Sign inEastern Plaguelands
This is revision 1, from Oct 29, 2026 04:23. See the current page.
The Eastern Plaguelands are the most ravaged part of Lordaeron, a land of rotting forests, poisoned rivers and ruined towns at the heart of the Scourge's territory. The zone covers levels 53 to 60 and is the endgame home of the Argent Dawn. It holds the city of Stratholme, and from patch 1.11 the floating necropolis of Naxxramas, the last raid of Classic.
Geography
The zone lies east of the Western Plaguelands and north of The Hinterlands, stretching to the sea. Its forests are twisted and orange with blight, and many of its rivers and lakes are toxic.
- Light's Hope Chapel, in the east, is the Argent Dawn's stronghold and the only safe town in the zone. Both factions use it.
- Stratholme, in the north, is the ruined city where Prince Arthas carried out the Culling. It is now a dungeon.
- Plaguewood, in the north-west, is a dark forest around Stratholme. From patch 1.11, Naxxramas floats above it.
- Tyr's Hand, in the south-east, is a walled city held by the Scarlet Crusade, with the Scarlet Basilica at its center.
- Darrowshire, in the south-west, is a ruined village whose ghosts still fight the battle in which it fell.
- Corin's Crossing, in the center, is a town held by the Scourge.
- The Marris Stead, in the south-west, is where Nathanos Blightcaller, the Forsaken champion, keeps his camp.
- Zul'Mashar, Quel'Lithien Lodge, Northdale and Terrordale are scattered across the north.
- Tirion Fordring lives in a hut by the river near the western border.
History
Eastern Lordaeron was overrun during the Third War. When Arthas Menethil reached Stratholme and found its people already infected with the plague, he ordered the city purged, an event known as the Culling. His mentor Uther the Lightbringer and the sorceress Jaina Proudmoore refused to take part. Stratholme was burned, and the Scourge took it soon after.
The Scourge holds most of the land today. Stratholme is ruled by Baron Rivendare, and Naxxramas is the seat of Kel'Thuzad, the lich who serves the Lich King in Lordaeron. The living hold only Light's Hope Chapel, where the Argent Dawn gathers, and Tyr's Hand, where the Scarlet Crusade has dug in.
Light's Hope Chapel stands on the site of a battle in which the paladins of the Silver Hand held off a Scourge army. The ground is said to be consecrated by their sacrifice.
Quests and notable NPCs
The Eastern Plaguelands have over 100 quests in our database, many of them added in later Classic patches for Naxxramas.
Tirion Fordring
Tirion Fordring, a paladin stripped of his title years ago for defending an orc, lives in exile by the river. He begins a chain with Redemption that continues with Of Forgotten Memories and Of Lost Honor, and connects to his son in the Western Plaguelands.
Darrowshire
The ghost of a little girl, Pamela Redpath, waits in the ruins of Darrowshire. Players find her doll (Pamela's Doll) and her family, including her uncle Carlin Redpath (Defenders of Darrowshire, Heroes of Darrowshire). With the help of Chromie, they relive the town's last fight in The Battle of Darrowshire, defending Davil Lightfire and Joseph Redpath against Horgus the Ravager.
Nathanos Blightcaller
Horde players are sent by Sylvanas Windrunner to Nathanos Blightcaller in The Champion of the Banshee Queen. His tasks include Duskwing, Oh How I Hate Thee..., The Corpulent One and an infiltration of Tyr's Hand (Nathanos' Ruse). Alliance players hunt for missing SI:7 agents and learn of the "Blightcaller" in The Eastern Plagues.
Light's Hope Chapel
- Lord Maxwell Tyrosus of the Argent Dawn leads the fight against the Scourge (Lord Maxwell Tyrosus).
- Caretaker Alen sends players after Zaeldarr the Outcast in Zaeldarr the Outcast.
- From patch 1.11, [[forever:npc:16116]] grants access to Naxxramas through [[forever:quest:9121]], and crafters fill Argent Dawn work orders such as [[forever:quest:9178]] for Dispatch Commander Metz.
- In patch 1.12, the four guard towers of the zone became world PvP objectives. Capturing them is the goal of [[forever:quest:9665]].
Dungeons
- Stratholme (Stratholme) is a level 58 to 60 dungeon with two halves: the living side, held by the Scarlet Crusade, and the undead side, ruled by Baron Rivendare.
- Naxxramas (Naxxramas) is a 40-player raid added in patch 1.11 in June 2006. It floats over Plaguewood and is home to Kel'Thuzad and the bosses of its four quarters.
Getting there
Both factions have flight points at Light's Hope Chapel. On foot, the road east from the Western Plaguelands crosses the Thondroril River into the zone. Many players first arrive through the Western Plaguelands at level 53 or so.
Later history
In Wrath of the Lich King (2008), the death knights' starting area was placed in a phased part of the zone, the Scarlet Enclave, and Light's Hope Chapel became the site of a famous battle in their story.
Sources
Categories: Zones