 Zuluhed the Whacked | |
|---|---|
| Start | Karynaku |
| End | Karynaku |
| Level | 70 (Requires 70) |
| Type | Group |
| Category | Shadowmoon Valley |
| Rewards |
7 59 00 |
| Previous | Karynaku |
| Next | Ally of the Netherwing |
Zuluhed the Whacked is part of the Ally of the Netherwing quest chain.
Objectives
Kill Zuluhed the Whacked and recover [Zuluhed's Key]. Use Zuluhed's Key on Zuluhed's Chains to free Karynaku.
Quest text
He hides in my thoughts, mortal. He waits for me to break... for me to bend to his will.
And this will be his undoing. I will call for him. I will tell him that I will do as he asks. When he appears, kill him and take the key!
Know this: Zuluhed is an ancient orc with unknown powers. He has surely been empowered further by Illidan. You risk your life for me in doing as I ask. Are you certain you wish to make such a sacrifice?
Progress
You must... free... my children...
Completion
I am free! You have saved us, <name>!
Notes
Once you accept the quest from Karynaku, Zuluhed the Whacked, (coordinate 69,61) a level 73 elite will appear by the entrance to the courtyard you're in along with 8 archers along the top wall. You can reset the quest by flying/jumping off the ledge. Zuluhed will despawn and you have to abandon the quest and reaccept. The right side room has some "back rooms" in it; running into those back rooms will also reset Zuluhed (but not his summoned demons).
Easiest way to complete it is to get a cookie cutter group of a tank, healer, and 3 dps classes. It's easier to fly up to the courtyard, but you can also clear your way up the path. Clear out one of the rooms either to the left or right of the entrance, then accept the quest and have all of your group run into the room and start the fight. About 30 seconds into the fight, he starts to summon Arcubus Destroyer a level 68 elite demon. His summon spell is has a half-second casting time so it's hard to interrupt. After 15 seconds, the demon will spawn and you have to deal with it as well.
If you clear both rooms, once he starts casting the summon, run into the other room. Zuluhed will follow, but the demon, being in an empty room, will not aggro and can be ignored. Just stay away from the door to that room.
Unlike Zuluhed, the Arcubus Destroyer does not automatically attack the party. It simply appears and sits there, not moving. Its aggro rules are the same as an ordinary spawn -- it will not aggro for the first few seconds of appearing, and then only if a player steps within aggro radius. That is quite small for a level 80 player, so one solo strategy is to stay in the same room but simply take a few steps back. If undisturbed, the Arcubus Destroyer will sit passively even after Zuluhed falls, and will despawn after three or four minutes.
The archers are a serious threat. Many will start casting 
[Aimed Shot], which has a long (over 3 second) cast but hits for over 1000 on level 80 plate blues. This will quickly cut down a player or party who dwells out in the open or stands too close to a door.
Zuluhed also casts 
[Rain of Fire] which hits for about 1000 per tick. It has a very small radius.
As of patch 2.3, you can continue to help others complete this quest after you have become neutral with the Netherwing. While the Dragonmaw orcs and enslaved nether drakes will not be hostile, you will be able to attack Zuluhed himself, as well as the Arcubus Destroyer. This was not the case in previous versions.
If you are trying to solo this at 80, some classes can find this very difficult. The main threats are the archers, the demons and his [Rain of Fire]. To avoid the archers, clear a room in advance and run inside it before the fight begins - Zuluhed will come to you. Immediately step out of any [Rain of Fire]. Even with quick stepping, most of your damage will be fire. When an Arcubus Destroyer spawns, quickly step back out of its aggro radius. For a level 80, the rightmost room has enough space for at least two demons to spawn and still be well out of their aggro radius. Don't end up near the doorway. The instant Zuluhed falls, loot the key.
Quest progression
| Ally of the Netherwing | |
|---|---|
| Level range | 70 |
| Zones | Shadowmoon Valley |
This quest chain introduces the player to the Netherwing faction.
Only the last quest in the chain actually affects your standing with this faction, but it advances you directly to Neutral.
As one of the quest-giving NPCs is perpetually in flight, a flying mount is required to complete the quests in this chain.
Ally of the Netherwing
[25-30] Kindness- Wandering the wilds of Shadowmoon Valley, you come across Mordenai in the Netherwing Fields. Mordenai pleads that you help him feed the Netherdrakes, who have been disturbed by something.
- You will find out later that Mordenai, who poses as a High Elf, is the son of Karynaku and Neltharaku.
- [25-30] Seek Out Neltharaku
- After cutting down any number of Rocknail Flayers and Rippers, and feeding the drakes, Mordenai suggests that perhaps Neltharaku, the patron of the Netherwing dragonflight, can help you discover what the problem is. This does require a flying mount, and a search of the skies over Netherwing Fields.
- [25-30] Neltharaku's Tale
- Neltharaku asks you to hear its tale.
- [25-30] Infiltrating Dragonmaw Fortress
- You are moved by his tale and offer to help.
- Now that he has hope, Neltharaku first asks that you stir up trouble with the Dragonmaw Fortress, to buy time for him to come up with a plan. You descend upon the fortress and slaughter a few of the orcs there.
- [25-30] To Netherwing Ledge!
- Returning, you find that Neltharaku has indeed come up with a plan. To the southeast lies Netherwing Ledge, a location abounding with [Nethervine Crystal]s. He believes that he can infuse these with enough of his own essence to break the control of the Dragonmaw.
- You fly down to Netherwing Ledge. Despite the strong Dragonmaw presence, you collect a number of these crystals.
- [25-30] The Force of Neltharaku
- Neltharaku eagerly enchants these, and passes you the result: an [Enchanted Nethervine Crystal].
- You use this crystal on the Enslaved Netherwing Drakes at Dragonmaw Fortress, and in turn help newly freed drakes against their former captors.
- [25-30G] Karynaku
- Neltharaku then asks that you find and free his mate. Unlike the lesser drakes, Karynaku lies chained at the top of Dragonmaw Fortress.
- You reach the bailey of Dragonmaw Fortress, and ... arrange... a few moments to speak with Karynaku. She tells you that the chains themselves are sapping her power, keeping her there.
[70G] Zuluhed the Whacked- The one who holds the [key], she tells you, is Zuluhed the Whacked, Chieftain of the Dragonmaw Clan.
- You challenge Zuluhed and defeat him, no mean feat. Grabbing the key from the body, you strip the chains from Karynaku.
- [25-30] Ally of the Netherwing
- Karynaku offers to return you to Mordenai. You are fêted again, and declared an Ally of the Netherwing!
Chain rewards
|
[Claw of the Netherwing Flight] | 
|
[Netherwing Defender's Shield] | |
|
[Netherwing Protector's Shield] | 
|
[Netherwing Sorcerer's Charm] | |
|
[Netherwing Spiritualist's Charm] |
Reputation
Note that 42,000 reputation will bring you to neutral with the Netherwing drakes. Your rise in the esteem of the Netherwing drakes continues in neutral to friendly quests.
Summary
This is the Ally of the Netherwing quest chain.
This quest chain advances players from hated to neutral with the Netherwing faction.
- [25-30] Kindness
- [25-30] Seek Out Neltharaku
- [25-30] Neltharaku's Tale
- [25-30] Infiltrating Dragonmaw Fortress
- [25-30] To Netherwing Ledge!
- [25-30] The Force of Neltharaku
- [25-30G] Karynaku
- [70G] Zuluhed the Whacked
- [25-30] Ally of the Netherwing