Firelands Invasion

A portal to the Molten Front in the Firelands.

For the other quest chain added in Patch 4.2.0, see Elemental Bonds questline.

The Firelands Invasion is a charge led by Malfurion Stormrage and the Guardians of Hyjal to take the attack to Ragnaros in the Firelands. A new currency, [Mark of the World Tree], is introduced. Marks are rewarded from completing daily quests and can be used to unlock the Molten Front, areas within it, and purchase high-level items at the following vendors: Zen'Vorka, Ayla Shadowstorm, Varlan Highbough and Damek Bloombeard.

The progression of the storyline is tracked in the achievement  [The Molten Front Offensive].

Defending the World Tree

Main article: Mount Hyjal quests

Before adventurers can take the fight to Ragnaros, they must contend with his forces attacking Mount Hyjal. Both Ragnaros' forces and those of the Twilight's Hammer seek to burn Nordrassil, the world tree. It is up to adventurers to push the foot soldiers back and interact with five Ancients: Goldrinn, Aviana, Aessina, Tortolla and Cenarius, and rescue the legendary commander Jarod Shadowsong. Once these five Ancients are back in the fight, Malfurion, Hamuul Runetotem and Cenarius lead a charge against Ragnaros in Sulfuron Spire, driving him back to the Firelands.

Opening the portal

Mount Hyjal

Once Mount Hyjal is reasonably secure (at least after players have completed  [30-35] Aessina's Miracle), forces start gathering at the Sanctuary of Malorne in southern Hyjal. There, Malfurion attempts to open a portal to the Firelands. That attempt does not go well. The fight escalates to the point that Malorne is resurrected to help with the defense.

Adventurers are tasked with earning [Mark of the World Tree] x20 in order to continue. This can be accomplished within one day by completing the initial quest line, ending with the resurrection of Malorne, plus one set of dailies that open up once the quest line ends. Once twenty Marks have been collected and remitted, the area transitions to the next phase.

Optional breadcrumbs:  [35] Guardians of Hyjal: Call of the Ancients &  [35] Guardians of Hyjal: Firelands Invasion!

1.  [35] Opening the Door
2.  [35] A Ritual of Flame
3.  [35] To the Sanctuary!
4.  [35] Caught Unawares
5.  [35] The Sanctuary Must Not Fall
6. Dailies open up:
   • One set of quests from these five is offered daily:
     •  [35 Daily] Between the Trees &  [35 Daily] The Power of Malorne
     •  [35 Daily] Call the Flock &  [35 Daily] Wings Aflame
     •  [35 Daily] Perfecting Your Howl &  [35 Daily] The Call of the Pack
     •  [35 Daily] Punting Season &  [35 Daily] Echoes of Nemesis
     •  [35 Daily] Those Bears Up There &  [35 Daily] Nature's Blessing
   • One of these quests is also offered daily:
     •  [35 Daily] Rage Against the Flames
     •  [35 Daily] Supplies for the Other Side
7.  [35] Calling for Reinforcements (requires [Mark of the World Tree] x20)

Making a beachhead

Molten Front

Resources gathered, it is time to make a push into the breach. However, Hamuul has a side quest that goes disastrously wrong. Putting that aside for the moment, follow Malfurion through the portal on Nordune Ridge to cross into the Molten Front. Malfurion and his party are immediately set upon by an Obsidian Slaglord. Help kill it, then start securing the toehold. Malfurion shortly offers an opportunity to recruit the Druids of the Talon and/or the Shadow Wardens to the fight by handing either faction's leader [Mark of the World Tree] x150. Players can earn a maximum of 12 or 14 marks per day (six from the quests starting at the Sanctuary of Malorne, and six or eight at Malfurion's Breach), so this will take roughly two weeks to complete.

1.  [35] Leyara
2.  [35] Through the Gates of Hell and  [35] The Fate of Runetotem
   • Completing Through the Gates of Hell unlocks three or four of these dailies in the Molten Front each day:
     •  [35 Daily] Aggressive Growth -or-  [35 Daily] Wisp Away
     •  [35 Daily] Burn Victims
     •  [35 Daily] Hostile Elements
     • One of:
       •  [35 Daily] Breach in the Defenses
       •  [35 Daily] The Dogs of War
       •  [35 Daily] The Harder They Fall
       •  [35 Daily] Traitors Return
   • Completing Through the Gates of Hell also unlocks at the Sanctuary of Malorne each day:
     •  [35 Daily] The Protectors of Hyjal
   • Completing The Fate of Runetotem unlocks one of these three dailies each day:
     •  [35 Daily] Releasing the Pressure
     •  [35 Daily] Relieving the Pain
     •  [35 Daily] Treating the Wounds
3. Malfurion offers the opportunity to recruit other factions after Through the Gates of Hell:
   •  [35] Druids of the Talon (requires [Mark of the World Tree] x150)
   •  [35] The Shadow Wardens (requires [Mark of the World Tree] x150)

Progressing inland

Based on whether players choose to complete  [35] The Shadow Wardens or  [35] Druids of the Talon first, players will either make a push up to the Forlorn Spire to the northeast, or the Furnace to the northwest. Eleven marks are rewarded daily for completing the daily quest chain, in addition to the fourteen possible from phase one and phase two daily quests.

After recruiting one of the two sub-factions, the Sentinel Tree will grow larger.

Should players have both factions unlocked, they will be given the choice to complete either faction's quests each day, not both.

Shadow Wardens

Prerequisite:  [35] The Shadow Wardens

1.  [35] The Hunt Begins -- unlocks a daily quest chain:
2.  [35 Daily] The Forlorn Spire
3. Three dailies from the following at the Forlorn Spire. Additionally, kill a Druid of the Flame to pick up  [35] The Mysterious Seed, which starts a short sidequest.
   •  [35 Daily] Solar Core Destruction -or-  [35 Daily] The Wardens are Watching
   •  [35 Daily] Pyrorachnophobia
   •  [35 Daily] Wicked Webs -or-  [35 Daily] Egg-stinction
4.  [35 Daily] Enduring the Heat
5.  [35 Daily] Strike at the Heart (unlocked by  [35] Calling the Ancients)
6.  [35 Daily] Fandral's Methods -or-  [35 Daily] The Flame Spider Queen (unlocked by  [35] Need... Water... Badly...)

Druids of the Talon

Prerequisite:  [35] Druids of the Talon

1.  [35] Flight of the Storm Crows — unlocks a daily quest chain:
2.  [35 Daily] Into the Fire 2
3.  [35 Daily] Flamewakers of the Molten Flow 2
4.  [35 Daily] Fire Flowers 2
5.  [35 Daily] Hounds of Shannox 1 -or-  [35 Daily] How Hot 1 (unlocked by  [35] Need... Water... Badly...)
6. Fireplume Peak dailies: Two of:
   •  [35 Daily] Singed Wings 2
   •  [35 Daily] Peaked Interest 2
   •  [35 Daily] Starting Young 2
   •  [35 Daily] Fire in the Skies 2
   •  [35 Daily] Mother's Malice 2
   •  [35 Daily] Territorial Birds 2
7.  [35 Daily] Strike at the Heart (unlocked by  [35] Calling the Ancients)

Crimson Lasher

A short side one-time questline (worth five marks) and one further daily (worth one mark each day) can be unlocked by killing a Druid of the Flame:

1.  [35] The Mysterious Seed
2.  [35] Planting Season
3.  [35] Little Lasher
4. Dailies:
   •  [35 Daily] Some Like It Hot
   •  [35 Daily] Steal Magmolias
   •  [35 Daily] Embergris

Further progression

When you complete both  [35] The Shadow Wardens and  [35] Druids of the Talon, the phase at Malfurion's Breach advances slightly, with the Sentinel Tree growing significantly, and three NPCs appearing, each requiring [Mark of the World Tree] x125 to unlock their wares:

• Ayla Shadowstorm, offering  [35] Filling the Moonwell.
• Varlan Highbough, offering  [35] Calling the Ancients.
• Damek Bloombeard, offering  [35] Additional Armaments.

Completing these final three unlock quests turns these NPCs into vendors who sell item level 365 gear for gold. Additionally, the Writs of Commendation sold by Zen'Vorka become available for purchase.

The quest  [35] Well Armed also becomes available if you have turned in 125 marks to Damek Bloombeard. That unlocks quest-giver Ricket who offers the player one of the following:

•  [35 Daily] The Bigger They Are
•  [35 Daily] Bye Bye Burdy
•  [35 Daily] A Bitter Pill
•  [35 Daily] Living Obsidium

Completing  [35] Calling the Ancients to activate Varlan Highbough grants you access to one of these (depending on whether you choose to do the Talon or Shadow Warden quests that day)

•  [35 Daily] Strike at the Heart
•  [35 Daily] Strike at the Heart

Since players may earn up to 27 Marks of the World Tree each day at this phase, it should take five days worth of marks per NPC to convert them from quest givers to vendors.

The End

When you complete  [35] Filling the Moonwell (the other two are not required), Malfurion offers the quest  [35] Into the Depths, in which you kill Leyara. When you complete  [35] Into the Depths, Theresa Barkskin sends you a thank-you letter containing gold. Completing the quest yields the  [Legacy of Leyara] achievement, which rewards the  [Smoke-Stained Locket]. This in turn starts the Leyara's Past questline, which reveals the past of Leyara and in the end, rewards the Smoke-Stained Locket now as an item that transform you into a Druid of the Flame for 5 minutes. The questline:

1.  [35] A Smoke-Stained Locket
2.  [35] Unlocking the Secrets Within
3.  [35] Tragedy and Family
4.  [35] The Tipping Point
5.  [35] The Rest is History

← Previous: Twilight Highlands quests | Next: Jade Forest storyline →

Videos

• Cataclysm - Patch 4.2: Rage of the Firelands
• Firelands Invasion Vanity Rewards

Patch changes

• Patch 4.2.0 (2011-06-28): Added.
  

External links

World of Warcraft Community Site Patch 4.2. Preview: The Regrowth and Molten Front Daily Quest Hubs

Icy Veins Firelands Invasion Walkthrough: efficient questing, rewards, achievements, etc.