Dungeons

Upper Blackrock Spire

The top of Blackrock Spire, where Warchief Rend Blackhand and General Drakkisath rule — a ten-player dungeon for level 60, home of Tier 0 chest pieces and the gateway to Blackwing Lair.

Location
Blackrock Mountain (Searing Gorge / Burning Steppes)
Level
Level 53
Bosses
5

Entrance

Use the Blackrock Spire portal at the top of Blackrock Mountain, then head past Vaelan and up to the sealed door. Anyone in the group with the Seal of Ascension can open it.

Overview

Upper Blackrock Spire is the seat of the Dark Horde: Warchief Rend Blackhand holds court in his stadium, while the black dragonflight’s General Drakkisath guards the upper halls on behalf of Nefarian. It is a ten-player dungeon, a big step up from the five-player Lower Spire.

At level 60 it is one of the most useful stops on the road to raiding. It completes both the Onyxia and the Blackwing Lair attunements, it hosts several Tier 0 pieces, and it is where many groups first learn raid habits like handling waves of adds.

Attunement

In classic, the door to the Upper Spire only opens for a group with a Seal of Ascension holder. The seal comes from the “Seal of Ascension” quest in Lower Blackrock Spire: three gemstones from Omokk, Voone and Wyrmthalak plus the Unadorned Seal, then dragon’s blood from Emberstrife in Dustwallow Marsh.

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

  1. 1

    Pyroguard Emberseer

    Fire elemental bound in the Hall of Binding at the start. Clicking the altar wakes the Blackhand Incarcerators around him; once they die he breaks free and casts Fire Nova and Flamestrike.

    Notable loot
    • Eye of the Emberseer
  2. 2

    Warchief Rend Blackhand

    Leader of the Dark Horde. Starting the event in the stadium sends waves of orcs and dragonkin; then Rend arrives riding Gyth, who breathes fire and frost. When Gyth falls, Rend fights on foot with Whirlwind and Cleave.

    Notable loot
    • Head of Rend Blackhand
    • Dal'Rend's Sacred Charge
    • Dal'Rend's Tribal Guardian
  3. 3

    The Beast

    Huge beast in the hall beyond the stadium. Its Terrifying Roar fears the group (often into more packs), it Fireballs and Flamebreaks — use fear protection and fight it at the far side of the room.

    Notable loot
    • Glowing Hunk of the Beast's Flesh
  4. 4

    General Drakkisath

    Commander of the Spire and its final boss, flanked by two Chromatic Elite Guards. Flamestrike, Cleave and Conflagration (which makes the target wander). Off-tank the guards or pull them away first.

    Notable loot
    • Blood of the Black Dragon Champion
    • Breastplate of Valor
    • Lightforge Breastplate
    • Magister's Robes
    • Devout Robe
    • Dreadmist Robe
    • Wildheart Vest
    • Beaststalker's Tunic
    • Shadowcraft Tunic
    • Vest of Elements
    • Blackhand's Breadth
  5. 5

    Lord Valthalak

    Optional boss summoned as part of the Dungeon Set 2 (Tier 0.5) quest chain. He calls in Spectral Assassins and later Shadow Bolt Volleys — burn him once the adds are dealt with.

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

  • Blackhand's Command

    Both factionsLevel 60

    Starts at: General Drakkisath's Command, dropped by Scarshield Quartermasters in Lower Blackrock Spire

    Kill General Drakkisath, then touch the Orb of Command near the Spire entrance. This attunes you to Blackwing Lair.

  • For The Horde!

    HordeLevel 60

    Starts at: Thrall, Orgrimmar

    Bring Thrall the head of Warchief Rend Blackhand. Part of the Horde chain toward Onyxia's Lair.

  • Blood of the Black Dragon Champion

    HordeLevel 60

    Starts at: Rexxar, Desolace

    The last step of the Horde attunement to Onyxia's Lair: defeat General Drakkisath and bring his blood back for the Drakefire Amulet. (The Alliance chain also ends with Drakkisath's blood, turned in to Haleh in Winterspring.)

    Rewards
    • Drakefire Amulet

  • Egg Freezing

    Both factionsLevel 60

    Starts at: Tinkee Steamboil, Flame Crest (Burning Steppes)

    Test a gadget on the eggs in the dragonspawn rookery, then continue with collecting eggs.

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

Upper Blackrock Spire — Level 1

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

  • Upper Spire is a 10-player instance: bring two tanks for Rend's waves and Drakkisath's guards.
  • Fear Ward, Tremor Totem or Berserker Rage make The Beast much safer.
  • Talk to each other before Rend: the waves keep coming until he joins, so have crowd control and area damage ready.
  • Drakkisath and The Beast drop Tier 0 (dungeon set) pieces, which makes UBRS a weekly favourite at 60.
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