Raids

Molten Core

Ragnaros the Firelord's realm deep beneath Blackrock Mountain — the first 40-player raid of the game, home of Tier 1 and the road to Thunderfury and Sulfuras.

Location
Blackrock Mountain (Searing Gorge / Burning Steppes)
Level
Level 60
Bosses
11
Raids
40 players

Entrance

The Molten Core lies below Blackrock Depths. The portal is deep inside the Depths; once attuned, players can instead ask Lothos Riftwaker, next to the Blackrock Depths entrance inside the mountain, to teleport them straight in.

Overview

The Molten Core is the fiery realm of Ragnaros the Firelord, bound beneath Blackrock Mountain by the Dark Iron dwarves centuries ago. His Flamewaker lieutenants, molten giants and core hounds fill the lava caverns, and Majordomo Executus guards the way to the Firelord himself.

It is the first 40-player raid and the place where guilds build their raiding habits: decursing, fear protection, add control and tank swaps. It drops Tier 1 for every class, the Bindings of the Windseeker that begin Thunderfury, and the Eye of Sulfuras used to forge Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros.

Attunement

Complete “Attunement to the Core” from Lothos Riftwaker by fetching a Core Fragment from Blackrock Depths. Attuned players can be teleported in by Lothos; everyone else has to run through the Depths to the portal.

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

  1. 1

    Lucifron

    Flamewaker lord with two Flamewaker Protectors who use Dominate Mind. Lucifron's Curse doubles mana and energy costs and Impending Doom hits after a delay — decurse and dispel constantly, and kill the protectors first.

    Notable loot
    • Choker of Enlightenment
  2. 2

    Magmadar

    Giant core hound. Panic fears the whole raid (Fear Ward, Tremor Totem), Lava Bomb leaves fire on the floor, and Frenzy must be removed by hunters with Tranquilizing Shot.

    Notable loot
    • Earthshaker
    • Legplates of Might
    • Lawbringer Legplates
    • Arcanist Leggings
    • Pants of Prophecy
    • Felheart Pants
    • Cenarion Leggings
    • Giantstalker's Leggings
    • Nightslayer Pants
    • Earthfury Legguards
    • Striker's Mark
    • Medallion of Steadfast Might
    • Eskhandar's Right Claw
  3. 3

    Gehennas

    Flamewaker lord with two Flamewaker adds. Gehennas' Curse cuts healing received by 75% — decurse — and Rain of Fire forces the raid to move.

  4. 4

    Garr

    Fire elemental lord with eight Firesworn. The Firesworn explode when they die and grow stronger as others fall — warlocks banish some, and the rest are tanked and killed one at a time away from the raid. Garr's Antimagic Pulse dispels buffs.

    Notable loot
    • Bindings of the Windseeker
    • Helm of Might
    • Lawbringer Helm
    • Arcanist Crown
    • Circlet of Prophecy
    • Felheart Horns
    • Cenarion Helm
    • Giantstalker's Helmet
    • Nightslayer Cover
    • Earthfury Helmet
    • Aurastone Hammer
    • Brutality Blade
    • Drillborer Disk
    • Gutgore Ripper
  5. 5

    Shazzrah

    Flamewaker arcanist who blinks to random players and casts Arcane Explosion. Shazzrah's Curse raises arcane damage taken (decurse) and he counterspells casters; healers must stay spread.

  6. 6

    Baron Geddon

    Fire elemental lord. Living Bomb turns a player into a bomb — run away from the raid before it explodes. Inferno pulses fire damage around him, and Ignite Mana burns healers' mana unless dispelled.

    Notable loot
    • Bindings of the Windseeker
    • Pauldrons of Might
    • Lawbringer Spaulders
    • Arcanist Mantle
    • Mantle of Prophecy
    • Felheart Shoulder Pads
    • Cenarion Spaulders
    • Giantstalker's Epaulets
    • Nightslayer Shoulder Pads
    • Earthfury Epaulets
  7. 7

    Sulfuron Harbinger

    Herald of Ragnaros with four Flamewaker Priests who heal him and each other. Kill or interrupt the priests first; Sulfuron himself stuns with Hand of Ragnaros and empowers the priests.

    Notable loot
    • Pauldrons of Might
    • Lawbringer Spaulders
    • Arcanist Mantle
    • Mantle of Prophecy
    • Felheart Shoulder Pads
    • Cenarion Spaulders
    • Giantstalker's Epaulets
    • Nightslayer Shoulder Pads
    • Earthfury Epaulets
    • Shadowstrike
  8. 8

    Golemagg the Incinerator

    Molten giant with two Core Ragers that cannot be killed (they heal themselves at low health) — off-tank them away from Golemagg. His Magma Splash stacks on the tank, so swap tanks; he Earthquakes the melee at low health.

    Notable loot
    • Sulfuron Ingot
    • Breastplate of Might
    • Lawbringer Chestguard
    • Arcanist Robes
    • Robes of Prophecy
    • Felheart Robes
    • Cenarion Vestments
    • Giantstalker's Breastplate
    • Nightslayer Chestpiece
    • Earthfury Vestments
    • Azuresong Mageblade
    • Staff of Dominance
    • Blastershot Launcher
  9. 9

    Majordomo Executus

    Appears once all seven runes have been doused, with eight Flamewaker Healers and Elites. He shields his adds with Magic Reflection and Damage Shield and teleports the tank; when the adds are dead he submits and leaves the Cache of the Firelord. He then summons Ragnaros for you.

    Notable loot
    • Ancient Petrified Leaf
  10. 10

    Ragnaros

    The Firelord. Wrath of Ragnaros knocks back the melee, Elemental Fire burns the tank and Lava Burst hits players behind him. If no one is in melee range he casts Magma Blast on the raid. After about three minutes he submerges and eight Sons of Flame rush in — kill them before he returns.

    Notable loot
    • Eye of Sulfuras
    • Band of Sulfuras
    • Essence of the Firelord
    • Legplates of Wrath
    • Judgement Legplates
    • Netherwind Pants
    • Leggings of Transcendence
    • Nemesis Leggings
    • Stormrage Legguards
    • Dragonstalker's Legguards
    • Bloodfang Pants
    • Legplates of Ten Storms
    • Perdition's Blade
    • Bonereaver's Edge
    • Band of Accuria
    • Dragon's Blood Cape
    • Choker of the Fire Lord
    • Onslaught Girdle
    • Malistar's Defender
  11. 11

    The Molten Core

    The trash of the Core is part of the challenge: Core Hound packs must die within seconds of each other or they revive, Molten Giants and Destroyers hit hard, and Ancient Core Hounds bring nasty debuffs. Lava Surgers patrol the halls. Fire resistance gear matters for Ragnaros.

    Notable loot
    • Lava Core
    • Fiery Core

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

  • Attunement to the Core

    Both factionsLevel 60

    Starts at: Lothos Riftwaker, Blackrock Mountain

    Bring Lothos a Core Fragment from inside Blackrock Depths. Attuned players can then use him as a shortcut into the raid.

  • Hands of the Enemy

    Both factionsLevel 60

    Starts at: Duke Hydraxis, Azshara

    The Hydraxian Waterlords want proof that you killed Lucifron, Sulfuron Harbinger, Gehennas and Shazzrah. Earlier steps of the chain grant the Aqual Quintessence, which douses the runes in the Core.

  • Thunderaan the Windseeker

    Both factionsLevel 60

    Starts at: Highlord Demitrian, Silithus

    With both Bindings of the Windseeker, Demitrian sends you to defeat Prince Thunderaan; the chain ends with Rise, Thunderfury! and the legendary sword.

  • Rise, Thunderfury!

    Both factionsLevel 60

    Starts at: Highlord Demitrian, Silithus

    Final step of the Thunderfury chain, after Prince Thunderaan has been defeated.

    Rewards
    • Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker

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

Molten Core — Level 1

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

  • Douse the runes next to the bosses with Aqual Quintessence from the Hydraxian Waterlords: Majordomo only appears when all seven are out.
  • Decursers are essential: Lucifron, Gehennas and Shazzrah all rely on curses.
  • Collect fire resistance before Ragnaros — especially for tanks and melee.
  • Hunters picking up Rhok'delar need the Ancient Petrified Leaf from the Cache of the Firelord.
  • Both halves of Bindings of the Windseeker (Garr and Baron Geddon) start the Thunderfury chain.
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