WoW Classic Dire Maul Dungeons Overview

Dire Maul is the remains of Eldre’Thalas, the Highborne city that held all of Queen Azshara’s most valuable secrets on the arcane arts. The massive dungeon is split into three wings, although only the East Wing is accessible without a key.

The Dire Maul instances are the only dungeons that are not available in Classic WoW at launch. They are added in Phase 2, the only phase that does not include a raid. They bring with them several additional features which we’ll cover in this guide.

• Level Requirement: 48
• Recommended Level: 55+
• Location: Feralas
• Boss Encounters:
  • East: Pusilin, Zevrim Thornhoof, Hydrospawn, Lethtendris, Alzzin the Wildshaper, Isalien (Quest)
  • West: Tendris Warpwood, Illyanna Ravenoak, Magister Kalendris, Immol’thar, Prince Tortheldrin, Tsu’zee (Rare) Lord Hel’nurath (Quest), Revanchion (Scourge Event)
  • North: Guard Mol’dar, Stomper Kreeg, Guard Fengus, Guard Slip’kik, Captain Kromcrush, King Gordok
• Loot Drops:
  • DM East Loot
  • DM West Loot
  • DM North Loot

Location & Map

The entrance to Dire Maul is in central Feralas. The exterior fortress is guarded by level 52-54 elite ogres. To reach the dungeons, you’ll need to pass through Eldreth Row, the large hallway on the south side.

The main entrances to the dungeons are each located on a different side of the large inner courtyard. The Dire Maul East portal is the only one that can be entered without the Crescent Key. This dungeon can also be entered through a hallway on the east side of Eldreth Row or through a “back entrance” that lies slightly northeast of Camp Mojache at Lariss Pavillion, but the Crescent Key is required to enter that door.

The doors to Dire Maul West and Dire Maul North require the Crescent Key to open. Players who have already gone through the doors will be able to use the Torch on the wall just inside to open the doors for other players.

There is an arena in the center of the courtyard, The Maul, which is a PvP area. The doorway on the west side of the arena leads through a long tunnel that exits back in the courtyard near the entrance to Dire Maul West.

Dusty Tomes

There are several spots where A Dusty Tome can spawn on the ground throughout all three Dire Maul dungeons. These objects appear as books with red covers, and they can be looted for a chance to receive any of the books in the table below. Most often you’ll just get some Pocket Lint or perhaps A Thoroughly Read Copy of “Nat Pagle’s Extreme’ Anglin.”

The books can also be looted from enemies inside the dungeons. They can be traded or sold, and each one starts a quest that awards either a special class trinket, or in the case of Nostro’s Compendium of Dragon Slaying, the epic sword Quel’Serrar. We have a Quel’Serrar Guide that covers the additional steps required to complete the sword. The quests are turned in to one of the Lorekeeper NPCs at the Athanaeum inside Dire Maul.

Dusty Tome Spawn Locations

Librams & Arcanums

Enemies in all three Dire Maul dungeons have a chance to drop Librams which can be turned in along with other materials to obtain Arcanums, special enchantments that can be applied to the Head or Leg slot. In order to turn these in, you’ll first need to unlock the Athanaeum by completing the quest Elven Legends/ Elven Legends. The items can then be turned in to Lorekeeper Lydros.

Here are the three enchantments you can get and their requirements.

Arcanum of Focus

• Quest: Libram of Focus
• Starts From: Libram of Focus
• Materials Required:
  • Pristine Black Diamond x1
    • Drops from level 55+ elites or purchased on the Auction House
  • Large Brilliant Shard x4
    • Disenchanted from level 55+ blue/rare items with Enchanting or purchased on the Auction House
  • Skin of Shadow x2
    • Depending on the the current Content Phase, these can be found in Scholomance either as boss drops or as a clickable item beside Lady Barov
    • These items are bind-on-pickup so you must loot them yourself

Arcanum of Protection

• Quest: Libram of Protection
• Starts From: Libram of Protection
• Materials Required:
  • Pristine Black Diamond x1
    • Drops from level 55+ elites or purchased on the Auction House
  • Large Brilliant Shard x2
    • Disenchanted from level 55+ blue/rare items with Enchanting or purchased on the Auction House
  • Frayed Abomination Stitching x1
    • These drop from abominations in Stratholme: Patchwork Horror, Bile Spewer, Venom Belcher, and Ramstein the Gorger
    • These items are bind-on-pickup so you must loot one yourself

Arcanum of Rapidity

• Quest: Libram of Rapidity
• Starts From: Libram of Rapidity
• Materials Required:
  • Pristine Black Diamond x1
    • Drops from level 55+ elites or purchased on the Auction House
  • Large Brilliant Shard x2
    • Disenchanted from level 55+ blue/rare items with Enchanting or purchased on the Auction House
  • Blood of Heroes x2
    • These can be obtained by interacting with Blood of Heroes, which spawns on the ground in locations across Eastern and Western Plaguelands
    • Be aware that clicking on the object will also spawn two elite enemies
    • These items are bind-on-pickup so you must loot them yourself

Enchanted Thorium Platemail

In addition to the enchantments above, Lorekeeper Lydros also offers a set of three Blacksmithing plans. To get them, you’ll need to acquire the Top Half and the Bottom Half of the appropriate Armorsmithing Volume. Combining them will give you an item that gives a quest, and turning in the quest will get you the plans.

Plans: Enchanted Thorium Breastplate

• Quest: Enchanted Thorium Platemail: Volume I
• Starts From: Enchanted Thorium Platemail (Volume I)
  • Top Half of Advanced Armorsmithing: Volume I
    • Drops from King Gordok in Dire Maul North
  • Bottom Half of Advanced Armorsmithing: Volume I
    • Drops from Goraluk Anvilcrack in Upper Blackrock Spire

Plans: Enchanted Thorium Leggings

• Quest: Enchanted Thorium Platemail: Volume II
• Starts From: Enchanted Thorium Platemail (Volume II)
  • Top Half of Advanced Armorsmithing: Volume II
    • Drops from Rattlegore in Scholomance
  • Bottom Half of Advanced Armorsmithing: Volume II
    • Drops from Crimson Hammersmith in Stratholme (Living)

Plans: Enchanted Thorium Helm

• Quest: Enchanted Thorium Platemail: Volume III
• Starts From: Enchanted Thorium Platemail (Volume III)
  • Top Half of Advanced Armorsmithing: Volume III
    • Drops from Urok Doomhowl in Lower Blackrock Spire
  • Bottom Half of Advanced Armorsmithing: Volume III
    • Drops from Black Guard Swordsmith in Stratholme (Undead)

Class Quests

There are a few important class quests that can be completed inside the Dire Maul dungeons.

Paladins and Warlocks are both able to obtain a special epic mount by completing a quest chain that leads into Dire Maul. We have walkthroughs for both in our Paladin Epic Mount Guide and our Warlock Epic Mount Guide.

Mages are also able to learn Rank 7 Conjure Water by completing the quest Arcane Refreshment. This quest is covered in our Dire Maul East Guide.

Dire Maul Tribute Buffs

Dire Maul brings a new set of World Buffs to the game for players who complete a Tribute Run in Dire Maul North. Often you’ll find other players looking to sell these buffs by allowing you to enter their already-cleared instance and pick them up without having to complete the entire run yourself.

There are three buffs that can be picked up this way: Mol’dar’s Moxie, Fengus’ Ferocity, and Slip’kik’s Savvy.

A completed Tribute Run will also allow you to purchase Gordok Green Grog and Kreeg’s Stout Beatdown from Stomper Kreeg inside the instance. These consumables are bind-on-pickup and offer a small stat boost that stacks with other consumable buffs.

Tribute Runs are covered in detail in our Dire Maul North Guide.

Dire Maul Dungeons

Dire Maul is divided into three wings, which are each accessed separately through their own dungeon portals.

Dire Maul East

• Level Requirement: 48
• Recommended Level: 55+
• Location: Feralas
• Boss Encounters: Pusilin, Zevrim Thornhoof, Hydrospawn, Lethtendris, Alzzin the Wildshaper, Isalien (Quest)
• Loot Drops: Quel’dorai Channeling Rod, Fiendish Machete, Helm of Awareness, Tempest Talisman, Ring of Demonic Guile, Ring of Demonic Potency, Clever Hat

Dire Maul West

• Level Requirement: 48
• Recommended Level: 55+
• Location: Feralas
• Boss Encounters: Tendris Warpwood, Illyanna Ravenoak, Magister Kalendris, Immol’thar, Prince Tortheldrin, Tsu’zee (Rare) Lord Hel’nurath (Quest), Revanchion (Scourge Event)
• Loot Drops: Timeworn Mace, Blade of the New Moon, Silvermoon Leggings, Force Imbued Gauntlets, Vigilance Charm, Mindtap Talisman, Petrified Bark Shield

Dire Maul North

• Level Requirement: 48
• Recommended Level: 55+
• Location: Feralas
• Boss Encounters: Guard Mol’dar, Stomper Kreeg, Guard Fengus, Guard Slip’kik, Captain Kromcrush, King Gordok
• Loot Drops: Monstrous Glaive, Cho’Rush’s Blade, Barbarous Blade, Observer’s Shield, Kromcrush’s Chestplate, Crown of the Ogre King, Leggings of Destruction, Unsophisticated Hand Cannon, Kreeg’s Mug, Jagged Bone Fist, Gordok Nose Ring