Dungeons

Blackrock Depths

The sprawling Dark Iron capital inside Blackrock Mountain — the biggest dungeon of the game and a staple for players from the low 50s all the way to 60.

Location
Blackrock Mountain (Searing Gorge / Burning Steppes)
Level
Level 48
Bosses
21

Entrance

Enter Blackrock Mountain from Searing Gorge (north, via the Cauldron) or Burning Steppes (south). Inside the mountain, follow the chain walkways down to the lowest level; the Blackrock Depths portal is at the bottom, near Lothos Riftwaker. Neither faction has a nearby city, so plan the flight to Thorium Point (Searing Gorge) or Morgan's Vigil / Flame Crest (Burning Steppes).

Overview

Blackrock Depths is Shadowforge City, the underground home of the Dark Iron dwarves under Emperor Dagran Thaurissan. It is a dungeon on a different scale from anything before it: a prison block, an arena, a tavern, forges, a golem factory and a throne room, all connected by long corridors and shortcuts. Most groups never clear it in one go.

That size is its strength. There are quests for every faction and level band from about 52 to 60, it opens the way to the Molten Core and the Onyxia attunement chain, and it remains a reliable source of blacksmithing materials and pre-raid gear long after you hit max level.

Route

A typical full route: Detention Block (Gerstahn) → Ring of Law → Shrine of Thaurissan → Grim Guzzler → Lyceum (Angerforge) → Iron Hall (Magmus) → Imperial Seat (Thaurissan). The Manufactory (Argelmach), the Vault and the Summoner’s Tomb (The Seven) are side branches you can add or skip.

Based on Classic Era; details may differ in WoW Forever and will be checked after launch.

  1. 1

    High Interrogator Gerstahn

    Shadow priest in the Detention Block at the start of the dungeon. She casts Shadow Word: Pain and Psychic Scream — have the healer dispel and stay near walls to avoid fearing into adds.

    Notable loot
    • Enthralled Sphere
  2. 2

    Lord Roccor

    Fire elemental found on the road toward the Ring of Law. Earth Shock and Ground Tremor stun; a straightforward tank-and-spank.

    Notable loot
    • Earthslag Shoulders
  3. 3

    Houndmaster Grebmar

    Dark Iron houndmaster with a pack of hounds along the main road of the Depths. Kill the dogs first, then Grebmar; he enrages and hits harder when low.

  4. 4

    Ring of Law

    Step into the arena and High Justice Grimstone releases waves of beasts and then one random champion (Anub'shiah, Eviscerator, Gorosh the Dervish, Grizzle, Hedrum the Creeper or Ok'thor the Breaker). The doors stay shut until the fight is over.

  5. 5

    Pyromancer Loregrain

    Dark Iron shaman in the Shrine of Thaurissan. Drops a Molten Totem and casts Flame Shock — kill the totem and interrupt.

  6. 6

    Lord Incendius

    Fire lord guarding the Black Anvil. Fire Storm and a knock-back; fire resistance makes this easy. Blacksmiths need the Black Anvil here for Dark Iron recipes.

  7. 7

    Warder Stilgiss

    Frost caster in the Vault area, accompanied by his hound Verek. Frost Nova and Frostbolt Volley — tank Verek away from the casters.

  8. 8

    Fineous Darkvire

    Chief architect of Shadowforge, fought in the Great Forge for the Dark Iron Legacy quest. Holy Strike and self-heal; interrupt his heals.

    Notable loot
    • Ironfoe
    • Ironfel
  9. 9

    Bael'Gar

    Giant fire elemental in a lava-filled cavern off the Great Forge. Spawns lava elementals; tank him on the walkway and kill the adds.

  10. 10

    General Angerforge

    Commander of the Dark Iron armies, found near the Lyceum. At about 30% health he calls a wave of reinforcements — burn him fast or crowd-control and kite the adds.

    Notable loot
    • Angerforge's Battle Axe
    • Warstrife Leggings
    • Lord General's Sword
  11. 11

    Golem Lord Argelmach

    Golem engineer in the Manufactory. Clear his golems first, since he can awaken them; he casts Chain Lightning and shields himself with lightning.

    Notable loot
    • Head of Argelmach
  12. 12

    Hurley Blackbreath

    Hard-drinking dwarf in the Grim Guzzler, who appears after you steal the Thunderbrew lager kegs. He breathes fire and drinks to heal.

  13. 13

    Phalanx

    Giant iron golem who animates if the Grim Guzzler turns hostile (for example after Hurley's or Ribbly's fight). Hits hard and casts Thunderclap.

    Notable loot
    • Fists of Phalanx
    • Bloodfist
  14. 14

    Ribbly Screwspigot

    Goblin in the Grim Guzzler with two bodyguards; a Horde quest target. Engaging him risks angering the whole bar.

    Notable loot
    • Ribbly's Head
    • Ribbly's Quiver
    • Ribbly's Bandolier
  15. 15

    Plugger Spazzring

    The Grim Guzzler's barkeep. Stealing his beer turns the bar hostile; buying a few Dark Iron Ales and talking keeps things peaceful.

    Notable loot
    • Barman Shanker
  16. 16

    The Vault

    Secret Safe behind the Vault doors near Warder Stilgiss; you need the Relic Coffer Key to open the coffers and reach the Dark Coffer, which holds a quest object.

  17. 17

    Ambassador Flamelash

    Fire elemental lord in the Chamber of Enchantment. Burning Spirits stream toward him from the runes and heal him — intercept and kill them on the way.

  18. 18

    The Seven

    The ghosts of seven ancient dwarves in the Summoner's Tomb, released one after another by speaking to Doom'rel. Each has a different school of attacks; the chest at the end opens when all are defeated.

  19. 19

    Magmus

    Molten giant in the Iron Hall, guarding the way to the Imperial Seat. Flame jets from the statues along the hallway hit hard — fight him at the doorway, not under the statues.

    Notable loot
    • Magmus Stone
    • Lavastone Hammer
  20. 20

    Princess Moira Bronzebeard

    Magni's daughter, now Thaurissan's empress. She heals the emperor and shields herself; on The Royal Rescue she must not die.

  21. 21

    Emperor Dagran Thaurissan

    Ruler of the Dark Iron dwarves on his throne in the Imperial Seat. Hand of Thaurissan stuns and Avatar of Flame makes him hit hard — crowd-control or interrupt Moira, then burn him.

    Notable loot
    • The Emperor's New Cape
    • Thaurissan's Royal Scepter
    • Swiftwalker Boots
    • Guiding Stave of Wisdom

Based on Classic Era; details may differ in WoW Forever and will be checked after launch.

  • Dark Iron Legacy

    Both factionsLevel 52

    Starts at: Franclorn Forgewright, on the central platform in Blackrock Mountain

    Slay Fineous Darkvire, take Ironfel back to the Shrine of Thaurissan and claim the key that opens the Shadowforge City doors and shortcuts.

    Rewards
    • Shadowforge Key
  • Attunement to the Core

    Both factionsLevel 55

    Starts at: Lothos Riftwaker, next to the Blackrock Depths portal

    Fetch a Core Fragment from deep inside the Depths. Completing it lets Lothos teleport you straight into the Molten Core raid.

  • The Rise of the Machines

    Both factionsLevel 58

    Starts at: Lotwil Veriatus, Badlands

    A chain that ends with defeating Golem Lord Argelmach in the Manufactory and bringing back his head.

  • Ribbly Screwspigot

    HordeLevel 53

    Starts at: Yuka Screwspigot, Flame Crest (Burning Steppes)

    Yuka wants her wayward relative dealt with — Ribbly hides in the Grim Guzzler and turns hostile when approached.

  • Jail Break!

    AllianceLevel 54

    Starts at: Marshal Windsor, in the prison block of Blackrock Depths

    Escort Marshal Windsor through the Detention Block and free his fellow prisoners. Part of the long Alliance chain toward Onyxia's Lair.

  • The Royal Rescue

    AllianceLevel 59

    Starts at: King Magni Bronzebeard, Ironforge

    Kill Emperor Dagran Thaurissan and free Princess Moira from his control; the chain pays out a choice of strong rewards on return to Ironforge.

    Rewards
    • Magni's Will
    • Songstone of Ironforge

Based on Classic Era; details may differ in WoW Forever and will be checked after launch.

Blackrock Depths — Level 1

Map from the game files (Classic layout). Tap to open it full size.

  • Get the Shadowforge Key early (Dark Iron Legacy): it opens Shadowforge City and saves a lot of walking.
  • BRD is huge: split it into runs — Detention Block + Ring of Law, the Grim Guzzler route, and the Lyceum to Emperor.
  • Blacksmiths and miners: Dark Iron Ore and the Black Anvil are why many come back here at 60.
  • The Grim Guzzler gets dangerous if you anger the bar; clear it on purpose, not by accident.
  • Thorium Brotherhood reputation starts with quests in Searing Gorge and continues with Dark Iron materials from this dungeon.
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