Dragon Soul is the sixth and final raid of the Cataclysm expansion. Arriving with Phase 4 of Cataclysm Classic, this raid takes players to a version of the Dragonblight zone that has been overrun by Deathwing’s forces. There players must assist Thrall and the Dragon Aspects in using Deathwing’s own creation, the Dragon Soul, to end his reign of terror. This storyline follows that of the three Caverns of Time Dungeons that are introduced in the same patch.
The Dragon Soul raid has eight boss encounters and represents the most difficult content in Cataclysm. It can be completed on Normal or Heroic difficulty with a 10- or 25-player group. Entering the raid on Heroic requires the Fall of Deathwing achievement, which is earned by clearing the raid on Normal difficulty. The Raid Finder version is not currently being released in Cataclysm Classic. Raid Finder gear is instead obtainable through Elemental Rune Dungeons.
The legendary Rogue daggers Fangs of the Father are obtainable through this raid along with the Tier 13 class sets and plenty of other powerful epic Loot.
Ultraxion
Warmaster Blackhorn
Spine of Deathwing
Madness of Deathwing
Location & Entrance
The entrance to the Dragon Soul raid is located inside the Caverns of Time in Tanaris. The best way to get there is by taking the portal in the Violet Citadel in Dalaran. You can also take the portal to Uldum in your faction’s capital city and fly across.
From the cave entrance, head down through the tunnels until you reach the large open cavern, then look for the hallway that is marked by burning trees. The Dragon Soul raid portal is the second portal in this hallway, in between the portals for the End Time and Hour of Twilight dungeons.
Map & Layout
The Dragon Soul raid is divided into two wings with four boss encounters each. The raid is linear and the bosses must be defeated in order except for Warlord Zon’ozz and Yor’sahj the Unsleeping, one of which must be killed second and the other third.
The Siege of Wyrmrest Temple
You’ll enter at the approach to Wyrmrest Temple in a special instanced version of Dragonblight that has been invaded by the minions of Deathwing and the Old Gods. The first boss, Morchok, stands between your raid group and the temple. When he’s out of the way, you’ll find dragons waiting in the temple’s doorways to take you to the next locations.
You can do the next two bosses in any order. Valeera, the green dragon in the southern doorway, will fly you into the Maw of Go’rath to the west, where Warlord Zon’ozz awaits. Eiendormi, the bronze dragon in the western doorway, will fly you into the Maw of Shu’ma to the east, where you’ll find Yor’sahj the Unsleeping. There will be a portal back to Wyrmrest Temple in each of the Maws which you can use to return to the temple when the bosses have been defeated.
When the first three bosses have been dealt with, you’ll be able to ride Nethestrasz, the red dragon in the eastern doorway, who will fly you up to the top of Wyrmrest Temple. There you’ll witness some roleplay between some important NPCs, after which a portal will appear. This portal will take you to a special version of the Eye of Eternity, where you will face Hagara the Stormbinder.
Fall of Deathwing
With the first four bosses down, you’ll return from the Eye of Eternity to the top of Wyrmrest Temple, where you will face the fifth boss, the dragon Ultraxion. Then you’ll board the Skyfire airship to fight Warmaster Blackhorn. Finally you’ll face off against Deathwing in two separate encounters: the Spine of Deathwing and the Madness of Deathwing.
Raid Composition
Tanks: For both 10- and 25-player raid sizes, you’ll need to have two tanks. One should have a DPS offspec since many fights only require one tank. For 25-player Heroic, some groups like to use 4 tanks for the first boss. In that case you will need a couple of DPS with a tank offspec.
Healers: 10-player groups will need 2 or 3 healers, and may want an additional DPS with a healing offspec for some fights. 25-player groups will generally aim for 6 or 7 healers, but you may need 8 for some Heroic bosses, or be able to get away with as few as 5 for others. Having a few players who can swap between DPS and healing is ideal.
DPS: You’ll fill remaining spots with damage dealers. Bosses in Dragon Soul have tight enrage timers, especially on Heroic, so you don’t want to neglect your DPS. Most groups will want to have more ranged DPS than melee. One strategy for Warlord Zon’ozz requires bringing at least 5 Mages with Cauterize and/or Shadow Priests with Dispersion.
Bosses
There are 8 boss encounters in the Dragon Soul raid, including two different stages of the fight against Deathwing.
Morchok
The most powerful elemental still under Deathwing’s sway, Morchok-once a passive guardian-is now convinced that his only respite will come with Azeroth’s demise. Morchok rages against the foundation of Wyrmrest Temple, Azeroth’s last beacon of hope in the Hour of Twilight.
Warlord Zon’ozz
Countless ages ago, Warlord Zon’ozz and his soldiers waged endless war against the forces of C’Thun and Yogg-Saron. Millennia have passed, but the warlord still serves the chaotic might of the Old God N’Zoth. Deathwing has now unleashed this legendary faceless one to crush the defenders of Wyrmrest Temple.
- Warlord Zon’ozz Boss Guide
- Warlord Zon’ozz Abilities
- Warlord Zon’ozz Location
- Warlord Zon’ozz Boss Loot
Yor’sahj the Unsleeping
Since the fall of the Bastion of Twilight, Yor’sahj the Unsleeping has eagerly assisted Deathwing, providing the Destroyer with the means to release more faceless ones from their prisons deep beneath the earth. Their numbers are endless and their power is beyond reckoning, and Yor’sahj intends to reap a grim reward for his faithful service.
- Yor’sahj the Unsleeping Boss Guide
- Yor’sahj the Unsleeping Abilities
- Yor’sahj the Unsleeping Location
- Yor’sahj the Unsleeping Boss Loot
Hagara the Stormbinder
Hagara, one of the first students of arcane magic under the Forsaken, showed surprising potential for one who had started learning so late in life. But in her undisciplined attempts to bind elementals into servitude, she was ensnared and twisted by the Windlord, Al’Akir. Now fiercely loyal to the Twilight’s Hammer, Hagara binds others for her elemental masters to torment.
- Hagara the Stormbinder Boss Guide
- Hagara the Stormbinder Abilities
- Hagara the Stormbinder Location
- Hagara the Stormbinder Boss Loot
Ultraxion
More an abomination of dark energy than a dragon, Ultraxion has spent his short life absorbing the essence of captured nether dragons. Ultraxion is the only twilight dragon Deathwing has praised, and his arrogance is overshadowed only by the crackling energies surging through his twisted form. Loyal to his master, Ultraxion swears to bring about the fall of Wyrmrest Temple.
- Ultraxion Boss Guide
- Ultraxion Abilities
- Ultraxion Location
- Ultraxion Boss Loot
Warmaster Blackhorn
Though once vast in number, only a few dozen twilight dragons now remain. Astride these hardened survivors are the last vestiges of the Twilight’s Hammer’s army: the elite drake riders of Deathwing’s personal escort. Led by the insidious Warmaster Blackhorn, they move with unholy purpose, driven to protect their dark master.
- Warmaster Blackhorn Boss Guide
- Warmaster Blackhorn Abilities
- Warmaster Blackhorn Location
- Warmaster Blackhorn Boss Loot
Spine of Deathwing
When Deathwing first channeled the Dragon Soul’s power against the other flights, the massive energies that were unleashed threatened to break apart his very body. Rather than forgo this weapon, he had adamantium plates fused to his scales to hold his body together. Later reinforced with elementium, these plates are now his weakness–the sole vulnerability to Deathwing’s lethal presence.
- Spine of Deathwing Boss Guide
- Spine of Deathwing Abilities
- Spine of Deathwing Location
- Spine of Deathwing Boss Loot
Madness of Deathwing
A warped mass of molten hatred and unfathomable power, this formless, mindless horror cannot be stopped. Whatever was left of Neltharion the Earth-Warder is long gone, his mind and soul corrupted and devoured by his Old God masters. All this monstrous being desires is destruction, annihilation, and the end of all things.
- Madness of Deathwing Boss Guide
- Madness of Deathwing Abilities
- Madness of Deathwing Location
- Madness of Deathwing Boss Loot
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