WoW Insider's Guide to Blackwing Descent
by Michael Gray 
Jan 4th 2011 at 8:00PM
Blackwing Descent is an interesting new raid instance. This isn't merely because it's a new instance for Cataclysm but because it draws on the heritage of the game, going all the way back to a showdown with Nefarian in Blackwing Lair.
But Blackwing Lair was just a setback.
But Blackwing Lair was just a setback.
Deathwing has raised his little boy and girl back from the grave, and they're all zombie and angry at the world. So you and 9 (or 24) of your best friends need to go kill everyone in the Blackwing Descent and make things right again. Check out our strategy guides, below, to get the skinny on how to beat down the bosses all the way up to and including the big, bad Nefarian.
Ready Check shares all the strategies and inside information you need to take your raiding to the next level. You might also be interested in our strategy guides to Cataclysm's 5-man instances, and for more healer-centric raiding advice, visit Raid Rx.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Johan Jan 4th 2011 8:20PM
Can you indicate what kind of gear and DPS is needed for these bosses, especially Magmaw? 10k DPS? Less? For 10 is it two healers or three? What about 25? Thanks!
North Jan 4th 2011 9:01PM
I second this notion
Ice Jan 4th 2011 9:42PM
Well from Blackwing 10m.. magmaw, om-nom-nom-tron and 30% atremedes..
Most people did 10k dps and some even less, its very sad number but hey there you go. Easily done with that number, they are done in blues. Just need people with brain mostly. Dps racing is not really that much of an issue. Even tho I must say way more dps would be very nice for healers(which I play so I should know) mana PoV.
Ice Jan 4th 2011 9:49PM
Oh and 3 healers for those 3 bosses in Blackwing atleast, I would say most fights there requires 3. Magmaw is very healer heavy while omtron is movement so you need some healers to stay in place and actually heal not run away from slimes, flamethrowers etc.
Carson Jan 4th 2011 11:01PM
We've done Magmaw, Omnomnom, Maloriak and Atramedes on ten-man.. all with three healers. Group was basically in decent heroic blues and a couple of crafted and rep epics for the first kills. imho those four fights are all much more execution checks than gear checks, you certainly don't need to farm up best-in-slot pre-raid gear before beating them.
Rakah Jan 4th 2011 11:17PM
I'd say chimeron is the best fight to test healers on so far, and certainly way more fun than magmaw (whoever thought of magmaw's mangle, causing the tank is out of healing range unless you stay within about 8 yards of the boss, was a good idea, needs to be shot)
LittleHamster Jan 5th 2011 6:01AM
I have done 5/6 in BWD. The first 5 bosses all don't require a lot of gear, just raid awareness, execution, and knowing your class. You will want a team of 2 tanks, 3 healers and balanced ranged/melee dps group. And 6-8 healers, 3 tanks for 25man. Most of the bosses are 2 tanks in both 10/25, but Magmaw and atramedes are 1 tanked, while Malorias 25 is 3. (I think you'll want 3 healer for all fights in 10). DPS figures depends on fight movement however. Looking on our own WoL. On our first kills in 25man, for Omnitron the dps spread is 10k-16k, and Magmaw is 13k-20k. This is in heroic blue gear. Hope this helps.
Carson Jan 4th 2011 11:03PM
I liked the three drake trash mobs that reference Firemaw, Flamegor and Ebonroc from BWL, both with similar names and similar abilities. Pyrecraw's Flame Buffet was particularly hilarious when we first pulled, realized what was happening, and scrambled to set up a LOS rotation.
Sergel Jan 5th 2011 12:37AM
I'm leveling my DK for this. Actually for all the end-game instances. I really hate playing him, but he's level 77 so the closest i have to 85. I wonder how long its gonna take to get those last 8 levels.
Pyromelter Jan 5th 2011 1:37AM
total /played from 80-85 should be somewhere between 20 to 40 hours, depending on how fast you are at questing. You can probably do it in a solid weekend.
artifex Jan 5th 2011 1:40AM
If you hate him, level something else. It's relatively fast now to go from 1-80, even without any heirlooms. This is your play time, you shouldn't hate it.
Helston Jan 5th 2011 3:28AM
If you're not enjoying leveling a character, you probably won't enjoy raiding with them. Raids are where everyone is put to the test, so find something you like and you'll find yourself doing a lot better. Phase 3 of Chimaeron sounds like it'll be REALLY hectic, with everyone being absolutely pushed to their limits.
Sergel Jan 5th 2011 4:22AM
hmm i understand what you all mean. I wouldn't say i hate my DK that much, but out of the 7 main classes i play, its probably the least fun. I think part of it is not being in a guild to run raids and dungeons in. I'm good at what i do, but i'd rather heal or just DPS. I've been playing WoW for 2 years so that's why i'm so desperate to try out end-game stuff. I'm an altaholic i guess lol
LittleHamster Jan 5th 2011 6:11AM
@Helston
Phase 3 is actually more hectic on paper than in reality. (It probably will be hectic in hardmode tho). The difficult part is only for healers keeping everyone alive through caustic slime/massacre and feud. Once you get to phase 3, it's simply stand still, while dpsers dropping one by one. You'd have won the fight if you can keep everyone alive till phase 3. (We pulled aggro like 5s into phase 3).
Nina Katarina Jan 5th 2011 7:46AM
I'm glad that you did this and I will read every bit of it, I promise, but I can't help but whine that you never finished the Cataclysm Dungeon Guides section of your Cataclysm content. In you Guides section above, Cataclysm category, I see links for
Cataclysm Dungeon Guide: Blackrock Caverns
Cataclysm Dungeon Guide: Vortex Pinnacle
Cataclysm Dungeon Guide: The Stonecore
Cataclysm Dungeon Guide: Halls of Origination
Cataclysm Dungeon Guide: Grim Batol
But you don't have Lost City, Deadmines, SFK or Throne of Tides. Do you ever plan to write those dungeon guides? Ever?
yoake Mar 10th 2011 9:35AM
I would use a DK with spec Frost and use Frost Fever with Chillblains talented (there is a good guide about this at http://25man.com/cata-guides/maloriak). It also depends if you are doing the 10 or 25man encounter. In 25man you can use two tanks and have an equal amount of adds on both tanks. If your tanks are geared enough they can just tank the adds (so they do not have to be kited).
As soon as the green potion is dropped in the cauldron you should start DPS on the adds. Especially demonology warlocks are very helpfull here.