The Firelands Invasion is a charge led by Malfurion Stormrage and the Guardians of Hyjal to take the attack to Ragnaros in the Firelands. A new currency, [Mark of the World Tree], is introduced. Marks are rewarded from completing daily quests and can be used to unlock the Molten Front, areas within it, and purchase high-level items.
Defending the World Tree
- Main article: Mount Hyjal quests
Before adventurers can take the fight to Ragnaros, they must contend with his forces attacking Mount Hyjal. Both Ragnaros' forces and those of the Twilight's Hammer seek to burn Nordrassil, the world tree. It is up to adventurers to push the foot soldiers back and interact with five Ancients: Goldrinn, Aviana, Aessina, Tortolla and Cenarius, and rescue the legendary commander Jarod Shadowsong. Once these five Ancients are back in the fight, Malfurion, Hamuul Runetotem and Cenarius lead a charge against Ragnaros in Sulfuron Spire, driving him back to the Firelands.
Opening the portal
Once Mount Hyjal is reasonably secure (at least after players have completed Quest:Aessina's Miracle), forces start gathering at the Sanctuary of Malorne in southern Hyjal. There, Malfurion attempts to open a portal to the Firelands. That attempt does not go well. The fight escalates to the point that Malorne is resurrected to help with the defense.
It will take three days to recover enough to attempt to open the portal again. Adventurers are tasked with earning [Mark of the World Tree] x20 in order to continue. Eight are earned in one-time quests, and four can be earned each day in dailies.
Optional breadcrumbs: [35] Guardians of Hyjal: Call of the Ancients & [35] Guardians of Hyjal: Firelands Invasion!
- [35] Opening the Door
- [35] A Ritual of Flame
- [35] To the Sanctuary!
- [35] Caught Unawares
- [35] The Sanctuary Must Not Fall
- Dailies open up:
- One set of quests from these five is offered daily:
- [35 Daily] Between the Trees & [35 Daily] The Power of Malorne
- [35 Daily] Call the Flock & [35 Daily] Wings Aflame
- [35 Daily] Perfecting Your Howl & [35 Daily] The Call of the Pack
- [35 Daily] Punting Season & [35 Daily] Echoes of Nemesis
- [35 Daily] Those Bears Up There & [35 Daily] Nature's Blessing
- One of these quests is also offered daily:
- [35 Daily] Rage Against the Flames
- [35 Daily] Supplies for the Other Side
- One set of quests from these five is offered daily:
- [35] Calling for Reinforcements (requires [Mark of the World Tree] x20)
Making a beachhead
Resources gathered, it is time to make a push into the breach. However, Hamuul has a side quest that goes disastrously wrong. Putting that aside for the moment, follow Malfurion through the portal on Nordune Ridge to cross into the Molten Front. Malfurion and his party are immediately set upon by an Obsidian Slaglord. Help kill it, then start securing the toehold. Malfurion shortly offers an opportunity to recruit the Druids of the Talon and/or the Shadow Wardens to the fight by handing either faction's leader [Mark of the World Tree] x150. Players can earn a maximum of 12 or 14 marks per day (six from the quests starting at the Sanctuary of Malorne, and six or eight at Malfurion's Breach), so this will take roughly two weeks to complete.
- [35] Leyara
- [35] Through the Gates of Hell and [35] The Fate of Runetotem
- Completing Through the Gates of Hell unlocks three or four of these dailies in the Molten Front each day:
- [35 Daily] Aggressive Growth -or- [35 Daily] Wisp Away
- [35 Daily] Burn Victims
- [35 Daily] Hostile Elements
- One of:
- [35 Daily] Breach in the Defenses
- [35 Daily] The Dogs of War
- [35 Daily] The Harder They Fall
- [35 Daily] Traitors Return
- Completing Through the Gates of Hell also unlocks at the Sanctuary of Malorne each day:
- [35 Daily] The Protectors of Hyjal
- Completing The Fate of Runetotem unlocks one of these three dailies each day:
- [35 Daily] Releasing the Pressure
- [35 Daily] Relieving the Pain
- [35 Daily] Treating the Wounds
- Completing Through the Gates of Hell unlocks three or four of these dailies in the Molten Front each day:
- Malfurion offers the opportunity to recruit other factions after Through the Gates of Hell:
- [35] Druids of the Talon (requires [Mark of the World Tree] x150)
- [35] The Shadow Wardens (requires [Mark of the World Tree] x150)
Progressing inland
Based on whether players choose to complete Quest:The Shadow Wardens or Quest:Druids of the Talon first, players will either make a push up to the Forlorn Spire to the northeast, or the Furnace to the northwest. Eleven marks are rewarded daily for completing the daily quest chain, in addition to the fourteen possible from phase one and phase two daily quests.
Should players have both factions unlocked, they will be given the choice to complete either faction's quests each day, not both.
Shadow Wardens
Prerequisite: [35] The Shadow Wardens
- [35] The Hunt Begins -- unlocks a daily quest chain:
- [35 Daily] The Forlorn Spire
- Three dailies from the following at the Forlorn Spire. Additionally, kill a Druid of the Flame to pick up [35] The Mysterious Seed, which starts a short sidequest.
- [35 Daily] Solar Core Destruction -or- [35 Daily] The Wardens are Watching
- [35 Daily] Pyrorachnophobia
- [35 Daily] Wicked Webs -or- [35 Daily] Egg-stinction
- [35 Daily] Enduring the Heat
- [35 Daily] Strike at the Heart (unlocked by [35] Calling the Ancients)
- [35 Daily] Fandral's Methods -or- [35 Daily] The Flame Spider Queen (unlocked by [35] Need... Water... Badly...)
Druids of the Talon
Prerequisite: [35] Druids of the Talon
- [35] Flight of the Storm Crows — unlocks a daily quest chain:
- [35 Daily] Into the Fire 2
- [35 Daily] Flamewakers of the Molten Flow 2
- [35 Daily] Fire Flowers 2
- [35 Daily] Hounds of Shannox 1 -or- [35 Daily] How Hot 1 (unlocked by [35] Need... Water... Badly...)
- Fireplume Peak dailies: Two of:
- [35 Daily] Singed Wings 2
- [35 Daily] Peaked Interest 2
- [35 Daily] Starting Young 2
- [35 Daily] Fire in the Skies 2
- [35 Daily] Mother's Malice 2
- [35 Daily] Territorial Birds 2
- [35 Daily] Strike at the Heart (unlocked by [35] Calling the Ancients)
Crimson Lasher
A short side one-time quest (worth five marks) and one further daily (worth two marks each day) can be unlocked by killing a Druid of the Flame:
- [35] The Mysterious Seed
- [35] Planting Season
- [35] Little Lasher
- Dailies:
- [35 Daily] Some Like It Hot
- [35 Daily] Steal Magmolias
- [35 Daily] Embergris
Further progression
After unlocking both factions' quests, 3 NPCs will appear at Malfurion's Breach:
- Ayla Shadowstorm,a female night elf that will offer Quest:Filling the Moonwell.
- Varlan Highbough,a male night elf that will offer Quest:Calling the Ancients.
- Damek Bloombeard, a male dwarf that will offer Quest:Additional Armaments.
Completing their quests will turn the 3 new NPCs to vendors who sell item level 365 gear. Additionally, the Writs of Commedation sold by Zen'Vorka will be available for purchase.
The End
(not confirmed, speculated because of the blizzard preview link in the references)
Completing all of the above and earning the Molten Front Offensive achievement, will offer the quest Quest:Into the Depths (Molten Front) where you kill Leyara.
Patches and hotfixes
- Patch 4.2.0 (2011-06-28): Added.