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Overview

Stratholme is the city Arthas purged, and it never recovered. The Scarlet Crusade holds the Scarlet Bastion in the west of the city, and the Scourge holds the rest. You run it in two halves, each a full run of its own: the Main Gate leads through haunted streets into the Bastion and ends with Balnazzar, and the Service Entrance leads into the Scourge's quarter, with its three ziggurats, the Slaughter Square and Baron Rivendare.

Groups start coming here around level 58, and both halves stay worth running at 60. Between them you'll find pieces of all nine dungeon sets, from Magister's Regalia to Battlegear of Valor, a stack of Eastern Plaguelands quests and the Baron's Deathcharger's Reins.

New in Forever

Deathcharger's Reins teaches an account-wide mount.

Getting there

Stratholme sits at the northern edge of the Eastern Plaguelands, beyond Plaguewood. The city has two instance portals: the Main Gate, and the Service Entrance, a second gate in the city wall.

A locked gate waits just inside the Service Entrance. The Key to the City opens it, and one key opens it for the whole group. A Rogue with 300 Lockpicking can pick the same lock instead. Magistrate Barthilas drops the key, and you can reach him from the Main Gate: the streets run all the way to Elders' Square, where he stands.

Both factions run Stratholme, and every quest here except Ramstein is open to Alliance and Horde.

Map

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  • Boss
  • Entrance
  • Quest
  • Locked door
  • Chest
  • NPC

Quests

Stack as many as you can before you ride north: several hand in at Light's Hope Chapel and elsewhere in the Eastern Plaguelands. Each half of the city has its own set, so take the ones for the half you're running. Dead Man's Plea is the one to plan around: it puts a clock on the whole Service Entrance run.

Main Gate

  • The Archivist: kill Archivist Galford and burn the Scarlet Archive.
  • The Truth Comes Crashing Down starts from the Head of Balnazzar: take it to Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff.
  • The Medallion of Faith: recover the medallion Malor the Zealous guards deep in the Scarlet Bastion.
  • Of Love and Family: find the painting Of Love and Family, hidden behind a painting of the twin moons in the Scarlet Bastion, and bring it to Tirion Fordring.

Service Entrance

  • Dead Man's Plea: rescue Ysida Harmon from Baron Rivendare before time runs out. Proof of Life has you bring Ysida's Locket to Anthion Harmon.
  • Above and Beyond: Baron Rivendare's head for Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff.
  • Ramstein (Horde): Ramstein the Gorger's head, a souvenir for Nathanos.
  • The Active Agent: search the ziggurats for new Scourge Data for Betina Bigglezink.

Anywhere in the city

Main Gate

The Main Gate starts in streets the Scourge has overrun and ends deep in the Scarlet Bastion. Skul, Hearthsinger Forresten and The Unforgiven haunt the streets, Ezra Grimm keeps his smoke shop near the start, Timmy the Cruel waits in the square in front of the Bastion, and Balnazzar sits at the end.

Skul

Skul is a rare spawn, so he isn't there every run. When he is, kill him: all three of his drops are rares, including Skul's Ghastly Touch, a wand.

Ezra Grimm

Ezra Grimm owns the smoke shop from The Great Fras Siabi, near the start of the Main Gate route. He shows up to defend it when you open the tobacco box inside.

Hearthsinger Forresten

An undead minstrel who stands in one of four places in the streets. His drops include Magister's Boots from Magister's Regalia and the Songbird Blouse.

Stratholme Courier

Level 57

No guide text or ability data for this fight yet. The loot is from the game data.

Loot (6)

The Unforgiven

Level 57EliteShow on map: The Unforgiven

The Unforgiven waits in the streets with Vengeful Phantoms around him. The phantoms aren't elite: kill them first, then turn on him. His Mask of the Unforgiven is a leather helm with Stamina, hit and critical strike.

Postmaster Malown

Level 60Elite

The Postmaster only comes out when you open Stratholme's postboxes. Each postbox takes its own key, such as the Market Row Postbox Key. Opening postboxes brings out Undead Postmen, and the third box you open brings the Postmaster himself. His standout drop is Malown's Slam, a two-handed mace.

Timmy the Cruel

Level 58Rare

Timmy belongs to Crusaders' Square, the courtyard in front of the Scarlet Bastion, but he isn't there when you arrive. Clear the square and he shows up to fight. He drops Timmy's Galoshes, mail boots with Agility, Stamina and Intellect.

Malor guards the Medallion of Faith deep in the Scarlet Bastion. Kill him and recover it for The Medallion of Faith. The medallion is his only drop.

The Hammersmith only appears when someone takes the Blacksmithing Plans in the Scarlet Bastion. He drops Bottom Half of Advanced Armorsmithing: Volume II, which combines with Top Half of Advanced Armorsmithing: Volume II from Rattlegore in Scholomance.

Willey fights beside his cannons and calls Crimson Riflemen into the fight. The riflemen aren't elite, so kill each one as it arrives, then go back to Willey. Weaponsmiths want his Plans: Heartseeker.

Tank

Keep Willey where you pulled him and pick up each rifleman as it joins.

Healer

Damage on the group climbs while riflemen are alive. Keep everyone topped and call them out if they pile up.

Damage

Kill each Crimson Rifleman as it arrives. They aren't elite and die quickly.

Galford keeps the Scarlet Archive. Kill him, then burn the Archive for The Archivist. Mages, he drops Tome of Conjure Food VII.

Balnazzar

Level 62EliteFinal bossShow on map: Balnazzar

The fight starts against Grand Crusader Dathrohan. Partway through, he drops the disguise and becomes the dreadlord Balnazzar, and the transformation heals him to full health. Treat it as two bosses back to back.

Balnazzar fights with control spells. He takes over a player with Domination, sends everyone near him running with Psychic Scream, puts players to sleep with Sleep and lashes the players around him with Shadow Shock. Crowd-control anyone he dominates and keep them away from your healer. Put Fear Ward on the tank before the transformation, and if you have a Shaman, a Tremor Totem removes fear, charm and sleep effects from your party. Sleep is magic, so dispel it.

Balnazzar drops the Head of Balnazzar, which starts The Truth Comes Crashing Down, and the epic Book of the Dead.

Tank

Clear the Scarlet guards near Dathrohan first, then pull him on his own. Have Fear Ward on you when he becomes Balnazzar.

Healer

The transformation resets the fight to a full health bar, so pace your mana. Dispel Sleep as soon as it lands, and keep your distance from anyone he dominates.

Damage

Save your cooldowns for Balnazzar: the transformation heals away your damage on Dathrohan. When he dominates someone, crowd-control them right away.

Service Entrance

The Service Entrance puts you straight into the Scourge's quarter. The route runs from Magistrate Barthilas through the three ziggurats (Baroness Anastari, Nerub'enkan, then Maleki the Pallid), into the Slaughter Square for Ramstein the Gorger, and ends with Baron Rivendare.

Each ziggurat holds its boss and, deeper inside, a group of Thuzadin Acolytes. Kill both in all three ziggurats and the gate to the Slaughter Square opens.

If you're on Dead Man's Plea, this half is a race. Once the Baron knows you're inside, you get The Baron's Ultimatum: 45 minutes to kill him before his prisoner, Ysida Harmon, runs out of time. Leave the optional kills for another run and go straight through the ziggurats.

Barthilas stands in Elders' Square, just inside the Service Entrance. He drops the Key to the City: make sure someone loots it, because it opens the Service Entrance gate on every later run. His Death Grips are plate gloves with Strength and immunity to Disarm.

Stonespine

A rare gargoyle, so he isn't up every run. When he is, he drops Stoneskin Gargoyle Cape, a cloak with Stamina, Strength and Agility.

The Baroness holds the first ziggurat. Her signature move is Possess: she takes control of a group member for two minutes and vanishes while she holds them. The possessed player fights for her, and Possess also raises their maximum health, so don't try to burn through it. Crowd-control the possessed player until the possession ends and she's back in the fight.

If you're on The Active Agent, search the ziggurats for the Scourge Data while you're inside.

Tank

Pick her back up the moment she reappears.

Healer

The possessed player attacks your group, so keep your distance and heal through it until they're crowd-controlled.

Damage

Crowd-control the possessed player instead of attacking them, and burn the Baroness while she's visible.

The Swordsmith works like the Crimson Hammersmith: he only appears when someone takes the Blacksmithing Plans on this side of the city. He drops Bottom Half of Advanced Armorsmithing: Volume III.

Nerub'enkan

Level 60EliteShow on map: Nerub'enkan

Nerub'enkan holds the second ziggurat. He roots players in Encasing Webs, cuts the tank's armor with Pierce Armor and raises Undead Scarabs to join the fight. The scarabs aren't elite, so kill them as they come. Kill him, then the Thuzadin Acolytes deeper inside, and the ziggurat is done. He drops Beaststalker's Boots from Beaststalker Armor.

Tank

Pierce Armor makes his hits land harder while it's on you: that's the moment for a defensive cooldown.

Healer

Watch the tank while Pierce Armor is up, and expect the scarabs to add damage.

Damage

Kill the Undead Scarabs as they rise, then get back on Nerub'enkan.

Maleki holds the third ziggurat, and he's a caster. He throws Frostbolts, stuns a player in Ice Tomb and channels Drain Life and Drain Mana. Interrupt the Frostbolts and both drains. Ice Tomb can't be dispelled, so heal the trapped player through it.

Once he and his acolytes are down and the other two ziggurats are clear, the gate to the Slaughter Square opens. Hammersmiths want his Plans: Hammer of the Titans.

Tank

Keep him on you, and save your own interrupt for a drain when the group's are on cooldown.

Healer

Ice Tomb stuns a player and can't be dispelled, so heal them through it.

Damage

Rotate interrupts on his Frostbolts and drains: every cast you stop is damage or mana he doesn't take.

Ramstein the Gorger

Level 61Elite

The Slaughter Square is full of abominations. Kill every Bile Spewer and Venom Belcher in it, and Ramstein comes out to fight. When he dies, a wave of Mindless Undead attacks, followed by Black Guard Sentries. Get through them and the way to Baron Rivendare is open.

Ramstein himself is a heavy hitter: Knockout knocks the tank back and stuns them, and Trample hits everyone standing next to him.

Tank

Fight him with your back to a wall so Knockout can't throw you far. The moment he dies, gather the Mindless Undead before they reach your healer.

Healer

Knockout stuns the tank, and a stunned tank can't dodge or parry, so keep them high. Save mana for the undead wave that follows his death.

Damage

Trample hits everyone next to him, so only melee should stand close. Keep your area damage for the Mindless Undead.

Baron Rivendare

Level 62EliteFinal bossShow on map: Baron Rivendare

The Baron waits in his chamber with Ysida Harmon locked in a cage. Throughout the fight he casts Raise Dead to raise skeletons. A skeleton that's still alive when the spell runs out sacrifices itself to heal him, so kill them fast: they're weak, and area damage clears them. Kill him inside the 45 minutes and Ysida is free.

He drops Deathcharger's Reins, the reins to his own steed, the epic Runeblade of Baron Rivendare, and the leg piece of all nine dungeon sets.

Tank

Hold the Baron in one spot, facing away from the group, and leave the skeletons to your damage dealers.

Healer

Every skeleton that survives heals the Baron and makes the fight longer. Call out the ones your group misses.

Damage

Switch to the skeletons the moment they rise. Area damage kills them fast, and each one you miss heals the Baron.

Trash and pulls

  • Eyes of Naxxramas float over both halves of the city. Given time, an Eye finishes Summon Rockwing Gargoyles and two elite Rockwing Gargoyles join the fight. The Eyes aren't elite: kill them on sight.
  • In the Scarlet Bastion, every Crimson enemy is humanoid, so all your humanoid crowd control works. Kill or control the casters (the Crimson Sorcerers, Battle Mages and Conjurors) first.
  • On the Service Entrance side, almost everything is undead, and Shackle Undead is your crowd control. The Thuzadin cultists are the exception: they're humanoids.
  • In the Slaughter Square, pull the abominations one at a time. Bile Spewers release Bile Slimes, which aren't elite: sweep them up with area damage.
  • Stratholme Holy Water from the supply crates damages undead in an area. Keep five for Houses of the Holy and throw the rest into big undead pulls.

Loot

Stratholme gears every class, and each half has its own chase items. The standouts:

167 items

Stratholme loot
1
40%
1
39%
1
40%
1
38%
1
40%
1
39%
Hands
Leather
59
54
13%
Head
Leather
57
52
20%
Shoulder
Plate
57
52
23%
Wrist
Cloth
57
52
18%
Main Hand
One-Handed Axe
57
52
19%
Head
Cloth
61
56
5%
Chest
Cloth
61
56
5%
Legs
Cloth
61
56
10%
Feet
Cloth
61
56
25%
Finger
61
56
15%
Two-Hand
Two-Handed Mace
61
56
5%
Hands
Plate
59
54
12%
Wrist
Plate
59
54
22%
Waist
Cloth
59
54
18%
Feet
Mail
59
54
22%
One-Hand
One-Handed Mace
61
56
20%
1
100%
60
50
63%
Shoulder
Leather
60
55
14%
Head
Leather
61
56
18%
Neck
61
56
23%
Shoulder
Cloth
61
56
17%
Waist
Mail
61
56
17%
Feet
Plate
61
56
17%
Trinket
61
56
18%
Ranged
Gun
61
56
22%
Ammo
61
56
91%
Main Hand
Fist Weapon
61
56
11%
Redemption (Rare)
Two-Hand
Staff
61
56
7.1%
63
11%
Hands
Cloth
59
54
18%
Back
61
56
21%
Waist
Mail
61
56
21%
Feet
Leather
61
56
21%
Held In Off-hand
61
56
14%
Righteous Orb (Uncommon)
60
Archivist Galford · 4.3%Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
4.3%
60
60
3.3%
Held In Off-hand
63
58
2.1%
62
6.9%
Feet
Plate
59
54
Balnazzar · 17%Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 14%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 14%
17%
Head
Mail
63
58
Balnazzar · 17%Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 15%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 15%
17%
Head
Plate
63
58
Balnazzar · 13%Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 12%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 12%
13%
Neck
63
58
Balnazzar · 23%Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 16%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 16%
23%
Shoulder
Cloth
63
58
Balnazzar · 15%Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 12%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 12%
15%
Shoulder
Leather
63
58
Balnazzar · 18%Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 14%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 14%
18%
Feet
Cloth
63
58
Balnazzar · 14%Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 16%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 16%
14%
One-Hand
Dagger
63
58
Balnazzar · 17%Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 15%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 15%
17%
Two-Hand
Two-Handed Mace
63
58
Balnazzar · 21%Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 14%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 14%
21%
Finger
62
57
1.9%
Demonshear (Rare)
Two-Hand
Two-Handed Sword
63
58
Balnazzar · 17%Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 16%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 16%
17%
60
4.8%
1
55
12%
Head
Cloth
59
54
16%
Back
59
54
15%
Wrist
Leather
59
54
15%
Hands
Plate
62
57
15%
Relic
Idol
65
60
1.2%
Peacemaker (Rare)
Two-Hand
Polearm
59
54
16%
Key to the City (Uncommon)
1
100%
Feet
Cloth
59
54
18%
Neck
60
55
18%
Hands
Cloth
60
55
19%
Ranged
Bow
60
55
17%
Ranged
Wand
60
55
17%
Shoulder
Mail
60
55
10%
Chest
Cloth
60
55
11%
Wrist
Leather
60
55
11%
Banshee's Touch (Uncommon)
Hands
Plate
60
55
11%
60
55
8.9%
60
50
42%
Feet
Mail
59
54
18%
Waist
Cloth
61
56
18%
Legs
Plate
61
56
18%
Ranged
Crossbow
61
56
18%
Off Hand
Shield
61
56
19%
Shoulder
Plate
61
56
11%
Hands
Mail
61
56
11%
Legs
Leather
61
56
11%
Fangdrip Runners (Uncommon)
Feet
Cloth
61
56
11%
Eye of Arachnida (Uncommon)
60
55
9%
Feet
Cloth
59
54
18%
Back
62
57
18%
Feet
Cloth
62
57
18%
Held In Off-hand
62
57
18%
One-Hand
One-Handed Axe
62
57
19%
Wrist
Mail
62
57
10%
Darkbind Fingers (Uncommon)
Hands
Cloth
62
57
11%
Waist
Leather
62
57
11%
Feet
Plate
62
57
11%
60
55
8.7%
63
8%
Hands
Plate
59
54
18%
Neck
62
57
12%
Shoulder
Cloth
60
55
12%
Finger
60
55
12%
Trinket
60
55
13%
Off Hand
Shield
60
55
12%
Two-Hand
Staff
60
55
12%
60
60
Two-Hand
Two-Handed Sword
63
58
0.05%
Head
Plate
63
58
12%
Shoulder
Cloth
63
58
17%
Back
63
58
15%
Chest
Cloth
63
58
14%
Chest
Leather
63
58
16%
Hands
Mail
63
58
13%
Hands
Mail
63
58
12%
Finger
63
58
13%
Ranged
Wand
63
58
17%
Main Hand
One-Handed Mace
63
58
16%
One-Hand
Dagger
62
57
5.7%
One-Hand
One-Handed Sword
63
58
6.2%
Legs
Cloth
61
56
10%
Legs
Cloth
61
56
13%
Legs
Cloth
61
56
9.9%
Legs
Leather
61
56
11%
Legs
Leather
61
56
8%
Legs
Mail
61
56
11%
Legs
Mail
61
56
4.1%
Legs
Plate
61
56
6.8%
Legs
Plate
61
56
8.7%
Hands
Leather
59
54
Skul (Main Gate) · rare
30%
Chest
Plate
59
54
Skul (Main Gate) · rare
30%
Ranged
Wand
57
52
Skul (Main Gate) · rare
30%
Feet
Cloth
59
54
Hearthsinger Forresten (Main Gate) · rare
13%
Chest
Leather
58
53
Hearthsinger Forresten (Main Gate) · rare
29%
Waist
Plate
58
53
Hearthsinger Forresten (Main Gate) · rare
18%
Legs
Mail
58
53
Hearthsinger Forresten (Main Gate) · rare
20%
Trinket
58
53
Hearthsinger Forresten (Main Gate) · rare
16%
Wrist
Cloth
57
52
Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 1.3%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 1.3%
1.3%
Waist
Cloth
58
53
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
Waist
Cloth
58
53
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
Wrist
Leather
57
52
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
Wrist
Leather
57
52
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
Wrist
Mail
57
52
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
Wrist
Mail
57
52
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
Waist
Plate
58
53
Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 2.1%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 2.1%
2.1%
Waist
Plate
58
53
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
1
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
1
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
1
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
1
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
Shoulder
Mail
60
55
Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 0.03%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 0.03%
0.03%
Back
59
54
Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 0.01%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 0.01%
0.01%
Back
58
53
Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 0%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 0%
0%
Wrist
Plate
61
56
Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 0.01%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 0.01%
0.01%
Hands
Leather
58
53
Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 0.01%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 0.01%
0.01%
Legs
Cloth
57
52
Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 0.01%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 0.01%
0.01%
Legs
Leather
62
57
Trash mobs (Main Gate) · 0.01%Trash mobs (Service Entrance) · 0.01%
0.01%
60
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
59
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
58
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
62
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
60
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
60
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
58
Trash mobs (Main Gate)Trash mobs (Service Entrance)
Plans: Serenity (Uncommon)
57
Plans (Main Gate) · objectPlans (Service Entrance) · object
58
Plans (Main Gate) · objectPlans (Service Entrance) · object
Back
61
56
Stonespine (Service Entrance) · rare
31%
Feet
Leather
61
56
Stonespine (Service Entrance) · rare
30%
Off Hand
Fist Weapon
59
54
Stonespine (Service Entrance) · rare
34%

Tips

  • Loot the Key to the City from Magistrate Barthilas once, and every later Service Entrance run starts at the back door. A Rogue with 300 Lockpicking opens that gate without it.
  • On a Baron run, go straight through the ziggurats. The 45-minute Ultimatum doesn't wait for optional kills.
  • Kill every Eye of Naxxramas before it finishes its cast.
  • Save your cooldowns for Balnazzar's second health bar and for the Baron's skeletons.
  • Carry spare Stratholme Holy Water: it's extra area damage against the undead.

Changelog

  • Guide published.
  • Refreshed the page title and summary.

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