- Author: Luxrah
- Date: May 9, 2023
- Updated: May 9, 2023
- Expansion: World of Warcraft
Today marks the start of Season 2 of Dragonflight, and with it comes a new raid, Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible. The raid is now open for all realms on all difficulties, with nine new bosses and all new items and achievements to earn.
The Raid Finder version of Aberrus will unlock in wings, with a new wing being opened every two weeks. There are four wings in total. For all other difficulties, the entire raid can be accessed immediately.
Aberrus is the secret laboratory of Neltharion, and its entrance can be found deep within Zaralek Cavern. Inside you’ll face some of Neltharion’s experiments as well as an Echo of Neltharion. The final boss is Scalecommander Sarkareth, the leader of the Sundered Flame, a rogue faction of dracthyr seeking to claim their legacy as Neltharion’s children.
Breach Neltharion’s secret laboratory hidden within Zaralek Cavern. It is here that he created the dracthyr and ultimately succumbed to the whispers of the Old Gods and their corruption. Players will face nine new raid bosses in an effort to thwart the incarnates as well as Scalecommander Sarkareth, whose forces seek to claim the legacy of the dracthyr.
Millennia ago, Neltharion established Aberrus, a secret laboratory where he conducted world-altering experiments. Recently rediscovered, Aberrus is now under attack from all sides as forces seeking to claim the Earth-Warder’s legacy search for any power that remains. The champions of Azeroth must venture into the shadows and ensure Neltharion’s dark power doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Raid bosses: 9
Difficulties: Raid Finder, Normal, Heroic, Mythic
Level: 70
Raid Finder Minimum Item Level: 390
RAID UNLOCK SCHEDULE
Week of May 8—Normal, Heroic, Mythic, and Raid Finder Wing 1: The Discarded Works (Kazzara, the Hellforged, The Amalgamation Chamber, The Forgotten Experiments) becomes available.
Week of May 22—Raid Finder Wing 2: Fury of Giants (Assault of the Zaqali, Rashok the Elder, The Vigilant Steward, Zskarn) becomes available.
Week of June 5—Raid Finder Wing 3: Neltharion’s Shadow (Magmorax, Echo of Neltharion) becomes available.
Week of June 19—Raid Finder Wing 4: Edge of the Void (Scalecommander Sarkareth) becomes available.
Although Neltharion would not use them himself until much later, he experimented with elementium plating in the early days of Aberrus. The end result of elementium and shadowflame was Kazzara, who was deemed far too unstable to release. Driven mad by the excruciating pain of her elementium plates, she now serves as the guardian of the Shadowed Crucible.
The Eternal Blaze burns with the heat of a thousand suns, while the essence of Shadow blooms with darkness incarnate. Although exceptionally powerful on their own, when combined, they surge with the unchecked might of shadowflame, creating a whirlwind of ultimate destruction.
The development of the dracthyr produced many iterations, some more successful than others. Early versions of the experiment proved far too volatile to destroy. Kept dormant for thousands of years, these creations have now awakened, and seek to test their prowess against the champions of Azeroth.
Led by Warlord Kagni, the Zaqali warband has launched an all-out assault against the Shadowed Crucible in search of their missing Elder, Rashok. Brutal and ruthless, Kagni is willing to employ any tactic to succeed.
Imprisoned within Aberrus for a millennia, the Zaqali elder Rashok has been perpetually drained of the raging flame within him to power Neltharion’s twisted laboratory. Existing on the edge of death for so long has driven the elder mad. Should he break free, his vengeance will scour the Shadowed Crucible’s halls.
Long ago, Zskarn was tasked with testing the mettle of Neltharion’s experiments. Only the most powerful would pass muster and keep their lives. The latest visitors to the Shadowed Crucible have attracted his unwavering attention—but his approval will be much harder to earn.
Raised from a pup by Neltharion, the only thing stronger than the loyalty of Magmorax is his appetite. The lava hydra guards the passage into the deepest chambers of the Shadowed Crucible, keeping his master’s secrets safely hidden from prying eyes.
Tucked away in the depths of the Shadowed Crucible, Neltharion’s sanctum was a place of refuge and research for the Earth-Warder. Some say that echoes of his powerful presence still linger here, contemplating the future of the black dragonflight and how to obtain the power to ensure its success.
As leader of the Sundered Flame, Scalecommander Sarkareth broke away from the rest of the dracthyr to forge a new future. He has since led his forces to Aberrus, intent on claiming the legacy he believes rightfully belongs to his kind, and is willing to do anything to obtain it.
New Achievements
ALL DIFFICULTIES
- Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible: Defeat the following bosses on any difficulty—Kazzara, the Hellforged; The Amalgamation Chamber; The Forgotten Experiments; Assault of the Zaqali; Rashok the Elder; The Vigilant Steward, Zskarn; Magmorax; Echo of Neltharion; Scalecommander Sarkareth.
NORMAL DIFFICULTY AND HIGHER
- Cosplate: Defeat Kazzara, the Hellforged after shattering your own Hellsteel Plating.
- I’ll Make My Own Shadowflame: Defeat the Shadowflame Amalgamation after using Umbral Detonation, Fiery Meteor and Blistering Twilight on a Forgotten Specimen Tank to create and extinguish a Shadowflame Remnant.
- Tabula Rasa: Defeat The Forgotten Experiments after Nutraal is hit three times by Rending Charge, Volatile Spew, and Deep Breath.
- Are You Even Trying?: Defeat the Assault of the Zaqali after hitting the listed creatures with a Cave Pebble.
- Whac-A-Swog: Defeat Rashok, the Elder after hitting the Lost Lunker with Searing Slam five times.
- Eggcellent Eggsecution: Defeat the Vigilant Steward, Zskarn while a member of your raid is carrying the Delicate Experimental Egg.
- Escar-Go-Go-Go: Defeat Magmorax after feeding him 20 Spicy Lava Snails.
- Objects in Transit May Shatter: Defeat the Echo of Neltharion after players smash through walls of Twisted Earth while carrying the Expired Experiment, the Stack of Scrolls, the Neverburning Ebon Candle, and the. “Portable” Ebon Anvil.
- We’ll Never See That Again, Surely: Defeat Scalecommander Sarkareth after cultivating a Lump of Flesh and hurling it into the Emptiness Between Stars.
ABERRUS, THE SHADOWED CRUCIBLE META-ACHIEVEMENT
- Glory of the Aberrus Raider: Complete the Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible raid achievements listed—Cosplate, I’ll Make My Own Shadowflame, Tabula Rasa, Are You Even Trying?, Whac-A-Swog, Eggcellent Eggsecution, Escar-Go-Go-Go, Objects in Transit May Shatter, We’ll Never See That Again, Surely.
Mount Reward: Shadowflame Shalewing
HEROIC DIFFICULTY AND HIGHER
- Ahead of the Curve: Scalecommander Sarkareth—Defeat Scalecommander Sarkareth in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible on Heroic difficulty or higher, before the release of the next raid tier.
- Cutting Edge: Scalecommander Sarkareth—Defeat Scalecommander Sarkareth in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible on Mythic difficulty, before the release of the next raid tier.
MYTHIC DIFFICULTY
Title Reward: Heir to the Void
- Mythic: Kazzara, the Hellforged—Defeat Kazzara, the Hellforged in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible on Mythic difficulty.
- Mythic: The Amalgamation Chamber—— Defeat The Amalgamation Chamber in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible on Mythic difficulty.
- Mythic: The Forgotten Experiments—Defeat The Forgotten Experiments in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible on Mythic difficulty.
- Mythic: Assault of the Zaqali—Defeat Assault of the Zaqali in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible on Mythic difficulty.
- Mythic: Rashok the Elder—Defeat Rashok, the Elder in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible on Mythic difficulty.
- Mythic: The Vigilant Steward, Zskarn—Defeat The Vigilant Steward, Zskarn in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible on Mythic difficulty.
- Mythic: Magmorax—Defeat Magmorax in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible on Mythic difficulty.
- Mythic: Echo of Neltharion—Defeat Echo of Neltharion in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible on Mythic difficulty.
- Mythic: Scalecommander Sarkareth—Defeat Scalecommander Sarkareth in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible on Mythic difficulty.
The Embers of Neltharion content update is just around the corner. We’ll see you in the Dragon Isles, hero!
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