Patch 4.2 preview: The legendary staff, Dragonwrath

Dragonwrath's story revolves around the Blue Dragonflight's choosing their new leader. Anachronos of the Bronze Dragonflight warns of danger at the Nexus and turns to the players to investigate. Players will take part in an epic quest to reforge the staff that allows the bearer to transform into a blue dragon!

Ever since the death of the Dragon Aspect Malygos, the blue dragonflight has struggled with appointing a new leader. Its members are now torn between the two likeliest successors: Kalecgos, who champions reconciliation with other races; and Arygos, a scion of Malygos who believes that his kind should withdraw from the world and forge a new path. To end the constant debates and arguments, the flight has agreed to gather during the Embrace-an extraordinary celestial event in which Azeroth's two moons come into perfect alignment-in the hopes that a new Aspect will be selected.
Yet a recent discovery by the bronze dragon Anachronos bodes ill for this impending ceremony. The timeless dragon has detected sinister magic at work around the Nexus, the blue flight's frozen lair in Northrend. Along with this find, he has glimpsed a terrifying vision of Azeroth succumbing to flames. The link between this chilling portent and the blue dragons remains unclear, but Anachronos has called upon what some of his kind deem the "short-lived" races to investigate further. If a hero does not rise to the challenge and find the truth, Anachronos's dire vision of Azeroth's undoing could become reality.
Patch 4.2 introduces an epic quest that will challenge those daring enough to complete the legendary staff Dragonwrath, Tarecgosa's Rest. The great staff duplicates destructive magics, and also bestows upon its wielder the ability to transform into a member of the Blue Dragonflight. Those who complete the staff won't be the only ones to receive a reward, though. As this task requires the dedication of an entire guild, upon completion of the staff all guild members will receive a unique non-combat pet to call their own.
Behold the legendary staff Dragonwrath, Tarecgosa's Rest. Players will need to embark on an epic questline to obtain and upgrade this powerful weapon.
Only those who have emerged triumphant against the evils lurking within Blackwing Descent, The Bastion of Twilight, and the Throne of the Four Winds will be eligible to begin the legendary quest. Bronze Dragonflight emissaries will be sent to the Alliance and Horde capital cities of Stormwind and Orgrimmar to recruit those who are ready to undertake the challenge.
This is not a path to be undertaken lightly. Be warned: the way forward is deadly, the first steps are perilous, and the destination, as yet, unfathomable. The journey will take willing challengers across continents and through time; to meet with ancient beings, to be recognized as one of the most powerful entities on Azeroth; to navigate a lethal web of politics and determine the shape of the future.
While the journey will certainly require progress through the Firelands, where guilds will need to work together to topple the forces of Ragnaros, there are times where those seeking the staff will have to stand alone in order to prove their skill, knowledge, and determination.
The Bronze Dragonflight is counting on you. The Blue Dragonflight may lose its way without your guidance. Best not keep them waiting.
Yet a recent discovery by the bronze dragon Anachronos bodes ill for this impending ceremony. The timeless dragon has detected sinister magic at work around the Nexus, the blue flight's frozen lair in Northrend. Along with this find, he has glimpsed a terrifying vision of Azeroth succumbing to flames. The link between this chilling portent and the blue dragons remains unclear, but Anachronos has called upon what some of his kind deem the "short-lived" races to investigate further. If a hero does not rise to the challenge and find the truth, Anachronos's dire vision of Azeroth's undoing could become reality.
Patch 4.2 introduces an epic quest that will challenge those daring enough to complete the legendary staff Dragonwrath, Tarecgosa's Rest. The great staff duplicates destructive magics, and also bestows upon its wielder the ability to transform into a member of the Blue Dragonflight. Those who complete the staff won't be the only ones to receive a reward, though. As this task requires the dedication of an entire guild, upon completion of the staff all guild members will receive a unique non-combat pet to call their own.
Behold the legendary staff Dragonwrath, Tarecgosa's Rest. Players will need to embark on an epic questline to obtain and upgrade this powerful weapon.
Only those who have emerged triumphant against the evils lurking within Blackwing Descent, The Bastion of Twilight, and the Throne of the Four Winds will be eligible to begin the legendary quest. Bronze Dragonflight emissaries will be sent to the Alliance and Horde capital cities of Stormwind and Orgrimmar to recruit those who are ready to undertake the challenge.
This is not a path to be undertaken lightly. Be warned: the way forward is deadly, the first steps are perilous, and the destination, as yet, unfathomable. The journey will take willing challengers across continents and through time; to meet with ancient beings, to be recognized as one of the most powerful entities on Azeroth; to navigate a lethal web of politics and determine the shape of the future.
While the journey will certainly require progress through the Firelands, where guilds will need to work together to topple the forces of Ragnaros, there are times where those seeking the staff will have to stand alone in order to prove their skill, knowledge, and determination.
The Bronze Dragonflight is counting on you. The Blue Dragonflight may lose its way without your guidance. Best not keep them waiting.
WoW Patch 4.1 is live, and WoW Insider has all the latest news for you -- from guides of the revamped Zul'Aman and Zul'Gurub to new valor point mechanics and new archaeology items.
Filed under: Cataclysm
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
alieria Apr 28th 2011 4:05PM
Absurd. Assuming they don't mean heroic (in which case you'd be justified in your point of view), 12/12 N does NOT take 16 hours a week. You have to kill each boss once...and by the time the chain comes out, you'll also have access to 359 gear just for running random dungeons via JP. Even if you are very casual (3-4 hrs a week), 6-9/12 should not be out of your reach right now. Given this won't be out for another month at the earliest, and you should be looking at 9-11/12 minimum at that point.
It isn't too much of them to ask that you go back and piledrive content that you overgear ONCE. Also...if you aren't capable of downing one tier old content, you won't be getting far on a legendary chain anyway (they aren't going to be passing these out like hotcakes).
Nathan Apr 28th 2011 4:05PM
Its understandable, but with the new 4.1 gear just raiding 4-8 hours a week should get you 12/12 by the time 4.2 hits.
jonas Apr 28th 2011 4:09PM
Well, from the sounds of it you'll need a lot more than just the 4.0 raids - you'll need stuff from firelands too. There's never been a legendary that doesn't require high-end raiding; this is no different.
Revynn Apr 28th 2011 4:17PM
BWD, BoT and TOFW are fairly puggable, even now. By the time T12 starts rolling in it will be a cakewalk, much like ToC was in ICC gear.
Not all the rewards and content are for the hardcore raiders, though. Minipets, titles, mounts are all available for people who do X amount of quests, gain X amount of exalted reps, collect X amount of minipets and mounts.
Besides, you're not being completely locked out of content because you don't have 16 hours a week to raid, it's just not feasable for you to do -yet-. Ulduar Proto-drakes? Two hours with a half-decent pug these days. Thunderfury and Sulfuras? Can mostly be solo farmed (except for downing razorgore which requires at least two people if you want to farm Ingots instead of buying them). with some dedication and luck. Ashes of A'lar takes a grand total of a half hour to get in and kill Kael'thas with 4 or 5 people and is still one of the coolest mounts in the game. A mount run on Maly can be 4 manned, Onyxia and Skadi can be soloed. 25OS3D is a simple pug of 10 minutes and requires no more than 9 or 10 people if you have awesome DPS.
There's always going to be someone who gets the short end of the stick. Even if you're an extremely hardcore raider, you might be on a dying backwater server with no guilds capable of doing current content.
@ Jonas - You're right. The datamined quests imply that we'll be collecting some sort of Shard in Firelands like we did in ICC and Ulduar.
Sorcha Apr 28th 2011 4:40PM
Because legendaries, in a system where raiding is easier, are still supposed to be really, really hard to get.
Biskit333 Apr 28th 2011 4:43PM
Once 4.2 comes out you will be able to get t11 from justice points. Beating BWD BoT and TotFW on normal should be no problem for a raid in full t11 and 353 epics from the new 5 mans. And besides, it is a legendary weapon, and those have always required raiding to create. They are the ultimate reward for hardcore raiders, there are plenty of other things to work towards if you are not an advanced raider.
noel mcleod Apr 28th 2011 5:20PM
A correction: Epic means I have massive amounts of free time in large blocks to be able to complete all the stuff that Blizz wants me to do. Those whose uninterrupted free time is generally less than 2 hours at a stretch should ... play Rift maybe?
I must admit that compared to Wrath I'm finding Cata much less enjoyable because of the contiguous time commitments.
Sleutel Apr 28th 2011 7:03PM
What the hell do you need a Legendary for if you haven't even cleared the current tier of content yet? It's like the person who never runs anything but regular dungeons who complains that they don't have a full T11 set.
SR Apr 29th 2011 5:22AM
Hey Noel... Maybe it's just me, but it sounds like you don't deserve things you don't work for.
Does your boss reward you for just coming into work, too?
Crumble Apr 29th 2011 8:10AM
Some of the PUGs ive run with, I deserve epic gear.
shomechely Apr 28th 2011 4:20PM
I think I peed a little.
Can't wait to see the stats!
Mperiolat Apr 28th 2011 3:57PM
I want to do this more than I can say and I am a warrior! This just sounds incredibly epic.
Only problem... my guild is virtually on life support and I have yet to do any of these raids as a result. Yeesh.
Durenas Apr 28th 2011 3:59PM
I hope it's a BIG dragon form.
Stray Apr 29th 2011 4:22AM
^
I wish the dragonkin you can turn into with Fury of Angerforge was a leeeetle bit bigger. Especially once you see your favorite warrior in that form beating up the same model on the way to Onyxia. It' badass our warrior and pally can coordinate their procs to dragonkin tag-team bosses, but if we can have giant treants and enraged corehounds/devilsaurs, I don't see why they can't buff the size just a bit.
Wondering if the dragonform is in-combat and/or out, how long it can last, and if it's functional.
shoan Apr 28th 2011 4:01PM
This staff is pretty cool but you know how its going to be people are going to get the staff and transform into a blue dragon then they will park their toon right in front of either the AH or Bank doors slightly above the ground and fly in place while AFK for hours. I applaud anyone that completes it until they become a douchebag bragger.
Revynn Apr 28th 2011 4:19PM
I doubt that it will be a transformation that you can turn on and stay in for hours. Chances are that it will be a proc like Deathbringers Will or a short duration Use effect like that Strength trinket from BWD trash.
Fletcher Apr 28th 2011 4:22PM
"Member of the Blue Dragonflight" does not necessarily mean "Blue Dragon" ... my money would be on a drakonid. But yeah, the first person to complete this will stand in their capital city for hours /posing, accompanied by their guildies with their noncombat pets. It was like that in Dalaran with the server-first Shadowmournes, rogues with twin warglaives, et cetera.
Shinae Apr 28th 2011 4:02PM
I'm going to heal my heart out to help my mage guildies get this. Only mages are worthy of becoming blue dragons. ;)
Mperiolat Apr 28th 2011 4:10PM
Given blues are the aspects of Magic, would not contest that one.
So, which aspect should be aligned with warriors and pallys?
lolikitty Apr 28th 2011 4:14PM
As a member of the mages community drooling over this beauty, I thank you and promise we'll stay out of the fire more than ever and help you help us.
/bow