Blackwing Lair

Blackwing Lair
BWL, Blackwing
	; Blackwing Lair loading graphic
Location	Upper Blackrock Spire, Blackrock Mountain
Race(s)	Black dragon; Chromatic dragon; Goblin; Orc; Red dragon
End boss	Nefarian
Instance info
Type	Raid
Advised level	60
Player limit	40
Key	[Blackhand's Command]
Lockout timer	1 week
Bosses
Razorgore the Untamed; Vaelastrasz the Corrupt; Broodlord Lashlayer; Firemaw; Ebonroc; Flamegor; Chromaggus; Nefarian	(lore); (lore); (lore); (lore); (lore); (lore); (lore); (lore)
	NPCs
Grethok the Controller; Lord Victor Nefarius; Master Elemental Shaper Krixix	(lore); (lore); (lore)
	Loot

For the server of the same name, see Server:Blackwing Lair US.

Blackrock Mountain

Blackrock Depths (5)
Lord Roccor Bael'Gar Houndmaster Grebmar High Interrogator Gerstahn Ring of the Law Pyromancer Loregrain General Angerforge Golem Lord Argelmach Ribbly Screwspigot Hurley Blackbreath Plugger Spazzring Phalanx Lord Incendius Fineous Darkvire Warder Stilgiss & Verek Dark Keeper Ambassador Flamelash The Seven Magmus Princess Moira Bronzebeard Emperor Dagran Thaurissan

Lower Blackrock Spire (5)
Burning Felguard Spirestone Butcher Spirestone Battle Lord Spirestone Lord Magus Highlord Omokk Shadow Hunter Vosh'gajin War Master Voone Mor Grayhoof Bannok Grimaxe Mother Smolderweb Crystal Fang Quartermaster Zigris Halycon Gizrul the Slavener Ghok Bashguud Overlord Wyrmthalak

Molten Core (40)
Lucifron Magmadar Gehennas Garr Baron Geddon Shazzrah Sulfuron Harbinger Golemagg the Incinerator Majordomo Executus Ragnaros

Blackwing Lair (40)
Razorgore the Untamed Vaelastrasz the Corrupt Broodlord Lashlayer Firemaw Ebonroc Flamegor Chromaggus Nefarian

Blackrock Caverns (5)
Rom'ogg Bonecrusher Corla, Herald of Twilight Karsh Steelbender Beauty Ascendant Lord Obsidius

Blackwing Descent (10/25)
Omnotron Defense System Magmaw Atramedes Chimaeron Maloriak Nefarian's End

Upper Blackrock Spire (5)
Orebender Gor'ashan Kyrak Commander Tharbek Ragewing the Untamed Warlord Zaela

Blackwing Lair is a level 60, 40-man raid dungeon located at the top of Blackrock Mountain, home to Nefarian. It was implemented in patch 1.6.

Background[]

Dungeon Journal[]

In the dark recesses of the mountain's peak, Nefarian, the eldest son of Deathwing, conducts some of his most awful experimentation, controlling mighty beings like puppets and combining the eggs of different dragonflights with horrific results. Should he prove successful, even darker pursuits rest on the horizon.

And, yet, the Lord of Blackrock is not a mere scientist - he is a great dragon cornered in his lair. Can he truly be defeated by mortal hands?

History[]

Nefarian has vowed to crush Ragnaros. To this end, he has recently begun efforts to bolster the black dragonflight, much as his father Deathwing had attempted to do in ages past. However, where Deathwing failed, it now seems the scheming Nefarian may be succeeding. Nefarian's mad bid for dominance has attracted concern from the red dragonflight, which has always been the black flight's greatest foe. Though Nefarian's intentions are known, the methods he is using to achieve them remain a mystery. It is believed, however that Nefarian has been experimenting with the blood of all of the various dragonflights to produce unstoppable warriors, accomplishing what his father failed, the creation of the Chromatic dragonflight.^[1]

Besides the twisted dragonflight, other experiments took place in these halls, including manipulation with dragon bones and eggs. Nefarian also captured and corrupted Vaelastrasz, while his creation Chromaggus survived and guarded the lair.^[2]

Due to Moira Thaurissan who sent information on Nefarian and the Dark Horde all over Azeroth, the Horde leadership in Orgrimmar learned truth about their orc brethren in Blackrock Mountain. As such, Horde heroes invaded the lair, cut through the twisted experiments and slew Nefarian in his sanctuary.^[3] Although defeated, the Nefarian's broken corpse was later collected by the Twilight's Hammer cultists who brought him back with Void magic as an undead monstrosity.^[4]

This section concerns content related to the Warcraft novels, novellas, or short stories.

Some time after the Fourth War, SI:7 agents thoroughly investigated the lair and found references to similar experiments that may predate Nefarian. They collected the material for further study.^[5]

Geography[]

Port in by using the Orb of Command located at the end of the hall to the right of the entrance to Blackrock Spire (The attunement quest [60D] Blackhand's Command is no longer necessary and has been removed from the game).

Maps and subregions[]

Encounters[]

Bosses	Monsters
Dragonmaw Garrison Razorgore the Untamed Grethok the Controller	Blackwing Guardsman Blackwing Legionnaire Blackwing Mage Death Talon Dragonspawn
Shadow Wing Lair Vaelastrasz the Corrupt
Halls of Strife (Death Talon room)	Death Talon Captain Death Talon Flamescale Death Talon Seether Death Talon Wyrmkin
Halls of Strife (Suppression rooms) Broodlord Lashlayer	Death Talon Hatcher Blackwing Taskmaster Corrupted Blue Whelp Corrupted Bronze Whelp Corrupted Green Whelp Corrupted Red Whelp
Crimson Laboratories Firemaw Ebonroc Flamegor Master Elemental Shaper Krixix	Blackwing Lair lab packs Blackwing Technician Blackwing Spellbinder Blackwing Warlock Enraged Felguard Death Talon Overseer Wyrmguard Pack Death Talon Wyrmguard
Crimson Laboratories (Chromaggus' Lair) Chromaggus
Nefarian's Lair Nefarian	Black Drakonid Blue Drakonid Bronze Drakonid Chromatic Drakonid Green Drakonid Red Drakonid Bone Construct

Loot[]

Main article: Blackwing Lair loot

With Transmogrification many players want to run Blackwing Lair for the distinctive weapons, including [Claw of the Black Drake], [Dragonbreath Hand Cannon], and [Chromatically Tempered Sword].

As of Patch 5.1, three bosses drop battle pets: Razorgore the Untamed drops the [Unscathed Egg], Broodlord Lashlayer drops the [Blackwing Banner], and Chromaggus drops the [Whistle of Chromatic Bone].

Resources[]

[Elementium Ingot] is found as a rare drop from the Blackwing Technician that inhabit the lair. This ore is used to smelt [Enchanted Elementium Bar], needed for [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker]. Players can also learn [Goblin's Guide to Elementium].

Quests[]

[30R] The Lord of Blackrock

Achievements[]

Notes[]

Most notably, bosses drop tier 2 set items.
Blackwing Lair does not reward reputation for any faction.
Blackwing Lair was involved in the now-removed Scepter of the Shifting Sands quest chain.

Patch changes[]

Patch 6.0.2 (2014-10-14): With Upper Blackrock Spire now a level 100 instance, attunement is no longer required for Blackwing Lair. Players can now use the Orb of Command in Blackrock Mountain to zone into BWL without being attuned. However, the Orb does seem to require level 60 or higher.
Patch 5.1.0 (2012-11-27): New battle pets are added to Blackwing Lair.
Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Scepter of the Shifting Sands quest chain removed.
Patch 1.9.0 (2006-01-03): Blackwing Lair is now part of the Scepter of the Shifting Sands quest chain.
Patch 1.8.0 (2005-10-10): There are now alchemy labs that are needed by alchemists to make flasks inside of Blackwing Lair.
Hotfix (2005-07-19): A hot fix was applied to the game during today's maintenance to address the increased lag players were experiencing in Blackwing Lair. The fix will reduce the lag in BWL significantly, especially in the early encounters.
Patch 1.6.1 (2005-08-02):
- Several encounters in Blackwing Lair now cause the front gate to close, preventing players from zoning out or joining an in-progress battle.
- The drakes in Blackwing Lair will no longer leave the lab.
Hotfix (2005-07-14):
- Fixed several bugs that were allowing the first two encounters to be completed with very little effort.
- The door after the Vaelastrasz encounter has been fixed and should open under the proper circumstances, no longer posing as an impassible barrier.
Patch 1.6.0 (2005-07-12): Added