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Scholomance

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Scholomance
Scholo
Scholomance loading graphic
LocationCaer Darrow, Western Plaguelands
Race(s)Cultist maleCultist female Cultist
Undead maleUndead female Scourge
End bossDarkmaster Gandling
Advised level56–61
Minimum level45
Player limit5
Key[Skeleton Key]
Bosses
The entrance to Scholomance
The banner of Scholomance

The Scholomance (SKOH-loh-mance), a vile academy for prospective necromancers of the Scourge, is located in the ruins of the palatial House of Barov, on a rise overlooking the abandoned city of Caer Darrow. The enemy level range is 56-62, the same as Stratholme and requires that you be at least level 45 and possess the [Skeleton Key] or a rogue with a 280 lockpicking skill to enter. Alternatively, a warlock can Life Tap himself as low as possible, then Hellfire himself to death. While in ghost form, he can step through the door and resurrect on the inside, letting the group in that way.

This instance is at least partially soloable at level 70, although not without considerable risk. It is a good test of a player's gear and skill, offering lessons in the importance of execution order, suitable levels of patience, and situational awareness. It becomes completely soloable at probably around tier 5 or equivalent gear.

Scholo is also probably the single most efficient pre-TBC instance for farming, with trash runs up to the Great Ossuary taking about 45 minutes for a fast player, and potentially yielding 100-200 gold, depending on which blue items drop. The instance has a very rich loot table for the level range, and individual mobs tend to drop good amounts of both coins and Runecloth as well, which generally still sells well on the Auction House. In addition, necromancers and dark summoners (as well as a few of the bosses) drop the prized Dark Runes, which are both useful for raiders and can still command prices of 15-20 gold each on the Auction House. It is not uncommon for 3-4 to drop during a single run, adding potentially another 80 gold to the instance's yield.

Contents

History

The Scholomance was founded by the rogue wizard Kel'Thuzad nearly ten years ago. His Cult of the Damned renovated the ancient crypts beneath Caer Darrow (an old Arathorian fortress) and turned them into a school for necromancy. The Cult used this place to train its mortal agents and prepare to unleash the Plague of Undeath upon Lordaeron. It has been brewing with young talented wizards and adepts all this time. No one in Lordaeron knew. Originally, the Barov family (of Alterac) owned the land and gave it to the Cult in exchange for the Lich King's blessing of immortality. Now the Barovs remain as undead monsters. One of Kel'Thuzad's mightiest agents, the Ravenian, also lives within the recesses of the school — ever ready to devour those students who show any sign of weakness. The lich Ras Frostwhisper rules over the site and guards it for the Scourge, but the mortal necromancer, Darkmaster Gandling, serves as headmaster of the school.

From Blizzard's Official World Dungeons site:

The Scholomance is housed within a series of crypts that lie beneath the ruined keep of Caer Darrow. Once owned by the noble Barov family, Caer Darrow fell into ruin following the Second War. As the wizard Kel'thuzad enlisted followers for his Cult of the Damned, he would often promise immortality in exchange for serving the Lich King. The Barov family fell to Kel'thuzad's charismatic influence and donated the keep and its crypts to the Scourge. The cultists then killed the Barovs and turned the ancient crypts into a school for necromancy known as the Scholomance. Though Kel'thuzad no longer resides in the crypts, devoted cultists and instructors still remain. The powerful lich, Ras Frostwhisper, rules over the site and guards it in the Scourge's name — while the mortal necromancer, Darkmaster Gandling, serves as the school's insidious headmaster.

Geography

Maps

Sub-Regions

Barov Family VaultChamber of SummoningThe CovenThe Great Ossuary
Hall of SecretsHall of the DamnedHeadmaster's StudyThe Laboratory
The ReliquaryThe Shadow VaultThe Viewing RoomVault of the Ravenian

Quest for Key to Scholomance

Quests In Scholomance

Dawn's Gambit

Justice for the Sarkhoffs

Ras Frostwhisper

Resources

Unknown

Dungeon Denizens


Mobs

The Students

Plagued dragonflight

  • Plagued Hatchlings cast: Diseased Spit (Nature damage and reduces stamina for 30 sec. Stacks)

Mindless Undead

Undead


Bosses and Mini Bosses

Also near Ras Frostwhisper is one of two Alchemy Labs known to exist in Azeroth, the other is in Blackwing Lair. However, for Burning Crusade players, there are Alchemy Labs in Shattrath City and Sun's Reach (once the requisite phase has been completed). An Alchemy Lab is required to create any of the flask potions. Warlocks needing to complete Imp Delivery portion of the Dreadsteed quest must use this alchemy lab as specified in their quest logs.

Note: [ As of patch 3.0.8 all flasks no longer require an Alchemy Lab to create, however it is still required for at least one thing. Take a look at the Alchemy Labs link above for a more complete accounting of their usefulness ]

Loot

See Scholomance loot.

Scholomance in Prior Patches

At release, Scholomance was an extremely challenging dungeon. Typically, the dungeon was raided in 10-man parties, with a difficulty similar to Upper Blackrock Spire.

Subsequent patches in the summer of 2006 changed Scholomance drastically. Mobs were weakened slightly, and a great many were removed. However, Scholomance could no longer be run with more than 5 party members. At the time, this "Scholo Nerf" was a common topic for party chat among long-time players.

Loot in Scholomance has changed gradually over time. Originally, each boss dropped some relatively weak loot. The dungeon waned in popularity as players saw little point in running it after they had completed their quests and acquired their Dungeon Set 1 hat. Blizzard again patched the dungeon. At this point, Scholomance drops a moderate amount of fairly useful items, including a very small chance at the epic [Headmaster's Charge] and [Alanna's Embrace].

The rewards available from the Argent Dawn have also broadened through patches. Scholomance is a staple source of Argent Dawn reputation and Scourgestones. Players seeking Naxxramas attunement, Argent Dawn tradeskill recipes, resistance enchantments or Armaments of the Dawn often spend a great deal of time in Scholomance or Stratholme.

Scholomance Faculty (estimated)

Notes, Tips, & Additional Info

  • Also known as Scholo.
  • Scholomance is pronounced SKO-low-mănce (Official confirmation expired)
  • Characters levels 45 and above can enter the instance.
  • See Scholomance stealth run for info on how to sneak through the dungeon.
  • See video of a Scholomance run (done by two mages):[1]
  • According to Romanian legend, a real Scholomance exists by an unnamed lake in the mountains south of the city of Hermannstadt (called Sibiu in Romanian) in Transylvania. This school of black magic is said to be run by the Devil, and would accept only ten students at a time. The tenth would remain to serve the Devil as payment for his teachings. The Scholomance in WoW is placed in the middle of the lake, much like its legendary namesake. In Bram Stoker's Dracula, Count Dracula is said to have spent several years training under the Devil in the Scholomance. It is referenced in both Stoker's novel and an article titled "Transylvanian Superstitions" on page 136 of The Nineteenth Century by Emily Gerard.
  • There are a number of ways one can gain entrance without a key by dying close to the door. This can be achieved by repeatedly jumping off the nearby ledge then jumping off the roof, by dueling and jumping off the roof, or with self sacrificing Warlock abilities and jumping off to finish the death. Once dead, the character may freely pass through the door and resurrect on the other side. Be sure to remove all equipment before attempting this, in order to avoid repair costs.
  • A rogue of sufficient lockpicking skill can pick the door open. this can also be used as a method for raising the lockpicking skill.
  • Another useful, and much easier method, is with a mage in the party. Have the mage and another character equipped with an ability to pop polymorph (druid shape shift, trinket, iceblock, etc). Begin a duel as near the door as possible. Have the second player stand next to door and the mage polymorph them. When the second character runs through door, pop polymorph and open the door from inside.
  • It is impossible for a warrior to completely solo this instance without having any special items that inflict non-physical damage. To make Darkmaster Gandling appear, the six rooms around him must be fully cleared. However, the Scholomance Occultists turn into Dark Shades, which are immune to physical damage. Unless a warrior has special items, they cannot kill these mobs and summon Darkmaster Gandling.
    • (correction) Soloed by prot warrior in T7.25 gear, Scholomance Occultists can be killed before turning into a Dark Shades, avoiding the issue.
  • Trivia, according to early blue posts: Scholomance was originally thought of as an outdoor non-instanced area, much smaller, where Uther's Tomb is now. The designers made it so visually stunning that it was turned into an instance, so that it could be moved and enlarged.
  • Non-Boss high elves in the instance still use the old model based off of Night Elven modals rather then the ones based on Blood Elf models.

External links

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Subzones of Scholomance
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Instanced dungeon locations
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Guides
Instances category · Instance bosses category
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