Blackfathom Deeps Guide

[Bossman4]

Another Guide

Location

The Blackfathom Deeps (BFD) are located in the north-west corner of Ashenvale Forest, just south of Darkshore along the coast. It is a medium sized instance for both Alliance and Horde players.

Time

The Blackfathom Deeps take approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours, depending on party level and skill.

Levels

The Blackfathom Deeps are meant for characters level 20-30ish. You can continue to make loot and experience runs through BFD to about level 34, but after that the experience gains are not worth the effort.

The MOBs in Blackfathom Deeps range from 18 elite to 26 elite. The quest MOBs are up to 28 elite.

Map

We have put together a map that shows the layout of the Blackfathom Deeps and marks the location of all the key named MOBs and the key locations. The map can be found here.

Screen Shots

We have a gallery for screen shots from the Blackfathom Deeps that can be found here.

Tactics

Being the last low level instance group tactics start to come into play. It is very important to start practicing good team work at this stage so higher level (and more difficult) instances play easier and you get a good reputation for team play.

The MOBs in BFD range from 23-26 elite and are generally found in groups of 2, with the occasional group of 3 or 4. As well as placed MOBs there are patrols that wander BFD that you need to be careful of. A fairly normal fight against 2 MOBs can quickly turn ugly if a patrol wanders by and you are unprepared.

Being a level 20-30 instance, with the MOBs being 23-30 elite you will HAVE to work together as a team, especially if you are at the low end of the level scale. Most players in the correct level range will not be able to handle an elite MOB of their level or higher on their own. The best tactic to deal with this is to designate a single player to pull MOBs and be careful to not pull anything other than what is planned. If you are the puller always plan the pull carefully. This means, watching for patrols, movement of MOBs, and party health and mana. If you do these things even a party of all 24-26 characters stands an excellent chance at finishing the instance.

There are several key tactical issues to keep in mind for this specific instance.

In BFD it is critical to control MOBs from fleeing combat. The Nagas, Murlocs and Acolytes all flee combat at roughly 1/5th heath. Allowing them to flee when another MOB is nearby can be a quick death sentence for your group. A safe fight can quickly turn into being outnumbered if a MOB pulls in two to 3 additional MOBs.

The other the main tactical issues in the Deeps is to ensure that you get the Blessing of the Deeps from the alter found in the caverns just before the temple. Its location is marked on the map with the pink marker. This is especially important when trying to complete the Blackfathome Villainy quest fighting the Twilight Lord Kelris. Before fighting him it is critical that everyone in the party is still protected with the blessing. If any member of the party is not protected they will become mind controlled and rush forward to light all 4 fires and set free a large group of water elementals and crab like creatures. NOT a pleasent thing to fight while trying to handle Lord Kelris!

Party Composition

As this is still a low level instance, party composition does not play a huge factor. The bigger factor will be player levels. You need to ensure that you have at least a one player at the upper end of the level range to help out against the named MOBs.

As in any group you will want someone in the party that can heal (even an alt-healer, although without a main you will likely want two alts) and someone who can tank. Other than that though, unless you are very low on the level scale you should be ok with almost anything. Tactics and player ability with their characters come into play far more at this early stage in the game that party composition does in the late game (55+).

Quests
There are 4 quests for each faction in the Blackfathom Deeps and 1 quest that is accessible for both factions.

Alliance Faction Quests

In Search of Thaelrid
Faction: Alliance
Starting NPC / Location: Caylais Moonfeather / Darkshore
Ending NPC / Location: Argent Guard Thaelrid / Blackfathom Deeps.
Level Obtained: 18
Quest Level: 24
XP Reward: 240 - 2400
Objectives: Find the Argent Guard Thaelrid in Blackfathom Deeps.

Notes: Thaelrid is located just off the large round room in BFD where Ghamoo-ra is found. The chamber that he is in is accessible through a short underwater cave. He is marked on the map with the purple marker.

Knowledge in the Deeps
Faction: Alliance
Start + End NPC / Location: Gerrig Bonegrip / Ironforge in the Forlorn Cavern
Level Obtained: 10
Quest Level: 23
XP Reward: 280 - 3000
Item Reward: Sustaining Ring
Objectives: Search BFD for the Lorgalis Manuscript and return it to Gerrig Bonegrip. It is marked on the map with the red marker.

Notes: The manuscript can be found in one of the coves off of the round room that houses Ghamoo-ra. It is in a chest guarded by 2-3 nagas.

Researching the Corruption
Faction: Alliance
Start + End NPC / Location: Gershala Nightwhisper / Auberdine in the Darkshore
Level Obtained: 18
Quest Level: 24
XP Reward: 240 - 2500
Item Reward: Beetle Clasps (Mail Bracers) or Prelacy Cape (Back)
Objectives: Bring 6 corrupted brain stems to Gershala Nightwhisper.

Notes: The corrupted brain stems drop from the various nagas found in BFD. They can be found in the instance or in the cavern leading to the instance. If this is your only quest in the area it is easier to wander the caverns before the instance portal to collect them.

Twilight Falls
Faction: Alliance
Start + End NPC / Location: Argent Guard Manados / Craftman's Terrace in Darnassus.
Level Obtained: 20
Quest Level: 25
XP Reward: 250 - 2600
Item Reward: Nimbus Boots (Cloth Boots) or Heartwood Girdle (Leather Belt)
Objectives: Bring 10 Twilight Pendants to Manados.

Notes: The Twilight Pendants drop from the Twilight acolytes in the temple in BFD.
Horde Faction Quests

Allegiance to the Old Gods
Faction: Horde Starting NPC / Location: Damp Note from Blackfathom Tide Priestess (drop) / Blackfathom Deeps
Ending NPC / Location: Je'neu Sancrea / Zoram'gar in Ashenvale
Level Obtained: 20
Quest Level: 22
XP Reward: 200 - 1200
Objectives: Bring the Damp Note to Je'neu Sancrea in Ashenvale

Notes: The Damp note drops from a random Blackfathom Tide Priestess somewhere in BFD before the instance portal.

Allegiance to the Old Gods - Part 2
Faction: Horde
Prerequisite: Allegiance to the Old Gods
Starting + Ending NPC / Location: Je'neu Sancrea / Zoram'gar in Ashenvale
Level Obtained: 20
Quest Level: 26
XP Reward: 300 - 2800
Objectives: Return to the Blackfathom Deeps, find and kill Lorgus Jett.

Notes: Lorgus Jett is located near the end of the BFD instance. He is marked on the map with the light blue marker.

Trouble in the Deeps
Faction: Horde
Starting NPC / Location: Tsunaman / Stonetalon Mountains
Ending NPC / Location: Je'neu Sancrea / Zoram'gar in Ashenvale
Level Obtained: 17
Quest Level: 22
XP Reward: 45 - 250
Objectives: Visit Je'neu Sancrea in Ashenvale, he is in need of aid in the BFD.

Notes: While not a quest in BFD, this quest leads you to BFD as a Horde player and is a prerequisite for The Essence of Aku'Mai quest.

The Essence of Aku'Mai
Faction: Horde
Prerequisite: Trouble in the Deeps
Starting + Ending NPC / Location: Je'neu Sancrea / Zoram'gar in Ashenvale
Level Obtained: 17
Quest Level: 22
XP Reward: 150 - 1800
Objectives: Bring 20 sapphires of Aku'Mai to Je'nea Sancrea

Notes: The sapphires can be found in large clusters along the caverns of BFD before the instance portal.

Dual Faction Quests

Blackfathome Villainy
Faction: Alliance and Horde
Start NPC / Location: Argent Guard Thaelrid / Blackfathom Deeps.
Ending NPC / Location for Alliance: Dawnwatcher Selgorm in Darnassus on the second floor of the Alchemists Trainer.
Ending NPC / Location for Horde: Bashana Runetotem in Thunder Bluff on Eldar Rise
Level Obtained: 18
Quest Level: 27
XP Reward: 350 - 4000
Item Reward: Gravestone Scepter (Staff) or Arctic Buckler (Shield)
Objectives: Kill the Twilight Lord Kelris and take his head to the correct faction NPC listed above.

Notes: Twilight Lord Kelris is located near the end of the BFDs. He is marked on the map with the green marker.

Phat Loot found in Blackfathom Deeps

Phat loot is defined as Rare or better items found in the instance. In Blackfathom Deeps there are many rare items that are very good for the level requirement. There have been no epic items dropped in BFDs though.

Algae Fists
Dropped by: Gelihast (26+)
Binds when picked up
Hands Mail
132 Armor
+10 Strength
+4 Stamina
Requires Level 23

Axe of the Enforcer
Dropped by: MOBs in BFD Instance
Binds when equipped
One-Hand Axe
31 - 58 Damage Speed 2.60
(17.1 damage per second)
+4 Strength
+3 Stamina
Requires Level 22

Bite of Serra'kis
Dropped by: Old Serra'kis (26+)
Binds when picked up
One-Hand Dagger
16 - 30 Damage Speed 1.30
(17.7 damage per second)
Requires Level 23
Chance on hit: Poisons target for 4 Nature damage every 2 sec for 20 sec.

Crested Scepter
Dropped by: MOBs in BFD Instance
Binds when equipped
Main Hand Mace
31 - 58 Damage Speed 2.60
(17.1 damage per second)
+5 Stamina
+2 Intellect
Requires Level 22

Doomspike
Dropped by: MOBs in BFD Instance
Binds when equipped
One-Hand Dagger
17 - 32 Damage Speed 1.50
(16.3 damage per second)
+3 Strength
+3 Stamina
Requires Level 20

Glowing Thresher Cape
Dropped by: Old Serra'kis (26+)
Binds when picked up
Back
23 Armor
+3 Strength
+8 Spirit
Requires Level 24

Grimclaw
Dropped by: MOBs in BFD Instance
Binds when equipped
One-Hand Axe
22 - 42 Damage Speed 2.00
(16.0 damage per second)
Requires Level 20
Chance on hit: Sends a shadowy bolt at the enemy causing 30 Shadow damage.

Grimclaw
Dropped by: Aku'mai (28+)
Leech Pants
Binds when picked up
Legs Cloth
42 Armor
+1 Stamina
+5 Intellect
+15 Spirit
Requires Level 26

Martyr's Chain
Dropped by: MOBs in BFD Instance
Binds when equipped
Chest Mail
204 Armor
+8 Strength
+8 Stamina
+5 Spirit
Requires Level 21

Moss Cinch
Dropped by: Aku'mai (28+)
Binds when picked up
Waist Leather
59 Armor
+5 Stamina
+11 Intellect
Requires Level 26

Onyx Claymore
Dropped by: MOBs in BFD Instance
Binds when equipped
Two-Hand Sword
48 - 73 Damage Speed 2.80
(21.6 damage per second)
+9 Strength
+5 Stamina
+6 Spirit
Requires Level 21

Ring of Precision
Dropped by: MOBs in BFD Instance
Binds when equipped
Unique
Finger
+6 Agility
+3 Spirit
Requires Level 20

Rod of the Sleepwalker
Dropped by: Twilight Lord Kelris (27+)
Binds when picked up
Two-Hand Staff
53 - 80 Damage Speed 2.80
(23.7 damage per second)
+11 Intellect
+10 Spirit
Requires Level 24

Strike of the Hydra
Dropped by: Aku'mai (28+)
Binds when picked up
Two-Hand Sword
67 - 102 Damage Speed 3.30
(25.6 damage per second)
Requires Level 26
Chance on hit: Corrosive acid that deals 7 Nature damage every 3 sec and lowers target's armor by 50 for 30 sec.

Tortoise Armor
Dropped by: Ghamoo-ra (25+)
Binds when picked up
Chest Mail
311 Armor
Requires Level 20

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