Sapphiron

Sapphiron is an ancient blue dragon raised by the Scourge as a frost wyrm, and the guardian of Kel'Thuzad's inner sanctum in Naxxramas. He waits in the Frostwyrm Lair, which opens only after a raid has cleared all four wings of the necropolis. His freezing aura demanded that every player wear frost resistance gear, and his air phase, where the raid hides from his breath behind blocks of ice, is one of the most famous moments in Naxxramas.

Background

Sapphiron was one of the oldest members of the blue dragonflight (see Dragonflights). He lived with his brood near the entrance to Azjol-Nerub in Northrend, guarding a hoard of artifacts he had gathered over the centuries. During the Third War, Arthas Menethil and the crypt lord Anub'arak came to his lair on their march to the Lich King, intending to take his treasure. Sapphiron found Arthas's honesty about wanting to kill him "refreshing", but the Scourge killed him and his dragons all the same, and Arthas raised him as a frost wyrm to fight for the Scourge.

Years later, the Scourge stationed him in Naxxramas to guard the Frostwyrm Lair, the last room before Kel'Thuzad's chamber. Resurrection had only strengthened his frost magic.

Abilities

• [[forever:spell:28531]]: a constant aura that deals frost damage to every player in the room every two seconds. Frost resistance reduces it.
• [[forever:spell:28542]]: every 24 seconds he curses ten random players, draining their health to heal himself. It's a curse and can be removed.
• [[forever:spell:28547]]: roaming blizzards that deal heavy frost damage and slow anyone inside them.
• Cleave and Tail Sweep: in front of him and behind him.
• Air phase: every minute or so he takes off, knocking back nearby players. In the air, he hits several players with [[forever:spell:28522]], which encases them in blocks of ice and damages those near them. Then he drops a frost bomb, [[forever:spell:28524]], that hits everyone in line of sight for enough damage to kill the whole raid. He lands again afterward. Below 10% health he stops flying.
• He's immune to frost spells and can't be taunted.

Strategy

The first requirement is frost resistance. Guides recommended about 150 frost resistance for the average player, before buffs, and more for the tank. Players crafted it with Argent Dawn recipes such as the [[forever:item:22669]], using [[forever:item:22682]] that dropped in Naxxramas, and collected frost resistance drops from the earlier bosses. Paladins' and shamans' frost resistance auras and totems were placed in the groups that needed them most. Healers couldn't wear too much of it without losing their healing power.

On the ground, a single tank holds Sapphiron while the raid stands to his sides, out of the cleave and the tail. Mages and druids remove Life Drain at once, and everyone steps out of the blizzards.

When he takes off, everyone gathers near the middle. As the ice blocks form, each player hides behind one so it blocks his line of sight to the frost bomb. Players who aren't behind a block when Frost Breath lands die. Then the blocks melt, he lands, and the ground phase starts again. At 10% he stays on the ground, and the raid kills him.

When Sapphiron dies, Kel'Thuzad speaks with the Lich King about the intrusion, and the way to the lich's chamber opens.

Loot

From our database (patch 1.12):

Sapphiron's loot is unusual for Naxxramas: no Tier 3 tokens, but a set of shoulder enchants. [[forever:item:23548]], [[forever:item:23545]], [[forever:item:23547]] and [[forever:item:23549]] each add a permanent bonus to a shoulder item, for melee, casters, healers and tanks respectively. His drops include [[forever:item:23242]], an off-hand fist weapon, and strong trinkets such as [[forever:item:23041]] for melee, [[forever:item:23040]] for tanks and [[forever:item:23046]] for casters.

Trivia

• Warcraft Wiki notes that two items named after Sapphiron, the [Sapphiron Drape] and [Sapphiron's Scale Boots], were in the game from launch, more than a year and a half before he appeared.

Sources

• Sapphiron (Classic), Warcraft Wiki
• Sapphiron, Warcraft Wiki