5. Rise of the Defiler

Perched high above the Blasted Lands is this evil summoning area, used in a quest chain in the area. However, when there are no questing players to be found, this place is perfectly deserted and perfectly suitable for a bout of evil summoning. Featuring a large demonic circle carved into the rock face and several petrified remains of foolhardy adventurers, this location has a creepy vibe suitable for any villain's diabolical plotting. And since it's in relatively close proximity to the Dark Portal, the Altar of Storms and Karazhan, it's a perfect position of power for a villain to conduct grand schemes.

Located at coordinates 44, 26 in the Blasted Lands, this location is at the top of the peak. If you have not done any questing in this area, you will have to fly to get to the top of the peak; the spirit at the base of the peak will not teleport you up. For low-level characters, it would be recommended to get a summon or a ride up to the top; the Blasted Lands is crawling with level-56-to-57 mobs that will make short work of low-level villains.


The Sunken Temple may be loaded with mobs for dungeon-running players, but the outside of the instance is relatively mob-free, and the shady atmosphere makes it a perfectly suitable location for a villain's lair. Since most players are using the Dungeon Finder to run instances these days, you aren't likely to run into very many players wandering around the outside of the instance itself unless they are questing through the Swamp of Sorrows. Since the Sunken Temple got a revamp in Cataclysm, the exterior as well as the interior has changed a bit from what long-time players may remember, but it's a perfect place for a villain to lurk.

Located at coordinates 69,53 in the Swamp of Sorrows, the Temple of Atal'Hakkar requires a little swimming to get to. Once inside, there's a veritable labyrinth of places to choose from. Level 85 roleplayers can pretty much walk around the few mobs in the area unmolested, but lower-level players may want to steer away, as the mobs are level 50+. There's no need to fly to get to this area; it's easily accessible on foot. Full of abandoned altars, hanging vines, and ancient artifacts, the Temple of Atal'Hakkar is dripping with villainous atmosphere and ripe for the taking.

3. The Maw of Madness

If your villain is obsessed with the Old Gods, why not set up shop at the base of one of their fallen servants? This spot is a little trickier to get to, and it's not recommended for low-level players at all. There are two phases of Iso'rath in the Twilight Highlands. If you've quested through the zone, the tentacles of Iso'rath will be dormant, as shown above. If you have not, they'll be wriggling and active. After Iso'rath is defeated, the eastern side of the tentacled monster is relatively free of any hostile mobs, which means your villain can set up shop without worry of hostile activity.

Located at coordinates 49,9 in the Twilight Highlands, this disgusting mass of tentacles makes for the creepiest backdrop a roleplaying villain could ask for. However, it is in a phased area. If you are roleplaying with a group, you'll want to make sure everyone is in the same phase; otherwise, you may have difficulty being seen (although if you're looking for a good hideout, that may actually work to your villain's advantage!). It takes great power to try and harness a dormant servant of the Old Gods -- and it takes an appropriate level as well. Since this is in a Cataclysm area, low-level players would be best advised to seek elsewhere for a suitable lair.


Speaking of power-riddled areas, there's none quite so powerful as the site of Medivh's former home. Nestled in the southern end of the appropriately named Deadwind Pass, Karazhan still remains as one of the highlights of The Burning Crusade raiding. But Karazhan isn't just a raid instance, and the surrounding towers and peaks of Karazhan are now easily accessible with a flying mount. The smaller tower to the north of Karazhan proper, shown in the screenshot above, is completely devoid of mobs, and players can also access the Master's Terrace from the outside as well. Though the little town and cellars nearby may look tempting, be warned that those areas do contain level 70 mobs that will make short work of low-level players, so they should be avoided.

Located at coordinates 49,72 in Deadwind Pass, Karazhan is surrounded by plenty of high-level mobs, so lower-level villains may not want to make the trek. However, a quick summon to the northern building or the Master's Terrace should allow lower-level players to roam the deserted areas freely, as long as they don't stray too far. It's been stated in lore that the site of the tower is the point of a magical explosion at some point in the distant past, one that weakened the fabric of reality in the region and heightened the magical power in the area. Because of this, it's a perfect spot for a power-hungry villain to take up residence for whatever misdeeds he might be plotting.

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Filed under: All the World's a Stage (Roleplaying)