Razorfen Downs

Razorfen Downs is the great thorn-covered burial ground of the quilboar, now in the grip of the lich Amnennar the Coldbringer and The Scourge. The dungeon is built for characters around level 37 to 46 and is open to both factions. It is a sign that the plague of undeath has spread from the Eastern Kingdoms all the way into Kalimdor.

Background

The Downs grew from the same giant thorny vines as Razorfen Kraul, which quilboar legend says sprang from the blood of the fallen demigod Agamaggan. They form the traditional capital and burial site of the quilboar, a huge dome of brambles near the border of The Barrens and Thousand Needles. Charlga Razorflank, the crone of the Kraul, shaped much of the dome.

After the Third War, agents of the Scourge came to the Downs, led by Amnennar the Coldbringer, a lich. Working with the Death's Head, a sect of quilboar priests who embraced necromancy, Amnennar took control of the burial ground and began turning the tribe's dead into an undead army. Loyal quilboar fought to win back their sacred site, but by the time players arrive, the Downs are full of both living and undead quilboar and Scourge creatures.

The quilboar also keep prisoners. One of them, Belnistrasz, looks like a human mage but is a red dragon in disguise. He offers to shut down the idol the Death's Head use to call up their dead.

Bosses

Tuten'kash is a huge spider that only appears after a gong in the dungeon is struck. Ringing it three times calls in waves of Tomb Fiends and Tomb Reavers before Tuten'kash himself comes out. Mordresh Fire Eye is a skeletal caster, Glutton a bloated abomination, and Ragglesnout a rare quilboar whose drop [X'caliboar] is a sword named after Excalibur. During the Scourge Invasion of patch 1.11, [[forever:npc:14686]] could also appear here.

Quests

• Scourge of the Downs and Extinguishing the Idol: agree to help Belnistrasz, then defend him for several minutes while he performs a ritual at the quilboar idol. Waves of quilboar attack throughout. The reward is [Dragonclaw Ring].
• Bring the Light (Alliance): Archbishop Benedictus in Stormwind City wants Amnennar dead.
• Bring the End (Horde): Andrew Brownell in the Undercity asks for the [Skull of the Coldbringer]. Both quests offer [Vanquisher's Sword] or [Amberglow Talisman].
• A Host of Evil: Myriam Moonsinger, who camps near the entrance, wants the quilboar and Death's Head cultists thinned out.
• An Unholy Alliance (Horde): Varimathras wants the head of Ambassador Malcin, a Scourge envoy who meets the quilboar outside the Downs. Rewards include [Skullbreaker] and [Nail Spitter].

Strategy notes

The path through the Downs spirals down through the brambles and then up a long ramp to Amnennar's chamber. Many corridors are narrow and shared by roaming patrols.

• The Belnistrasz ritual is one of the harder escort-style events of its level. Plan who guards which approach, and keep crowd control ready for the larger waves.
• Death's Head casters support the quilboar melee. Kill them first.
• Mordresh Fire Eye casts Fireball and Fire Nova.
• Glutton is a plain melee fight with a disease cloud around him.
• Amnennar the Coldbringer uses Frost Nova and a cold blast called Amnennar's Wrath, and he summons spectral adds partway through the fight. Healers should stay at range and groups should kill the adds fast.

History

Razorfen Downs was part of World of Warcraft at launch in November 2004. Its tie to the Scourge foreshadowed the undead threat that later came to a head in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion.

Later history

Cataclysm (patch 4.0.3a) flooded Thousand Needles and retuned the Downs. Later versions replaced Belnistrasz with another red dragon, Koristrasza, and carried Amnennar's story on through the fate of his phylactery. The 1.12 version returned with World of Warcraft Classic in 2019.

Sources

• Razorfen Downs, Warcraft Wiki
• Razorfen Downs (Classic), Warcraft Wiki
• Belnistrasz, Warcraft Wiki
• WoWDB quest and loot data for patch 1.12