Summary
- The Cataclysm expansion introduces new story arcs and dungeons linked to the chaotic events following the Aspect of Death's destruction.
- Dungeons like End Time and Throne of the Tides offer challenging boss fights and unique mechanics that are essential to Azeroth's lore.
- Iconic dungeons like Zul'Aman and Blackrock Caverns showcase interesting stories, new threats, and valuable loot drops for players.
Cataclysm is the third expansion for World of Warcraft, following the success of Wrath of the Lich King. Driven mad by the Old Gods of Azeroth, Deathwing the Destroyer becomes the Aspect of Death, annihilating the world after the fall of the Lich King. Cataclysm introduces a scorched version of Azeroth with massive chasms, lava canals, flooded areas, and new areas like Deepholm to explore.
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The dungeons introduced in this expansion serve as storytelling vessels to weave together the new stories of Azeroth, which involve chaos coming from the elemental realms and the rising of smaller factions entering the world theater. In the wake of the cataclysm, new threats arise, like the Zandalari trolls found in Zul’Gurub and Zul’Aman and Al’Akir’s armies commanding the skies in the Vortex Pinnacle.
1 End Time
Aiding Nozdormu In Fixing The Past
- Location: Caverns of Time, Tanaris
Found deep within the Caverns of Time, the End Time dungeon plays out a single moment out of infinite timelines designed to prevent the ultimate destruction of Azeroth. Nozdormu the Timeless One identifies a powerful anomaly outside of time, preventing him from the ability to correct time and create an infinite dragonflight.
The party transports throughout End Time via dragonshrines and faces off against corrupted echoes of faction leaders like Baine, Jaina, Sylvanas, and Tyrande. The boss is Murozond, the anomaly, a corrupted version of Nozdormu responsible for the shattering of time. The End Time Heroic dungeon is generally more challenging than the other ones, dropping higher-level items.
2 Throne Of The Tides
Fighting Naga In The Abyssal Maw
- Location: Abyssal Depths, Vashj’ir
Throne of the Tides lies underwater in the Abyssal Depths, the seat of Neptulon the Tidehunter, Elemental Lord of water. This dungeon reveals the moment the naga bent Ozumat the Patriarch of all Kraken to their will and sent him after Neptulon, where players must fight through the long halls of the throne.
This dungeon is one of the first Cataclysm dungeons players can queue for and play quickly, with three bosses to defeat before reaching Ozumat. In the final phase of the boss fight, Neptulon grants himself and the players the gift of pure water, increasing everyone’s damage, healing, health, and size. This dungeon is great for fast runs and Heroics with its linearity.
3 Blackrock Caverns
Deep Dive Into Smoldering Caverns
- Location: Blackrock Mountain
Blackrock Caverns is a series of tunnels in Blackrock Spire carved by Deathwing, connecting the home of the Dark Iron dwarves with the Twilight Highlands. Members of the Twilight Hammer and elementals sprawl the dungeon corridors, and at its lowest depths, a monstrosity known as Ascendant Lord Obsidius awaits as the final boss.
Players must descend into madness and stop the cult from inviting destruction upon the world. Blackrock Caverns features three challenging boss fights with unique mechanics and an optional boss named Beauty, who drops good loot for most classes.
4 Well Of Eternity
Back In Time With Tyrande And Illidan
- Location: Caverns of Time, Tanaris
The Well of Eternity features another time-bending adventure where players go back in time to assist Illidan and Tyrande in battling the Burning Legion. The Well of Eternity was a lake of limitless arcane energy and was used by Sargeras to open a portal that led to the very first invasion of the Burning Legion.
The Well of Eternity takes place after the End Time and before the Hour of Twilight dungeons as part of the journey to stop Deathwing. Even though this dungeon has only three bosses, it is still one of the most challenging Heroic dungeons. The final boss fight culminates in a three-part challenge. In the end, fans get to see Illidan Stormrage infuse himself with demonic energy to finish off Mannoroth.
5 Lost City Of The Tol’vir
Facing The Neferset
- Location: Uldum
The Lost City of the Tol’vir is a dungeon populated by a mysterious race of “cat-people” known as the Neferset, who were created by the Titans to maintain their research facilities in Uldum. The Neferset here are led by a djinn known as Siamat, Lord of the South Wind.
This dungeon is set outdoors, representing an abandoned Tol’vir city overrun by hostile mobs. It can be run through rather quickly and makes a perfect place for leveling skinning.
6 The Stonecore
Destroying The Twilight Infestation
- Location: Deepholm
Once a peaceful and sacred ground for the denizens of Deepholm, the Stonecore is now taken over by the Twilight Hammer. Players will find Millhouse Manastorm at the beginning of the dungeon, who pulls the first few packs of mobs to start. He dips off after this, where players must venture deeper into the core, first encountering Corborus, a massive thrashing gyreworm enslaved by Deathwing.
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The dungeon ends when players make it to the Heart of Destruction, where they can disturb the High Priestess Azil and her army of cultists. The Stonecore also has a popular boss to farm - Slabhide, a large crystalline earth drake who drops the Reins of the Vitreous Stone Drake mount on both Normal and Heroic modes.
7 Zul’Aman
Remnants Of A Fallen Empire
- Location: Ghostlands
The trolls of Zul’Aman have always lived here and never forgave the humans or elves for past atrocities. After the fall of the warlord Zul’jin in The Burning Crusade expansion, Daakara the Invincible filled the power vacuum and will fight anyone who dares enter Zul’Aman. This rise of the Zandalari trolls is thwarted by the players in this instance.
A total of six bosses line the temple city and offer a good challenge with appropriate loot to match. Like the original dungeon, the Cataclysm version has Kasha’s Bag and Bakkalzu’s Satchel that can be picked up and opened with a chance to drop the Amani Battle Bear mount.
8 The Vortex Pinnacle
Ascending The Air Domain
- Location: Skywall, Uldum
The Vortex Pinnacle drifts high above Uldum, where Al’Akir’s army resides. Al’Akir the Windlord entered an alliance with Deathwing and now threatens the denizens of Uldum below. Air elemental armies sprawl across the Skywall complex, where players must venture through to destroy the guardian of the Vortex Pinnacle.
This dungeon is unique for its movement mechanics, such as players launching themselves between platforms on zephyrs and picking up gusts of air when scaling staircases. It is also popular for the second boss, Altairus, who drops the Reins of the Drake of the North Wind mount.
9 Zul’Gurub
Ending Jin’do The Godbreaker
- Location: Northern Stranglethorn
Looming in the northeastern part of Stranglethorn Vale, Zul’Gurub was once a temple city for all tribes of jungle trolls but now only serves as the capital of the Gurubashi tribe. With dread god Hakkar the Soulflayer taken down in The Burning Crusade, Jin’do the Godbreaker’s spirit returns with the dread god’s power.
What was once a 20-player raid now returns as a standard dungeon. This popular dungeon features a total of nine bosses to slay, with High Priestess Kilnara dropping the Swift Zulian Panther mount and Bloodlord Mandokir dropping the Armored Razzashi Raptor mount.
10 Grim Batol
Home Of The Twilight Hammer
- Location: Twilight Highlands
Grim Batol holds the most history out of most zones in World of Warcraft. What was once the great Wildhammer clan’s fortress became the red dragon queen breeding ground for the Old Horde, and later broke into a violent battle where Deathwing was defeated for the first time by the Aspects, is now overrun by the Twilight Hammer cult supporting Deathwing’s return.
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This dungeon is the best example of expanding on deep lore while keeping it short and sweet for anyone looking for a fairly easy playthrough. At one point in the dungeon, players ride dragons over mobs while bombing them, making the run back through them easier. And with many dragons to slay means another great run for skinning.
World of Warcraft
- Released
- November 23, 2004
