Upper Blackrock Spire

Upper Blackrock Spire is the top of the citadel, and the black dragonflight rules it. Warchief Rend Blackhand waits above his arena, and General Drakkisath commands the dragonspawn from his throne room behind the Halls of Ascension.

It's a 10-player run, and General Drakkisath alone drops the chest piece of every Dungeon Set. Add Rend's weapons and a full quest log, and you'll run it more than once.

Upper Blackrock Spire shares its portal with Lower Blackrock Spire, at the top of Blackrock Mountain between the Searing Gorge and the Burning Steppes. Inside the mountain, take the path up: the way down leads to Blackrock Depths.

Past the portal, a sealed gate near the start of the instance leads up into Upper Blackrock Spire.

The Seal of Ascension

The gate opens only for a player carrying the Seal of Ascension, and one key holder opens it for the whole group. Two quests lead to it:

1. The first Seal of Ascension quest: bring the Gemstone of Spirestone, Gemstone of Smolderthorn and Gemstone of Bloodaxe to Vaelan with the Unadorned Seal of Ascension. Highlord Omokk, War Master Voone and Overlord Wyrmthalak drop the gemstones in Lower Blackrock Spire.
2. The second Seal of Ascension quest: beat the ancient drake Emberstrife in the Wyrmbog, Dustwallow Marsh, until his will breaks. Place the Unforged Seal of Ascension before him, then use the Orb of Draconic Energy to take control of him and force his flames onto the seal. The quest asks for the Forged Seal of Ascension.

The biggest quests here end in General Drakkisath's throne room, and the rest spread across the spire, so plan on a full clear. Pick them up before you come in.

Drakkisath

• Drakefire Amulet (Alliance) and Blood of the Black Dragon Champion (Horde): both need the Blood of the Black Dragon Champion from General Drakkisath, in his throne room behind the Halls of Ascension.
• General Drakkisath's Demise (Alliance): destroy General Drakkisath, then report to Marshal Maxwell.
• Blackhand's Command starts from the letter Blackhand's Command. Drakkisath guards Drakkisath's Brand: find it and gain the Mark of Drakkisath, which you need to access the Orb of Command.

Rend and the Rookery

• For The Horde! (Horde): slay Warchief Rend Blackhand and take his head to Orgrimmar.
• Egg Freezing: use the Eggscilloscope Prototype on an egg in the Rookery.
• Egg Collection: bring 8 Collected Dragon Eggs and the Collectronic Module to Tinkee Steamboil at Flame Crest in the Burning Steppes.

Everything else

• Doomrigger's Clasp (Alliance): Doomrigger's Clasp for Mayara Brightwing in the Burning Steppes. Delivery to Ridgewell then takes Ridgewell's Crate to Remington Ridgewell in Stormwind.
• The Darkstone Tablet (Horde): the Darkstone Tablet for Shadow Mage Vivian Lagrave in Kargath.
• Oculus Illusions (Horde): 20 Black Dragonspawn Eyes for Myranda the Hag.
• The Demon Forge: slay Goraluk Anvilcrack, use the Blood Stained Pike on his corpse, find the Unforged Rune Covered Breastplate, and bring both to Lorax in Winterspring.
• The Matron Protectorate: take Awbee's scale to Haleh in Winterspring.
• Finkle Einhorn, At Your Service!: talk to Malyfous Darkhammer in Everlook.
• Mea Culpa, Lord Valthalak: summon Lord Valthalak with the Brazier of Beckoning, kill him, use Lord Valthalak's Amulet on his corpse and return the amulet to the Spirit of Lord Valthalak. Return to Bodley then takes the brazier back to Bodley inside Blackrock Mountain.

Lord Valthalak

Valthalak only appears when a player on Mea Culpa, Lord Valthalak uses the Brazier of Beckoning in The Beast's chamber, so kill The Beast first. Partway through the fight he summons Spectral Assassins: pick them up and kill them.

After he dies, use Lord Valthalak's Amulet on his corpse, then return it to the Spirit of Lord Valthalak.

• The first halls mix Blackhand orcs with Rage Talon dragonspawn. Blackhand Summoners and Blackhand Dreadweavers are the casters: crowd-control or kill them first.
• The Rookery is covered in eggs, and disturbed eggs hatch Rookery Whelps. Keep the group tight on the path and kill any whelps that hatch with area damage.
• Before The Beast, clear the whole corridor. A feared player who runs into a live pack brings it along.
• The Halls of Ascension hold Rage Talon dragonspawn in heavy packs. Pull one pack at a time and never fight next to the next one.

General Drakkisath is the reason most groups come back, but every boss here drops something worth the run:

• Chest pieces: Breastplate of Valor, Lightforge Breastplate, Beaststalker's Tunic, Vest of Elements, Shadowcraft Tunic, Wildheart Vest, Devout Robe, Dreadmist Robe and Magister's Robes, all from General Drakkisath.
• Shoulders: Spaulders of Valor from Warchief Rend Blackhand and Lightforge Spaulders from The Beast.
• Tanks: Draconian Deflector, a shield with defense and fire resistance, from Drakkisath.
• Weapons: Blackblade of Shahram, an epic two-handed sword, from Drakkisath; Felstriker, Dal'Rend's Sacred Charge, Dal'Rend's Tribal Guardian and Blackhand Doomsaw from Rend; Seeping Willow and Pip's Skinner from The Beast; Lord Valthalak's Staff of Command from Lord Valthalak.
• Recipes and books: Recipe: Flask of the Titans and Pattern: Red Dragonscale Breastplate from Drakkisath, Tablet of Flame Shock VI from Pyroguard Emberseer and Book of Ferocious Bite V from The Beast.

SlotAll slotsHeadNeckShoulderBackChestWristHandsWaistLegsFeetFingerTrinketOne-HandMain HandTwo-HandOff HandRangedOther

Armor typeAll armorClothLeatherMailPlate

Weapon typeAll weaponsOne-Handed MaceTwo-Handed MacePolearmOne-Handed SwordTwo-Handed SwordDaggerWand

Usable byAny classWarriorPaladinHunterRoguePriestShamanMageWarlockDruid

QualityAny qualityUncommon or betterRare or betterEpic or better

89 items

Upper Blackrock Spire loot

Item	Slot	Type	Item level	Req. level	Source	Drop
Gauntlets of Elements (Rare)	Hands	Mail	59	54	Pyroguard Emberseer	18%
Emberfury Talisman (Rare)	Neck		61	56	Pyroguard Emberseer	12%
Truestrike Shoulders (Rare)	Shoulder	Leather	61	56	Pyroguard Emberseer	11%
Wildfire Cape (Rare)	Back		61	56	Pyroguard Emberseer	27%
Flaming Band (Rare)	Finger		61	56	Pyroguard Emberseer	28%
Tablet of Flame Shock VI (Rare)			60	60	Pyroguard Emberseer	1.1%
Devout Mantle (Rare)	Shoulder	Cloth	60	55	Solakar Flamewreath	18%
Polychromatic Visionwrap (Rare)	Chest	Cloth	61	56	Solakar Flamewreath	18%
Nightbrace Tunic (Rare)	Chest	Leather	61	56	Solakar Flamewreath	18%
Dustfeather Sash (Rare)	Waist	Cloth	61	56	Solakar Flamewreath	20%
Crystallized Girdle (Rare)	Waist	Leather	61	56	Solakar Flamewreath	17%
Schematic: Hyper-Radiant Flame Reflector (Uncommon)			58		Solakar Flamewreath	8.1%
Handcrafted Mastersmith Girdle (Rare)	Waist	Plate	63	58	Goraluk Anvilcrack	6.3%
Handcrafted Mastersmith Leggings (Rare)	Legs	Plate	60	55	Goraluk Anvilcrack	29%
Flame Walkers (Rare)	Feet	Mail	62	57	Goraluk Anvilcrack	17%
Mastersmith's Hammer (Rare)	Main Hand	One-Handed Mace	60	55	Goraluk Anvilcrack	24%
Plans: Arcanite Champion (Rare)			63		Goraluk Anvilcrack	8.9%
Plans: Masterwork Stormhammer (Rare)			63		Goraluk Anvilcrack	9.2%
Bottom Half of Advanced Armorsmithing: Volume I (Rare)			60	50	Goraluk Anvilcrack	23%
Unforged Rune Covered Breastplate (Rare)			60		Goraluk Anvilcrack
Plans: Demon Forged Breastplate (Rare)			57		Goraluk Anvilcrack
Chromatic Carapace (Epic)			1		Gyth	4.5%
Pauldrons of Elements (Rare)	Shoulder	Mail	60	55	Gyth	20%
Dragonskin Cowl (Rare)	Head	Cloth	60	55	Gyth	13%
Tribal War Feathers (Rare)	Head	Leather	60	55	Gyth	20%
Dragoneye Coif (Rare)	Head	Mail	60	55	Gyth	19%
Gyth's Skull (Rare)	Head	Plate	60	55	Gyth	21%
Recipe: Flask of Chromatic Resistance (Uncommon)			60		Gyth	3.3%
Felstriker (Epic)	One-Hand	Dagger	63	58	Warchief Rend Blackhand	1.9%
Spaulders of Valor (Rare)	Shoulder	Plate	60	55	Warchief Rend Blackhand	18%
Eye of Rend (Rare)	Head	Leather	63	58	Warchief Rend Blackhand	21%
Bonespike Shoulder (Rare)	Shoulder	Mail	63	58	Warchief Rend Blackhand	2.2%
Battleborn Armbraces (Rare)	Wrist	Plate	63	58	Warchief Rend Blackhand	16%
Feralsurge Girdle (Rare)	Waist	Mail	63	58	Warchief Rend Blackhand	19%
Warmaster Legguards (Rare)	Legs	Plate	63	58	Warchief Rend Blackhand	24%
Dragonrider Boots (Rare)	Feet	Cloth	63	58	Warchief Rend Blackhand	22%
Faith Healer's Boots (Rare)	Feet	Cloth	63	58	Warchief Rend Blackhand	15%
Band of Rumination (Rare)	Finger		63	58	Warchief Rend Blackhand	21%
Dal'Rend's Sacred Charge (Rare)	Main Hand	One-Handed Sword	63	58	Warchief Rend Blackhand	7.9%
Dal'Rend's Tribal Guardian (Rare)	Off Hand	One-Handed Sword	63	58	Warchief Rend Blackhand	13%
Blackhand Doomsaw (Rare)	Two-Hand	Polearm	63	58	Warchief Rend Blackhand	8.8%
Pristine Hide of the Beast (Epic)			1		The Beast
Lightforge Spaulders (Rare)	Shoulder	Plate	60	55	The Beast	17%
Bloodmoon Cloak (Rare)	Back		63	58	The Beast	24%
Frostweaver Cape (Rare)	Back		63	58	The Beast	21%
Blackmist Armguards (Rare)	Wrist	Leather	63	58	The Beast	20%
Spiritshroud Leggings (Rare)	Legs	Cloth	63	58	The Beast	24%
Blademaster Leggings (Rare)	Legs	Leather	63	58	The Beast	19%
Tristam Legguards (Rare)	Legs	Mail	63	58	The Beast	29%
Ironweave Boots (Rare)	Feet	Cloth	61	56	The Beast	15%
Pip's Skinner (Rare)	Main Hand	Dagger	63	58	The Beast	15%
Seeping Willow (Rare)	Two-Hand	Two-Handed Mace	63	58	The Beast	13%
Book of Ferocious Bite V (Rare)			60	60	The Beast	3.7%
Ace of Beasts (Rare)			1		The Beast	6.6%
Blackblade of Shahram (Epic)	Two-Hand	Two-Handed Sword	63	58	General Drakkisath	1.1%
Spellweaver's Turban (Rare)	Head	Cloth	63	60	General Drakkisath	21%
Tooth of Gnarr (Rare)	Neck		63	58	General Drakkisath	26%
Shadow Prowler's Cloak (Rare)	Back		63	58	General Drakkisath	17%
Brigam Girdle (Rare)	Waist	Plate	63	58	General Drakkisath	24%
Painweaver Band (Rare)	Finger		63	58	General Drakkisath	22%
Draconic Infused Emblem (Rare)	Trinket		63	58	General Drakkisath	7.5%
Tome of the Lost (Rare)	Held In Off-hand		63	58	General Drakkisath	21%
Draconian Deflector (Rare)	Off Hand	Shield	63	58	General Drakkisath	23%
Pattern: Red Dragonscale Breastplate (Rare)			61		General Drakkisath	5%
Recipe: Flask of the Titans (Uncommon)			60		General Drakkisath	4.6%
Devout Robe (Rare)	Chest	Cloth	63	58	General Drakkisath	10%
Magister's Robes (Rare)	Chest	Cloth	63	58	General Drakkisath	9.7%
Dreadmist Robe (Rare)	Chest	Cloth	63	58	General Drakkisath	13%
Shadowcraft Tunic (Rare)	Chest	Leather	63	58	General Drakkisath	9.2%
Wildheart Vest (Rare)	Chest	Leather	63	58	General Drakkisath	13%
Beaststalker's Tunic (Rare)	Chest	Mail	63	58	General Drakkisath	9.7%
Vest of Elements (Rare)	Chest	Mail	63	58	General Drakkisath	5.6%
Lightforge Breastplate (Rare)	Chest	Plate	63	58	General Drakkisath	7.4%
Breastplate of Valor (Rare)	Chest	Plate	63	58	General Drakkisath	14%
Starfire Tiara (Rare)	Head	Cloth	60	55	Jed Runewatcher · rare	33%
Briarwood Reed (Rare)	Trinket		60	55	Jed Runewatcher · rare	30%
Serpentine Skuller (Rare)	Ranged	Wand	56	51	Jed Runewatcher · rare	33%
Manual of Eviscerate IX (Rare)			60	60	Trash mobs
Wind Dancer Boots (Rare)	Feet	Mail	61	56	Trash mobs	0.02%
Devout Belt (Rare)	Waist	Cloth	58	53	Trash mobs	2.9%
Magister's Bindings (Rare)	Wrist	Cloth	57	52	Trash mobs	3.1%
Dreadmist Bracers (Rare)	Wrist	Cloth	57	52	Trash mobs	3%
Shadowcraft Belt (Rare)	Waist	Leather	58	53	Trash mobs	2.7%
Beaststalker's Bindings (Rare)	Wrist	Mail	57	52	Trash mobs
Beaststalker's Belt (Rare)	Waist	Mail	58	53	Trash mobs	3%
Cord of Elements (Rare)	Waist	Mail	58	53	Trash mobs	2.8%
Bracers of Valor (Rare)	Wrist	Plate	57	52	Trash mobs	2.8%
Formula: Enchant 2H Weapon - Superior Impact (Uncommon)			59		Trash mobs
Darkstone Tablet (Common)			1		Darkstone Tablet · object

Item sets

The Elements

4 of its 8 pieces drop here

• Gauntlets of ElementsHands · Pyroguard Emberseer 18%
• Pauldrons of ElementsShoulder · Gyth 20%
• Vest of ElementsChest · General Drakkisath 5.61%
• Cord of ElementsWaist · Trash mobs 2.8%
• Boots of ElementsDoes not drop here
• Bindings of ElementsDoes not drop here
• Coif of ElementsDoes not drop here
• Kilt of ElementsDoes not drop here

Dal'Rend's Arms

All 2 pieces drop here

• Dal'Rend's Sacred ChargeMain Hand · Warchief Rend Blackhand 7.92%
• Dal'Rend's Tribal GuardianOff Hand · Warchief Rend Blackhand 13%

• Check for a Seal of Ascension before you zone in. Without a key holder, the gate stays shut.
• Emberseer's event takes three players at the Blackrock Altar: decide who clicks before you walk in.
• Bring fire resistance: Emberseer, The Beast and Drakkisath all deal fire damage.
• Bring two tanks. Rend's waves and Drakkisath's guards both need a second one.
• Pick up Tinkee Steamboil's egg quests before the run: Egg Freezing happens in the Rookery, on your way through.
• Anyone on Blackhand's Command visits Drakkisath's Brand before leaving the throne room.