Stratholme (Classic)

The city of Stratholme (pronounced ˈstrathːhɔlm or STRATH-olm) was the northernmost and second most populous city of the kingdom of Lordaeron, and is the city where the Order of the Silver Hand was founded. Today, Stratholme is the Scourge's capital in Lordaeron. The mad Prince Arthas ravaged Stratholme in the Third War and the undead moved in soon after. Stratholme burns to this day, and its districts have been split between the overzealous Scarlet Crusade led by Grand Crusader Dathrohan, and the Scourge forces led by the death knight Baron Rivendare.

History

 * Once the jewel of northern Lordaeron, the city of Stratholme is where Prince Arthas turned against his mentor, Uther Lightbringer, and slaughtered hundreds of his own subjects who were believed to have contracted the dreaded plague of undeath. Arthas' downward spiral and ultimate surrender to the Lich King soon followed. The broken city is now inhabited by the undead Scourge -- led by the powerful lich, Kel'Thuzad. A contingent of Scarlet Crusaders, led by Grand Crusader Dathrohan, also holds a portion of the ravaged city. The two sides are locked in constant, violent combat. Those adventurers brave (or foolish) enough to enter Stratholme will be forced to contend with both factions before long. It is said that the city is guarded by three massive watchtowers, as well as powerful necromancers, banshees and abominations. There have also been reports of a malefic Death Knight riding atop an unholy steed, dispensing indiscriminate wrath on all those who venture within the realm of the Scourge.

Dungeon denizens

 * Abominations
 * Banshees
 * Beetles
 * Crypt fiends
 * Death knights (one, Baron Rivendare)
 * Demonhunters (formerly one, Atiesh)
 * Dreadlords (one, Balnazzar)
 * Gargoyles
 * Ghosts
 * Ghouls
 * s
 * Liches (formerly one, Balzaphon)
 * Larvae (critters)
 * Rats (critters)
 * Skeletal warriors
 * Skeletons
 * Wights (one, Magistrate Barthilas)
 * Wraiths
 * Zombies

Summary
On first entering Stratholme through the main entrance, the gate closes. Therefore, the only way out is to fight your way to the service entrance (the key to which is held by Magistrate Barthilas), also known as the "back door", or use a hearthstone or mage portal to get out. Teleporting out is also possible through the dungeon finder, if it was used to form your group. If someone is already at the service entrance, they can use the lever to open the gate and let others in. Another way to do this is duel, then aggro nearby hostiles (or just aggro monsters from the start), and slip through the door in ghost from, and resurrect on the other side.

Stratholme is basically divided into two parts, though the boundaries are somewhat vague. Scarlet Side or "Live Side", which goes from the main entrance into the Scarlet Crusade-controlled citadel, and Scourge Side or "Undead Side", which can also be accessed from the main entrance, but more commonly through the Service Entrance (which requires a key or Lockpicking 300) to the Scourge slaughterhouse. However, both "sides" are part of the same instance and players can complete both tracks. When using the dungeon finder the end boss, and thus the side of Stratholme your party needs to clear, is determined by the entrance you are ported to. The main gate will lead to the Live Side, while the service entrance will lead to the Undead Side. Players can complete the other side as well, but will not earn credit for completing the dungeon until they destroy the end boss of the appropriate side. The Stratholme (achievement) achievement requires completion of both sides, but this can be accomplished during separate runs.

Engineers can blast their way through the Service Entrance using Seaforium ( or better), and blacksmiths a skeleton key (Arcanite Skeleton Key or better). However, if you do, remember to take two charges with you, as there are two doors to open.

To get to Baron Rivendare, the 3 Ash'ari Crystals must be toppled. These Crystals are guarded by 3 of the bosses: Baroness Anastari, Nerub'enkan and Maleki the Pallid. Kill them, and all the trash mobs inside the ziggurats they guard, and the Crystals will be toppled, allowing you entry to the Slaughterhouse where Baron Rivendare waits.

Scarlet side

 * Also known as: FD Strat, Strat Scarlet, Strat Light, Scarlet Strath, Strath Live, Living Strat, Liveside, Hu(man) Strat, West Strat, SM Strat
 * Enemy Level Range: 55–62
 * End Boss: Grand Crusader Dathrohan/Balnazzar
 * Mini Bosses:
 * Malor the Zealous
 * Archivist Galford
 * Cannon Master Willey
 * Timmy the Cruel
 * Hearthsinger Forresten
 * The Unforgiven
 * Skul
 * Stratholme Courier
 * Balzaphon (Scourge Invasion only, disappeared after it ended)
 * Triggered Boss
 * Fras Siabi
 * Opening up his tobacco box for the quest.
 * Postmaster Malown
 * Opening up various mailboxes with their corresponding keys.
 * Crimson Hammersmith
 * Clicking on a parchment named "Blacksmith Plans" will trigger the Hammersmith. The plans can appear in at least 2 known locations:
 * On the floor in the Hoard area before Cannon Master Willey
 * On a bench in the alcoves occupied by Archivist Galford
 * Atiesh (Atiesh quest chain, removed)
 * Summoned by using on "consecrated earth." Atiesh is a boss-level NPC unlike the other bosses in Stratholme.

Quests

 * The Restless Souls (1) Given by Caretaker Alen in Light's Hope Chapel, this is outside of the instance and can be done solo.
 * The Restless Souls (2) Given by Egan in Terrordale, enters Stratholme.
 * Of Love and Family (quest) This is part eight of a ten part quest chain started by Tirion Fordring on the banks of the Thondroril River in the Eastern Plaguelands. Look for the painting in the room with Archivist Galford.
 * The Great Fras Siabi Stand alone quest given by Smokey LaRue in Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands.
 * The Right Piece of Lord Valthalak's Amulet (Stratholme) Given by Bodley in Blackrock Mountain
 * The Archivist Given by Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff in Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands.
 * The Truth Comes Crashing Down After you've turned in the quest to kill Archivist Galford, Balnazzar will drop his head when he is killed, starting this quest.

Undead side

 * Also known as: BD Strat, Undead Strat, Deadside, Scourge Strat, Baron side, UD Strat, Baron Run, Strat UD, East Strat, Strat Dead
 * Enemy Level Range: 55–62
 * End Boss: Baron Rivendare
 * Mini Bosses:
 * Magistrate Barthilas (drops key to Scourge side)
 * Baroness Anastari
 * Nerub'enkan
 * Maleki the Pallid
 * Ramstein the Gorger
 * Stonespine (Rare Spawn)
 * Triggered Boss
 * Postmaster Malown
 * Opening up various mailboxes with their corresponding keys.
 * Magistrate Barthilas
 * If entering through the Service Entrance, he will run to the end of the Gauntlet and be fought there, instead of Elder's Square where he is fought when entering through the Main Gate.
 * Black Guard Swordsmith
 * The Black Guard Swordsmith is triggered by clicking on some blacksmithing plans on the floor to the right of the stairs of the First Ziggurat. Baroness Anastari is at the top of the stairs.
 * Aurius, Aelmar the Vanquisher Gregor the Justiciar, Vicar Hieronymus and Nemas the Arbiter
 * Aurius turns hostile when using for the Horde quest, True Masters of the Light, and the other paladins are summoned during the encounter.

Quests

 * The Medallion of Faith To activate this quest, you need to have collected a Medallion of Faith from the strongbox behind Malor the Zealous on the Scarlet Side. Give this Medallion to Aurius in the chapel at the beginning of the Undead side. When you fight Baron Rivendare, Aurius will appear and help you in the fight. Once the battle is over, you'll be able to chose your reward.
 * Aurius' Reckoning Given by Aurius
 * Doctor Theolen Krastinov, the Butcher Given by Eva Sarkhoff in Caer Darrow in the Western Plaguelands, takes you into the Scholomance.
 * Krastinov's Bag of Horrors (quest)
 * Kirtonos the Herald (quest) Upon completing this quest you will receive the Spectral Essence, a trinket that allows you to speak with the ghosts at Caer Darrow. This offers several benefits, including the ability to purchase the recipe for Major Mana Potions, and the continuation of the quest chain.
 * The Human, Ras Frostwhisper Given by Magistrate Marduke in Caer Darrow in the Western Plaguelands, takes you to Stromgarde Keep in the Arathi Highlands.
 * The Dying, Ras Frostwhisper Takes you to Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands.
 * Menethil's Gift (quest) Given by Leonid Barthalomew the Revered, enters Stratholme. Once Baron Rivendare is dead, use the item in the symbol on the floor.
 * Menethil's Gift (2) Back to Barthalomew.
 * Soulbound Keepsake (quest) Back to Marduke.
 * The Lich, Ras Frostwhisper Back into the Scholomance.


 * The Flesh Does Not Lie Given by Betina Bigglezink in Light's Hope Chapel. A simple collection quest. Almost any enemy in Undead Strat, and most undead on the scarlet side will drop the plagued flesh samples.
 * The Active Agent This is the follow-up to The Flesh Does Not Lie. The reward upgrades your Argent Dawn Commission to offer you combat bonuses in addition to allowing the collection of Scourgestones.
 * Above and Beyond This is a follow-up to The Truth Comes Crashing Down. It simply requires you to kill Baron Rivendare.
 * Houses of the Holy Given by Leonid Barthalomew the Revered in Light's Hope Chapel. This requires you to pick up Stratholme Holy Water, which is in crates around around both sides of the instance. Most crates are corrupted and will contain rats or maggots instead, which you will have to kill. If you have a dwarf in the group, they can use the Treasure Finding racial ability to determine which crates are not corrupted.
 * Ramstein (quest) This quest becomes available from Nathanos Blightcaller after completing his first two sets of quests. You must kill the abomination Ramstein, who comes out of the slaughterhouse just before you fight Baron Rivendare.  Loot the Head of Ramstein the Gorger from his body and hand it in to Nathanos.
 * True Masters of the Light (3) - Given by Lady Liadrin in Silvermoon's Farstriders' Square, this quest is the last of the Blood Charger questline. Travel to the Alonsus Chapel and extinguish the eternal flame there. You must defeat Aurius and five ghostly paladins.
 * Dead Man's Plea Given by Anthion Harmon just outside the instance, although you must have the Extra-Dimensional Ghost Revealer to interact with him. This step in the quests for the Dungeon Set 2 upgrades requires you to engage Baron Rivendare in 45 minutes. See the Baron in 45 guide. There is also a graphic map displaying what and where to pull to reach the baron using the least possible time.

Trivia

 * It is interesting to note that there is a raid instance portal at the end of the instance, outside the Slaughter Square. This was intended to lead to Naxxramas, similar to the Molten Core entrance from Blackrock Depths. Carefully using a flying mount to approach Stratholme from the outside shows that an old version of the necropolis is still flying near Slaughter Square. There are ruined flags carrying the insignia of Lordaeron (in original blue) inside the tunnel, which are not seen anywhere else inside Stratholme. The portal can be seen during the event before Rivendare, when lesser undead are brought in from the area. If you delay, the area will close and you will become stuck.
 * The Ghostly Citizens and Spectral Citizens in the instance will emote back things like /wave and /dance.
 * Stoneskin Gargoyle Cape drops in this instance. This particular item is white and looks longer than your average cloak or cape.
 * The sign post at the entrance says "To Stranglethorn." This is technically true.