the Corruption	18
Prelacy Cape	Back	Researching the Corruption	18
Staghide Armguards	Wrist · Leather	Researching the Corruption	18
Sustaining Ring	Finger	Knowledge in the Deeps	10
Gravestone Scepter	Ranged	Blackfathom Villainy	18
Arctic Buckler	Off-hand	Blackfathom Villainy	18
Dark Ritual Leggings	Legs · Leather	Blackfathom Villainy	18
Cultist's Armguards	Wrist · Leather	Blackfathom Villainy	18
Nimbus Boots	Feet · Cloth	Twilight Falls	20
Heartwood Girdle	Waist · Leather	Twilight Falls	20
Silvered Gauntlets	Hands · Mail	Twilight Falls	20
Orb of Soran'ruk	Off-hand	The Orb of Soran'ruk	–
Staff of Soran'ruk	Two-Hand	The Orb of Soran'ruk	–
Band of the Fist	Finger	Allegiance to the Old Gods	17
Chestnut Mantle	Shoulder · Cloth	Allegiance to the Old Gods	17
Outlaw Sabre	One-Hand	Baron Aquanis	–
Witch's Finger	Off-hand	Baron Aquanis	–
Dreamer's Chestguard	Chest · Leather	Baron Aquanis	–

Beta drop chances come from a handful of kills and are left out until the sample is bigger.

Collect

Achievements, Pet families and Classes from Blackfathom Deeps

Before you go

Before you go

• Bring breath for the waterThe entrance is an underwater swim and Old Serra'kis is fought at the bottom of a pool. A Shaman's Water Breathing or a Warlock's Unending Breath makes both easy.
• Bring interruptsHellcallers burn mana, Lorgus Jett casts Lightning Bolt and Baron Aquanis Frostbolt. Two players with a kick make the run much smoother.
• Collect the quests firstAlliance quests start in Darnassus, Auberdine, Stormwind and Ironforge, Horde quests at Zoram'gar Outpost. Pick them all up so one run clears your quest log.
• Pack drinks and mana potionsA level 26 mage in the beta ran dry on a single two-mob pack, and the healer needs a full bar for Kelris and Aku'mai. Bring plenty of water.

• Talk to Argent Guard Thaelrid as soon as you reach the Pool of Ask'ar, he starts Blackfathom Villainy for both factions.
• Have the player on Amongst the Ruins click the Fathom Stone only after the lake shore is clear.
• Skip the Forgotten Pool if nobody has a breathing buff, Old Serra'kis is optional.

FAQ

Questions players ask

Sources

Sources

• Blizzard: WoW Forever beta development notes, October 1Confirmed
• Wowhead · Forever beta databaseBeta data
• Warcraft Wiki · Classic referenceClassic
• Run time and difficulty are editorial estimates by mmonster.