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 on the Master's Terrace. The boss is summoned with an urn. At 75, 50 and 25% he takes off and summons skeletons. Main danger: the threat reset on takeoff and landing, and any player more than 60 yd from the boss during the air phase.
Summoning
Kalynna Lathred gives the Blackened Urn when you accept the quest "Nightbane". Summon Nightbane works only on the terrace, 1 sec cast. The Master's Terrace Door closes at once, so the raid goes in beforehand. The boss arrives after about 33 sec. After a wipe he is ready again in 30 sec. The urn is not consumed, cooldown 30 sec.
On the ground: down to 75, 50 and 25%
Melee hits up to 11,924. Everyone except the tank stands at his side. In front is Smoldering Breath: a cone up to 45 yd, 3,700–4,300 plus 1,688–1,912 every 3 sec for 15 sec. Behind is Tail Sweep: knockback plus 450 every 3 sec for 15 sec. Both every 14–20 sec. Cleave hits the target and a neighbor. Bellowing Roar: 4 sec fear within 35 yd. The first comes 35 sec after he arrives, 55–60 sec after an air phase, then every 38–48 sec. Charred Earth every 25–35 sec under a random player: 10 yd, 30 sec, 2,188–2,812 every 3 sec. Distracting Ash all fight long: 30% lower chance to hit for 40 sec, dispellable as Magic.
Takeoff
A threshold crossed while he is in the air triggers after he lands. Threat is wiped, and in the air only healing and buffs generate it. The boss cannot be killed in the air. If anyone is more than 60 yd from him, Fireball Barrage hits the whole raid for 2,550–3,450 every second. Gather in the center of the terrace.
In the air: skeletons and Smoking Blast
3 sec after he starts hovering: Rain of Bones, 11 sec around a random player, 352–408 every 0.4 sec within 6 yd. Five Restless Skeletons land during the first 8 sec: about 17,000 HP, taunt works on them. From sec 10–12, every 1–3 sec, Smoking Blast hits the top of the threat list, usually the busiest healer: 1,850–2,150 plus Searing Cinders, 500 every 3 sec for 18 sec, dispellable as Magic.
Landing
When the fifth skeleton dies, the boss starts landing 1 sec later. Otherwise he lands on his own 34–38 sec after he starts hovering. The descent takes about 16 sec. Living skeletons stay and pile up. He always lands in the same spot, threat is wiped again, and 2 sec later he attacks the nearest player.
Tanks
Taunt does not work on the boss. Stand closest to the landing spot and turn the boss so his breath faces away from the raid. The second tank picks up the skeletons.
Healers
Dispel Searing Cinders and Distracting Ash. The Smoking Blast target is usually one of you: heal each other.
DPS
Ranged and healers stay beyond 35 yd: there is no fear there. In the air everyone attacks the skeletons.
Common mistakes
- The raid did not reach the terrace in time: the door closed on the summon.
- Someone is more than 60 yd from the boss in the air: Fireball Barrage hits everyone every second.
- DPS overtake the tank after landing: threat was wiped.
Abilities, loot and map: boss card