Onyxia returns in Patch 3.2.2

You read that right. In honor of WoW's 5-year anniversary, in the upcoming Patch 3.2.2, Onyxia will make her triumphant return to the world of Azeroth!
The patch will convert Onyxia's Lair to a 10- and 25-player dungeon, along with new items whose models match the old-school gear available in the vanilla instance, like Tier 2 helms. Additional rewards include a 310% speed flying mount modeled after Onyxia herself!
As a bonus, anyone who logs in during the 5-year anniversary event in November will get an Onyxia Whelpling pet.
The full announcement after the break!
The full announcement reads as follows:
She has lurked in her lair and done battle with the many brave adventurers who travelled to that familiar location over the years. Now, in honor of the World of Warcraft 5-year anniversary, the dreaded brood mother Onyxia is being revamped to make a return to the forefront of Azeroth, as part of our big plans for the upcoming 3.2.2 content patch.
This permanent update to Onyxia will convert the dungeon into 10- and 25-player modes. We will be adding new items to Onyxia's loot table that have the same model as some of the classic loot from this dungeon, like Tier 2 helms, with stats updated to match the current level of content. There will be a special new item too: a normal drake-sized 310% speed flying mount modeled after Onyxia herself called an Onyxia Broodling. We will also be updating the encounter mechanics to be more fitting for modern raiding, but we can guarantee players will get to experience the frightening horror of deep breaths once again.
Then for a limited time, after the 5-year anniversary event officially begins in November, anybody who logs in will receive an Onyxia Brood Whelpling pet.
We're very excited to bring this classic encounter back to provide a fun new experience for both new and veteran players. Further details will be available in the near future, and we will be setting up the Public Test Realms soon to help test out this fight along with all the new content we have planned for the patch. Keep an eye on the forums for updates!
Filed under: News items, Raiding
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Reader Comments (Page 7 of 15)
unigolyn Aug 13th 2009 6:52AM
Then don't raid with jerks.
And also don't stand in fire.
jfofla Aug 12th 2009 10:16PM
I think this is great. So many people never saw Ony in her glory. Lord knows she toasted me once or twice.
I just hope this instance problem does not break the game before this patch can even come out.
Wintersdark Aug 12th 2009 10:16PM
We maintain often run cross-guild level 60 twink raiding groups. It's a lot of fun!
Still, I'm ecstatic! I *loved* Onyxia, it was a fantastic, well designed, challenging encounter. I just can't wait for an 80-tuned re-release. It's long been my dream that they'd cover all the old 60 raids, and even older dungeons and update them with modern Heroic modes.
So, to this, I say: Squeeeeee!
My guild is so gonna hammer this for a Second World First Onyxia kill.
Neirin Aug 12th 2009 10:26PM
I just hope they keep some of the challenge. Naxx got hit with the nerf bat pretty dang hard and the memory fight is just kinda... yeah.
Also looking forward to Ony's Lair General Chat becoming Barrens chat.
[1. General][RandomTenYearOld]ZOMG MOAR DOTZ
[1. General]RandomTwelveYearOld] Dude, Chuck Norris could kill Ony with a roundhouse kick
[1. General][DoesntGoOutside] But what about the whelps? lol ;)
[1. General][LikesMudkipz] Leave them to the murlocs.
[1. General][ThinksHesSmart] Anal [Deep Breath]
Can't say I didn't warn you...
Andrew R. Aug 12th 2009 10:16PM
Way to make the "additional instances cannot be launched" problem worse.
Zanathos Aug 13th 2009 5:25AM
Yeah, it's a shame there will be another new instance that people will want to do. I do get the feeling that you don't understand what causes the additional instances problem though, so here's the scoop. The actual number of dungeons and raids available in the game don't affect it. It's caused by the amount of players in instances at the same time.
tystyck1982 Aug 12th 2009 10:21PM
BLIZZARD!! OMG YOU FINALLY DID SOMETHING RIGHT!!
YAY!! 50 DKP PLUS!!
...and oh no...deep breathes again.....O_O
BWJ Aug 12th 2009 10:23PM
"we will be setting up the Public Test Realms soon to help test out this fight along with all the new content we have planned for the patch"
*perk*
All the new content? Beyond Ony? Wha?
Please please please please please please new quest hubs for 20-60. Please please please please.
Dreadskull Aug 12th 2009 10:28PM
"The comic was merely a setback!"
Hoping they'll make her an Ulduar-equivalent boss or something instead of like... an Argent Coliseum equivalent boss.
That would be lame to revive a classic boss and have her be so difficult to where 70% or so of the raiders won't get to fight her until the next expansion when they hit 90.
DigitalMonitor Aug 12th 2009 10:29PM
I wonder if Rallying Cry of the Dragonslayer will effect all levels of characters again? The current buff doesn't effect characters above level 63.
Alja Aug 12th 2009 10:30PM
This is kinda sorta amazing -
My only concern is when in November are you going to be able to log in to get the pet, I'm going to be gone most of the month for my honeymoon - hmm I wonder if I can teach my 65 year old mother to log into WoW for me and check mail.
Jon Aug 12th 2009 10:32PM
I can't believe all the QQ about this.
It's near impossible to get a group going for any pre-WOTLK dungeon these days. With Onyxia revamped, this will actually make it MUCH MORE LIKELY that you will be able to get a group and take part in this raid.
Blizz has made it insanely easy to level to 80. So quit QQ'ing, close your web browser and go kill some mobs...
Lottimer Aug 12th 2009 10:35PM
Oh I can't wait for this.
I can see it now!
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched.
threesixteen Aug 12th 2009 10:36PM
i only hope you need to be attuned to get in. reward those that took the time to do that incredibly long quest chain.
i don't care if you can one shot ulduar. if you never got attuned, you're a noob to me.
Killchrono Aug 12th 2009 10:51PM
That's gonna be kind of hard with Bolvar dead in Northrend, Lady Prestor removed from the throne room and Rexxar hanging around in Outland.
pdorgan Aug 12th 2009 10:36PM
completely fake. just like the 31 bosses in Icecrown.
hokiebuddy Aug 12th 2009 10:51PM
This seems really lazy on blizzard's part. Unless they explain it lore wise, isn't she supposed to be DEAD, didn't we CUT HER HEAD OFF? I don't understand why they couldn't just add a new boss in the sanctum instead of redoing old content. Not only that but they're reusing old models get and enemy and creating a encounter that has already been farmed to death. I love old content, don't get me wrong but at level 80 I wanna do new stuff not stuff that's already been done.
Killchrono Aug 12th 2009 10:55PM
Jesus christ, I can't believe all these complainers. Blizzard is doing something NICE for us. It's meant to be for FUN. There is NO in-game or lore explanation as to why Onyxia is still alive. They're doing this purely for gameplay purposes. People wanted to see classic content revamped so they can run it again, and that's exactly what they're doing. Onyxia is a one-boss raid encounter that's probably taken them all of a couple of working hours to re-work the instance for level 80. I think that's a pretty damn good tradeoff for a nostalgia kick.
Jezza Aug 12th 2009 11:41PM
If it makes you feel better, consider the name a typo by Blizzard (OMG FAIL TYPO)
and you are actually fighting Onyxea, the big twin sister out for revenge.
Steve Aug 12th 2009 10:55PM
I'm really excited about this. Onyxia was one of those bosses I heard so much about when I was leveling in vanilla, but then I left the game for a year or two and never did endgame at 60. I always wanted the chance to experience what I dreamed of experiencing back then. Way to go Blizz.