Instance Walkthrough Guide

[Cryptic]

(Reposted from my main forum post, thank you for any contributions!)
:)

Hello everyone,

My friends and I have been working on creating a comprehensive instance guide. This will be a quick summary of information for everyone – you can get directions, summaries of group needs, walkthroughs, maps, etc. as quickly as possible.

What I need are contributions and corrections. If you have anything you’d like to add to the list, just let me know and I’ll credit you! (Nasty replies, of course, will be stripped of all useful information and not credited in the slightest. ;)

Currently, this version is Horde-specific. I may expand it to include early Alliance instances if there is enough feedback.

Thank you all for your time.

Version 2.03

Changes to V2.03: Added nice Gameamp maps for Blackfathom Deeps, Ragefire, Razorfen Downs, Razorfen Kraul, Scarlet Monastery, Shadowfang Keep, Wailing Caverns, and Zul’Farrak.

Seeking for V2.04:
* Lower Blackrock Spire walkthrough
* Onyxia’s Lair map
* Onyxia’s Lair walkthrough
* Scholomance map
* Scholomance walkthrough
* Stratholme walkthrough
* Sunken Temple map
* Uldaman walkthrough
* Upper Blackrock Spire walkthrough
* Zul’farrak walkthrough

NOTE ON RECOMMENDED LEVELS: People enter instances for two reasons – to harvest treasure, and to complete quests. Some recommended levels may shift depend on which bosses you’re willing to face; see the individual entries for details specific to your goals. Priests can tend to be of slightly lower level if they are protected.

RAGEFIRE CHASM
Abbreviation: RFC
Difficulty: #1 of 20 (easiest)
Recommended Group: 5 players
Recommended Levels: 17-20. This is a learning instance. If you have previous instance experience, it should be easy for these levels and you can run it with lower characters if need be.
Location: Orgrimmar
Directions: Go into the Cleft of Shadows and look for the portal.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/92.php http://www.infoceptor.com/wow/walkthrough/ragefire/

WAILING CAVERNS
Abbreviation: WC
Difficulty: #2 of 20 (easy)
Recommended Group: 5 players
Recommended Levels: 18-23
Location: The Barrens
Directions: The cave mouth is southwest of Crossroads, by the oasis.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/91.php
http://www.infoceptor.com/wow/walkthrough/wailing/
http://sancus.off.net/wc.jpg
http://www.lurkerlounge.com/forums/lofiver....php/t4255.html

SHADOWFANG KEEP
Abbreviation: SFK
Difficulty: #3 of 20 (easy to moderate, dependent on fights and levels)
Recommended Group: 5 players
Recommended Levels: 24-27. Be warned that the last boss may be difficult for the recommended levels.
Location: Silverpine Forest
Directions: Go south from The Sepulcher to the ridge just north of Pyrewood Village.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/80.php
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/80.php

BLACKFATHOM DEEPS
Abbreviation: BFD
Difficulty: #4 of 20 (easy to moderate)
Recommended Group: 5 players
Recommended Levels: 23-28
Location: Ashenvale
Directions: Go to Zoram Strand on the western beach, then move north up the beach to the ruin.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/87.php
http://www.goblinworkshop.com/areas/blac...deeps.html
http://www.infoceptor.com/wow/walkthrough/deepfathom/
http://www.videogamemaps.net/wow/maps/Blac...0-%20Mephea.jpg

GNOMEREGAN
Abbreviation: None
Difficulty: #5 of 20 (moderate)
Recommended Group: 5 players
Recommended Levels: 29-35
Location: Dun Morogh (accessed via Booty Bay)
Directions: Enter the goblin transporter.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/79.php
http://www.wowwiki.com/Gnomeregan
http://www.videogamemaps.net/wow/maps/Gnom...0-%20Mephea.jpg

RAZORFEN KRAUL
Abbreviation: RFK
Difficulty: #6 of 20 (easy to moderate)
Recommended Group: 5 players
Recommended Levels: 30-35. This instance is relatively easy for the recommended levels. If you have instance experience, you can try to run it with lower characters.
Location: The Barrens
Directions: Go south past Bael Modan and into the western valley.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/85.php
http://www.infoceptor.com/wow/walkthroug...fen_kraul/

SCARLET MONASTERY
Abbreviation: SM
Difficulty: #7 of 20 (moderate)
Recommended Group: 5 players
Recommended Levels: 36-44
Location: Tirisfal Glades
Directions: Go to Undercity and then up the northeast road.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/82.php
http://www.koaworld.com/html/wow/locations...arlet_monastery
http://www.videogamemaps.net/wow/maps/Scar...0-%20Mephea.jpg

RAZORFEN DOWNS
Abbreviation: RFD
Difficulty: #8 of 20 (moderate)
Recommended Group: 5 players
Recommended Levels: 40-45.
Location: The Barrens
Directions: Go south past Bael Modan and into the eastern valley.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/86.php
http://www.goblinworkshop.com/areas/razorfen-downs.html

ULDAMAN
Abbreviation: None
Difficulty: #9 of 20 (moderate to challenging)
Recommended Group: 5 players. A Warrior is recommended to beat the next boss.
Recommended Levels: 42-46. You will need higher-level characters if you want to clear the last boss.
Location: Badlands
Directions: Located in the northernmost Badlands.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/78.php

ZUL’FARRAK
Abbreviation: ZF
Difficulty: #10 of 20 (moderate to challenging)
Recommended Group: 5 players. Area of effect spells (Mage) are recommended.
Recommended Levels: 45-50. This instance is challenging for the recommended levels. The electric motor quest will likely require higher level characters.
Location: Tanaris
Directions: Go northwest of Gadgetzan.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/88.php
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/wow/v...ces/25.php http://www.goblinworkshop.com/areas/zulfarrak.html

NOTE FOR HIGH-LEVEL INSTANCES
For the Horde side, if you’re using a 5-person group, a good recommended mix is Mage, Priest, Shaman, Warlock or Rogue, Warrior. Warlocks tend to supercede Rogues in the more difficult instances if there are only 5 people. Raid groups have more flexibility.

MARAUDON
Abbreviation: None
Difficulty: #11 of 20 (moderate to challenging)
Recommended Group: 5 players
Recommended Levels: 47-52
Location: Desolace
Directions: Go northeast from Shadowprey Village and into the centaur pass.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://www.infoceptor.com/wow/walkthrough/maraudon/

TEMPLE OF ATAL’HAKKAR
Abbreviation: Commonly known as the Sunken Temple
Difficulty: #12 of 20 (moderate to challenging)
Recommended Group: 5 players
Recommended Levels: 52-55 with an optimal group, 55-57 for most. If you're hoping to beat Eranikus at level 55, a Priest and/or Druid are strongly recommended.
Location: Swamp of Sorrows
Directions: Go into the lake.
Walkthrough / Maps:
There is a good walkthrough at http://www.frenzyguild.com/ - click on the red Rock hand button at bottom left.
Partial Walkthrough, No Map:
http://vnboards.ign.com/WoW_Quests,_Items,...838/82849606/?1
(link is flawed, please cut and paste)
Summary of Quests:
http://www.thottbot.com/?z=89

BLACKROCK DEPTHS
Abbreviation: BRD
Difficulty: #13 of 20 (challenging)
Recommended Group: 5 to 10 players. Running with 5 people is rare; raids are far more common due to difficulty. A Mage (with instant arcane explosion) is strongly recommended for the Lyceum area. A skilled Rogue can be substituted for the Mage if need be.
Recommended Levels: 54-56 with an optimal group, 56-60 for most. 56+ is strongly recommended for the second half of this instance.
Location: Burning Steppes
Directions: Under Blackrock Mountain.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://www.ultimategamers.com/worldofwarcr...rockdepths.html

LOWER BLACKROCK SPIRE
Abbreviation: LBRS
Difficulty: #14 of 20 (hard)
Recommended Group: 5-10 players. At least 2 healers (Priest / Shaman / Druid) are recommended.
Recommended Levels: 57-60?
Location: Burning Steppes
Directions: Blackrock Mountain.
Walkthrough / Maps: None known, requesting information

STRATHOLME
Abbreviation: Strat. Split into Stratholme Scarlet and Stratholme UD. Stratholme UD is one of the most time-effective high-level instances for items.
Difficulty: #15 of 20 (hard)
Recommended Group: 5-14 players. Requires a very good 5-player group, otherwise a raid will be necessary. Currently, a 5-person group will take a long time and is not advisable. ~10-14 people are therefore recommended until this instance is changed. The Baroness especially can be buggy; sometimes it helps if everyone gets to the top of the stairs right by the door.
Recommended Levels: 57-60. For smaller groups, 60 is strongly recommended.
Location: Eastern Plaguelands
Directions: Located in the northernmost valley, north of Plaguewood.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/77.php
See revision thread:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.a...p=1#post1402929

SCHOLOMANCE
Abbreviation: Scholo
Difficulty: #16 of 20 (hard)
Recommended Group: 5-10 players. Difficult for 5 people. A 5-person group will take a very long time, up to 8 hours. Raiding this instance is recommended, until it is fixed. One of the worst high-level instances for items, time-wise, and buggy. A Warlock is recommended to protect against a wipe. 2 Priests are recommended for the final boss.
Recommended Levels: 59-60?
Location: Western Plaguelands.
Directions: On an island in Darrowmere Lake, southeast Western Plaguelands. Can also be reached from the Hinterlands via Plaguemist Ravine.
Walkthrough / Maps: None known, requesting information.
See revision thread:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.a...p=1#post1339819

UPPER BLACKROCK SPIRE
Abbreviation: UBRS
Difficulty: #17 of 20 (hard to very hard)
Recommended Group: Best for 15-20 people. Probably the second most time-effective for items.
Recommended Levels: 50-60?
Location: Burning Steppes
Directions: Blackrock Mountain.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://worldofwarcraft.gameamp.com/game_...map/81.php

“EARLY” MOLTEN CORE
Abbreviation: MC
Difficulty: #18 of 20 (very hard)
Recommended Group: 40 players
Recommended Levels: 60
Location: Burning Steppes
Directions: Beneath the Blackrock Depths.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://conquest.teamgbu.com/strats/moltencore/Map2.php

ONYXIA’S LAIR
Abbreviation: None
Difficulty: #19 of 20 (very hard)
Recommended Group: 40 players
Recommended Levels: 60
Location: Dustwallow Marsh
Directions: Go south through the swamp past the Ruins of Stonemaul. The lair is a large mound in an area barren of water and trees.
Walkthrough / Maps: None known, requesting information.
To get the Onyxia key for the Horde:
http://revenants.org/onykey/onyxiakey.htm

“DEEP” MOLTEN CORE
Abbreviation: MC
Difficulty: #20 of 20 (extreme)
Recommended Group: 40 players
Recommended Levels: 60
Location: Burning Steppes
Directions: Beneath the Blackrock Depths.
Walkthrough / Maps:
http://conquest.teamgbu.com/strats/moltencore/Map2.php

CREDITS: Preypacer would like to thank the following players for assisting in the creation of this concise Azjol Horde instance guide: Drogo, Garithos, Liesje, Lortab, Nogame, Quillithe, Raistlin, Rockhand, Sareon, Senta, Tos, Ujanda and Zebego.

[Boutros]

Your difficulty numbering scheme seems odd to me. You already list the recommended level for the instance, why not use a relative difficulty for people of the appropriate level?

[Cryptic]

The guide was originally intended to encourage people to try instances who haven't done so yet. The Azjol Horde is pretty small, so getting a group can be challenging at times. We have quite a few people who are trying instances out for the first time and want to know what to expect. But, I'll be taking out the numbering scheme next round.

[nobbie]

Thanks for the post! I'll read your instances guide later :)

A quick note on the "Shadowfang" link on the page http://www.infoceptor.com/wow/walkthrough/ :

It's currently linked to the "Wailing Caverns" guide, and should read:

http://www.infoceptor.com/wow/walkthrough/shadowfang/

[Alram]

There are 2 things I would like to see that would be helpful to me in addition to the info already posted.

1. Alliance instances.

2. Where the quests which are completed inside the instances are picked up--location, NPC, and level.

Thanks.

[justiceiro]

Gratz Cryptic,
for this excelent Walkthrough...
Could you update this post with the last changes at the high lvl instances?
Number of members to do some quests and other stuffs...

-Punisher