Dungeons

Deadmines

The Defias Brotherhood's secret mine and hidden shipyard beneath Westfall, ending with Edwin VanCleef on his pirate ship. The signature Alliance dungeon for levels 17-24.

Location
Westfall
Level
Level 16
Bosses
8

Entrance

Easy access for the Alliance

Enter Moonbrook in southern Westfall, go into the mine in the town and follow the tunnel down to the instance portal. Horde players have a very long trip through Alliance land - most come from Booty Bay or via Duskwood.

Overview

After Stormwind refused to pay the stonemasons who rebuilt the city, their leader Edwin VanCleef turned them into the Defias Brotherhood. From a hidden goldmine below Moonbrook they plot against the kingdom, and deep in the rock they are secretly building a warship in a flooded cove.

The Deadmines is the dungeon that most Alliance players remember: a long Westfall quest chain builds up to it, the instance itself mixes mine tunnels, a goblin foundry and a full pirate ship, and it caps off with a fight against VanCleef himself. Aim for level 18-23.

Route

The path is linear: Rhahk’Zor behind the first gate, then the mine and lumber areas with Sneed’s Shredder, then Gilnid’s foundry. From there the tunnels open up into the hidden cove. Clear the pirates on the docks, board the ship and work up from Mr. Smite and Cookie below deck to Captain Greenskin and finally VanCleef at the top. Miner Johnson is an optional rare along the way.

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

  1. 1

    Rhahk'Zor

    The ogre foreman standing behind the first door. Hits hard but has no tricks - a good warm-up.

    Notable loot
    • Rhahk'Zor's Hammer
  2. 2

    Sneed

    Rides Sneed's Shredder in the lumber area. Destroy the shredder first; Sneed then jumps out and has to be killed on foot.

    Notable loot
    • Buzz Saw
    • Gold-flecked Gloves
    • Taskmaster Axe
  3. 3

    Miner Johnson

    A rare spawn in the mine tunnels that is not there on every run. If he is up, he is an easy kill.

  4. 4

    Gilnid

    The goblin smelter in the foundry, surrounded by goblin workers. Clear the adds around the ledges before engaging.

    Notable loot
    • Smelting Pants
    • Lavishly Jeweled Ring
  5. 5

    Captain Greenskin

    Commands the deck of the pirate ship with his crew. Pull him with or after the nearby pirates - he cleaves, so face him away from the group.

    Notable loot
    • Emberstone Staff
    • Corsair's Overshirt
  6. 6

    Mr. Smite

    VanCleef's first mate. At health thresholds he stuns the group with a stomp and runs to a chest to change weapons, getting more dangerous each time - save cooldowns for his final phase.

    Notable loot
    • Smite's Reaver
    • Thief's Blade
    • Smite's Mighty Hammer
  7. 7

    Cookie

    A murloc cook in the ship's galley. Throws food and heals himself; a short, easy fight.

    Notable loot
    • Cookie's Tenderizer
    • Cookie's Stirring Rod
  8. 8

    Edwin VanCleef

    Leader of the Defias Brotherhood, waiting on the top deck. He calls in Defias Blackguards as his health drops - burn him and pick up the adds as they arrive.

    Notable loot
    • Cruel Barb
    • Cape of the Brotherhood
    • Blackened Defias Armor
    • An Unsent Letter

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

  • Red Silk Bandanas

    Alliance

    Starts at: Scout Riell, top of the tower at Sentinel Hill

    Collect red bandanas from the Defias miners and workers inside.

  • Collecting Memories

    Alliance

    Starts at: Wilder Thistlenettle, Dwarven District in Stormwind

    Gather Miners' Union cards from the undead and Defias miners in the mine.

    Rewards
    • Tunneler's Boots
    • Dusty Mining Gloves

  • Oh Brother. . .

    Alliance

    Starts at: Wilder Thistlenettle, Dwarven District in Stormwind

    Find out what happened to Wilder's brother, the foreman, and bring back his Explorers' League badge.

    Rewards
    • Miner's Revenge

  • Underground Assault

    Alliance

    Starts at: Shoni the Shilent, Dwarven District in Stormwind

    Recover a gnomish device from Sneed's Shredder.

  • The Defias Brotherhood

    AllianceLevel 22

    Starts at: Gryan Stoutmantle, Sentinel Hill in Westfall

    The finale of a long Westfall chain: track the Brotherhood to its leader and bring back Edwin VanCleef's head.

    Rewards
    • Chausses of Westfall
    • Tunic of Westfall
    • Staff of Westfall

  • The Unsent Letter

    Alliance

    Starts at: Dropped by Edwin VanCleef

    Deliver VanCleef's letter to Baros Alexston in Stormwind, which opens a follow-up chain about the Brotherhood's origins.

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

Deadmines — Level 1

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

  • Pick up all the Westfall and Stormwind quests before the run - The Defias Brotherhood chain alone takes you through most of Westfall.
  • Defias Overseers and Taskmasters in the mines come in groups; pull carefully on the narrow wooden ramps.
  • Goblin engineers and cannons on the cove ledges can pull extra packs if you rush the ship.
  • Many players farm the instance for pieces of the Defias Leather set, which drop from both trash and bosses.
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