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For character biography, see Nefarian. For strategy on the Blackwing Lair encounter, see Nefarian (tactics).
BossNefarian
Image of Nefarian
Gender Male
Race Black wyrm (Dragonkin)
Level ?? Boss
Reaction Alliance Horde
Location Blackwing Descent
Status Killable
Blackwing Descent

Omnotron Defense System
Magmaw
Atramedes
Chimaeron
Maloriak
Nefarian's End

(lore)
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Loot

Nefarian is the last boss of Blackwing Descent, a raid shipped with World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. He can be found in the Vault of the Shadowflame, where he resurrects his sister Onyxia, who makes up the first phase of the fight. Throughout the fight, Nefarian has several other undead adds as well.

Background[]

Adventure Guide[]

Deathwing's son, Nefarian, gained infamy for his horrifying efforts to create chromatic dragons from the essences of Azeroth's various [dragonflights. After his death in Blackwing Lair, he was reanimated and charged by Deathwing to continue his insidious endeavors.

Abilities[]

  • Spell nature lightningoverload Electrocute Healer Alert — Throughout the battle, Nefarian electrocutes the entire raid every time he loses 10% of his health. Electrocute generates a massive crackles of lightning that inflicts 72765 to 74235 (Heroic Mode: 128700 to 131300) Nature damage on all players.
Nefarian Enrages after 10 minutes and 30 seconds from the beginning of the Fight
  • Spell shadow unholyfrenzy Berserk — Increases the caster's attack and Movement speed by 150% and all damage it deals by 500%.

Phase One: Rise Sister![]

Nefarian reveals the undead form of his sister, Onyxia, and the two dragons attack the raid.

  • Inv misc head dragon black Children of Deathwing Tank Alert — Nefarian and Onyxia attack 100% faster when they are within 50 yards of each other.

Nefarian[]

Nefarian's End Shadowflame Breath

Nefarian using Shadowflame Breath.

Animated Bone Warrior

An Animated Bone Warrior.

  • Ability warlock eradication Hail of Bones — Nefarian will cast this six times in phase one before landing, each time spawning an Animated Bone Warrior and doing 23987 to 26512 Shadow damage to nearby enemies.
  • Ability creature cursed 03 Shadowflame Breath — Inflicts 54,000 Shadowflame damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster every 0.5 seconds for 1.5 seconds. Also resurrects Animated Bone Warriors in the area of effect.
  • Inv misc bone 03 Tail Lash — A sweeping tail strike hits all enemies behind the caster, inflicting 15750 to 20250 damage and stunning them for 2 sec.
  • Animated Bone Warrior Tank Alert — Early in stage one and before he lands, Nefarian summons Animated Bone Warriors. The skeletons possess an energy bar that depletes over time. They collapse if they run out of energy, but restore energy if struck by Shadowflame Breath or Shadowblaze.
    • Ability hunter swiftstrike Empowering Strikes — The Animated Bone Warriors grow more powerful over time, increasing damage dealt by 200% and their movement speed by 1%. This effect stacks.
  • Ability warlock eradication Dominion Heroic Difficulty — Dominate the minds of 2/5 nearby humanoids, seizing control of their bodies for 20 sec. Immune to stuns and roots. Dominated players will walk towards Dominion portals which will spawn in the north, south, west and east parts of the room. Dominated players will die instantly when they touch the portals.
    • Spell arcane focusedpower Siphon Power Heroic Difficulty — Dominated players absorb a little of the immense power Nefarian is using to control them to gain the Stolen Power effect.
      • Spell arcane focusedpower Stolen Power Heroic Difficulty — Dominated players strike back against Nefarian with vengeance and anger, increasing their damage and healing by 3% for 15 sec. This effect stacks.
    • Spell arcane mindmastery Free Your Mind Heroic Difficulty — Focus your will to attempt to break Nefarian's dominion over your actions.

Onyxia[]

Onyxia (Blackwing Descent)

Undead Onyxia is the first part of the encounter. She awaits players following the intro.

  • Ability criticalstrike Electrical Energy Important — Onyxia gains energy over time and more energy when Nefarian casts Electrocute. If Onyxia reaches full energy, she explodes in an Electrical Overload, killing all players.
  • Ability criticalstrike Lightning Discharge — Onyxia discharges electricity from the orbs along her sides, inflicting 23400 to 24600 Nature damage to targets within 60 yards.
  • Ability creature cursed 03 Shadowflame Breath — Inflicts 35,000 Shadowflame damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster every 0.5 seconds for 1.5 seconds. Also resurrects Animated Bone Warriors in the area of effect.
  • Inv misc bone 03 Tail Lash — A sweeping tail strike hits all enemies behind the caster, inflicting 15750 to 20250 damage and stunning them for 2 sec.
    • Spell nature lightningoverload Electrical Overload Deadly — Inflicts 855000 to 1045000 Nature damage to all enemies. Cast when Onyxia's lightning charge level reaches full and wipes the raid.

Phase Two: Curse You, Mortals![]

When the players kill Onyxia, Nefarian takes to the air and fills the room with magma except for three platforms. Nefarian then summons a Chromatic Prototype upon each of the platforms.

  • Chromatic Prototype — A Chromatic Prototype appears on each platform. They stand in place and cast Blast Nova.
    • Spell fire fireball Blast Nova Interruptible — Chromatic Prototypes cast Blast Nova, which inflicts 34800 to 45200 Fire damage every 2 sec. to all enemies.
  • Ability warlock shadowflame Shadowflame Barrage — While flying, Nefarian breathes a Shadowflame Barrage at random players, inflicting 16200 to 19800 Shadowflame damage.
  • Spell fire elementaldevastation Explosive Cinders Heroic Difficulty — While flying, Nefarian occasionally targets random players with Explosive Cinders, coating them in explosive residue that inflicts 2000 Fire damage every 2 seconds.The residue detonates after 8 sec., inflicting 42750 to 47250 Fire damage to players within 10 yards.

Phase Three: You Simply Will Not Die![]

After the players kill all the Chromatic Prototypes, the lava subsides, and Nefarian lands to finish the battle.

  • Ability creature cursed 03 Shadowflame Breath — Nefarian's dragon breath inflicts 35000 (Heroic Mode: 54000) Shadowflame damage to players within a 60 degree cone, and fully recharges the energy of any Animated Bone Warriors in the breath's area.
  • Inv misc bone 03 Tail Lash — Nefarian sweeps his tail at any enemies in a 60 degree cone facing behind him, inflicting 21875 to 28125 (Heroic Mode: 61250 to 78750) Physical damage and stunning them for 2 sec.
  • Ability warlock shadowflame Shadowblaze Spark — Nefarian creates a shadowy blaze at a nearby location that spreads quickly, inflicting 35000 (Heroic Mode: 50000) Shadowflame damage to all enemies within 4 yards and reanimating any Animated Bone Warriors.
  • Animated Bone Warrior — Early in stage one and before he lands, Nefarian summons Animated Bone Warriors. The skeletons possess an energy bar that depletes over time. They collapse if they run out of energy, but restore energy if struck by Shadowflame Breath or Shadowblaze.
    • Ability hunter swiftstrike Empowering Strikes — The Animated Bone Warriors grow more powerful over time, increasing damage dealt by 200% and their movement speed by 1%. This effect stacks.

Strategy[]

Phase One[]

The encounter begins with an introductory event in which Nefarian (as Lord Victor Nefarius) resurrects Onyxia. He then turns into his dragon form and flies into the air, landing 30 seconds into the fight. Before Nefarian lands he will spawn 6/12 (10/25-man) Animated Bone Warriors which can be either kited, CC'd or tanked until they run out of energy and die on their own in this phase. Onyxia and Nefarian should be tanked on opposite sides of the room to remove their 100% haste buff Children of Deathwing. Onyxia should be damaged down to low health but not killed. This will give you some time to burn Nefarian's health down before the last phase. Onyxia will eventually hit full energy and instantly kill the raid, and every 10% of Nefarian's health adds 25% to her energy charge. You will generally have time to burn Nefarian down to sub-80% before killing Onyxia and ending the phase. Do not let either Dragon breathe on the Animated Bone Warriors as this will break CC, snares and roots and reset their energy to full.

Phase Two[]

The arena will fill with lava and three Chromatic Prototypes will spawn on each raised pillar of the room. They do not melee. They cast Blast Nova which must be interrupted.

Assign players to each of the three platforms for phase two. Each platform needs one reliable interrupt for 10-man and two reliable interrupts for 25-man (you will need interrupt rotations on 25). A ranged interrupter is helpful in the beginning of the phase on each platform while everyone is jumping up. You should try to damage Nefarian below 70% in this phase, survival cooldowns should be used to mitigate the electrocute at 70%. The phase will end after the Chromatic Prototypes die or after three minutes.

Phase Three[]

The lava will subside and Nefarian will land, stay spread out until Nefarian has stopped casting Shadowflame Barrage.

Phase Three is like phase one except Nefarian will now cast Shadowblaze Spark, it will always be targetted on the location of the Animated Bone Warriors. It will break CC, snares and roots on the Animated Bone Warriors and reset their energy to full just as the dragons' breath does.

Since Shadowblaze Spark is always targeted on the Bone Warriors, CC and roots are ineffective. You should have a tank kite the Bone Warriors away from Nefarian and continually move to avoid the Animated Bone Warriors ever regaining energy. They will die after 50 seconds and reset their empowering strikes stacks, this will allow the Bone Warrior tank to survive. Both tanks will need to use a survival cooldown to survive Electrocute every 10% of Nefarian's health.

The longer Nefarian takes to die the faster he will cast Shadowblaze Spark, until it is impossible to avoid and the raid dies.

Alternate Strategy[]

An alternate strategy for high DPS, low HPS composition groups, is to push through phase 1 and phase 2 very quickly (essentially nef is full health), then burn in phase 3.

In Phase 1, tank should continue as normal rotating the boss when needed. DPS should kite the bone warriors on top of the onyxia tank. This phase should last no longer than 2 minutes. As soon as onyxia is dead the bone warriors will all drop in a neat pile.

On Phase 2, blow a heroism/bloodlust/time warp and down these 3 casters asap. This phase also should last no longer than 2 minutes.

On Phase 3, it is business as usual. The add tank will stand next to the nice pile of bonewarriors and pick them up to kite ahead of the Nef tank. The Nef tank will slowly circle around in the same direction and the dps follows suit perpendicular to Nef.

Advantages - Less AOE healing in phase 1 and phase 2, reduced RNG factor.

Disadvantages - Phase 3 could take longer than usual causing a wipe as the spark mechanic will out run your add tank.

Loot[]

Item Type
Inv shield bwdraid d 01 [Akmin-Kurai, Dominion's Shield] (H) Tank shield
Inv mace 1h bwdraid d 01 [Andoros, Fist of the Dragon King] (H) Healer one-handed mace
Inv belt plate raidpaladin i 01 [Belt of the Blackhand] (H) Healer plate belt
Inv belt leather raiddruid i 01 [Belt of the Nightmare] (H) Healer leather belt
Inv axe 1h bwdraid d 01 [Crul'korak, the Lightning's Arc] (H) Agility one-handed axe
Inv shoulder cloth raidpriest i 01 [Mantle of Nefarius] (H) Healer cloth shoulders
Inv shoulder plate raidwarrior i 01 [Pauldrons of the Apocalypse] (H) Tank plate shoulders
Inv jewelry necklace 17 [Prestor's Talisman of Machination] (H) Agility DPS trinket
Inv misc necklacea8 [Rage of Ages] (H) Strength DPS necklace
Inv sword 50 [Reclaimed Ashkandi, Greatsword of the Brotherhood] (H) Strength two-handed sword
Inv chest robe raidmage i 01 [Shadowblaze Robes] (H) Caster cloth chest
Inv misc cape cataclysm caster c 01 [Shadow of Dread] (H) Caster cloak
Inv shoulder mail raidhunter i 01 [Spaulders of the Scarred Lady] (H) Agility mail shoulders
Inv helmet 24 [Helm of the Forlorn Conqueror] (Normal only) Tier 11 armor token
Inv helmet 24 [Helm of the Forlorn Protector] (Normal only) Tier 11 armor token
Inv helmet 24 [Helm of the Forlorn Vanquisher] (Normal only) Tier 11 armor token
Inv helmet 24 [Crown of the Forlorn Conqueror] (Heroic only) Tier 11 armor token
Inv helmet 24 [Crown of the Forlorn Protector] (Heroic only) Tier 11 armor token
Inv helmet 24 [Crown of the Forlorn Vanquisher] (Heroic only) Tier 11 armor token

Related achievements[]

Quotes[]

Intro
Lord Victor Nefarius yells: Ha ha ha ha ha! The heroes have made it to the glorious finale. I take it you are in good spirits? Prepared for the final battle? Then gaze now upon my ultimate creation! RISE, SISTER!
Lord Victor Nefarius yells: Behold the Broodmother, Onyxia, REBORN! Perhaps my finest work.
Lord Victor Nefarius yells: My dearest sibling, do you hunger? THEN FEAST UPON OUR ENEMIES!
Aggro
See how the shadowflame animates their bones! They fight at my command!
Electrocute
The air crackles with electricity!
Phase 2
Curse you, mortals! Such a callous disregard for one's possessions must be met with extreme force!
Phase 3
I have tried to be an accommodating host, but you simply will not die! Time to throw all pretense aside and just... KILL YOU ALL!
Shadowblaze Spark
Flesh turns to ash!
Dominion
Mortal minds... So easily manipulated.
Explosive Cinders
I hope you can swim... in molten lava!
Killing a player
  • HAH!
  • It has been a pleasure!
  • You really have to want it!
Berserk
I thank you for coming, but you really all must die now!
Death
Defeat has never tasted so bitter...
Unused quote
Cowards! Face the brood mother or face DIRE consequences!

Videos[]

10-man Heroic[]

10-man Normal[]

25-man Normal[]

25-man Heroic[]

Trivia[]

  • Nefarian was the last boss of the entry tier of Cataclysm to be killed on normal mode, in part due to a respawn bug.
  • The world first kill on 10-man achieved on 13 December 2010 by Exorsus of Свежеватель Душ (Soulflayer) Europe, almost a week after the expansion's release.
  • World first heroic kill on 25-man achieved 9.1.2011 by DREAM Paragon of Lightning's Blade Europe.

Patch changes[]

  • Cataclysm Patch 4.2.0 (2011-06-28):
    • Health and melee damage has been reduced by 20%.
    • Animated Bone Warriors take 33 seconds to fall over, down from 50. In addition, fewer Animated Bone Warriors spawn.
    • Blast Nova cast time has been increased.
    • Chromatic Prototype health has been reduced by 20%.
    • Electrocute damage has been reduced by 30%.
    • Magma Stacking debuff effect has been reduced by 75%.
    • Nefarian's Shadowblaze cast frequency cannot increase beyond 1 once every 15 seconds.
    • Onyxia health and melee damage has been reduced by 20%.
    • Shadowflame Barrage damage has been reduced by 20%.
    • Tail Lash damage has been reduced by 50%.
  • Cataclysm Hotfix (2011-04-29): Nefarian will no longer stutter step toward his main target.
  • Cataclysm Patch 4.1.0 (2011-04-26):
    • The damage of Shadowflame Barrage has been reduced by 15% (10-player normal and Heroic difficulty only).
    • The damage of Tail Lash has been reduced by 20% (10-player normal and Heroic difficulty only).
  • Cataclysm Hotfix (2011-03-16): Players will move at the same speed, even when setting their normal speed to "walk" using the keybind, when Nefarian casts Dominion.
  • Cataclysm Hotfix (2011-01-18): Ability ghoulfrenzy [Rip] and Spell shadow auraofdarkness [Bane of Doom] damage is no longer affected by the damage increase of Stolen Power when engaging Nefarian.
  • Cataclysm Hotfix (2011-01-05): Spell shadow antimagicshell [Anti-Magic Shell] no longer stops Onyxia or Nefarian's Shadowflame Breath from being cast.
  • Cataclysm Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Added.

External links[]

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