Emperor Dagran Thaurissan

Emperor Dagran Thaurissan is the ruler of the Dark Iron dwarves and the final boss of Blackrock Depths. He sits on his throne in the Imperial Seat beside his wife, Princess Moira Bronzebeard, the daughter of Magni Bronzebeard, whom Ironforge believes he kidnapped. Both factions send players to kill him and free her, and both discover she does not want to be freed. His loot table was one of the richest of any Classic dungeon boss, including the [Hand of Justice] and the epic mace [Ironfoe].

Background

Dagran Thaurissan is a direct descendant of Sorcerer-Thane Thaurissan, the Dark Iron ruler whose ritual brought Ragnaros into the world and made the clan his servants. Dagran rules not from the old city that bears his ancestor's name but from the depths of Blackrock Mountain, close to the entrance of the Firelord's domain in the Molten Core. His clan holds the mountain's depths and spreads out into the Searing Gorge and the Burning Steppes.

He took Princess Moira as a hostage, expecting that Magni would never attack Blackrock Mountain while she was inside it. According to later accounts, the two fell in love. She was strong-willed and unafraid of him, and he confided that he wanted to free his people from Ragnaros. Ironforge believes she is under a spell; in fact she married him willingly. Dagran also wields Ironfoe, a legendary dwarven hammer he did not come by honestly.

None of that shows in the fight. When adventurers reach him, he calls himself "Ragnaros' most powerful servant" and fights to the death.

Abilities

• Avatar of Flame: for 10 seconds he becomes immune to magic and burns any player he hits in melee.
• Hand of Thaurissan: fire damage that stuns a player for 5 seconds.
• Ironfoe: his melee attacks can trigger extra attacks and a higher chance to crit.

Princess Moira Bronzebeard fights at his side as a healer, with Heal, Renew and Mind Blast.

Strategy

The Imperial Seat is full of Shadowforge senators and other dwarves, and in Classic attacking the emperor called every one of them to his aid. Groups clear the whole room first. Thaurissan even comments when the senators fall: "Thank you for clearing out those foolish senators. Now prepare to meet your doom at the hands of Ragnaros' most powerful servant."

The rest depends on the group's quests. If anyone is doing The Fate of the Kingdom or The Royal Rescue, Moira has to survive the fight. She heals the emperor throughout, so the fight becomes a long one: the group interrupts her heals, or keeps her busy with crowd control that won't harm her, while the tank holds Thaurissan. When he dies, she turns friendly and completes the quest. Groups without the quest can kill her first to make the emperor easier.

Thaurissan himself is a heavy melee boss. Hand of Thaurissan can stun the tank, and during Avatar of Flame casters can't hurt him, so they wait it out while the healer covers the extra fire damage on the tank.

Loot

From our database (patch 1.12):

The [Hand of Justice] trinket, with attack power and a chance for an extra attack on each hit, was used by warriors and rogues well into raiding. The rare [Ironfoe] is an epic one-handed mace that also grants extra attacks. During the Feast of Winter Veil he also drops a [Red Winter Hat].

Quests

• The Fate of the Kingdom (Alliance): the end of the chain that starts with Kharan Mighthammer, from King Magni. Kill the emperor and rescue Moira.
• The Royal Rescue (Horde): sent by Thrall, who sees a chance to help the dwarves and strengthen the Horde's ties in the Eastern Kingdoms.

Both quests end with Moira herself. Instead of thanking the players, she curses them for killing her husband and tells them her child will be born without a father, and will one day rule Ironforge.

Later history

Thaurissan's death left Moira pregnant with his heir, Dagran Thaurissan II. In Cataclysm, after Magni was turned to diamond, she claimed his throne in Ironforge, and she later shared its rule with the Wildhammer and Bronzebeard clans in the Council of Three Hammers. In the game he remained the dungeon's final boss, and after Cataclysm an unnamed High Priestess of Thaurissan took Moira's place in the fight.

Sources

• Dagran Thaurissan - Warcraft Wiki
• Imperial Seat - Warcraft Wiki
• Moira Thaurissan - Warcraft Wiki