This strategy is written for World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (TBC 2.4.3), the Black Temple raid for 25 players. Mechanics and numbers match the fight on the Moonwell server.
The first boss of Black Temple, a 25-player raid: a main tank and an off-tank, 7–9 healers. Every 56 sec the boss shields himself. Only a thrown spine can remove the shield, and the throw hits the whole raid for 8,500. The main danger: a throw while the raid is injured, and players closer than 6 yd to each other.
Fight cycle
The whole raid in the hall enters combat at once. Timers count from the pull, then from the shield removal: Needle Spine at 10 sec, Impaling Spine at 20 and 40 sec, the shield at 56 sec. Berserk at 8 min: +500% damage.
Needle Spine
Needle Spine hits three random players for 2,890–3,910 every 3 sec. Each hit triggers Needle Spine Explosion: 2,280–2,520 Frost damage to everyone within 6 yd of the target. A player pinned by a spine is not chosen as a target.
Impaling Spine
Impaling Spine flies at a random player other than the tank: 4,513–4,987 damage, a 30 sec stun and 2,750 every 3 sec. A Naj'entus Spine appears on the target. Another player clicks it: the stun and the bleed are removed, and the clicker gets a Naj'entus Spine in their bags. You can carry up to 5.
Tidal Shield
Tidal Shield makes the boss immune for 45 sec and heals him for 1% every 2 sec. Needle Spine and Impaling Spine stop meanwhile; he hits the tank as usual. Healers bring the raid to full health. On command, one player throws a spine from 25 yd: Hurl Spine. The shield disappears, and Tidal Burst deals 8,500 Frost damage to everyone in the zone.
Tanks
Taunt doesn't work on the boss: the off-tank holds second on threat. With a 25% chance, Double Attack gives an extra swing.
Healers
Anyone below 8,500 HP when the spine is thrown will die. Heal the pinned player until he is freed.
DPS
Assign in advance who removes spines and who throws. Melee spread out around the boss.
Common mistakes
- A spine is thrown before the raid is ready: Tidal Burst kills the injured, and nobody is left to heal the rest.
- A spine is thrown with no shield up: it is wasted.
- The raid stacks up: each explosion hits several players.
- Spines are not removed: the player loses up to 27,500 HP, and there is no spine for the shield.
Abilities, loot and map: boss card