Plaguemaw the Rotting

Plaguemaw the Rotting is an undead quilboar who appears in Razorfen Downs only for groups who take on Belnistrasz's ritual. After several minutes of fighting off waves of quilboar while the disguised dragon works to shut down the Death's Head idol, Plaguemaw arrives as the last attempt to stop him. He is a level 40 elite who weakens the group with a stench and drains mana with a withering disease.

Background

The Death's Head, a sect of quilboar priests who serve the lich Amnennar the Coldbringer, use an idol in the Downs to call up and control the quilboar dead. Inside the Downs, players meet Belnistrasz, who looks like a human mage but is a red dragon in disguise. He cares nothing for Horde or Alliance and wants only to end the slaughter. He asks adventurers to escort him to the idol and guard him while he performs a ritual to put out its fires.

The quilboar fight back. Wave after wave attacks during the ritual, and Plaguemaw the Rotting, a rotting quilboar raised by the Scourge, comes at the end of it. Groups that never take Belnistrasz's quest never meet him.

Abilities

• Putrid Stench: lowers the Strength and Agility of everyone near him by 50 for ten seconds.
• Withered Touch: a disease that deals Shadow damage every 3 seconds and drains mana, giving it to Plaguemaw. It lasts 15 seconds.

Strategy

Plaguemaw comes at the end of Extinguishing the Idol, after the group has already fought off several waves of quilboar.

• Before starting the ritual, rest to full mana and health. Belnistrasz warns that it will take about five minutes, and he calls out the time left as it goes.
• Decide in advance who guards which approach. Belnistrasz must survive; if he dies, the quest fails.
• When Plaguemaw arrives, the tank picks him up and keeps him away from Belnistrasz.
• Cure Withered Touch quickly. It is a disease, so priests and paladins can remove it, and it drains the mana healers need.
• Putrid Stench hurts melee classes most. Warriors and rogues will hit less hard while it lasts.
• When the ritual finishes, Belnistrasz vanishes and leaves a burning brazier behind. The quest is turned in at the brazier.

Loot

The Plaguerot Sprig is a wand and the Swine Fists are leather gloves with Strength and Agility.

Quests

• Scourge of the Downs: Belnistrasz gives players an oathstone. Returning it to him means agreeing to help.
• Extinguishing the Idol: escort Belnistrasz to the idol and protect him during the ritual, which ends with Plaguemaw's attack. Through the brazier, the dragon thanks the group and rewards them with [Dragonclaw Ring].

Later history

Cataclysm raised his level to 45. Warlords of Draenor (patch 6.0.2) rebuilt Razorfen Downs, removing Belnistrasz and Plaguemaw. Plaguemaw is also a legendary card in Hearthstone. He returned with World of Warcraft Classic in 2019.

Sources

• Plaguemaw the Rotting, Warcraft Wiki
• Belnistrasz, Warcraft Wiki
• WoWDB NPC, quest and loot data for patch 1.12