This strategy is written for World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (TBC 2.4.3), the Karazhan raid for 10 players. Mechanics and numbers match the fight on the Moonwell server.
Fight map
Hover a number on the map or in the text to highlight the spot and the strategy line. Marks follow the fight scripts.
A 10-player fight; the room door stays closed during the fight. Phases alternate: 60 sec of portals with three beams and 30 sec of banishment. Main danger: beams that reach the boss, and a player who holds a beam too long.
Portal phase: 60 sec
Nether Burn hits everyone for 1,200 every 5 sec. The beams switch on within the first 10 sec. At 10 sec Empowerment starts: 3-sec cast, after which the boss hits three times harder. From 15 sec, every 15 sec, a Void Zone appears under a random player other than the boss's target: 25 sec, Consumption for 900–1,100 every 2 sec within 2 yd. In the first phase the portals are in fixed spots; after that the colors change.
How to intercept a beam
Every second a Nether Beam hits the target closest to the portal on the line from the portal to the boss. Stand exactly on the line: 20 yd from the portal the margin is under two yards. Each hit adds a stack. Once you step out of the beam, the stacks stay for another 8–20 sec, then Nether Exhaustion for 90 sec, and the beam of that color passes through the player. Whoever held a beam until the end of the phase cannot take that color in the next phase.
Red beam: tank
Portal: Nether Portal - Perseverence. On the boss: −1% damage taken per stack. On a player: Nether Portal - Perseverence, 20 sec. Per stack −1% damage taken and +5 defense. The first stack gives +29,000 HP, each next one removes 1,000, and each one heals to full. The boss goes for this player while he stands in the beam. Once the player steps out and the beam returns to the boss, it attacks by normal threat again. With 15,000 HP, the 45th stack leaves 1 HP. Another player can take over the end of the beam.
Green beam: healer
Portal: Nether Portal - Serenity. On the boss: Nether Portal - Serenity, 4,000 healing per second per stack, and the stacks build up. On a player: Nether Portal - Serenity, 10 sec. Per stack +5% healing done, −1% spell cost, −200 max mana. Mana refills to the new maximum every second.
Blue beam: DPS
Portal: Nether Portal - Dominance. On the boss: Nether Portal - Dominance, +1% to his damage per stack. On a player: Nether Portal - Dominance, 8 sec. Per stack +5% damage done, −1% healing received, +8% magic damage taken. At 20 stacks Nether Burn hits for 3,120.
Banish phase: 30 sec
The portals, Nether Burn and Empowerment disappear, and threat resets. The boss stands and hits those nearby; he can be attacked. From 5 sec, every 6 sec, Netherbreath: 2.5-sec cast, a cone toward a random player within 40 yd, 4,163–4,837 and a knockback. Stand apart, far from the boss. Then portals again and another threat reset. At 9 min Nether Infusion: +500% damage.
Tanks
Taunt does not work: after each phase change, be the first to build threat. Take red every other phase.
Healers
The player in red does not need healing. Take green every other phase.
DPS
Blue is held in turns, a different pair in the next phase.
Common mistakes
- The green beam reached the boss: 4,000 healing per second per stack.
- The tank held red until his extra health was gone: during Empowerment one hit kills him.
Abilities, loot and map: boss card