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'''Heroic mode''' refers to a [[dungeon difficulty]] setting. This setting is accessed from the party or raid leader's portrait menu; currently the only other difficulty setting is [[normal mode]] (the default setting). Depending on expansion and dungeon type (5-player or raid), the setting has different effects and requirements. For all heroic mode dungeons [[mobs]] and [[bosses]] have more HP, hit harder, and have additional or more potent skills. Heroic-mode bosses drop better quality equipment than their normal-mode counterparts as well as currency tokens used to purchase epic equipment from vendors.
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{{fair use}}
  
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{{For|the 5-man instanced dungeon of the same name|Azjol-Nerub (instance)}}
  
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{{infobox instance
  
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|ss=Azjol-Nerub Load Screen.jpg
  
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|caption=The Azjol-Nerub loading graphic
  
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|name=Azjol-Nerub
  
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|faction=Neutral
  
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|races={{Scourge Race}} (16,400)<br />
  
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{{RaceIconExt|Nerubian|Small}} [[Nerubian]] (3,400)<br />
  
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{{Dwarf Race}} (200)
  
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|pop=20,000
  
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|loc=[[Dragonblight]]
  
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|government=Monarchy
  
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|ruler=[[Anub'arak]]
  
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|major='''Azjol-Nerub''' (was a city in itself)
  
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|minor=[[Doorward]] (200)
  
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|affiliation=[[Scourge]]
  
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|level=72-75
  
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|players=5
  
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}}
  
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{{Azjol-Nerub wings}}
  
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'''Azjol-Nerub''' (pronounced "ah-ZHOL nuh-ROOB") (a.k.a. '''Spider Kingdom''' or '''Azjol Empire''')<ref>{{quest|The Lost Empire}}</ref> is the vast underground [[nation]]/[[empire]] of the arachnid-like [[Nerubian]]s located on the icy continent of [[Northrend]]. The entrance to Azjol-Nerub can be found in the [[Pit of Narjun]] in the western reaches of the [[Dragonblight]]. Before its destruction by the [[Scourge]], Azjol-Nerub contained huge libraries of literature, philosophy, and arcane lore.
  
   
  +
Heroic mode dungeons are on a lockout timer much like raids, and can only be run once a day per character. Each dungeon is on an independent timer, however, so a character could run as many as 15 heroic mode instances per day. Heroic timers are reset daily at 9:00 A.M. server time for US servers, and 08:00 A.M. server time for European servers. The daily [[Dungeon Finder|random heroic]] resets at the same time as other dailies, generally between 2-4 A.M. realm time.
−
In ''[[Lands of Mystery]]'', Azjol-Nerub is described as being its very own [[region]] and located underground. The kingdom consists of two main sections, the [[Old Kingdom]] and [[Upper Kingdom]]. Part of the Upper Kingdom is controlled by [[Dwarves]], who control a small [[town]] known as [[Doorward]], while other areas are controlled by the [[Scourge]]. Deeper underground is the Old Kingdom which is controlled by [[Scourge|Undead]] Nerubians. [[Brann Bronzebeard]] claims it may be possible for an alliance with living Nerubians if one is willing to help them clear out the Scourge from their empire. Still, some areas are controlled by [[Faceless One]]s.
  
   
  +
Heroic dungeons introduced in {{wotlk-inline}} and {{cata-inline}} don't require an [[attunement]], but do require all characters in the group to be level 80 for {{wotlk-inline}} and level 85 for {{cata-inline}}.
−
In ''World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King'', the in-game Azjol-Nerub is comprised of two 5-man [[dungeon]]s: Azjol-Nerub and [[Ahn'kahet]], levels 72-75. [[Anub'arak]], the former king of Azjol-Nerub, is the final boss of the first dungeon. Azjol-Nerub stretches much further than people thought, as it appears that the [[Argent Crusade]] has built the [[Crusaders' Coliseum]] above the northern reaches of it.
  
   
  +
== The Burning Crusade ==
−
==History==
  
  +
{{bc-section}}
−
[[File:AzjolEntrance.jpg|thumb|Azjol-Nerub concept art]]
  
  +
Each of the 5-player dungeons introduced in the ''[[World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade]]'' expansion pack may be run on heroic mode if every member of the party has obtained the appropriate key. These keys are purchased from the faction [[quartermaster]] of the faction corresponding to the instance once reaching {{reputation|honored}}. At introduction the keys required {{reputation|revered}}, but this was reduced in later patches to allow easier access to the heroic modes. [[Magister's Terrace]], which was introduced later with [[patch 2.4]], did not use a purchased key. To obtain this key players needed to simply complete a quest which involved killing the final boss of the instance in normal mode.
   
  +
Some heroic mode instances share loot with their normal-mode counterparts, while some do not. For example, items that drop in a level 70 normal instance like [[Shattered Halls]] will also drop in the heroic mode. However a lower-level instance like [[Hellfire Ramparts]] will have completely different items in normal and heroic mode. For the instance where loot is shared there are also additional items that only drop in the heroic mode. These items are of higher quality than the other items. Each boss in a heroic dungeon may drop an epic gem. The last boss always drops one epic item in addition to a [[Badge of Justice]].
−
The ancient kingdom of Azjol-Nerub was a result of the [[aqir]] split. The [[Gurubashi]] and [[Amani Empire|Amani]] [[Troll]]s managed to split the kingdom of [[Azj'Aqir]] into two: Azjol-Nerub and [[Ahn'Qiraj]].<ref>[[The Twin Empires]]</ref>
  
   
  +
Each key requires {{reputation|honored}} reputation with the respective faction. (Lowered from {{reputation|revered}} in [[patch 2.3]].)
−
Azjol-Nerub was the center of Nerubian civilization. It's unknown if the Nerubians began here, but certainly most, if not their entire, of their race dwelled here. They left the rest of the world in peace and pursued their interests beneath the ground. Around 20 years ago, the Nerubian civilization was still alive and strong. Azjol-Nerub was their kingdom, and the spider-men controlled all its tunnels. Their culture is almost as old as the Dwarves', and every bit as attuned to life underground. The biggest difference is that the Nerubians focus more on the cerebral and less on the physical — Their society had more scholars and artists and fewer smiths and miners.{{Cite|LoM|88, 91}}
  
   
  +
{| class="darktable"
−
That was all before the Lich King, of course. He saw immediately that the Nerubians posed a major threat. None of the other races in Northrend had their numbers, their organization, or their discipline. True, the Nerubians rarely ventured above-ground, but he couldn’t take that chance. The Lich King eventually attacked; he chose to swarm the underground kingdom and wiped it clean during the War of the Spider. It was long and hard, and the Nerubians almost won — They may prefer thought and art but they’re fearsome foes when roused. Unfortunately, the Scourge had an endless supply of warriors and every dead Nerubian potentially added to its ranks. In the end the Scourge’s numbers prevailed, and the implacable undead swept through Azjol-Nerub and emptied its tunnels of defenders. The Lich King defeated the Nerubians, killing most of them in the process and converting many of the survivors into crypt fiends and other undead. Those who could, fled his touch. The Lich King conquered, and the Nerubian civilization all but died. Now most of Azjol-Nerub lies in ruins. It’s still a fascinating place, and many of its murals and frescoes and columns stand intact. The Scourge doesn’t care about riches, material or scholarly, and rich tapestries still hang on the walls while impressive tomes line bookcases. One could spend months roaming the tunnels and still never see all of the great kingdom.
  
  +
|-
  +
! Instances !! Faction !! Key !! Instances to grind at 70 !! Approximate Difficulty
  +
|-
  +
| [[Hellfire Citadel]]
  +
| {{horde}}[[Thrallmar]]/{{alliance}}[[Honor Hold]]
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| {{loot|common|Flamewrought Key}}
  +
|
  +
[[Hellfire Ramparts]] (~633 rep, heroic ~2500 rep)<br/>
  +
[[Blood Furnace]] (~700 rep)<br/>
  +
[[The Shattered Halls]] (~1650 rep, heroic ~2700 rep)
  +
|
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]] <br/>
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]] <br/>
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Auchindoun]]
  +
| [[Lower City]]
  +
| {{loot|common|Auchenai Key}}
  +
|
  +
[[Mana-Tombs]] (consortium reputation: ~1200 rep, heroic ~2400 rep)<br/>
  +
[[Auchenai Crypts]] (~750 rep)<br/>
  +
[[Sethekk Halls]] (~1250 rep, heroic ~2100 rep) <br/>
  +
[[Shadow Labyrinth]] (~2000 rep, heroic ~2700 rep)
  +
|
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]] <br/>
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]] <br/>
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]] <br/>
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Coilfang Reservoir]]
  +
| [[Cenarion Expedition]]
  +
| {{loot|common|Reservoir Key}}
  +
|
  +
[[Slave Pens]] (~650 rep, heroic ~1800 rep)<br/>
  +
[[Underbog]] (~1000 rep, heroic ~2500 rep)<br/>
  +
[[The Steamvault]] (~1600 rep, heroic ~1800 rep)
  +
|
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]] <br/>
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]] <br/>
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Tempest Keep]]
  +
| [[Sha'tar|The Sha'tar]]
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| {{loot|common|Warpforged Key}}
  +
|
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[[The Botanica]] (~2200 rep, heroic ~3100 rep) <br />
  +
[[The Arcatraz]] (~1800 rep, heroic ~2600 rep) <br />
  +
[[The Mechanar]] (~1500 rep, heroic ~2100 rep)
  +
|
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]] <br/>
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]] <br/>
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Caverns of Time]]
  +
| [[Keepers of Time]]
  +
| {{loot|common|Key of Time}}
  +
|
  +
[[Opening the Dark Portal]] (~1100 rep) <br />
  +
[[Escape from Durnholde Keep]] (~900 rep, heroic ~2300 rep)
  +
|
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]] <br/>
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Isle of Quel'Danas]]
  +
| [[Shattered Sun Offensive]]
  +
| {{questlong|Neutral|70D|Hard to Kill}}
  +
|
  +
[[Magisters' Terrace]] (~1450 rep)
  +
|
  +
[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|}
   
  +
== Wrath of the Lich King ==
−
Two years ago, Arthas and the mighty [[Anub'arak]] traveled through this area on their way to the Frozen Throne. Azjol-Nerub is a mystery waiting to be explored. It once held a powerful and advanced civilization, and many of its treasures still rest there undamaged. Great riches litter the lower halls, not only gems and magic items but art and literature and scholarly tomes. The Scourge infests this place. [[Forgotten one]]s seethe below, eager to return to the world above.{{Cite|LoM|88, 91}}
  
  +
{{wotlk-section}}
  +
With the second expansion, heroic mode was extended to raids. The key requirements were not included on instances, instead heroic mode is available to all players at 80. The token system used in [[TBC]] heroics was considered successful, new tokens were added for the various "tiers" of wrath heroics and raids. For example, the same tokens drop in heroic 5-players and the first-tier 10-player raids, while a different token drops in the first tier 25-player raids and second-tier 10-player raids. A third token drops in second-tier 25-player raids, and will presumably drop in the third-tier 10-player raids when implemented.
   
  +
Before [[Patch 3.2.0]], Heroic mode raids, unlike their instance counterparts, did not dictate difficulty. Instead 10-player raids were considered "normal" mode, and 25-player raids to be "heroic". Heroic raids are not intended to be "harder" than the 10-player version of the same raid, instead simply tuned for the larger number of players. Heroic raids do still drop higher quality equipment than the normal-mode counterparts, by the logic that it is more difficult to form a good 25-player group. The currency tokens dropped in each mode can be used to buy items of similar quality to the boss-dropped items.
−
Despite the Lich King's victory over the Spider Kingdom, numerous pockets of Nerubians remain, evading the wrath of [[Ner'zhul]], while at the same time coordinating hit-and-run strikes against the forces of the [[Scourge]]; however, it is currently unknown who leads the remaining Nerubians, or if they even possess a centralized command at all.
  
   
  +
[[Patch 3.2.0]] did away with this setting, other than showing up in [[achievements]], in favor of the following:
−
Now [[Dwarves]] are located near the main entrance to the city, keeping the gates shut in hopes that Scourge forces do not reach them. The undead hold many of the floors of the [[Upper Kingdom]]. The Nerubian rebels hold floors in the [[Old Kingdom]]. Many of deepest areas are held by [[faceless one]]s.
  
  +
:[[Dungeon difficulty]]:
  +
::[[5-player heroic mode]] for the Heroic mode instances.
  +
:[[Raid difficulty]]:
  +
::[[10-player heroic mode]] for the Heroic mode (10-player raid).
  +
::[[25-player heroic mode]] for the Heroic mode (25-player raid).
   
  +
In {{wotlk-inline}}, heroic mode dungeons have the following relative difficulty.
−
==People And Culture==
  
−
[[File:NerubHive.jpg|thumb|"Once crafty engineers"<ref>{{ref game |title=Warcraft III |expansion=[[Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne|The Frozen Throne]] |campaign=[[Legacy of the Damned]] |mission=[[Into the Shadow Web Caverns]] |npc=Anub'arak |quote=We nerubians were crafty engineers in our time. }}</ref> just does not cut it.]]
  
   
  +
{| class="sortable darktable"
−
Most of Azjol-Nerub's once grand culture has been either destroyed or sublimated by the [[Scourge]]; they once were a proud race of scholars and artisans, rarely giving in to anger. Nowadays, they are a nervous, almost paranoid race; more commonly giving in to rage, violence, and grief. Since the invasion of the Scourge, they have changed their outlook, activities, and appearance to reflect the event. Most of the kingdom is in the icy grip of the Scourge, with its leader being a former [[Nerubian]] (now turned [[Crypt Lord]]): [[Anub'Arak]].
 
  +
|-
  +
! Instance !! Reputation Reward !! Approximate Relative Difficulty
  +
|-
  +
|[[Ahn'kahet]]
  +
|2300
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Azjol-Nerub]]
  +
|1300
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Culling of Stratholme]]
  +
|1700
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Drak'Tharon Keep]]
  +
|2000
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Gundrak]]
  +
|2250
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Halls of Lightning]]
  +
|2150
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Halls of Stone]]
  +
|1850
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[The Nexus (instance)|Nexus]]
  +
|2300
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Oculus]]
  +
|1600
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Utgarde Keep (instance)|Utgarde Keep]]
  +
|1950
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Utgarde Pinnacle]]
  +
|2000
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Violet Hold]]
  +
|1300
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|}
   
  +
Source:
−
A more temporary group has sprung up as well — the remains of [[Muradin Bronzebeard]]'s party, currently led by [[Baelgun Flamebeard]] and encamped at the main entrance to the ruined kingdom. There are precious few left, decimated by frequent skirmishes with the Scourge, and unable to hold back the full might of the assault, should one take place. They occasionally trade with what remains of the Nerubians for food, information, tools or other goods. More an alliance of necessity, in the vein of 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,' both honorable races are unlikely to devolve into backstabbing and trickery.
  
  +
[http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=14318905431 Poll Results For: "What Heroic Dungeon is the Most Challenging?"]
   
  +
Heroic Mode; Violet Hold, located within Dalaran, is commonly considered the easiest of all Northrend Heroic Instances. This is because it can be completed in under 20 minutes on average by those with even minor Heroic Instance Skills. Its low difficulty and low Reputation of 1300 makes it commonly a very casual Heroic Instance.
−
Yet a third race dwells in the mysterious deeps of the ancient kingdom: The [[Faceless Ones]]. Reports vary, with the most common form encountered being roughly humanoid, and bearing a squid-like face and misshapen tentacles where arms would be. Rumors abound that they have some relation to the [[Old Gods]] that were banished beneath the earth millennia ago.{{Cite|LoM|88-90}}
  
   
−
== Geography ==
 +
==Cataclysm==
  +
{{cata-section}}
−
[[File:WWI Azjol-Nerub.jpg|thumb|Azjol-Nerub in Wrath of the Lich King.]]
  
   
  +
Bosses in heroic cataclysm instances award [[Justice Points]]. By using the dungeon finder, players can gain an additional 70 [[Valor Points]] per day.
−
Azjol-Nerub is entirely underground. It’s a fascinating place and stretches for miles. It may lie beneath most or all of Northrend. The rock there is predominately granite, mixed with some igneous stone where volcanoes once rose and where magma from deep beneath bubbled up long ago. The Nerubians were thorough artisans and left nary a corner untouched; every edge is smooth and faceted, every corridor planed and polished. They preserved the odd angles created by nature but straightened and widened tunnels into corridors and vaulted ceilings.
  
   
  +
{| class="sortable darktable"
−
Little lives in Azjol-Nerub now. Various lichen and fungi grow in corners and along the walls. The Nerubians evidently nurtured certain phosphorescent and luminescent varieties to provide light, and these have since grown unchecked. Bats perch on door-frames and columns, as do spiders of varying size. Underground lakes teem with blind, silvery-white fish, and insects and worms crawl through the soft dirt alongside. Monsters prowl the deeper caves, and the less said about these the better. Adventurers should not approach them unless heavily armed and surrounded by friends.
  
  +
|-
  +
! Instance !! Tabard Rep !! Guild Rep !! Guild Exp (5 members) !! Approximate Relative Difficulty
  +
|-
  +
|[[Blackrock Caverns]]
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Deadmines]]
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Grim Batol (instance)|Grim Batol]]
  +
|1900
  +
|220
  +
|472400
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Halls of Origination]]
  +
|1715
  +
|385
  +
|826700
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Lost City of the Tol'vir]]
  +
|1280
  +
|220
  +
|472400
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Shadowfang Keep]]
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Stonecore]]
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Throne of Tides]]
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Vortex Pinnacle]]
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
|TBA
  +
|[[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]][[Image:IconSmall RaidStar.png]]
  +
|-
  +
|}
   
  +
==Daily heroic==
−
Azjol-Nerub can be divided into two sections: the Old Kingdom and the Upper Kingdom. Azjol-Nerub has no separate settlements. Once it was a single unified kingdom. Now it is a shadow of its former self, controlled by the Scourge except where pockets of Nerubian resistance lurk or where the Dwarves hunker down or where even darker creatures roam unopposed. Azjol-Nerub is not a safe place for several reasons: First, of course, the Scourge controls it. Second, creatures live below, including the strange faceless ones: Ancient monsters long imprisoned beneath the ice and recently loosed again. Yet, even uninhabited, this kingdom would be dangerous. The Nerubians set all manner of traps there, including circular doors that must be moved just to avoid them crashing down on the person opening them; statues that release streams of frost at intruders and pits hidden beneath seemingly normal floor tiles. Many adventurers have ventured into this place, hoping for gold and other treasures, only to find death instead.{{Cite|LoM|90}}
  
  +
[[Patch 2.3.0]] introduced daily quests for heroic dungeons. These daily quests, referred to as "daily heroics", involved killing the final boss in a dungeon on heroic mode, and gave additional {{item|Badge of Justice}} in {{bc-inline}} or {{item|Emblem of Triumph}} in {{wotlk-inline}} and [[money]] as a [[reward]].
   
  +
Players were able to earn extra [[Justice Points]] and gold for the first [[Dungeon Finder|random wotlk heroic dungeon]] they complete that day, but the {{wotlk-inline}} daily heroic quests were removed in [[patch 3.3.0]], however the {{bc-inline}} daily heroic quests still exist.
−
== Implementation as a Zone ==
  
−
Azjol-Nerub was going to be ''World of Warcraft'''s first subterranean zone. "Buildings, temples -- a look and feel very similar to Naxxramas, since [the Nerubians] are where the Scourge stole that architecture from," says Stockton of Blizzard.<ref>http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?pager.offset=1&cId=3163178</ref>
  
−  
−
That plan was dropped and developers split the zone into two dungeon instances, Azjol-Nerub and [[Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom]].
  
−  
−
==Lore subregions==
  
−
{| class="darktable"
  
−
||[[Doorward]] • [[Inner Kingdom]] • [[Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom]] • [[Upper Kingdom]] • [[Shadow Web Caverns]] • [[Pit of Narjun]] • [[Gilded Gate|The Gilded Gate]] • [[Icy Depths|The Icy Depths]] • [[Naz'anak: The Forgotten Depths]] • [[The Brood Pit]] • [[Passage of Lost Fiends]] • [[Hadronox's Lair]] • [[Hall of the Conquered Kings]] • [[Befouled Terrace]] • [[The Desecrated Altar]] • [[Shimmering Bog]] • [[Fallen Temple of Ahn'kahet]]
  
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|}
  
   
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[[Dungeon Finder|Random cataclysm dungeons]] yield [[Valor Points]] the first time you run them each day.
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== Denizens ==
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|Air|Small}} [[Air elemental]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|Beetle|Small}} [[Beetle]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|CryptFiend|Small}} [[Crypt fiend]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|CryptLord|Small}} [[Crypt lord]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|FungalMonster|Small}} [[Bog beast]]s
  
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*{{RaceIcon|Darkfallen|Male|Small}} [[Darkfallen]] (one, [[Prince Taldaram]])
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|Fire|Small}} [[Fire elemental]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|FleshGiant|Small}} [[Flesh giant]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|FacelessOne|Small}} [[Faceless one]]s
  
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*{{RaceIcon|Undead|Male|Small}}{{RaceIcon|Undead|Female|Small}} [[Forsaken]]
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|Geist|Small}} [[Geist]]s
  
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*{{RaceIcon|Gnome|Male|Small}}{{RaceIcon|Gnome|Female|Small}} [[Gnome]]s
  
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*{{RaceIcon|Human|Male|Small}}{{RaceIcon|Human|Female|Small}} [[Human]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|Nerubian|Small}} [[Nerubian]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|NerubianFlyer|Small}} [[Nerubian flyer]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|NerubianSpiderling|Small}} [[Nerubian spiderling]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|NerubianVizier|Small}} [[Nerubian vizier]] (two, [[Elder Nadox]] and [[Krik'thir the Gatewatcher]])
  
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*{{RaceIcon|Orc|Male|Small}}{{RaceIcon|Orc|Female|Small}} [[Orc]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|PlagueEruptor|Small}} [[Plague eruptor]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|Rat|Small}} [[Rat]]s (critters)
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|Roach|Small}} [[Roach]]es (critters)
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|Shade|Small}} [[Shade]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|SkeletalMage|Small}} [[Skeletal mage]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|Skeleton|Small}} [[Skeleton]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|Spider|Small}} [[Spider]]s
  
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*{{RaceIcon|Tauren|Male|Small}}{{RaceIcon|Tauren|Female|Small}} [[Tauren]]
  
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*{{RaceIcon|Troll|Male|Small}}{{RaceIcon|Troll|Female|Small}} [[Troll]]s
  
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*{{RaceIconExt|Water|Small}} [[Water elemental]]s
  
   
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===Anub'arak===
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== Patch changes ==
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{{Patch 3.2.0|note=Changed the setting to 5 Player Heroic under the interface setting [[Dungeon difficulty]].}}
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:{{NPC||Anub'arak}} was formerly the king of the Nerubians, but was transformed into a mighty [[Crypt Lord]] by the [[Lich King]] after the Scourge destroyed Azjol-Nerub, and now serves the Lich King absolutely. Anub'arak was introduced in ''[[Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne]]'' as a secondary [[hero]] character. Unfortunately, he does not receive very much story line attention in ''Wrath of the Lich King''.
 
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{{Patch 3.2.0|note=Changed the setting to 10 Player Heroic and 25 Player Heroic under the interface setting [[Raid difficulty]].}}
   
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== See also ==
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:His character, as portrayed in ''The Frozen Throne'', seems to be strong-willed, cold, calculating, intelligent, a little twisted and devoted to the Lich King's cause. He, as with the Nerubians in general, has a distinctly mysterious aura about himself.
  
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*[[Epic heroic-only items]]
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*[[Rare heroic-only items]]
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{{:Dungeon & Raid difficulty}}
   
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Heroic Mode}}
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==References==
  
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[[Category:Game terms]]
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* http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html;jsessionid=F586145C5E478BE2AFCF2771F02E3346.app05_07?topicId=8202381275&sid=2000
  
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{{Reflist}}
  
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{{dungeons}}
  
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[[Category:Azjol-Nerub]]
  
 
[[Category:Instances]]
  
[[Category:Instances]]
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[[Category:Nerubians]]
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[[Category:Heroic mode| ]]
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[[Category:Nations]]
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[[Category:Raids]]

Revision as of 23:43, 22 February 2011

Heroic mode refers to a dungeon difficulty setting. This setting is accessed from the party or raid leader's portrait menu; currently the only other difficulty setting is normal mode (the default setting). Depending on expansion and dungeon type (5-player or raid), the setting has different effects and requirements. For all heroic mode dungeons mobs and bosses have more HP, hit harder, and have additional or more potent skills. Heroic-mode bosses drop better quality equipment than their normal-mode counterparts as well as currency tokens used to purchase epic equipment from vendors.

Heroic mode dungeons are on a lockout timer much like raids, and can only be run once a day per character. Each dungeon is on an independent timer, however, so a character could run as many as 15 heroic mode instances per day. Heroic timers are reset daily at 9:00 A.M. server time for US servers, and 08:00 A.M. server time for European servers. The daily random heroic resets at the same time as other dailies, generally between 2-4 A.M. realm time.

Heroic dungeons introduced in Wrath-Logo-Small and Cataclysm don't require an attunement, but do require all characters in the group to be level 80 for Wrath-Logo-Small and level 85 for Cataclysm.

The Burning Crusade

Bc icon This section concerns content related to The Burning Crusade.

Each of the 5-player dungeons introduced in the World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade expansion pack may be run on heroic mode if every member of the party has obtained the appropriate key. These keys are purchased from the faction quartermaster of the faction corresponding to the instance once reaching honored. At introduction the keys required revered, but this was reduced in later patches to allow easier access to the heroic modes. Magister's Terrace, which was introduced later with patch 2.4, did not use a purchased key. To obtain this key players needed to simply complete a quest which involved killing the final boss of the instance in normal mode.

Some heroic mode instances share loot with their normal-mode counterparts, while some do not. For example, items that drop in a level 70 normal instance like Shattered Halls will also drop in the heroic mode. However a lower-level instance like Hellfire Ramparts will have completely different items in normal and heroic mode. For the instance where loot is shared there are also additional items that only drop in the heroic mode. These items are of higher quality than the other items. Each boss in a heroic dungeon may drop an epic gem. The last boss always drops one epic item in addition to a Spell holy championsbond [Badge of Justice].

Each key requires honored reputation with the respective faction. (Lowered from revered in patch 2.3.)

Instances Faction Key Instances to grind at 70 Approximate Difficulty
Hellfire Citadel HordeThrallmar/AllianceHonor Hold [Flamewrought Key]

Hellfire Ramparts (~633 rep, heroic ~2500 rep)
Blood Furnace (~700 rep)
The Shattered Halls (~1650 rep, heroic ~2700 rep)

IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar

Auchindoun Lower City [Auchenai Key]

Mana-Tombs (consortium reputation: ~1200 rep, heroic ~2400 rep)
Auchenai Crypts (~750 rep)
Sethekk Halls (~1250 rep, heroic ~2100 rep)
Shadow Labyrinth (~2000 rep, heroic ~2700 rep)

IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar

Coilfang Reservoir Cenarion Expedition [Reservoir Key]

Slave Pens (~650 rep, heroic ~1800 rep)
Underbog (~1000 rep, heroic ~2500 rep)
The Steamvault (~1600 rep, heroic ~1800 rep)

IconSmall RaidStar
IconSmall RaidStar
IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar

Tempest Keep The Sha'tar [Warpforged Key]

The Botanica (~2200 rep, heroic ~3100 rep)
The Arcatraz (~1800 rep, heroic ~2600 rep)
The Mechanar (~1500 rep, heroic ~2100 rep)

IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar

Caverns of Time Keepers of Time [Key of Time]

Opening the Dark Portal (~1100 rep)
Escape from Durnholde Keep (~900 rep, heroic ~2300 rep)

IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar

Isle of Quel'Danas Shattered Sun Offensive N [70D] Hard to Kill

Magisters' Terrace (~1450 rep)

IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar

Wrath of the Lich King

Wrath-Logo-Small This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

With the second expansion, heroic mode was extended to raids. The key requirements were not included on instances, instead heroic mode is available to all players at 80. The token system used in TBC heroics was considered successful, new tokens were added for the various "tiers" of wrath heroics and raids. For example, the same tokens drop in heroic 5-players and the first-tier 10-player raids, while a different token drops in the first tier 25-player raids and second-tier 10-player raids. A third token drops in second-tier 25-player raids, and will presumably drop in the third-tier 10-player raids when implemented.

Before Patch 3.2.0, Heroic mode raids, unlike their instance counterparts, did not dictate difficulty. Instead 10-player raids were considered "normal" mode, and 25-player raids to be "heroic". Heroic raids are not intended to be "harder" than the 10-player version of the same raid, instead simply tuned for the larger number of players. Heroic raids do still drop higher quality equipment than the normal-mode counterparts, by the logic that it is more difficult to form a good 25-player group. The currency tokens dropped in each mode can be used to buy items of similar quality to the boss-dropped items.

Patch 3.2.0 did away with this setting, other than showing up in achievements, in favor of the following:

Dungeon difficulty:
5-player heroic mode for the Heroic mode instances.
Raid difficulty:
10-player heroic mode for the Heroic mode (10-player raid).
25-player heroic mode for the Heroic mode (25-player raid).

In Wrath-Logo-Small, heroic mode dungeons have the following relative difficulty.

Instance Reputation Reward Approximate Relative Difficulty
Ahn'kahet 2300 IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Azjol-Nerub 1300 IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Culling of Stratholme 1700 IconSmall RaidStar
Drak'Tharon Keep 2000 IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Gundrak 2250 IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Halls of Lightning 2150 IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Halls of Stone 1850 IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Nexus 2300 IconSmall RaidStar
Oculus 1600 IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Utgarde Keep 1950 IconSmall RaidStar
Utgarde Pinnacle 2000 IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Violet Hold 1300 IconSmall RaidStar

Source: Poll Results For: "What Heroic Dungeon is the Most Challenging?"

Heroic Mode; Violet Hold, located within Dalaran, is commonly considered the easiest of all Northrend Heroic Instances. This is because it can be completed in under 20 minutes on average by those with even minor Heroic Instance Skills. Its low difficulty and low Reputation of 1300 makes it commonly a very casual Heroic Instance.

Cataclysm

Cataclysm This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

Bosses in heroic cataclysm instances award Pvecurrency-justice [Justice Points]. By using the dungeon finder, players can gain an additional 70 Pvecurrency-valor [Valor Points] per day.

Instance Tabard Rep Guild Rep Guild Exp (5 members) Approximate Relative Difficulty
Blackrock Caverns TBA TBA TBA IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Deadmines TBA TBA TBA IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Grim Batol 1900 220 472400 IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Halls of Origination 1715 385 826700 IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Lost City of the Tol'vir 1280 220 472400 IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Shadowfang Keep TBA TBA TBA IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Stonecore TBA TBA TBA IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Throne of Tides TBA TBA TBA IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar
Vortex Pinnacle TBA TBA TBA IconSmall RaidStarIconSmall RaidStar

Daily heroic

Patch 2.3.0 introduced daily quests for heroic dungeons. These daily quests, referred to as "daily heroics", involved killing the final boss in a dungeon on heroic mode, and gave additional Spell holy championsbond [Badge of Justice] in Bc icon or Spell holy summonchampion [Emblem of Triumph] in Wrath-Logo-Small and money as a reward.

Players were able to earn extra Pvecurrency-justice [Justice Points] and gold for the first random wotlk heroic dungeon they complete that day, but the Wrath-Logo-Small daily heroic quests were removed in patch 3.3.0, however the Bc icon daily heroic quests still exist.

Random cataclysm dungeons yield Pvecurrency-valor [Valor Points] the first time you run them each day.

Patch changes

Wrath-Logo-Small Patch 3.2.0 (2009-08-04): Changed the setting to 5 Player Heroic under the interface setting Dungeon difficulty.
Wrath-Logo-Small Patch 3.2.0 (2009-08-04): Changed the setting to 10 Player Heroic and 25 Player Heroic under the interface setting Raid difficulty.

See also

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