Tanaris (Classic)

Tanaris
Level: 40 - 50
Capital(s)	Gadgetzan; Zul'Farrak
Races	Goblin; Sand troll; Human; Ogre; Silithid; Dwarf; Gnome;
Ruler(s)	Chief Engineer Bilgewhizzle; Ukorz Sandscalp; Andre Firebeard; Caliph Scorpidsting
Major settlements	Steamwheedle Port; Caverns of Time; Lost Rigger Cove
Minor settlements	Dunemaul Compound; Sandsorrow Watch
Affiliation	Steamwheedle Cartel, Farraki tribe, Southsea Freebooters, Dunemaul clan, Wastewander, Bronze dragonflight
Location	Southeastern Kalimdor
PvP status	Contested territory

For the lore of the zone and its status after the Cataclysm, see Tanaris.

Tanaris is a desert located in southeastern Kalimdor, east of Un'Goro Crater and south of Thousand Needles. It is an arid land, covered in sand dunes and frequently exposed to dangerous sandstorms. The Steamwheedle Cartel has its main base of operations here - Steamwheedle Port and Gadgetzan have been founded by the goblins of Undermine since this desert is as close to home as they can get on the continents. The dock in Steamwheedle is presumably used for transport to the outer islands, but so far, the goblins have proved unwilling to share the ships with the other races.

History[]

The Tanaris Desert has been an endless sea of sand for aeons. Nozdormu, the great dragon of time, was said to make this land his home since time immemorial, thriving in the solitude of oppressive heat and miles of sand.

Tanaris is the ancestral home of the bronze dragonflight based out of the Caverns of Time. The titans also have a holding here in form of the ancient city of Uldum, found in the southern parts of the desert. It was here that Anachronos first discovered the full threat of the silithid, who had been making hives in the remote regions of Tanaris. The War of the Shifting Sands was consequently unleashed upon the western land of Silithus.

Getting there[]

Alliance: From Thalanaar, head east through Thousand Needles and south through the Shimmering Flats. Through the mountain pass to the south of the flats lies Gadgetzan.
Horde: From Freewind Post travel east into the Shimmering Flats, then head south through the mountain pass to Gadgetzan.

Geography[]

The Tanaris Desert covers a vast expanse of southern Kalimdor, just south of the Thousand Needles. It is a blazing hot expanse of rolling sand dunes under a cloudless sky. The southern region is more mountainous, with large cavern networks - some extending deep beneath the surface. A vast realm, the Tanaris Desert holds many secrets. The land is mostly desert, and below the ground are gigantic tunnel networks. They remain largely unexplored, for few have the fortitude to venture into such a harsh landscape. Still, rumors tell of all manner of creatures that hide within the tunnels and slaughter trespassers without hesitation. Although the sea of dunes does not look as if it would support a variety of wildlife, humans, Sandfury Trolls, hyenas, scorpids, basilisks, and silithid bugs are quite common. Occasionally drakes are also seen soaring on the thermals that swirl over the great desert.

It is home to a single instance; Zul'Farrak, as well as several micro dungeons.

Maps and subregions[]

Abyssal Sands • Broken Pillar • Caverns of Time • Dunemaul Compound

Eastmoon Ruins • Gadgetzan • The Gaping Chasm • Land's End Beach

Lost Rigger Cove • Noonshade Ruins • The Noxious Lair • Sandsorrow Watch

Southbreak Shore • Southmoon Ruins • Steamwheedle Port • Thistleshrub Valley

Uldum • Valley of the Watchers • Waterspring Field • Wavestrider Beach

Zalashji's Den • Zul'Farrak

Warcraft RPG

Northrock (RPG)

Topographic map of Tanaris

Dungeons[]

Dungeon Name	Level Range	Group Size	Approximate Run Time
Zul'Farrak	43-48	5-man	3-4 Hours

Elite areas[]

Travel hubs[]

Flight paths from Gadgetzan[]

Adjacent regions[]

Zone name	Faction	Level range	Direction	Access
Thousand Needles		25-35	North	By foot or Horde flightpath from Gadgetzan to Freewind Post
Un'Goro Crater		48-55	West	By foot or flightpaths from Gadgetzan to Marshal's Refuge

Notable characters[]

Main article: Tanaris NPCs (Classic)

Tanaris is home to several characters of note. At Gadgetzan, Mux Manascrambler seeks aid in obtaining ghostly ectoplasm from undead spirits, and Senior Surveyor Fizzledowser investigates the coming of the silithid. And at Steamwheedle Port, Yeh'kinya attempts to learn more of the essence of an ancient god...

Quests[]

Main article: Tanaris quests

Resources[]

Herbs
- [Firebloom]
- [Purple Lotus]
Leather
- [Turtle Scale] (Skinning level 38-53 turtles)
- [Scorpid Scale] (Skinning level 40-50 scorpids)
Ore

Wild creatures[]

Notes, tips, and additional info[]

Since Alliance has no travel hub in Thousand Needles, Gadgetzan makes a great alternative to get to the Shimmering Flats since it is just a short run over the hill to get there. Even Horde can benefit from this shortcut as it is even faster than running from Freewind Post.

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