The latest build of the Cataclysm beta opened Deepholm, Azeroth's elemental plane of earth, for questing and leveling. Understandably, the big question on everybody's mind was "how exactly do we get there?" It's underground, after all, in another dimension.
Well, as it turns out, it involves a certain orc shaman, a particularly large whirlpool, and a very brave flying mount. Check out the incredibly epic entry into Deepholm in our video after the break, and then try to imagine how anything else in the expansion can top that flight -- or that zone.
Thrall wears whatever suits his style. He's so powerful, the difference between Thrall in T10 and Thrall in starting area gear is insignificant. His own stats naked far outclass any gear he can find.
Huh, interesting. So they were originally going to have Deathwing burst out of the area just north of Stormwind, but changed their minds and made him burst out at the Maelstrom? Makes sense, with the Sundering that's the weakest point between Azeroth and the elemental planes, and is the center of Azeroth (as we know it).
Also, I never really cared for Thrall, being a mostly Alliance player (though I do have a few Horde toons), but I have to say, that is completely badass. He's helping to keep the Maelstrom from collapsing or whatever. And I have to say, that entrance was awesome.
If you watch it in HD and read the quest text it says "Deathwing's return to our world opened left a rift between Azeroth and Deepholm." I guess they will have to fix that lol. "opened left."
Thats not what I meant erknost. It says "Deathwing's return to our world opened left a rift between Azeroth and Deepholm." It should either use the word opened, or use the word left. Not both.
I like how he took falling damage when the mount kicked him off. It's not much, and you might be able to regen enough during the flight, but it would be funny if there were a scenario where you could get kicked off the mount and end up dead!
From what I saw in the video, it would appear that Thrall doesn't have the Doomhammer or Orgrim's armor any more. Does Garrosh get to wield these ancient heirlooms now, or did Harrison Jones take them for some museum?
Garrosh wields his father's axe and he's got armor made from Mannoroth's bones and the demon's skull rests atop of his new throne...So, I'd be on Harrison Jones.
The bones garrosh is wearing are just from a yeti as far as I can tell (two horns for nipple piercing and the skull for a pauldron). The skull and horns of mannoroth are above his throne.
Thrall w/o Orgrim Doomhammer's weapon and armor might be a "statement", so to speak. A previous poster highlighted on Thrall's comments about feeling like an inadequate Warchief; maybe the shedding of Doomhammer's gear is Thrall's way of saying he no longer feels adequate to honor Doomhammer and lead their people.
Then you find Thrall basically "soloing" the chaotic Maelstrom energies. Given how they've moved the Orcs and rest of the Horde (or not, who said the HORDE leader had to be an Orc?) under Garrosh Hellscream's control, I'm predicting some Epic act of self-sacrifice from Thrall by the end of Cata. The Alliance did it w/ Bolvar for WotLK; time up up the annie and sacrifice Thrall to defeat Deathwing. TBH, it would be the only way to truly end the momentous life of Thrall.
So if you jump in do you spin around the maelstrom like a toilet bowl until you reach the center? (I know what I'm doing first thing after I install Cataclysm ;D)
Jul 15th 2010 at 5:00PM 
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 6)
Qing Guang Jul 15th 2010 6:28PM
Yeah, but at least he finally trashed that old midlevel getup he useta wear.
Artificial Jul 15th 2010 8:10PM
Thrall wears whatever suits his style. He's so powerful, the difference between Thrall in T10 and Thrall in starting area gear is insignificant. His own stats naked far outclass any gear he can find.
JBcani Jul 15th 2010 9:25PM
@Artificial
I believe that's Saurfang, or even Chuck Norris.
Suzaku Jul 16th 2010 2:18AM
@Olania: The model is marked with [PH] which means placeholder. He's probably going to be getting his own unique model.
Vaeku Jul 15th 2010 6:09PM
Huh, interesting. So they were originally going to have Deathwing burst out of the area just north of Stormwind, but changed their minds and made him burst out at the Maelstrom? Makes sense, with the Sundering that's the weakest point between Azeroth and the elemental planes, and is the center of Azeroth (as we know it).
Also, I never really cared for Thrall, being a mostly Alliance player (though I do have a few Horde toons), but I have to say, that is completely badass. He's helping to keep the Maelstrom from collapsing or whatever. And I have to say, that entrance was awesome.
Ianator Jul 15th 2010 6:23PM
If you watch it in HD and read the quest text it says "Deathwing's return to our world opened left a rift between Azeroth and Deepholm." I guess they will have to fix that lol. "opened left."
erknost Jul 15th 2010 7:07PM
Azeroth it is the name of the whole planet. There is nothing to change...
Mysanthropyc Jul 15th 2010 7:37PM
Whooossshhhh
scherbaddie Jul 15th 2010 9:57PM
Well he certainly didn't open it right
Ianator Jul 15th 2010 10:53PM
Thats not what I meant erknost. It says "Deathwing's return to our world opened left a rift between Azeroth and Deepholm." It should either use the word opened, or use the word left. Not both.
nelk Jul 15th 2010 6:27PM
I like how he took falling damage when the mount kicked him off. It's not much, and you might be able to regen enough during the flight, but it would be funny if there were a scenario where you could get kicked off the mount and end up dead!
Deathknighty Jul 15th 2010 6:33PM
And replaced his level 30 green plate with....level 30 green cloth.
/facepalm
linkers746 Jul 15th 2010 6:39PM
From what I saw in the video, it would appear that Thrall doesn't have the Doomhammer or Orgrim's armor any more. Does Garrosh get to wield these ancient heirlooms now, or did Harrison Jones take them for some museum?
Enor Jul 15th 2010 7:41PM
Garrosh wields his father's axe and he's got armor made from Mannoroth's bones and the demon's skull rests atop of his new throne...So, I'd be on Harrison Jones.
theRaptor Jul 16th 2010 2:58AM
The bones garrosh is wearing are just from a yeti as far as I can tell (two horns for nipple piercing and the skull for a pauldron). The skull and horns of mannoroth are above his throne.
Clydtsdk-Rivendare Jul 16th 2010 6:25AM
So Garrosh has Gorehowl?...
...
When did he ever raid Kara?
Larry-Steve Jul 16th 2010 12:27PM
Thrall w/o Orgrim Doomhammer's weapon and armor might be a "statement", so to speak. A previous poster highlighted on Thrall's comments about feeling like an inadequate Warchief; maybe the shedding of Doomhammer's gear is Thrall's way of saying he no longer feels adequate to honor Doomhammer and lead their people.
Then you find Thrall basically "soloing" the chaotic Maelstrom energies. Given how they've moved the Orcs and rest of the Horde (or not, who said the HORDE leader had to be an Orc?) under Garrosh Hellscream's control, I'm predicting some Epic act of self-sacrifice from Thrall by the end of Cata. The Alliance did it w/ Bolvar for WotLK; time up up the annie and sacrifice Thrall to defeat Deathwing. TBH, it would be the only way to truly end the momentous life of Thrall.
dracoamericanus9 Jul 15th 2010 7:19PM
Queue the Doctor Who theme music!
Dustin Jul 15th 2010 8:12PM
So if you jump in do you spin around the maelstrom like a toilet bowl until you reach the center? (I know what I'm doing first thing after I install Cataclysm ;D)
epsilon343 Jul 15th 2010 9:18PM
I think you just explode.