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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: What's your favorite 5-man instance of all time?
by Amelia Ramstead 
Dec 11th 2011 at 8:00AM
The first instance I ever ran was Shadowfang Keep with my brother and his friends. I was led by the nose through it and it's a good thing, because I couldn't fight to save my life -- I just wanted to look at everything! To this day, it remains the benchmark for me by which all other instances are judged. When it received its update in Cata, part of me was really disappointed. I had always looked forward to running it on fresh alts, and I never wanted it to change. For the most part, I'm OK with the changes, and it still remains my favorite instance. And now I don't have to make alts to run it.
So what has been your very favorite instance to run? Not raid, mind you -- that's a whole other Breakfast Topic. Just a regular 5-man instance. Do you prefer the old classics, or has something from Cataclysm stolen your heart? None of the Wrath or Cata instances really did it for me, but I really got a kick out of the Caverns of Time instances from The Burning Crusade.
What grabs you when you get to an instance? Is it the setting? The music? The end of a quest line? Or are you primarily concerned with what kind of loot you're going to get out of the deal?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 7)
Gillybean Dec 11th 2011 9:12AM
ZF has always been my favorite. Standing at the top of the pyramid and then seeing all those trolls appear and start coming at you was epic and terrifying. Then, it was so much fun to go in with people who hadn't been and watch THEIR reaction at the pyramid.
Berna Dec 11th 2011 9:42AM
I love Zul'Farrak too, not least because it's outside, and *light* - I hate those nasty dark holes.
Thumb Dec 11th 2011 8:34AM
Blackrock Depths, in its classic full-version, not the dungeon finder partial-versions. Yes it was long and grueling, but it was epic in lore, quests and bosses. And the views of the giant underground dwarf city were awesome.
DarkWalker Dec 11th 2011 11:12AM
This is exactly why I would love it, if it was a solo instance.
In a group with everyone yelling "Go Go Go" at me? No chance to enjoy it.
Jack Spicer Dec 11th 2011 12:22PM
I don't remember anyone yelling "go go go" until Wrath.
Badmedecine Dec 11th 2011 8:36AM
BWD. such a good construction, i just loved being there, leading everyone through because they don't know the good way, very fun dungeon. All the things you have to know to do it decently and stuff.
Badmedecine Dec 11th 2011 8:37AM
BRD ofc ''-.- WTB edit button
Jack Dec 11th 2011 8:39AM
I think I would have to stick with Deadmines and Gnomergan, although this may be because I've always been a horde player. There was nothing better while leveling than finding a group committed to doing one of these and trekking across the world killing alliance to get there (before the group finder ofc). I think the journey made the instance itself so much more epic.
Noyou Dec 11th 2011 9:11AM
I love Gnomer. I know it's unpopular but this isn't "pick the most popular dungeon". I thought the lore was cool. The bosses were cool. Then there were the slime encrusted things. Anytime anyone mentions it in guild, I offer to run them :) Tied for that is Old Hillsbrad. Even though I am an alliance player 95% of the time, I like the lore there as well.
Lizenz Dec 11th 2011 11:01PM
Gnomeregan back in Vanilla when all trash were elites was AMAZING. I don't care what anyone else says. It may have sucked for the rest of the group, but as a mage I LOVED AoEing all the trash on the outer ring leading up to Electrocutioner.
Knob Dec 11th 2011 8:42AM
Lore-wise, Escape from Durnholde was my favourite, especially as I was playing Horde back then. Being a part of Thrall's escape was epic in itself and when the Epoch Hunter makes his appearance as the final boss, it was awesome. For me, the Infinite Dragonflight cemented themselves as a force to be reckoned with because of that instance. The fact that you could go into Southshore and see Kel'thuzad walking around with Helcular discussing necromancy, see the Ashbringer being brought into existence was just icing on the cake.
Design-wise, I loved Dire Maul the most and Scarlet Monastery (except the Graveyard) and Stratholme being the honourable mentions. Dire Maul just had so much going for it that I can't really fit it all in this post. Might as well read the article that appeared on this very site about the brilliance of the dungeon: http://wow.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/wow-archivist-memories-of-dire-maul/
Hal Dec 11th 2011 8:43AM
Tie between Blackrock Depths and the Halls of Reflection.
Blackrock Depths, being such an enormous dungeon, gives this amazing feeling of scope. You actually feel like you're raiding the home of a kingdom, rather than some small holding on their part. The length of the journey is so incredible; my first time through felt like an adventure, one I haven't had in a long time while playing this game. (I got a similar feeling from Deadmines in the day, but it wasn't the same as this.)
With Halls of Reflection, the mechanics of the fight produced a true feeling of fright; instead of standing and facing Arthas, we were running for our lives from him. It was a neat feeling, very well executed on Blizzard's part.
clundgren Dec 11th 2011 12:28PM
One thing I loved about Halls of Reflection was that the trash waves required you to think quickly and react on the fly. You had to cc, but it was meaningful cc, not just "whenever you feel like, cc one of those guards, and then we'll start the pull." No, it was like, "holy crap, another wave inc! Repent one NAO!"
Elmo Dec 11th 2011 8:44AM
Shattered Halls, the timed heroic run is so much fun.
Paul Dec 11th 2011 8:45AM
Has to be Shadow Labyrinth back in TBC. That place was awesome.
CapnSkillet Dec 11th 2011 9:08AM
I agree Paul. I did not do any relevant at-level content until I was 70 to catch up with the rest of my guild. I remember as 70s with greens and blues trying to CC our way through Shadow lab. And I remember the awe of seeing Murmur at the end of that hallway and him occasionally wiping out other mobs. Then when you fought him and he only had 40% health but was still tough.
dazziq Dec 11th 2011 8:51AM
Lost city of Tol'Vir
Though I tend to typically show more classic and BC favoritism, my brother and I hadn't played in over a year due to work and school restraints.
We came back and instead of our old time dps ways, we wanted to tank and heal. We learned the fights for this dungeon, and ran it consistently for a week or two just practicing here and there when we could.
We live seas apart, and though we do most things in the game together, that initial tank/healer learning process together was a great time, which brings back an awesome feeling each time we get it on the random.
Revnah Dec 11th 2011 11:01AM
Sorry, but... it's "Lost city of THE Tol'vir". It's not the city's name, like you'd have "City of London". The Tol'vir are a people, and this is the city they lost. It doesn't make sense without the article in it.
Apologies for being nitpicky but this has always bothered me.
dazziq Dec 11th 2011 11:06AM
Noted.
Though somewhat detracting from the point being made.
chester_eats_cheese Dec 15th 2011 10:39PM
Tanking Blackrock Depths on my warrior. It was like an entire new little world down there with the ever present possibilty of getting lost o wiping (pre-boa gear era :) ). Forging the key for BrD was an epic quest that could only be started when dead. Many a fun filled afternoon was lost within those caverns. Even today as I level yet another alt, I'm reminded fondly of how great it used to feel on the occasions where I was the only party member with the key made, felt like I'd saved the day. Good times.