Dark Iron (metal)

This article is about the mineral Dark Iron. For the PvP server Dark Iron, see Server:Dark Iron.

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Found in Burning Steppes, Searing Gorge, Blackrock Depths and Molten Core. Aside from Arcanite and Elementium, Dark Iron is the most challenging mineral to acquire, especially in the large quantities needed to create bars.

All Dark Iron smelting and smithing must be performed at the Black Forge and Black Anvil, respectively. Both of these are found in Blackrock Depths, and no other anvil or forge will do.

Dark Iron sources

Dark Iron deposits can be found in Blackrock Depths, Molten Core, Searing Gorge, and the Burning Steppes. They drop Dark Iron ore, along with  [Black Vitriol], Black Diamonds, and  [Blood of the Mountain].

Dark iron ore also drops from the elite golems in the BRD instance.

See the Map on thott for where to mine in Searing Gorge / Burning Steppes. Notice that Dark Iron nodes often share spawn spots with Mithril nodes

Farming with Stealth

As a Rogue / Druid you are able to venture deep into BRD. With the proper essentials and skills, your fighting is reduced to the bare minimum, and is soloable. Because of this, these classes are ideal for mining Dark iron inside this dungeon. See : Dark Iron stealth guide for a complete guide, and all known Dark Iron spawning locations within BRD.

Smelting Dark Iron

Mining Dark Iron requires 230 skill in mining, but the only way to learn how to smelt it into bars is by speaking with Gloom'rel, a ghost in the Summoner's Tomb in the Blackrock Depths and giving him 20 Gold bars, 10 Truesilver bars, and 2 Star Rubies. After you speak to Gloom'rel, a bowl will appear at his feet. Touching the bowl will give him his tribute. Speak to him again, and he will teach you to smelt.

It is important to talk to Gloom'rel before any other dwarf, as Doom'rel will begin the event to open the door, requiring you to kill Gloom'rel. Dead dwarves make poor teachers.

Unlike most smelting normal ore, it requires 8 Dark Iron ore to create a bar of Dark Iron. Dark Iron can only be smelted at the Black Forge deep in the instance. You should take this into account, as many of the smithing recipes require as much as eighteen Dark Iron bars. That translates into at least 144 Dark Iron ore.

Also, Gloom'rel will remember that you paid him, so if you ever decide to temporary drop mining as a skill, you can relearn the ability to smelt it again at a later time, by simply paying him a visit.

You can only smelt Dark Iron at the Black Forge.

Uses for Dark Iron

This metal is used for a handful of powerful smithed items and several engineered ones. Of these recipes, all of the blacksmithing recipes require use of the Black Anvil, as well as the engineering recipe for the Template:Lrare.

Dark Iron ore can be given to Lokhtos Darkbargainer to gain faction with the Thorium Brotherhood. With higher faction, he sells epic recipes, many of which also use Dark Iron.

3 Dark Iron bars are also needed for the tier 0.5 armor set.

Warlocks also need 25 Dark Iron Ore on their quest line to summon their [Dreadsteed].

See  [Dark Iron Bar] for info on crafting with Dark Iron.

Outside Resources

• Thottbot - Some examples of what Dark Iron can be used for
• Mining Guide - A comprehensive mining guide for the starting stealth miner, but also location reference for the rest of us.